Chrysler may be running around like a chicken without a head, but the craziest bird in the roost, the Dodge Viper, is out dancing in the fields. Even while companies worldwide prepare to ransack Chrysler, the Viper sales are unflinchingly continuing. Although Chrysler sales are reportedly down an amazing 32%, Dodge continues to produce and sell Vipers at a rate of 100 units per month. Not just that, but the Viper ACR – that $105k track-prepped super-snake – is all but completely sold out… not so much in spite of the poor economy, but because of it. Chrysler reports that with stock portfolios rapidly losing their value and dollar values plummeting, investors are seeing the Viper ACR as a good investment opportunity due to its potential discontinuation and therefore retaining a high resale value – all with smile inducing dividends, too.

While Cerberus continutes its take-over talks with anyone who will listen, the fiscal viability of the Viper unit is bound to make it an attractive asset for any number of buyers. So while Chrysler may be counting its days, the Viper is likely to live on for some time yet. At least we hope.

Dodge Viper ACR

The WSJ reports today that Cerberus and GM are moving full-steam-ahead in their efforts to get a GM-Chrysler deal done by the end of October. What’s even more interesting though is news that Renault may have their hand in the cookie jar too, negotiating for one or more parts of Chrysler and leading to speculation the Auburn Hills, MI-based automaker could be divvied up among several companies: Basically the worst-case scenario envisioned when Cerberus Capital Management took over in 2007.

On top of that, David Faber of CNBC had a chance to sit down with ChryslerCo CEO, Bob “The Builder” Nardelli; while we haven’t had a chance to run through it in its entirety, hit the jump for the a full transcript of the CNBC interview with Nardelli.
So what’s Nardelli got to say about life, liberty and the pursuit of less losses for Cerberus? Here’s the full transcript of his exclusive interview with CNBC’s David Faber:
CNBC EXCLUSIVE: CNBC TRANSCRIPT: CNBC’S DAVID FABER SITS DOWN
WITH ROBERT NARDELLI, CHRYSLER CHAIRMAN & CEO, TODAY ON CNBC’S “WALL
STREET CRISIS: IS YOUR MONEY SAFE?”

WHEN: Today, Thursday, October 16th at 8:40PM ET

WHERE: CNBC’s “Wall Street Crisis: Is Your Money Safe?”

Following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC EXCLUSIVE interview
with Robert Nardelli, Chrysler Chairman & CEO.

All references must be sourced to CNBC

—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-

FABER: THANK YOU MARK. YEAH WE ARE HERE ROBERT NARDELLI. MR. NARDELLI
THANKS FOR JOINING US.

NARDELLI: THANK YOU. IT IS GREAT TO BE HERE.

FABER: ON THIS LOVELY EVENING WITH THE CRICKETS WITH THE BACKGROUND. LET
ME START OFF WITH THE HEADLINES THAT WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN SEEING, AND WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR MORE THAN A WEEK NOW.
ARE YOU IN TALKS WITH GENERAL MOTORS? IS IT POSSIBLE CHRYSLER WILL GET
PURCHASED BY GM?

NARDELLI: AS YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE DON’T COMMENT ON THOSE RUMORS OR
SPECULATION, DAVID, BUT I THINK IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE GLOBE, TODAY THEY
ANNOUNCED IN CHINA A CONSOLIDATION. OBVIOUSLY, THERE’S GOING TO BE
SPECULATIONS.WE’VE BEEN VERY OPEN ABOUT LOOKING FOR PARTNERS AND
CREATING ALLIANCES, VERY IMPORTANT FOR US. WE ANNOUNCED THE ONE WITH
NISSAN THAT WOULD GET US INTO A “B” PLATFORM, A SMALLER-SIZED VEHICLE.
IS IT SOMETHING WE CAN’T DO? SURELY NOT. WE HAVE GREAT ENGINEERS, WE’VE
GOT GREAT TECHNOLOGY TO BE ABLE TO DO IT, BUT RIGHT NOW IT’S A RACE.
IT’S A RACE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN RESPOND TO AN UNPRECEDENTED CHANGE IN
THE INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER DEMAND BY DOWNSIZING. SO BY BEING ABLE TO FORM
THESE ALLIANCES OR CREATE THESE PARTNERSHIPS, WE’RE TRYING TO FILL OUR
PORTFOLIO TO SUPPORT OUR DEALERS TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

FABER: THERE ARE SOME WHO SAY THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF BENEFITS FROM
CONSOLIDATION, FROM A GM AND CHRYSLER, THE SYNERGIES WOULD BE
CONSIDERABLY VERY LARGE. DO YOU AGREE?

