Chrysler news from California

[joebril@xxxx]

300 folks

I just got home from the California Mille Miglia, Martin Swig's 1000 mile 
rally through No. California. . Chrysler sponsored it. A few old time and 
many new Chrysler people were there. They showcased a red 55 C300 (I think it 
was Larry Jett's former car) and a 57 300D with the new Crossfire and a 
sport utility vehicle. 

The new EVP marketing of Chrysler (Tom Marinelli ?sp) actually drove the red 
C300 day one...not since Bob Lutz left Chrysler have we had this kind of exec 
participation.

The CrossFire has a Mercedes E320 engine they rate at 215HP; wide ratio 6 
speed manual and opt 5 sp auto... Very light car, about 3200 lb, moves to 100 
MPH pretty quickly.

However, I mentioned to the Chrysler team that Mercedes has an EPA approved 
version of this engine with an AMG supercharger @ 350HP (I have driven the 
featherweight Benz SLK with this motor and its like a true little "hot 
rod"). My calculations would estimate 0-60 mid-5 seconds if geared well, and 
MAYBE 13.9 in the 1/4 mile IF they'd offer this combo. D_C likely 
fear..would that eat into Mercedes sales?
"Price it high, and cry all the way to the bank!"

No promises or guidance but (wink smile) they are "working on" addditional 
high performance Chrysler badged cars. I had one comment that there is some 
fear that the Chrysler dealer network can manage customers with performance 
cars in 2003 (Dodge Viper stories?)

The Chrysler execs on hand were proud as can be that they worked the HEMI 
back into a passenger car, first maneuvering it through US rules into a 
truck. Regarding looks, didn't want to say "the baby is ugly"...too late to 
change..., just congratulations. Once its on the street next generations can 
be developed. 

There has been lots of discussion about THE LETTER...whether to seek a 
"retro" restart vs "N". I'm sure that all kinds of high powered behavioral 
psychologist marketing experts have been paid to offer their advice. I wish 
it was N...but that might not sell as many cars...Yet the average buyer might 
not have been born in 1955-57.

Ferrari was mentioned in a recent e-mail as a company that wouldn't relabel 
in a confusing way. Non e vero. In the mid 80's when performance was going 
down hill, they badged a 3500 lb car the "testarosa". Painted the cam covers 
red and tried to leverage the 1957 heritage of the 1800 lb V12 Scaglietti 
bodied Testarosa. Purists had a negative reaction. But Ferrari sold a 
remarkable number of them...7177 in total, and they still resell for $55-70K, 
despite better performing new cars available at the high end of that price 
range (not Ferrari badged).

The good news is that the Chrysler brand has a top notch marketing/brand 
manager with an objective to build the Chrysler brand around PERFORMANCE and 
luxury automobiles....we wont have another Plymouth episode w/ "Chrysler". 
Chrysler 300 members would have been happy to see all the promotional 
displays with NASCAR pictures from the 50s, the HEMI history, the letter 
cars, etc etc. Beats the 2001 cutback days.

Best regards,

Joe Brilando


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