Demand for Nitro extends its life

[rickaren]

Demand for Nitro extends its life

UPDATED 03/22/2011



A Toledo-made sport utility vehicle whose sales have disappointed officials with Chrysler Group LLC for years may have won an extra half-year of production life thanks to steadily increasing demand over the last several months, The Blade has learned.

The Dodge Nitro, which Chrysler officials have hinted for more than three years would be phased out with the start of the 2012 model year this summer, will continue to roll down the line at the Toledo North Assembly Plant through the end of 2011, local officials have confirmed.

Kristin Starnes, chief spokesman for the Dodge Brand, said the automaker does not discuss its future product plans. But local sources confirmed Monday that Chrysler has already planned an extended life for the Nitro.

Nitro sales jumped in recent months, although they still are far behind those of its linemate, the Jeep Liberty. Nitro sales were up 30 percent for 2010 to 22,618 units and have risen 53 percent during the first two months of 2011.

In the presentation of its five-year product plan in November, 2009, Chrysler officials said that Nitro's existence beyond mid-2011 was only "under consideration," even as the company moved forward with a completely redesigned Jeep Liberty for the 2013 model year.

However, early Monday morning, a Chrysler insider on the Chrysler enthusiast Web site Allpar.com revealed that while the Liberty would switch over to the 2012 model in mid-July, 2011-model year Dodge Nitros would continue to be produced until mid to late December.

Chrysler's previous management indicated in September, 2008, that the Nitro would be phased out by the 2012 model year and "merged" with the Liberty.

However, that executive is no longer with the automaker, now controlled by Italian automaker Fiat SpA.

Although Chrysler made more than 113,000 Dodge Nitros in 2007, it made only 27,562 in 2010. Dodge helped boost Nitro sales in 2010 by introducing three new trim packages and a different engine, further differentiating it from the Jeep Liberty.

SOURCE

[rickaren]

The Chrysler Five Year Plan (November 2009)

Auburn Hills, Mich., Nov 4, 2009 - The rollout of Chrysler Group LLC's 2010-2014 Business Plan is available at Chrysler LLC | Business Plan

Dodge Nitro page 30 of Presentation 1 – Dodge Brand
Posted by: Ralph Gilles

Posted on 11.04.09 @ 11:15 AM

* Download (PDF, 2,929 KB)

[ParadiseSeeker]

Any news about the future of the Nitro? Jeep has many SUVs in its lineup and I would suggest to concentrate on the Nitro as Dodge midsize SUV. I'm no fan of the Liberty, but as proud owner I really hope that Fiat will give Nitro a chance.

I don't unterstand why Fiat wants to launch Dodge cars in Europe as part of Alfa Romeo or Fiat. Can't they see that these brands have different target groups? It's like Fiat is working on its self-destruction. Dodge is soo much more than Fiat. Don't let this cult brand die!

[rickaren]

Dodge to abandon Mainstreet for 2012
Posted on June 7th, 2011 • by DaveAdmin

Dodge will drop the new Express, Heat, and Mainstreet models on the Avenger, according to sources within the organization, in favor of the traditional SE and R/T models, accompanied by the new Lux and new-old Rallye names. The R/T will be getting a unique interior with a center tachometer, “Z-stripe” seats, “spider monkey” wheels, fender stripes, and red LED ambient lighting.

Most customers are expected to opt for the mid-range Rallye model, with around half opting for the four and half for the six.

Journey will carry forward with its Express, R/T, and Lux, renaming Mainstreet to Crew. The Lux will gain chrome on the sides, and Crew will get fog lamps. Most buyers are expected to go for Crew and Crew Plus.

Grand Caravan will adopt the new names, with four models: Express, Crew, Crew Plus, and R/T. Most buyers are again expected to go for the two Crew models. Mainstreet is being swapped for Crew, while the existing Crew is moving to Crew Plus. Numerous option package changes are being made, leather quad seats are being made optional on R/T, and a new “sapphire blue” interior lighting setup is being added.

Durango is the only model to keep the Heat name; CrewLux, however, is being dropped. Late in the year, Dodge is expected to add second-row Captain’s Chairs, and as Allpar reported earlier, the six-speed Chrysler-engineered 65RFE automatic is expected to replace the 545RFE five-speed on V8 models only.

Nitro is expected to return as an extended-2011, possibly only in the Heat model, with both 3.7 and 4.0 liter engines; this may be a simple “spare parts buildout” exercise with assembly ending before calendar-year 2012, but well after most other models have switched over.

SOURCE