NARDELLI: WELL, I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE U.S. INDUSTRY, WE STARTED THE
YEAR AT ABOUT 16.6 MILLION UNITS. WE FINISHED LAST MONTH AT 12.8. THE
PIN NUMBERS TODAY ARE AROUND 12 MILLION UNITS. I THINK IT JUST,
CERTAINLY, CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT FOR CONSOLIDATION, WHERE YOU CAN GET
SYNERGIES OF PRODUCTIVITY THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE,
NOT ONLY HERE IN THE U.S. MARKET, BUT ON A GLOBAL BASIS.

FABER: TO THE EXTENT — AND I REALIZE YOU’RE NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON THE
TALKS, PER SE, TO THE EXTENT THERE ARE ANY, BUT WHEN THOSE KINDS OF
TALKS OCCUR,THEY CAN ALSO BE DISTRACTING. FOR MANAGEMENT, AND
POTENTIALLY FOR EMPLOYEES. ASSUMING THERE ARE TALKS GOING ON, IS IT
SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD APPROACH AND THEN WANT TO TRY TO GET AN ANSWER
TO IN A FAIRLY RAPID FASHION?

NARDELLI: LET ME JUST SAY, I COULDN’T BE PROUDER OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH A TREMENDOUS LEVEL OF ANXIETY. REMEMBER, THEY
FORMED A MERGER OF EQUALS, IF YOU WILL, A WHILE BACK. AND THEN ALL
OPTIONS WERE PUT ON THE TABLE IN SOME TIME, FEBRUARY, MARCH OF LAST
YEAR, AND THEN WE CONSUMMATED THE DEAL, IF YOU WILL, WITH CERBERUS.
AGAIN, I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER WITH CERBERUS AS OUR OWNERS AND STEVE
FEINBERG HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH, THE ENTIRE
ORGANIZATION. SO OUR PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH TREMENDOUS ANXIETY.
THEY’VE SEEN THE PEAKS, THEY’VE SEEN THE VALLEYS. NOT ONLY RECENTLY, BUT
THE HISTORY OF CHRYSLER, DAVID, AS YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN ONE OF A LITTLE
BIT OF A ROLLER COASTER RIDE, WHERE WE’VE ALWAYS MANAGED TO COME OUT
WITH SOME BOLD, INTIMIDATING, COMMANDING DESIGNS. NEW TECHNOLOGIES,
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO WHAT CUSTOMERS ARE LOOKING FOR. SO I THINK OUR
PEOPLE ARE VERY RESILIENT. AND WE JUST KEEP REASSURING THEM THAT OUR
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO RETURN CHRYSLER TO PROFITABILITY. WE FOCUS ON THAT
EVERY DAY. WE DO THAT BY MAKING SURE THAT WE’VE GOT GREAT PRODUCT
CADENCE. WE MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE INVESTING HEAVILY IN QUALITY. THAT OUR
QUALITY TODAY IS BETTER THAN YESTERDAY. NOT AS GOOD AS IT’S GOING TO BE
TOMORROW, SO THAT WE CAN REALLY CHANGE THE IMAGE, THE REPUTATION, THE
RELIABILITY, THE DURABILITY OF OUR VEHICLE, THAT THEN SUPPORTS OUR
DEALER NETWORK. A STRONG DEALER NETWORK, A LOYAL DEALER NETWORK, AND
THEN TRY TO RESPOND TO CONSUMER DEMAND.

FABER: LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. THE
PRICE OF OIL HAS DROPPED PRECIPITOUSLY. ONE WOULD IMAGINE THAT MIGHT BE
GOOD NEWS FOR YOUR INDUSTRY. ONE MIGHT IMAGINE THAT, BUT I CAN ALSO
IMAGINE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, IT MIGHT NOT BE THE CASE.

NARDELLI: I THINK IN A NORMAL ENVIRONMENT, WE’D BE DOING A DANCE RIGHT
NOW AT UNDER $70, YOU KNOW, AROUND $3 PER GALLON. OBVIOUSLY, WHEN OIL
SPIKED, GASOLINE PRICES WENT UP TO $4. WE THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO BE
OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN 2008.IF YOU THINK ABOUT AN ECONOMY THAT’S IN
TURMOIL, IF YOU THINK ABOUT AN INDUSTRY THAT’S SPIRALING DOWNWARD, $4 A
GALLON GAS HAS REALLY BEEN DWARFED BY THIS WHOLE ISSUE NOW OF CREDIT
AVAILABILITY FOR OUR CONSUMERS, CONSUMER CONFIDENCE, CONSUMERS’ ABILITY
TO ACTUALLY GET INTO A VEHICLE. YOU’VE SEEN SOME FINANCING ARMs TODAY
ANNOUNCE, UNLESS YOU HAVE A FICA SCORE OF ABOUT 700, YOU WON’T QUALIFY.
A LOT OF NORMAL CUSTOMERS OUT THERE TODAY, DAVID, ARE 650, 670. AND SO
THOSE THAT HAVE ENOUGH INITIATIVE, ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO BUY A VEHICLE
MAY FIND THEMSELVES NOT QUALIFYING FOR A VEHICLE.

