Chrysler aims for car, SUV blend with Pacifica

Detroit, Jan 7: At last year’s Detroit autoshow, Chrysler President Dieter Zetsche was the center of attention, a relatively unknown German executive dispatched to revive profits and make thousands of job cuts at the American arm of DaimlerChrysler AG.

This year, Zetsche’s first attempts at remaking Chrysler’s vehicles took center stage with the unveiling on Sunday of the Chrysler Pacifica, a combination of station wagon and sport utility vehicle (SUVs) that the company believes could be as successful as its PT Cruiser or the original minivan. “This is something completely new, a new animal,” said Chrysler chief operating officer Wolfgang Bernhard.

While not the first vehicle to go into production on Zetsche’s watch, the Pacifica is the first Chrysler vehicle to get extensive reworking under his direction. The version that will go into production early in 2003 will cost less to build and should garner better safety ratings than originally planned.

The Pacifica has been on the drawing boards at Chrysler for several years. Many automakers have long mulled the idea of vehicles that combine the best attributes of SUVs — space for five or more people, all-wheel drive — without the bulk and harsh ride of many SUVs.

The popularity of the “crossover” vehicles already on the market has speeded up their development. The US sales of 13 such models increased 67 per cent last year while sales in most other segments were flat or lower.

As part of the turnaround plan, Zetsche ordered $2.1billion in cost cuts at Chrysler last year, with an additional $1.9 billion slated for 2002. One way Chrysler and other automakers save money is by sharing parts between various models. But the pre-Zetsche Pacifica shared little more than factory space with any of the company’s other vehicles.

Zetsche ordered the company’s engineers to find ways to share more parts, threatening to cancel the vehicle if certain targets were not met. He also asked them to ensure the vehicle would garner top ratings in federal crash tests, which required changes to the front end.

While Chrysler calls the version unveiled Sunday a one-time “concept” or test vehicle, the sharply creased model mirrors the production version in most respects. Resembling a tall, wide station wagon more than a typical SUV, it features three rows of seats, including two rear seats that fold into the floor. Power comes from a 250-horse power V6 tied to an all-wheel-drive system.

— Reuters