What Chrysler Can Learn From Hyundai
Posted by in Chrysler Magazine on July 10, 2011
The Chrysler Group is on a rebound and is now a de facto surrogate of the Fiat Group. While Fiat may now be its nearest kin, the Auburn Hills, Mich., headquartered automaker would do well to look to Asia, particularly South Korea and especially at Hyundai for inspiration.
Why Hyundai and not Fiat? Well, for one very good reason: Hyundai has found a way to command more market share and to so by giving customers what they want: value and quality in a package they can’t resist. Let’s face it: even after a recent product overhaul for 2011, Chrysler products aren’t offering the same level of excitement found in many Hyundai vehicles. That means Chrysler is operating at a disadvantage and is likely to be eventually overtaken by Hyundai in sales in the U.S. market.
Chrysler can learn many things from Hyundai going forward including the following:
Keep the herd thin – Chrysler has four brands to manage, but Hyundai has just one. That means Hyundai’s overhead is much lower, giving it a pricing and marketing advantage that Chrysler can only dream of. Separating Ram from Dodge was a mistake. Closing out the Chrysler brand and keeping Jeep and Dodge only is the best approach for Chrysler.
Offer an amazing warranty – Hyundai has had an image problem, but managed to overcome it by improving quality. The automaker also backed up its efforts by rolling out an industry best 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty. Suddenly, buyers didn’t have to worry that their cars would fall apart after a few years, knowing that whatever problems were to arise would be backed by Hyundai. Chrysler could use a similar approach to build up buyer confidence. Read the rest of this entry »
Chrysler 300 Line Up Expands to Meet Demand
Posted by in Chrysler Magazine on July 10, 2011
The Chrysler 300 is the flagship sedan in the Chrysler brand fleet and is the most expensive passenger vehicle sold by Detroit’s third largest automaker. Theoretically, the 300 is twin to the Dodge Charger, a sports sedan prized for its rugged good looks and often selected as a pursuit vehicle by law enforcement departments across the United States.
While the Dodge Charger is all about pushing performance, the Chrysler 300 is marketed for its luxury attributes. Certainly, there is a lot of overlap between these two models, but the direction Chrysler would like to take each of these full-size sedans is different.
New Trim Levels
And Chrysler plans on distinguishing these two models further beginning in 2012 by expanding the 300 line up to encompass six trim levels compared to four for the Charger. That’s double the number of trim levels currently offered and is seen as a way to raise the 300′s visibility and to increase sales.
The three new trim levels include one that was sold in the past: the 300 SRT8. This model features Chrysler’s 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine, a true performance model that rivals many of Europe’s better sedans.
Sporty Chryslers
New for the line is the 300S, this model designed to attract younger buyers who do not want the usual chrome and wood touches found in the Chrysler 300. The 300S features a matte finish, red or black seating with the letter “S” inscribed in the seat back. This car will ride on 20-inch wheels and come equipped with Chrysler’s 3.6-liter V-6 engine paired with its all-new eight-speed automatic transmission. Read the rest of this entry »