FABER: SO YOU’RE SAYING THAT DESPITE THIS INCREDIBLE DROP IN OIL, WHICH
ONE WOULD IMAGINE WOULD BE GOOD NEWS FOR YOUR POTENTIAL BUYER, THE
CREDIT PROBLEM IS DWARFING THAT?

NARDELLI: I THINK, NUMBER ONE, IT’S PARAMOUNT IN THE CONSUMER MIND RIGHT
NOW. I THINK IT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE’RE FACING RELATIVE TO
OUR DEALER NETWORK, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO FINANCE THEM ON
THE WHOLESALE BASIS, THAT THEY STILL HAVE GOOD ACCESS TO RETAIL
FINANCING, AND SO WE’RE WORKING VERY HARD RELATIVE TO INCENTIVES TO MAKE
SURE THAT OUR CONSUMERS CAN GET INTO OUR VEHICLES. WE TRIED THAT EARLIER
THIS YEAR WITH REFUELING AMERICA.SO WE HAVE A LASER FOCUS ON OUR DEALERS
AND OUR CONSUMERS, OUR CUSTOMERS TO TRY TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS,
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, KIND OF OUT-OF-THE-BOX SOLUTIONS. BECAUSE AS A
PRIVATE EQUITY COMPANY, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THINGS IN SOMEWHAT OF
AN UNTRADITIONAL MANNER.

FABER: HOLD IT THERE. WE’RE GOING TO BE RIGHT THERE. I WANT TO TAKE A
BREAK AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO TALK WITH BOB NARDELLI, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF
CHRYSLER

FABER: WELCOME BACK TO CNBC, I’M DAVID FABER HERE IN KIAWAH ISLAND,
SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE THE BUSINESS COUNCIL IS TAKING PLACE. I’VE BEEN
SPEAKING TO BOB NARDELLI, THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF CHRYSLER. WE’VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT THE CREDIT CRISIS HAS BEEN HAVING ON YOUR
BUYERS, WHO ARE UNABLE TO GET CREDIT TO BUY AUTOMOBILES. YOU MENTIONED
16.6 MILLION AUTO SALES. WHERE ARE WE HEADED? SOME SEE US HEADED AS LOW
AS 13 MILLION. IS THAT REALLY A POSSIBILITY?

NARDELLI: I THINK THAT’S A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY. DAVID, WE STARTED THE
YEAR AT ABOUT 16.6. LAST NOVEMBER, TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A VERY
AGGRESSIVE, CONSERVATIVE PLAN FOR CHRYSLER, WE KIND OF PEGGED IT AT
15.5. SO WE THOUGHT WE WERE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE THROUGH THE FIRST
QUARTER. THEN WE SAW THIS UNPRECEDENTED AND PRECIPITOUS SPIRALING
DOWNWARD. LAST MONTH WE ENDED WITH SEASONALLY ADJUSTED RATE OF ABOUT
12.8. AGAIN, THERE ARE FORECASTS OUT THERE THAT THE YEAR COULD END AT 13
MILLION. RIGHT NOW THE PIN NUMBERS HAVE US JUST SLIGHTLY ABOVE 12
MILLION. SO JUST IMAGINE THE VOLUME CONTRACTION, JUST IN THE U.S.
MARKET.

FABER: THAT’S SHOCKING. THAT’S OVER 4.5 MILLION CARS.

NARDELLI: IT IS. SO JUST TO PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT, THAT’S AS BIG AS ONE
OF THREE MANUFACTURERS IN DETROIT IS TODAY. SO WE’VE HAD TO,
UNFORTUNATELY, TAKE OUT ABOUT 1.1 MILLION EQUIVALENT UNITS OF CAPACITY.
WE’VE HAD TO AFFECT WELL OVER 25,000 FAMILIES AS A RESULT OF HAVING TO
RESIZE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BE COMPETITIVE THROUGH THIS TROUGH AND
COME OUT THE OTHER BIGGER, STRONGER, AND MORE FORMIDABLE. ONE OF THE
MOST GUT WRENCHING PARTS OF THIS JOB RIGHT NOW IS TO AFFECT PEOPLES
LIVES. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ASPIRE TO HOMES AND COLLEGE EDUCATIONS AND
SO FORTH. SO IT’S REALLY ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGES PARTS THAT I’VE HAD
TO GET MY ARMS AROUND IN THE LAST YEAR SINCE I’VE BEEN WITH —

