Report: Dodge to build just 5,000 Challengers in first year

[Hypotenus Love Triangle]

Some new report confirms the rumors that we've already been hearing. Source of article is leftlanenews.com
http://www.leftlanenews.com/report-d...irst-year.html

"Chrysler will produce just 5,000 Dodge Challengers in 2008, according to a new report. The news echoes previous rumors that the Challenger would begin its life as a low-volume offering compared to the new Chevrolet Camaro, which could see production as high as 100,000 units.
The reason for such low production numbers is the 6.1 liter SRT version will be the only model offered in 2008, according to Automotive News. The report claims an automatic transmission will be the only choice, although previous rumors suggest a manual would be the only option.
In 2009, production will expand to 30,000 units, with the introduction of 6.1 and 5.7 liter HEMI models. At this point in time, buyers will get to chose between a six-speed manual, six-speed automatic, or a dual-clutch transmission. As reported before, no V6 model is planned.
Chrysler has already announced the initial Challenger will debut at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2008. The car was recently spied without disguise.
The car's nearest rival — the 2009 Chevrolet Camaro — is expected to have a considerably wider model range with everything from a low-end V6 to a range-topping supercharged V8. As a result, prices will start close to $20,000 and production could reach 100,000 units"

[nextchall]

AIM LOW = SHOOT LOW = SELL LOW = PRICE HIGH = SHORT LIFE!

I think this is the wrong approach..but I am not one of the three heads of Cerberus!

[Ragamuffin]

Originally Posted by nextchall

AIM LOW = SHOOT LOW = SELL LOW = PRICE HIGH = SHORT LIFE!

I think this is the wrong approach..but I am not one of the three heads of Cerberus!

Well, I have mixed thoughts about this ; i.e. I'd { We'd } like to have the Challengers around 'fore-ever' and yet would like 'my' [ but cannot afford one anyways !!!] car to be special-like-one-of -a -kind ; like not seeing a lot around ! Anyways, I did a bit of probing , [noticed a possible mis-spelling ? ] and kind of gives me the "jeebers" :KERBEROS Greek NameTransliterationLatin SpellingTranslation
KerberoVKerberosCerberusDeath-Demon of the
Dark? (kêr, erebos) Kuna tou `Aidou Kuna tou Aidou Cyna Hadum Hound of Hades Heracles & Cerberus, Caeretan black-figure
hydria C6th B.C., Musée du Louvre
KERBEROS (or Cerberus) was the gigantic hound which guarded the gates of Haides. He was posted to prevent ghosts of the dead from leaving the underworld. Kerberos was described as a three-headed dog with a serpent's tail, a mane of snakes, and a lion's claws. Some say he had fifty heads, though this number might have included the heads of his serpentine mane.
Herakles was sent to fetch Kerberos forth from the underworld as one of his twelve labours, a task which he accomplished through the grace of Persephone.
PARENTS[1.1] TYPHOEUS & EKHIDNA (Hesiod Theogony 310, Quintus Smyrnaeus 6.260, Hyginus Pref & Fab 30)
[1.2] EKHIDNA (Bacchylides Frag 5, Ovid Metamorphoses 7.412)ENCYCLOPEDIA

CE′RBERUS (Kerberos), the many-headed dog that guarded the entrance of Hades, is mentioned as early as the Homeric poems, but simply as "the dog," and without the name of Cerberus. (Il. viii. 368, Od. xi. 623.) Hesiod, who is the first that gives his name and origin, calls him (Theog. 311) fifty-headed and a son of Typhaon and Echidna. Later writers describe him as a monster with only three heads, with the tail of a serpent and a mane consisting of the heads of various snakes. (Apollod. ii. 5. § 12; Eurip. Here. fur. 24, 611; Virg. Aen. vi. 417; Ov. Met. iv. 449.) Some poets again call him many-headed or hundred-headed. (Horat. Carm. ii. 13. 34; Tzetz. ad Lycoph. 678; Senec. Here. fur. 784.) The place where Cerberus kept watch was according to some at the mouth of the Acheron, and according to others at the gates of Hades, into which he admitted the shades, but never let them out again.
Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

[Kyle M]

The first year means the 2008 model year. Big deal. You will be able to order '09s in June or July. They will make over 30,000 of them for 09

[nextchall]

I read somewhere that the MAGNUM production will be cancelled as the same time as 3 other models and 12 000 jobs will be lost!

Anyone knows if this is a fact and the annual production numbers on those models!

[Rallye72]

Originally Posted by 08ChallengerDad

No numbers on production, but ALL of the business reports show LLC cutting one of three shifts at several plants, and production of the PT Cruiser convertible, Dodge Magnum, Chrysler Crossfire, and Chrysler Pacifica will be terminated.

