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Chrysler to Improve Nitro and Sebring

Consumer Reports recently gave the DodgeAfter admitting the flaws on the Nitro and
Nitro and the Chrysler Sebring poor scores.the Sebring, Bob Lee said that they are
For the Chrysler Sebring and the Dodgealready in the process of overhauling their
Avenger, Consumer Reports stated that theyproduct development system. The company
are not competitive with most family sedans.hopes that with the revamping of their
For the Dodge Nitro, Consumer Reports sayscurrent system, the blunder with the Nitro
that it has "some nice features, butand the Sebring will not happen again. This
unimpressive  overall".is especially important to the auto
manufacturer since they are on the verge of
This, of course, stirred a hornet's nestturning around their awful performance in the
inside the Chrysler Group. A top executivecar  market.
for the car manufacturer recently admitted to
its employees that the Chrysler GroupFrank Klegon, Chrysler's product development
apparently misjudged the market in thechief, said that: "We're certainly not
development of the Chrysler Sebring and thesatisfied with where we are. We have to get
Dodge  Nitro.better." Klegon also outlined a number of
actions that they will take to improve their
Bob Lee, the head of powertrain engineeringcurrent  system.
for the American car manufacturer, said that
there are many people inside Chrysler who areThe company said that they will be focusing
"outraged" at the blunder given to the Nitroon sourcing more parts or materials from
and the Sebring. He said that Chrysler'slow-cost countries and will invest more on
Chief Executive Officer Tom LaSorda and Chiefthe interior of their vehicles. Aside from
Operating Officer Eric Ridenour are "quitethat, the Chrysler Group will also establish
upset and agree the company missed where thedesign studios which will help them better
market  was to end up versus our projection."design the interior as well as the exterior
of their future car models. These design
The Sebring and the Nitro failed miserablystudios will complement their engine
since Chrysler underestimated theirdevelopment team which will produce more
competitors which are already establishedfuel-efficient engines probably with a help
brands such as Toyota. The company is alsofrom the Chrysler cold air intake system
reported to set too low standards in someamong  many  others.
areas of the two vehicles released last year.
Fuel economy, interior quality and noise andThe company also hired the ASI Consulting
vibration reduction are things that ChryslerGroup which will help them to understand
needs to improve on the Sebring and the Nitroconsumers better. The company has already
to  make  them  competitive  in  the  market.worked for Hyundai. According to Klegon, the
think tank was hired to help them "make a
"As a result of these embarrassing 'misses,'cultural change to move that needle to be
there are extremely aggressive actions beingproactive". Klegon added that: "We're taking
taken on many of the existing products - andthis on as an extreme change in the way we do
also the yet to be introduced products to getpredictive quality from the standpoint of
us at least to the middle of the competitivecustomers. It's embedded in our vehicle teams
pack  in  very  short  order,"  says  Lee.and it's embedded in our components team.



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