FABER: MANY CONSUMERS HAVE WATCHED THE STOCK MARKET DIVE OVER THESE LAST
THREE WEEKS, OCTOBER HAS BEEN WORSE THAN SEPTEMBER. I’VE BEEN SPEAKING
TO PEOPLE VERY CLOSE TO CONSUMER-RUN COMPANIES AND THEY SAY THEY’VE SEEN
A PRECIPITOUS DECLINE SINCE THE END OF SEPTEMBER. ARE YOU SEEING SIMILAR
KINDS OF THINGS?

NARDELLI: I THINK CERTAINLY IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF OCTOBER.
WHAT I PROVED, DAVID, NO ONE IS IMMUNE FROM THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT
WE’RE IN RIGHT NOW. I SAW YOU AND JOHN THIS MORNING, YOU KNOW, ON YOUR
SEGMENT, AND I THINK HE FRAMED IT VERY APPROPRIATELY. I THINK YOU ASKED
HIM IF WE WERE HEADED FOR A RECESSION. HE SAID, I THINK WE’RE IN ONE.
AND SO I THINK WE’RE SEEING, AGAIN, AN UNBELIEVABLE CONTRACTION. AND
OBVIOUSLY THE SPECULATION AND THE RUMORS AROUND THAT IS KIND OF DUE
COURSE. IT’S NORMAL ANY TIME YOU HAVE THIS KIND OF ECONOMIC PRESSURE,
YOU’RE GOING TO SEE CONSOLIDATIONS, YOU’RE GOING TO SEE PARTNERSHIPS,
ALLIANCES TO TRY AND OPTIMIZE AND GET PRODUCTIVITY AND SYNERGIES OF
TECHNOLOGY.

FABER: BUT YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU’VE GOT TO OPTIMIZE YOUR COSTS ARE
WHEN YOUR IN DEMAND IS VARYING SO MUCH. IT MUST BE VERY DIFFICULT.

NARDELLI: IT’S VERY CHALLENGING, PARTICULARLY IN THIS INDUSTRY BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT’S NOT A MATTER OF JUST CANCELING AN ORDER. YOU
KNOW, TO STOCK A SHELF AS IN RETAIL. WE’VE MADE HUGE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
IN EXCESS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR A LOT OF THESE PLATFORMS. AND SO
WHEN YOU HAVE TO DOWNSIZE, OBVIOUSLY YOUR AMORTIZATION ON THE PHYSICAL
CAPITAL IN OUR FACILITIES, WORKING WITH THE SUPPLIER NETWORK IS
EXTREMELY CHALLENGING, DAVID.YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DID THE DUE DILIGENCE ON
CHRYSLER, WHAT WE SAW THERE’S ABOUT 1 MILLION PEOPLE DEPENDING ON OUR
SUCCESS.

FABER: IN TERMS OF ALL OF THE SUPPLIERS.

NARDELLI: YOU LOOK AT NOT ONLY OUR DIRECT EMPLOYEES. YOU LOOK AT THE
DEALER NETWORK, 3,600 DEALERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THE SUPPLIERS, THE
LOGISTICS, THE TRANSPORTATION, IT’S A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. AND I HOPE
THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC, I HOPE THAT OUR LEADERS IN WASHINGTON
UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PRESSURE THAT THE INDUSTRY IS UNDER
RIGHT NOW. AND CERTAINLY IT’S GONE FROM HOUSING TO BANKING AND I THINK,
UNFORTUNATELY, TRANSPORTATION IS FEELING THE BLUNT OF BOTH OF THOSE
SECTORS.

FABER: I WANT TO END ON THAT. AND LET ME QUICKLY ASK YOU, IN 1979,
CHRYSLER GOT BAILED OUT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. $1.5 BILLION, A VERY
SMALL SUM IN CURRENT TERMS. IS IT POSSIBLE YOU’RE GOING TO NEED THE HELP
OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGAIN?

