Chrysler Conundrum

Chrysler Conundrum
began as a FomocoNews Forum thread

with all the recent speculation
& since ideal lineups are one of my favorite hobbies
(tho I don't intend to make this one a "MISSION" )
here's a brief WhatIF

"Cerberus-Sumitomo" buys Saab and the Hummer-name-only,
along with the remaining half of GMAC financing &
buys Ford's share of Mazda (more if they can get it) & VOLVO TOO!
then assembles the following lineup:

Mazda = tiny(Mz1) > medium(euroMz6) vehicles with best-ZoomForTheBuck
Chrysler = moves upscale ASAP/as far as possible
just new 300's/S80-C90, better-than-concept Imperial/S100, new peoplemover/V&XC 90-100,
plus a 9-3-based sportlux coupe(-cabrio) (later maybe more)
(Chrysler-Mazda name in U.S., Volvo/Saab("Scandia"?)-Mazda=ROTW)
Dodge = trucks & a couple larger vehicles engineered by Mazda (ex: U.S.Mz6 & CX9)
Jeep = jeeps ie fewer 'true-er' models; Hummer is top-trim/pkgs
and adds a
GoldenAge premium/mid-level range using names like DeSoto,Hudson,(Nash?), ...
- re-inventing the PTcruiser & Prowler & more,
- with half 50's/half spaceage styling (get Chip Foose on the Board of Directors!)
...this would be a shock&awe production of concept/dreamcar style at just-attainable prices
(like imho the Challenger intended ...and missed)
Perhaps all these affordable halo cars could share one single, stunning set of interior components? ...so along with their different top-hats on shared platforms, they'd be highly profitable without requiring high volume...

not sure I should but want to add a few clarifications & end with another thought seen elsewhere
- basically the lineup ThrowsAway most Mopar cars (tho not the factories/trucks/Jeeps/dealers),
substituting Mazdas, Volvos, & Saab(s) & having MVS do the designing of new stuff
- the Volvo & Saab NAMEPLATES would be taken OFF the U.S. market indefinitely;
"Chrysler" would be the U.S./NA-Only name for selected&new NA-built Volvos/Saab(s)
- the Mazda name stays global & augments its U.S/NA smallest models;
large/inappropriate U.S.Only vehicles are branded Dodge (U.S.Mz6 + CX9)
- platform sharing/development by MVS would be a ROTW-foreign-affair,
since there'd be No duplication/rebadging within the U.S./NA
- hopefully the DodgeTruck deal with NissanRenault could still go thru
- the LX cars could get a final/major makeover while their retail sales 'wind-down', as Fleet-ONLY:
hemiCopcars & lighter-tho-sturdy/more-econo taxis & MIB's
So what this means is Cerberus and Sumitomo would create a new global auto manufacturing conglomerate,
utilizing Mazda, & Volvo-Saab to revamp and run the walking-dead-Chrysler (which would in a real sense, survive in name only),
while positioning the main corporation to drastically increase global sales/market-share/profits.

latest FML proposal - GM mid-brands solution
@

updated/expanded Oct12'08



		Mazda = tiny(Mz1) > medium(euroMz6) vehicles with best-ZoomForTheBuck Chrysler = moves upscale ASAP/as far as possible just new 300's/S80-C90, better-than-concept Imperial/S100, new peoplemover/V&XC 90-100, plus a 9-3-based sportlux coupe(-cabrio) (later maybe more) (Chrysler-Mazda name in U.S., Volvo/Saab("Scandia"?)-Mazda=ROTW) Dodge = trucks & a couple larger vehicles engineered by Mazda (ex: U.S.Mz6 & CX9) Jeep = jeeps ie fewer 'true-er' models; Hummer is top-trim/pkgs and adds a GoldenAge premium/mid-level range using names like DeSoto,Hudson,(Nash?), ... - re-inventing the PTcruiser & Prowler & more, - with half 50's/half spaceage styling (get Chip Foose on the Board of Directors!) ...this would be a shock&awe production of concept/dreamcar style at just-attainable prices (like imho the Challenger intended ...and missed) Perhaps all these affordable halo cars could share one single, stunning set of interior components? ...so along with their different top-hats on shared platforms, they'd be highly profitable without requiring high volume... not sure I should but want to add a few clarifications & end with another thought seen elsewhere - basically the lineup ThrowsAway most Mopar cars (tho not the factories/trucks/Jeeps/dealers), substituting Mazdas, Volvos, & Saab(s) & having MVS do the designing of new stuff - the Volvo & Saab NAMEPLATES would be taken OFF the U.S. market indefinitely; "Chrysler" would be the U.S./NA-Only name for selected&new NA-built Volvos/Saab(s) - the Mazda name stays global & augments its U.S/NA smallest models; large/inappropriate U.S.Only vehicles are branded Dodge (U.S.Mz6 + CX9) - platform sharing/development by MVS would be a ROTW-foreign-affair, since there'd be No duplication/rebadging within the U.S./NA - hopefully the DodgeTruck deal with NissanRenault could still go thru - the LX cars could get a final/major makeover while their retail sales 'wind-down', as Fleet-ONLY: hemiCopcars & lighter-tho-sturdy/more-econo taxis & MIB's So what this means is Cerberus and Sumitomo would create a new global auto manufacturing conglomerate, utilizing Mazda, & Volvo-Saab to revamp and run the walking-dead-Chrysler (which would in a real sense, survive in name only), while positioning the main corporation to drastically increase global sales/market-share/profits.