Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Chrysler cars: What's coming in 2010 - - and beyond


CONFIRMED FOR 2010:
300: All models get side curtain airbags. The 300 Limited gets extra chrome trim and heated mirrors as standard, while the 300C gains keyless ignition and a rear parking assist system. A 300 Sport Edition will be added to the lineup during calendar year 2010.
ASPEN: Discontinued.
PT CRUISER: 2010 will be the last year for the PT Cruiser. The initial plan was to trim the PT lineup down to a single model, the PT Cruiser Classic. The Classic is powered by the base 150 hp 2.4 liter 4-cylinder engine and 4-speed automatic; the turbocharged engine and manual transmission have both been dropped. Chrysler has since decided to commemorate the PT's demise by adding a PT Cruiser Final Edition later in the year.
SEBRING SEDAN/CONVERTIBLE: (photo) The Sebring's famous hood grooves are gone, and the wheel designs are new. Inside, the Sebring gets a new instrument panel and active head restraints. Chrysler will introduce the Sebring Ocean Edition later in the year, which, according to Chrysler, will target buyers in coastal states. (Huh?)
TOWN & COUNTRY: All models get active head restraints for the front seats and a rear obstacle monitoring system, which encompasses a blind-spot warning system for changing lanes and an oncoming traffic alert when backing out of parking spaces. Limited models get a taller final-drive ratio, which could lead to a marginal increase in fuel economy, although EPA estimates are unchanged. A new Fashion Edition is in the works for the first quarter of 2010, but details have not been announced.
BEYOND 2010:
300: An all-new 300, based on a Chrysler-designed platform, will debut in late 2010 as a 2011 model.
NEW COMPACT SEDAN: Chrysler will field an all-new compact sedan, based on a Fiat platform, in 2012.
NEW MIDSIZE CROSSOVER: 2013 will see the introduction of a new mid-size crossover SUV built on a Fiat platform.
NEW SUBCOMPACT HATCHBACK: Chrysler will get a new "B-segment" car in 2013, which will be built overseas by Fiat. My best guess is that it will be a rebadged version of the next-generation Fiat Grande Punto.
SEBRING: The mid-size Sebring is going on a a crash redesign program; the updated Sebring will appear at the end of 2010, presumably as a 2011 model. An all-new Sebring, based on a Fiat platform, is coming in 2013.
TOWN & COUNTRY: Chrysler's minivan will undergo a heavy-duty refresh for the 2011 model year. An all-new Town & Country will appear in 2014; the new van will be designed in-house on a Chrysler platform

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