NARDELLI: WELL, I THINK THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. WE’RE DOING EVERYTHING
WE KNOW HOW TO DO. WE’RE LOOKING AT EVERY LINE ITEM WHILE AT THE SAME
TIME TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE A VERY STRONG PRODUCT CADENCE.
WE’RE WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE WE’RE COMPLIANT WITH THE CAFE
STANDARDS THAT HAVE PUT A TREMENDOUS FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE AUTO
INDUSTRY. WE FULLY SUPPORT, DAVID, ENERGY INDEPENDENCE. WE SUPPORT THE
NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS, WE’RE DRIVING HARD ON INNOVATION
AND TECHNOLOGY TO MEET BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL,
THOUGH, HOWEVER, AS WE TRY TO GAIN INDEPENDENCE ON OIL. WE’VE GOT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE DON’T BECOME DEPENDENT ON BATTERIES. OUR ENVY PROGRAM
WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE’RE SUPPORTING
FINANCIALLY, WORKING WITH THE ENTREPRENEURS TO CREATE THE BATTERY
TECHNOLOGIES HERE IN THE U.S. THAT ALLOWS US TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING.

FABER: WE HAVE TO END IT THERE. OKAY. BOB, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NARDELLI: THANK YOU.

Bob Nardelli, Chrysler’s Chairman and CEO, stated recently that the company has “been approached by third parties who are interested in exploring future possibilities for Viper.” Apparently, instead of just axing the Viper from Dodge’s lineup, Chrysler is “exploring strategic options” for the Viper brand name. (read: they’re trying to figure out how much money they can get for it.) It’s still unclear what any potential buyer would get, as back in February the company has halted Viper development.

“As the Company evaluates strategic options to maximize core operations and leverage its assets, we have agreed to listen to these parties. We will do so keeping in mind the best interests of those who have shown tremendous support for the vehicle- including employees, suppliers, dealers and a worldwide group of loyal Viper owners and enthusiasts,” Nardelli continued, “Viper is an integral part of this Company’s heritage. While this is a strategic review, our intent would be to offer strong operational and financial support during any potential transaction, in order to ensure a future for the Viper business and perpetuate the legacy of this great vehicle.”

Our question is Why would anyone want to purchase the Viper brand? The current 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 — just a refresh of the 2003 model — is nearing the end of its life cycle. Vehicles like the 2009 Nissan GT-R and 2009 Corvette ZR1 are beginning to claw their way into the Viper’s territory, especially when combined with user friendliness and good road manners. A potential buyer would be receiving a soon-to-be-outdated car, a brand with an image problem and the need to jump-start development on a replacement.

However, to own the car that has just claimed King Of The ‘Ring title from both Nissan & Chevrolet might be a great place to start….

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)  has released their results from sending the all new 2008 Dodge Caravan  into walls and other large obstacles a few times.

The good news for Dodge is that the minivan received top scores of Good in front and side crashes. The bad news is that the rear crash tests came back with a Marginal score, the second lowest possible.

The front and side crash test results are an improvement from the previous-generation Dodge Caravan’s Average scores. The front and side crash tests are the tests that depict the most serious types of accidents. IIHS describes rear crash tests as “an assessment of occupant protection against neck injury in rear impacts at low to moderate speeds. Although such injuries usually aren’t serious, they occur frequently.”

There are Minivans that have actually received IIHS’ Top Safety Pick designation — for Good scores in all 3 tests — include the 2008 Honda Odyssey, 2008 Hyundai Entourage and the 2008 Kia Sedona.

Come on Chrysler/Cerebrus. Let’s see that German aided American Engineering do better than this!

In the latest round of customer surveys conducted by U.S. market research institute J.D. Power, Mercedes-Benz has become the recipient of not 1… not 2… but 3 accolades. Receiving 2 gold awards for the highest vehicle quality in their respective market segments are the E-Class and CLK-Class, while the Platinum Award was bestowed upon Mercedes Benz’s Sindelfingen plant. The Platinum award makes it the assembly facility with the best delivered quality worldwide. Overall, Mercedes improved one place over last year – ranking fourth in overall quality – and it was also the only European brand to win an individual model award.

How does J.D. Power arrive at the results? Market researchers investigate the satisfaction of American customers within the first 90 days of their vehicle purchases, evaluating the quality of both the concept and execution of the purchased vehicle. This year, the opinions of some 80,000 verified owners were tabulated, all of whom owned 2008 model year vehicles.

To learn more about the latest J.D. Power Quality Study as well as how the Mercedes-Benz brand fared, you can find the full details below and at J.D. Power’s Website.

Enjoy.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Latest J.D. Power Quality Study from the U.S.: Mercedes-Benz receives three awards for best product quality

Stuttgart – Mercedes-Benz is one of the most successful auto brands in this year’s customer survey conducted by U.S. market research institute J.D. Power. The Stuttgart car brand receives two gold awards for the highest vehicle quality in their respective market segments, and is also honoured for the world’s best production plant. This outstanding result is one outcome of the initiative launched by Mercedes-Benz to raise customer satisfaction and product quality.

