Coverage to begin around 11:30 am, November 4.
Chrysler's five year plan will be unveiled starting at 11 am today, with a limited-entry webcast on Chrysler LLC's corporate web site, constant updates at Automotive News, and frequent updates here at allpar.com. The plan will take around five hours to describe.
Expected long term features are replacement of all Chrysler small and midsized vehicles by 2013, consolidation of minivans to the Chrysler brand, refocusing of Dodge cars, expansion of Jeep despite the loss of the Patriot and Compass, integration of Fiat technologies into Chrysler and Chrysler technologies into Fiat, and use of Fiat brand names in the United States coupled with the loss of the slow-selling Chrysler and Dodge brands outside of the Americas.
Short-term features expected are renovation of the Sebring and Avenger, repositioning of the Compass, refreshing of the PT Cruiser, a last-minute re-engineering of the LX platform to eject the need for Mercedes components and to make the platform more suitable for Fiat use, as well as replacement of the World Engine with a Fiat four-cylinder range. Electric cars are expected to continue on their course, as are trucks.
Two vehicles whose fate has been questioned will presumably be discussed - the Chrysler 200C and Dodge Dakota. Both have been absent from leaks and mainstream speculation recently. The Jeep Scrambler could conceivably also have a place in Chrysler's future.
Long term, one major question for Mopar fans will be whether the influx of Fiats is temporary or permanent. Will Chrysler Engineering be restaffed and given more responsibility for designing mid-sized cars for the United States, and perhaps for localizing smaller cars as well? Will the large rear-drive cars be returned to the United States for primary engineering? Or will Chrysler be consolidated into an expanded Jeep, truck, and minivan engineering center? These questions should be answered later today
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