Chrysler today issued the following news release:

Chrysler Announces New Plans to Balance Supply and Demand

• Chrysler Announces Product and Plant Changes
• Industry-wide volume reduction and sales slow down requires plant
adjustments
• Four products will be cancelled from Chrysler line-up; while adding
two all-new products and two hybrid models

Chrysler LLC today announced that it would make volume-related
reductions at several of its North American assembly and powertrain plants,
and eliminate four products from its line-up.

Shifts will be eliminated at five North American assembly plants which,
combined with other volume-related manufacturing actions, will lead to
a reduction of 8,500-10,000 additional hourly jobs through 2008.

Additional actions include reductions of salaried employment by 1,000
and supplemental (contract) employment by 37 percent. The Company also
plans to eliminate hourly and salaried overtime and reduce purchased
services due to reduction in volume.

The volume-related actions are in addition to 13,000 jobs eliminated by
the three-year Recovery and Transformation Plan (RTP) announced in
February. The objectives of the RTP remain the same.

"The market situation has changed dramatically in the eight months
since Chrysler established the Recovery and Transformation Plan as its
blueprint," said Bob Nardelli, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
"Annual industry volume (U.S. market) then was running at a 17.2 million
clip. Now, we expect a seasonally adjusted annual volume for 2007 to be
significantly lower and carry over into 2008."

"We have to move now to adjust the way our company looks and acts to
reflect a smaller market," added Tom LaSorda, Vice Chairman and
President. "That means a cost base that is right-sized and an appropriate level
of plant utilization."

LaSorda added that third-shift operations at assembly plants usually
reflect a high demand after a product is launched. Three of the five
plants affected by this action are the result of elimination of third
shifts" in Belvidere, Illinois; Toledo, Ohio, and Brampton, Ontario.

In contract negotiations just concluded with the United Auto Workers,
Chrysler committed to spending more than $15 billion on products, plants
and engineering during the life of the contract through 2011.

The company announced that it will eliminate four models through 2008,
including Dodge Magnum, the convertible version (only) of Chrysler PT
Cruiser, Chrysler Pacifica and Chrysler Crossfire. In the same time
frame, Chrysler will add two all-new products to its portfolio: the Dodge
Journey and Dodge Challenger, along with two new hybrid models, the
Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango.

"These actions reflect our new customer-driven philosophy and allow us
to focus our resources on new, more profitable and appealing products,"
added Jim Press, Vice Chairman and President. "Further, these product
actions are all in response to dealer requests."

Manufacturing Actions

Chrysler will eliminate shifts at five assembly plants, and take
further volume-related actions at several other facilities. It will:

Drop third-shift operations at Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant in the
first quarter 2008. Belvidere builds the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot and
Jeep Compass.

Drop second-shift operations at its Jefferson North (Detroit, Mich.)
Assembly Plant in the first quarter 2008. It's expected that the plant
will return to two shifts in first quarter 2010 with the introduction of
the next generation of sport-utility vehicles. The addition of a third
shift will remain an option, depending on market demand. Jefferson
North builds the Jeep® Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander.

Drop third-shift operations at the Toledo (Ohio) North Assembly Plant
in the first quarter 2008. Toledo North builds the Jeep Liberty and
Dodge Nitro.

Drop third-shift operations at Brampton (Ontario) Assembly Plant in
first quarter 2008. Brampton will build the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger
and Dodge Challenger. The Dodge Magnum will be discontinued.

Drop second shift operations at Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly Plant
in first quarter 2008. Sterling Heights builds the Dodge Avenger and
Chrysler Sebring sedans and Chrysler Sebring Convertible.

In addition, Mack Avenue (Detroit) Engine Plant II will return to a
traditional two-shift / two-crew operation in the first quarter 2008 after
operating on a three-crew, two-shift, 120-hour-per-week (3/2/120)
schedule. Mack II builds the 3.7-liter V-6 engine.

Save The PT!!!