In conducting the annual study, market researchers investigate the satisfaction of American customers with new vehicle purchases within the first 90 days, and evaluate the quality of both the concept and execution of the vehicle. Overall, Mercedes-Benz moved up one place against last year from fifth to fourth, and is the only vehicle brand with three models (CLK, E and S-Class) within the top ten passenger vehicles.

This year saw the E-Class and the CLK each receive gold J.D. Power Awards. According to the U.S. study, these models are the highest quality vehicles in their market segments. Furthermore, Mercedes’ Sindelfingen plant receives the Platinum Award, making it the assembly facility with the best delivered quality worldwide.

Copyright © 2008, Daimler AG

The Awards for Strategic Vision’s 2008 Total Quality Awards have been cast, and this year, three companies – Mercedes Benz, Honda and Toyota all have 2 models on the list that have managed to win in their respective categories.

The Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Awards are rated by The Total Quality Index™ which, of course, is the premier measure of new vehicle owner satisfaction. Strategic Vision asks buyers to rate every aspect of the ownership experience, from buying and owning to performance and driving. It is much more than simply counting problems.

The full press release is below.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Strategic Vision 2008 Total Quality Awards™

San Diego – Toyota and Ford tied for leading in the most segments on Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Index™ (TQI), leading with three vehicles each. Toyota lead with its Yaris, 4Runner and Sequoia while Ford lead with the Edge, Mustang Convertible and F-250/350. The San Diego based research firm today announced the 2008 results that are based on the ratings by new vehicle owners in 19 product segments.

Toyota Motor Sales had two additional leaders with the Scion xB and the Lexus RX 350 (which tied with Land Rover’s LR2); while Ford Motor Company added two additional wins with the Mercury Sable and Volvo C30. “Ford is back, establishing its vehicle quality in the hearts and minds of its customers,” says Alexander Edwards, president of Strategic Vision’s automotive division. “The Ford Edge is one of the vehicles Ford can be proud of. By careful attention to key areas such as exterior styling, workmanship and performance, (which are the cues that signal quality for crossover customers), Ford is building vehicles that also build brand equity and perceived customer quality.”

The Total Quality Index™ is the premier measure of new vehicle owner satisfaction. It asks buyers to rate all aspects of the ownership experience, from buying and owning to performance and driving. It is much more than simply counting problems. “Innovation and thoughtfulness in functionality and design, keeping in mind how the customer will interact and use the vehicle, is essential,” reports Dr. Darrel Edwards, Founder and CEO of Strategic Vision. “Vehicles like the Volvo C30 and Toyota Sequoia are both terrific examples of providing customers with this ‘functional luxury’ in a very stylish design suggesting quality both on the inside and out.”

Mercedes, Honda and Chevrolet brands each had two leaders: Mercedes leading with the S-Class and SL, Honda with the Odyssey and Ridgeline, and Chevrolet with the Corvette Convertible and a tie with itself in full size trucks between the Avalanche and Silverado. From three leads last year, Hyundai took the lead in only one segment this year with its Santa Fe in one of the most competitive automotive segments, the Smaller SUVs. The Volkswagen Jetta, Chrysler 300C and BMW X5 were each TQI leaders. Also worthy of mention is the redesigned Chevrolet Malibu, now second in the highly competitive Medium Car segment.

“Over the past quarter century in the US, customer perceptions of quality of domestic and Asian manufacturers underwent large swings. Today, it doesn’t matter if you are a Toyota or a Ford, BMW or Hyundai, each manufacturer has the opportunity and mandate to produce a product with the right Cues of Quality — those product attributes that signal quality and create customer Trust — and present vehicles that have a greater impact on the purchase decision,” says Alexander Edwards.

Buyers rated the following vehicles tops in their segments:

The Total Quality Index™ was calculated from the responses of 20,655 buyers who bought 2008 models in September, October and November of 2007. Strategic Vision has presented Total Quality annually since 1995.

Since its incorporation in 1989, Strategic Vision has studied consumer and constituent decision-making for the widest variety of clients, including most auto manufacturers, Coca-Cola, American Airlines, Procter and Gamble, as well as for most advertising agencies. Its unique expertise is identifying consumers’ motivational hierarchies, including the values that shape perceptions and capture the customers’ emotional responses and drive behavior. The firm’s in-depth Discovery Interviews and ValueCentered Surveys provide comprehensive, integrated and actionable outcomes.

Head on over to Strategic Vision’s website to see the result for yourself.

