Chrysler surprised fans at the 2012 North American International Auto Show with their 700C Minivan Concept.

It’s supposed to be the minivan of the future, so does this mean Town & Country will look like 700C in years to come? “The concept doesn’t suggest the styling direction for the redesigned Town & Country,” says one member of Chrysler’s team.

700C styling execution is one of many the automaker has created over several months. There is currently no intention to produce the concept at this time, but it still looks pretty.

Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne made it clear, the next generation Town & Country “will bare no resemblance to the current generation of minivans.” He wants exciting, head-turning styling for the next van.

Source: Auto News

The Jefferson North Assembly Plant is already one of the auto makers’ busiest lines, with two shifts going at full capacity. In 2012, 1100 jobs will be created as part of an expansion, in order to tackle high demand for Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango.

These 1100 new workers join 150 jobs created by Chrysler’s Conner Avenue Plant.

“Our future, like the history of our brands, is interwoven with the City of Detroit,” said Chrysler Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne.

“Detroit long has been home to renowned innovators and craftsmen. So it is in the Motor City, home of our industrial heritage and a resilient people, that we are entrusting the manufacture not only of the ultimate American sports car, the SRT Viper, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee – the most awarded SUV ever – but also a diesel version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee for North American markets.”

Source: Torque News

Keeping in line with their “Imported from Detroit” slogan, Chrysler will produce the next Viper in The Motor City. The Conner Assembly Plant in Detroit will reopen to produce 2013′s SRT Viper, creating nearly 150 jobs. Production begins next year, with Vipers coming off the line by late 2012.

“The next generation Viper will make its return to the product lineup in late 2012 as a 2013 model,” said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer – SRT Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC.

Prior to its reopening, the Conner facility will transform by implementing a system called World Class Manufacturing (WCM) – which focuses on reducing waste, while making improvements throughout the construction process that increase quality and productivity.

The Conner facility idled in July 2010, when production of the original Viper ended.

Source: Chrysler PR

Chrysler’s parent company bet big on their little automobile, last seen on US-soil in 1984. After sluggish sales, a huge decline of interest online (not to mention at dealer lots), and poor crash test ratings, Fiat may become Chrysler’s greatest disappointment.

A recent blow came from NHTSA Crash Test Results. Fiat 500 scored a three-star crash test rating, considered very poor in today’s world of high tech safety and futuristic metals:

Fiat 500 returned stateside with an uproar – JLo danced and sang around NYC in her drop-top variant, and newly erected Fiat dealerships reported high demand for the three door compact.

Unfortunately for Fiat, Chrysler is witnessing three consecutive months of declining sales figures for the 500.

The Italian auto maker’s original goal was set for 50,000 vehicle sold each year. However, less than 16,000 have sold in seven months. 29 of Fiat’s 130 dealers in the US “didn’t sell a single Fiat last month,” according to USA Today. The company has a six-month supply backed up, and is countering with $500 rebates on new vehicles.

For the sake of Chrysler’s renewal, Fiat’s survival, and the ability to market fuel efficient cars in North America, 2012 better improve the auto maker’s performance.

A recent Junk Yard find by The Truth About Cars unveiled an interesting fact many of those who “Buy American” were probably unaware (or in extreme denial) of.

The [Plymouth] Sapporo was a Mitsubishi Galant Lambda; its Dodge sibling was badged as a Challenger:

That’s right kiddos! Many Plymouth and Chrysler vehicles from the 1970s and 80s were made by Mitsubishi! (Insert Darth Vader NNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!! here)

It’s actually not all that bad. A complete Plymouth vehicle (case in point – the aforementioned Reliant K) for 1986-87 was constructed partially in North America. When I was younger, my local family mechanic dropped a bit of import knowledge:

“Eric, your Reliant K engine is actually a Mitsubishi motor. Chrysler has most of their engines built by the Japanese.”

I’m paraphrasing, and I also get the feeling he was telling me this in case I wondered why the price of engine repair was higher than on my father’s Chevy. It leaves you wondering – how much of that “American made” car is really built in The United States.

Photo – Source: TTAC

Being an American auto worker is a rare career path in today’s world. In Detroit, it can be even harder. Chrysler has spent decades utilizing Detroit’s two-tiered payment system. New employees make much less ($14 – $16/nr) than their counterparts who have been employed longer. With UAW arguments and poor economic growth year-to-year, there’s little to no chance of a wage increase.

Chrysler Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is looking to change that.

Marchionne says he’d rather “have all his workers on the same pay scale,” hinting at changes when the maker’s contract expires in 2015. It has plenty in the auto industry curious about what the exec has in store.

“This economic disparity between people on the (production) line is not something that can go on indefinitely,” Marchionne told reporters during a recent conference call.

The UAW wants to eliminate the two-tier structure, which has divided union members and almost caused the rejection of this year’s contracts with Chrysler, as well as the other two American car companies.

Source: MSNBC

You’ve probably seen each already, but as a refresher feel free to review both commercials below. Which do you think is the better rep for these new cars?

The Fiat 500 Castagna Electric Vehicle is powered by a lithium-ion battery, producing 45 horsepower from its electric motor. This enables the car to reach a top speed of 99 mph, and travel up to an amazing 162 miles on a single charge. For $144,100 this Fiat vehicle is far from inexpensive. The car was also ordered by Gaddafi with a massive recharging system, allowing the battery to be recharged in only 10 minutes.

“Seized at the dictator’s bunker in Bab Al-Azizia, the bespoke convertible was ordered by Gaddafi – through an intermediary – in June 2009. He demanded the vehicle be delivered by September with a number of custom touches including a two-tone paint job, a cream leather interior, wood trim and numerous Libyan-themed accents.”

Source: WCF

Chrysler and Ram are using imagery from the classic western High Noon in their latest ads. The 1952 film, featuring Gary Cooper as a small town Marshall battling an old enemy, is not the first time Chrysler has tagged this Old West theme for their ads. Those who drive Ram Trucks in Virginia Beach all the way out to Portland know the voice of Western movie icon Sam Elliott, now the auto maker’s spokesperson.

Two ads show off a Ram pickup driving through the desert with wild horses, talking up the vehicle’s 20 mpg rating. The second ad gets you inside the Power Wagon model, as it climbs rocky hills, challenging other trucks to follow.

Both are part of a “Code of the West” marketing campaign, launched earlier this year. “The ‘Code of the West’ national advertising campaign is founded on the principles of truth, honesty and integrity. It separates Ram from its competitors and focuses on the proven capability and superiority of the entire product line,” adds Fred Diaz, president of the Ram Truck division.

To make these scenes even more authentic, Chrysler reportedly used sets from the now defunct HBO series Deadwood while filming.

Source: Detroit News Auto Insider

The US Treasury’s Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability said “With today’s closing, the US government has exited its investment in Chrysler at least six years earlier than expected. This is a major accomplishment and further evidence of the success of the Administration’s actions to assist the US auto industry, which helped save a million jobs during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.”

We here at Chryslerpedia welcome our new Italian overlords, and promise to bring fresh offerings of brochette and gnocchi.