The first salvo in an effort to restore a product-starved lineup–on May 3, CEO Sergio Marchionne said Tuesday.
Marchionne told an industry conference in New York that sales of the redesigned Grand Cherokee SUV will begin in July.Chrysler plans to have 100 percent of its existing lineup refreshed or replaced by the end of 2012, as a wave of new products derived from the alliance with Fiat S.p.A. begins to gain strength.
The Grand Cherokee SUV , assembled in Detroit, was Jeep’s second-strongest U.S. seller last year, accounting for about 22 percent of the brand’s volume. The company hadn’t previously spelled out a schedule for the redesigned version.
Marchionne said he is pushing for “an attention to quality that is probably unprecedented in Chrysler.”
“It needs to be flawless–our definition of quality,” Marchionne told the National Automobile Dealers Association/IHS Global Insight Automotive Forum.
In a speech interrupted by a protester shouting about U.S. taxpayer dollars going to Chrysler, Marchionne vowed to repay the loans from the U.S. and Canadian governments. But he said the federally mandated arbitration process for rejected Chrysler dealers has slowed efforts to improve the dealer network.
Marchionne also said:
– The United States should encourage compressed natural gas as an alternative fuel that easily could be integrated into the existing distribution network at a relatively low cost. Fiat is a major producer of CNG commercial vehicles in Europe.
– He has 78 direct reports globally.
– Chrysler is on track to break even on an operating basis in 2010 and currently holds more than $5 billion in cash. In addition, he said the company’s breakeven point was substantially lower than most analysts estimated.
UPDATED INFORMATION BELOW
The All-New Jeep® Grand Cherokee. It is well made – and it is designed to protect. Grand Cherokee has over 45 Safety and Security features to help protect you and your family should the unplanned “what if…” scenario ever rear its ugly head.
The list of features is long, as it should be – after all, we want to keep you as a customer. Every 2011 Grand Cherokee comes standard with Supplemental Side-Curtain Airbags and Driver and Passenger Seat-mounted Pelvic and Thorax Airbags along with a host of other Safety and Technology components.
Conceived, forged and crashed with pride. Grand Cherokee has earned the Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – the highest standard for crash test performance.
2011 Grand Cherokee Interior
The powerful 5.7-liter V8 engine delivers performance and towing capability, as well as increased fuel efficiency thanks to its innovative Multi-Displacement System (MDS) and Variable Valve Timing (VVT).
The 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee is redefining capability. Building upon its legendary status as the leader in 4WD mastery, Grand Cherokee introduces Quadra-Lift™ and Selec-Terrain™ to the mix creating a new level of tremendous off-road capability.
Go Anywhere, Do Anything™ with one of Grand Cherokee’s three solid 4×4 systems: Quadra-Trac I®, Quadra-Trac II® or Quadra-Drive® II.
The Jeep Trail Rated® badge is found on all Jeep vehicles that pass a series of grueling tests designed to prove off-road capability on the world’s most demanding terrain.
You can expect to Go Anywhere, Do Anything™ in a Jeep® vehicle, thanks to over 69 years of tried and true off-road craftsmanship. Grand Cherokee has two available Trail Rated® 4WD systems, in addition to the standard two-wheel-drive system.
There are three capable available 4WD systems to choose from: and Quadra-Trac I®, Quadra-Trac II® and Quadra-Drive® II.
A rear Electronic Limited-Slip Differential (ELSD) in Quadra-Drive II team up with the NV245 active transfer case and its electronically-controlled clutch pack for awesome traction management.
You’ll also find a skid plate group, telescoping rear driveshaft that adjusts for small changes during normal suspension travel and a newly located gas tank that allows the tire to be mounted under the vehicle for added versatility.
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