Like a family crest, most Automotive emblems actually represent something important to their maker. Whether it be something historically important for the founder, ideals the brand strives towards, or a testament to someone’s ego, the symbol of each company has a history.

We stumbled across this encyclopedia of sorts that has cataloged the origins and meanings for almost every one of the worlds major automakers, and we must say, it’s pretty darn interesting. For instance Chevy’s logo has come about from…

…Popular legend has it that the Chevrolet logo was inspired by wallpaper in a French hotel where William C. Durant was staying (the legend says he saw the pattern marching off into infinity as a design on the wallpaper and tore a piece of it off to keep to show to friends and later turn into the company logo). However, his wife says that the bowtie emblem was first seen by her husband in a Virginia newspaper on a vacation around 1912, upon which he told her that the thought it’d be a very good emblem for the Chevrolet (per Chevrolet Pro Management Magazine, October 1986).

Or, Smart’s logo…..Apart from the Smart name (all lowercase), the Smart logo features a ‘C’ for ‘Compact’, and an arrow for ‘forward thinking’.

Cool Stuff, I Swear!

Take a look at the full list here.

Well, with the proliferation of Starbuck Coffee Shops nowadays, I guess you can almost ask How exactly do you NOT hit a Starbucks these days? But patrons at a Starbucks in Bellingham, Washington got quite the surprise yesterday when a 2008 Chrysler 300, driven by an elderly man, crashed through the plate glass windows and across the shop.

5 people were injured in the incident, luckily none seriously though, and the driver is now facing a charge of second degree negligent driving. Interestingly, the table embedded in the grille kinda it makes it look like the 300 is sticking it’s tongue out. We’re assuming the injured will be suing for millions to cover the cost of spilled coffee.

From what we’re being told though, No coffee beans where hurt in the crash.

More images available below

Chrysler has recently issued a press release detailing the new technology that will start making its way into many of Chrysler’s 2009 model year vehicles, and the highlight is probably the UConnect communications system that will most likely compete with some aspects of Ford’s Microsoft-powered SYNC system. UConnect appears to be a fancy name for a Bluetooth phone integration coupled with voice recognition technology. In addition to pairing up your phone, and downloading your address book, you can also input navigation destinations, change satellite radio stations and get to your voice mail using the power of speech. While it doesn’t seem to offer functionality as broad as what you get with SYNC, UConnect appears to be a solid choice to check off on the options list.

Next, we will be seeing in-vehicle wireless internet connectivity, which Chrysler promises will turn your wing-branded car into a mobile hot spot. It will use a combination of WiFi and 4G broadband connectivity to keep your car connected to the internets, and Chrysler says you’ll be able to access your email, as well as download music movies right in your car. For the 2008 model year, MOPAR is already offering an aftermarket device that can make your car an internet hot-spot as well, but we’re more interested in the integrated system Chrysler’s planning for 2009.

Follow the jump for more and Chrysler’s official press release.

The rest of Chrysler’s technology innovations include the ability to swivel the third-row roof-mounted LCD screen in its minivans that are equipped with Swivel ‘n Go so that second-row passengers that are turned around have something to watch. The automaker also announced a new back-up warning system called Rear Cross Path and a Blind Spot Monitoring system, as well as telling us again about the combination of its Active Transfer Case and Front-axle Disconnect on the ‘09 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. The latter bit of hardware allows the all-wheel-drive versions of these big sedans to completely disengage the front axle and operate as a true rear-wheel-drive car, which saves about 1 mpg since there’s no parasitic drivetrain loss from the AWD system.

Chrysler LLC Announces Barrage of New Engineering and Technology Innovations

Available on 2009 Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge models

* Customer benefits: improved fuel economy, performance, flexibility and convenience
* In-vehicle wireless Internet connectivity: coming from Mopar® by year end
* Rear Cross Path: Chrysler-exclusive system warns drivers of approaching traffic in the parking lot aisle during back-up maneuvers
* Blind Spot Monitoring: exclusive to Chrysler and Dodge in minivan segment
* Active transfer case combined with front-axle disconnect: independent technologies offered together only by Chrysler
* Rear-seat swivel scree: yet another Chrysler exclusive
* Enhanced voice-activated in-vehicle communications system
* Knowledge Based Engineering: vastly improves vehicle development time

Auburn Hills, Mich., Apr 14, 2008 – Chrysler LLC will introduce a wide array of new, innovative and – in most cases – industry-first technologies, all designed to enhance the customer experience, the company announced here today at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress.

“Chrysler has always been known as an engineering company, and the announcement of these features coming to our lineup in 2009 further drives that point home,” said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President – Product Development, Chrysler LLC. “In today’s market, Chrysler’s mission is to bring innovation to market more quickly, ultimately resulting in more customer satisfaction and convenience. Each of these unique Chrysler technologies delivers on that mission.”