As most of you are probably aware Chrysler has at this point planned to end the production of the PT Cruiser in 2009. Please submit an entry and state your case for keeping the PT Cruiser in production. All information will be submitted to Chrysler by the PT Cruiser Alliance.
The New Chrysler also set up a blog so let them know that the PT is worth saving. Click here to let Chrysler see what you think: Chrysler Blog
You can contact Chrysler directly from this email form: Contact Chrysler
Visit The New Chrysler website: Chrysler LLC
The folks over at PT Enthusiasts also seem to have Chrysler's attention and have also started a petition site to save the PT. Please also visit: Save The PT Petition and fill out their petition to SAVE THE PT

New 08 Colors!!

This is off the Fleet website.
1. Bright silver Metallic
2. Brilliant black
3. Cool vanilla
4. Deep Water Blue Pearl
5. Inferno Red Crystal Pearl
6. Melbourne Green
7. Silver Steel Metallic
8. Stone White
9. Surf Blue pearl

 

New for 2008

Four speaker sound system standard
Heated cloth front seats available.

https://www.fleet.chrysler.com/flee....._flyer.pdf

 

2008 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Sunset Boulevard Edition
Named after a boulevard in California, the latest PT is unveiled on an avenue in Michigan.

True to tradition, Chrysler unveiled its newest special-edition PT Cruiser, the Sunset Boulevard Edition, on the eve of Detroit’s famous Woodward Dream Cruise.

The automaker chose the same Detroit venue it has used for years to release models in its PT Dream Cruiser Series—and not the famed road in California, some 2300 miles away—to launch yet another limited-run variant.

This is the 13th version of the PT, including 11 factory-customized Cruisers since the retro crossover debuted in 2000, and the third in what has become the “Street Cruiser Series.” Others in the series are the PT Street Cruiser Pacific Coast Highway Edition
(say that 10 times fast) and the PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition, both of which also celebrate some of America’s greatest driving roads.

Limited to just 500 units when it goes on sale this summer, the Sunset Boulevard Edition was designed to “bring some bling to the boulevard,” Chrysler says. We’ll let you decide whether the automaker has in fact brought the bling with a number of exterior and interior modifications.
 

Sunset Boulevard Edition !!



 

2007 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Pacific Coast Highway Edition!!

Chrysler chose Duggan’s Irish Pub, a favorite Woodward Dream Cruise hangout, as the setting to unveil its latest PT Cruiser, the Pacific Coast Highway Edition (of course, Pacific Coast Highway itself wouldn’t have been a bad venue, either, but we weren’t in charge). This is the twelfth PT Cruiser variant, following four Dream Cruisers, Flames, Woodie, PT Turbo, Chrome Accents, PT Cruiser Convertible, the refreshed 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser and the PT Street Cruiser Route 66 edition.

The PT Street Cruiser Pacific Coast Highway Edition (the name is fortunately not printed in its entirety across the rear hatch) comes in an attractive Ocean Blue coat with chrome accents on the grille, door handles and body-side moldings, and a bright exhaust tip. Base PT wheels wouldn’t do on a special edition, so the PTSCPCHE rides on unique 15-spoke 17-inch wheels.

Inside is a grayscale interior featuring an assortment of materials on the seats, door trim, and dash in variations of gray and finishes from matte to chrome. The gray cloth front seats get Ocean Blue inserts, and the gauges are silver on blue. If too much gray gets you down, Sirius satellite radio comes standard to lighten the mood. We recommend singles stay away from Sirius Love; it’ll just make your heartache worse. Plug your iPod into the standard auxiliary audio jack and pick your Poison.

Based on the PT Cruiser Touring, the PTSCPCHE comes with Chrysler’s 2.4 liter inline four making 150 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque. Coupled with the standard five-speed manual, the four-cylinder is good for 29 mpg highway. A four-speed automatic is optional. The newest Cruiser also comes standard with ample creature comforts like the versatile seating that made it such a hit when introduced in 2000, and safety equipment such as multi-stage front airbags and seat-mounted front side airbags.

Chrysler tells us to expect the PTSCPCHE later this summer, leading us to wonder when fall begins in Germany. Oktoberfest? Pricing for the newest member of the Cruiser family begins at $20,735 for a manual or $21,570 with the automatic

Pacific Coast Highway Edition!!