Get Ready For More Chrysler and Dodge Minivans

The Chrysler Group has recently announced that the all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country as well as the Dodge Grand Caravan minivans both introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit are going to be produced at the DaimlerChrysler’s Windsor Ontario Assembly Plant and St. Louis South Assembly Plant in Fenton, Mo.

The main objective of the Chrysler Group is to produce several vehicles under same roof and in the process save millions of investment dollars while hastening the availability of the vehicles to the market equipped with the same high quality Chrysler parts that meets the quality levels set by the automaker.

According to Frank Ewasyshyn, Executive Vice President, Manufacturing, Chrysler Group, "These are very important products for the Chrysler Group as we remain committed to the minivan market and maintain our leadership position. Our focus on flexible manufacturing and new investments, adding state-of-the art technology to plant operations, will help us ensure we can meet those demands and build almost anything, anywhere, with improving speed and quality."

Visiting DaimlerChrysler’s Windsor and St. Louis Assembly Plants

The Windsor Assembly plant is presently housing the production for Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans with the Stow ‘n Go® seating and storage system, together with the Chrysler Pacifica, has enough resources to accommodate the production of two different vehicle platforms. The Chrysler Group has invested $508 million to its Windsor Assembly to provide it with a state-of-the art paint facility which is capable of accommodating the dimensions of at least eleven different body styles. The Windsor Assembly plant is scheduled to operate on the first quarter of 2007. This plant was built in 1928 and at present considered to be one of Chrysler’s largest assembly plants with 4.01 million square feet. The plant is currently employing 4800 people.

The St. Louis South Assembly Plant is another big plant of Chrysler. The automaker invested $1 billion for this plant. Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan minivans (south), and Dodge Ram (1500 and 2500) Standard and Quad Cab Pickup (North) are the vehicles produced in this plant. The St. Louis Plant was constructed in 1959 and has a total area of 2.64 million square feet and the third assembly plant of Chrysler that implements a fully robotic body shop. This gives the St Louis plant the capability of manufacturing multiple types of vehicles on one line. Chrysler’s St. Louis Assembly plant has 3,200 employees presently.

Chrysler Group is expecting to make the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country available to US market in the fall of 2007.

By Correy Putton.

Chrysler 300

Thanks to characteristic styling, powerful performance and the roomy interior, the Chrysler 300 has become popular in the sedan category. Thanks to the V8 engine the 300C trim is known to be an impressive vehicle. This beautiful model is bracketed between another two V6 models that are affordable at the one end and at the other end is the high-performance SRT8.

The Chrysler 300 made its debut in 2004. It was designed to attract consumers that have the desire for personality compared to a regular sedan. The mechanicals underlying the 300 derive from technology used in Mercedes-Benz, and this is an obvious benefit. The style of the 300 is without a doubt American. The beltline, large grille, bulging fenders, doubled-lens headlights and large wheels make the presence of the Chrysler strong on the road.

The wheelbase is 120 inches and this shortens at the front of the car and overhangs on the rear. This way it provides plenty of space for the occupants inside the car. The dimensions of the cabins are generous no matter how you look at it, and with the Chrysler 300 there is more legroom compared to most of the competitors. The interior design of the 300 many would say simple, but it is also elegant. The dash combines luxury, semi-retro and sporty motifs.

The consumer has a choice of 5 Chrysler 300s styles to choose from: Chrysler base, Chrysler Touring, Chrysler Limited, Chrysler 300C and finally the Chrysler 300C SRT8. The base model will probably appeal to the budget-orientated customer because of the vehicle’s low price, but you will probably be suggested to settle with either the Limited or the Touring, because the trim levels on these cars have standard features. The Chrysler 300C and the Chrysler SRT8 are models that are for the performance-orientated. The difference between the two models is the SRT8 is tuned to provide maximum performance.

When one talks power, they talk Chrysler. The base for instance, has an amazing 200 horsepower V6 engine connected to a transmission that is automatic and four-speed. The Limited and the Touring have slightly more horsepower than the base. It has a 250-horsepower V6 engine connected to a transmission that is five-speed. The 300C and SRT8 have a V8 engine, and although the 300C has an amazing 340-horsepower engine, the SRT8 sits at 425-horsepower. The SRT8 has stiffer suspension, the tires and wheels are larger and the brakes are more powerful. Chrysler offers the consumers front and rear-wheel-drive vehicles when considering the 300C and the Limited.

Experiencing the Chrysler 300 behind the wheel, one would say that the 300 is one of the best sedans that have been tested. With the style, the size and the design, the Chrysler 300 retrains its characteristics and could easily be described an American unique. Measured by its efficiency and its responsiveness, the 300 has international quality. For consumers who have become a little wary for rear-drives for the day to day driving, and those in show-filled areas, the 300 was proved suitable enough to take to the road.

By Dennis J James.