Silver lining - Brampton produced the Magnum next to the 300 and Charger. With the elimination of the Magnum from the line, more resources can be spent on production of the Challenger. I haven't read/seen/heard of any shifts or employees being cut at Brampton - yet. Time will tell.

thought I read a blurb that indicated Brampton goes to 2 shifts. Could be wrong about this...

[Ragamuffin]

Originally Posted by Rallye72

thought I read a blurb that indicated Brampton goes to 2 shifts. Could be wrong about this...

Sounds good to me ! I read via HemiDakota's blog that Chrysler has an 84 day supply of vehicles. With the coming colder/Winter weather, the rising energy costs, etc. ; I think it'd be wise to have a 6-8 week off period [ at least above the Mason-Dixon Line ] to help save money{ both in energy costs and wages},weather-related accidents or working conditions ! Pay the idle employees say 2/3 to 3/4 of their normal wages/salaries ; everyone [ or almost] on both sides will get some needed R&R !!!!! !!

[JohnDrake]

Chrysler to cut 12,000 jobs

Nov 01, 2007
The Toronto Star

DETROIT – Chrysler LLC plans to cut up to 12,000 more jobs, or up to 15 per cent of its workforce, as part of an effort to slash costs and match slowing demand for some of its vehicles.

The automaker said Thursday it will cut 8,500 to 10,000 hourly jobs through 2008 and reduce salaried employment by about 2,100. It will eliminate shifts at five North American assembly plants – including the Brampton large-sedan factory – and eliminate four products from its lineup.

The cuts come in addition to 13,000 layoffs Chrysler announced in February as part of a massive restructuring. Those cuts included 11,000 production jobs and 2,000 salaried jobs. The new round of cuts was expected to involve buyouts or early retirement packages similar to those made in February.

As part of the new plan, shifts will be cut in Brampton, as well as at assembly plants in Belvidere, Ill.; Toledo, Ohio; Jefferson North in Detroit; and Sterling Heights, Mich. A shift will also be cut at the company's Mack Avenue engine factory in Michigan.

The announcement came days after the United Auto Workers ratified a four-year contract with the company.

Chrysler became a private company in August when DaimlerChrysler, now called Daimler AG, sold 80.1 per cent of the North American automaker to private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP.

"The market situation has changed dramatically in the eight months since Chrysler established the recovery and transformation plan as its blueprint," stated newly installed chairman and chief executive Bob Nardelli.

The four models being eliminated are the Dodge Magnum station wagon, assembled in Brampton; the Chrysler Pacifica crossover utility vehicle made at the Windsor, Ont., minivan plant; the convertible version of the Chrysler PT Cruiser; and the Chrysler Crossfire sports car.

In the same time frame during the next year the company plans to add two new products, the Dodge Challenger sports coupe to made in Brampton, and the Dodge Journey crossover.

It also plans to roll out hybrid models of the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango sport utility vehicles.

[RRHemi]

I do not understand why they would kill the Magnum. It is esentially the station wagon variant of the 300/Charger. I am a real fan of this car. I consider it to be the Chevy Nomad of our time. I think that station wagons could regain their popularity as the SUV craze dies.

The crossfire...who cares.

I have a Pacifica, short of some quality issues it is a very nice vehicle. The wife loves the size/utility. Instead they want to push the Aspen???

Here we go!!!!!!!

[Ragamuffin]

Originally Posted by RRHemi

I do not understand why they would kill the Magnum. It is esentially the station wagon variant of the 300/Charger. I am a real fan of this car. I consider it to be the Chevy Nomad of our time. I think that station wagons could regain their popularity as the SUV craze dies.

The crossfire...who cares.

I have a Pacifica, short of some quality issues it is a very nice vehicle. The wife loves the size/utility. Instead they want to push the Aspen???


Here we go!!!!!!!

Yes, I agree ! I see a fair amount of Magnum's around Chicagoland , as well as other states [ when traveling] I thought some Magnum's were also part of Chrysler's Police Fleet { UPDATE :

}? When the Pacifica first came out [like the Magnum] I wasn't so impressed,but the more I scrutinize ,the more I notice a sharp style. The Aspen looks too much like a Chevy Tahoe ! I'm not real sure about the new Dodge Journey crossover ?Sometimes CEOs do things without a lot of cognition !! P.S. One model they may want to smother is the Nitro ; at least , according to Consumer Reports mag , is at the bottom of their list of small Suvs: and receiving the only all black circle = poor reliability !!!