Included in the new technologies are an in-vehicle wireless Internet connectivity system, Rear Cross Path and Blind Spot Monitoring systems, a uniquely combined active transfer case and front-axle disconnect system, and a host of in-vehicle connectivity and entertainment systems that offer added customer benefit and convenience.

In-vehicle wireless Internet connectivity
Chrysler is diligently working on an advanced, in-vehicle wireless system to provide increased security and convenience far beyond anything available today. The system will provide high-speed data transfer and convenience, combining WiFi and 4G connectivity for a new level of wireless technology.

This system will transform the vehicle into a “hot spot” to deliver Internet and e-mail access, and movie and music download capability directly to the vehicle.

While Chrysler will offer this technology in future model-year vehicles, an aftermarket in-vehicle “hot-spot” wireless Internet capability is planned through Mopar® in 2008.

Rear Cross Path
An industry exclusive, Chrysler’s Rear Cross Path system warns drivers who are backing out of parking spaces of traffic moving toward their vehicle, but outside the driver’s field of vision. Drivers are notified of vehicle(s) crossing behind their vehicle via an illuminated icon on the sideview mirror, and with an audible chime. Rear Cross Path operates any time the vehicle is in Reverse.

Rear Cross Path will be available on the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan.

Blind Spot Monitoring
Chrysler’s Blind Spot Monitoring system aids drivers when changing lanes if being passed by vehicles or when vehicles are positioned in the blind spot zone. Drivers are notified of a potential hazard via an illuminated icon on the sideview mirror, and if the turn signal is operated, an audible chime can act as an additional warning. Blind Spot Monitoring – which uses dual ultra-wideband radar sensors – is active any time the vehicle is moving forward.

Blind Spot Monitoring will be available on the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan. No other minivan on the market offers this technology.

Active Transfer Case and Front-axle Disconnect
No other major manufacturer offers these two independent technologies together. In doing so, Chrysler’s unique system seamlessly transitions between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive with no driver intervention. When all-wheel-drive is not required, the system automatically disconnects the front axle and opens the transfer case from the drivetrain to reduce friction and rotational mass. The system provides optimal traction, performance, safety and an improvement in fuel economy of one mile per gallon.

Chrysler’s combined active transfer case and front-axle disconnect system will be available on the 2009 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger.

Rear-seat Swivel Screen
Already featuring the industry’s most capable and sophisticated rear-seat entertainment system, Chrysler enhances its system for 2009 with an exclusive swivel third-row screen to allow passengers facing to the rear of the vehicle, via Chrysler’s Swivel ‘n Go™ seating system, to view the screen.

Chrysler’s Vehicle Entertainment System includes dual DVD players and screens that deliver a variety of programming choices, with ports to connect games and portable media players. The driver and front-seat passenger have the ability to access all video sources on the front-passenger screen.

Chrysler continues to offer exclusive SIRIUS Backseat TV: live family TV programming delivered directly to the vehicle.

The exclusive Chrysler third-row rear-seat swivel screen is available on the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, while the Chrysler Vehicle Entertainment System is available on the 2009 Chrysler Aspen, 300, Sebring, Jeep® Grand Cherokee, Commander and Dodge Durango, Charger, Ram, Journey, Avenger and Nitro.

Enhanced voice-activated in-vehicle communications system
Chrysler’s UConnect® Bluetooth® hands-free system recognizes more than 100,000 words and is capable of learning new words. Voice commands can input addresses to the navigation system, select satellite radio stations and access voice mail.

New for 2009, the hands-free system automatically downloads up to 1,000 phone book entries per phone. The enhanced 2009 Chrysler voice-activated system is available on the 2009 Chrysler Aspen, 300, Sebring, Town & Country, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Commander, Liberty, Patriot, Compass and Dodge Grand Caravan, Charger, Challenger, Nitro, Durango, Dakota, Ram, Caliber, Avenger and Journey.

Full iPod integration into the audio system also is available on the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country, 300, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Commander, Compass, Patriot and Dodge Grand Caravan, Challenger, Charger and Journey.

Knowledge Based Engineering
In addition to the host of new innovations offered on 2009 Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles, Chrysler’s product development team has created its unique Knowledge Based Engineering system to speed vehicle development time. Using the company’s proprietary software, engineering data and knowledge, engineers were able to develop the all-new Dodge Challenger in just 21 months, chopping several months off the normal vehicle development time.

Can’t wait to see this stuff start making its way into their vehicles.