Chrysler Corp. has scrapped plans for a full-size sport-utility vehicle called Adventurer that was to be built off the same platform as the Dodge Ram pickup.
Yet it might assemble a smaller sport-utility built off the midsize Dodge Dakota truck.
And Chrysler might offer a luxury version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee to compete against the likes of BMW, Mercedes, Cadillac and Land Rover and just about any automaker setting its sights on the $40,000-and-up sport-utility market.
Chrysler President Bob Lutz says all scenerios are under review.
“There currently are no plans to build a full-size sport-utility, and we wouldn’t build one off the Ram truck,” he said in an interview.
“That’s a low-volume market and we don’t see that (volume) reversing itself,” he said.
“There’s also a lot of crowding in that market with the Chevy and GMC Suburban, Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon out now that will be joined soon by a Cadillac SUV, a four-door version of the current Ford Bronco and probably a Lincoln-Mercury version of that as well,” he said.
“So not only do you have a lot of entries in what’s a limited market, an entry in that market would only serve to deteriorate our CAFE (corporate average fuel economy),” he said, referring to the fact that trucks, like cars, must meet government-mandated fuel-economy standards..
Does that mean Chrysler won’t join the others with a $40,000-plus sport-utility?
“The luxury SUV market is in a state of rout. It’s a segment we’re glad we aren’t in,” Lutz said, obviously of the opinion that a $32,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee is not in the luxury segment.
But he doesn’t rule out an exotic sport-utility from Chrysler. Lutz simply doesn’t want to get into building a new luxury utility that would require a hefty investment in a new platform.
“The Jeep Grand Cherokee is an upmarket vehicle. Our best opportunity for upward mobility in SUV’s is with the Jeep nameplate. Jeep is viewed in trucks like BMW is viewed in cars. Clearly one possibility for us would be to go upscale with the Grand Cherokee,” he said.
Cheap investment to doll up an existing model. And if the segment is saturated, rather than halting production of a line of sport-utilities like BMW, Mercedes, Cadillac or Lincoln would have to do, Chrysler would simply stop putting the gingerbread on its existing “luxury” model.
With mileage in mind, a utility built off the Dakota makes more sense.
“I won’t say we haven’t considered that as an option, but we have no confirmed plans to do so at this time,” Lutz said.
If Chrysler is concerned about a high-mileage sport-utility, perhaps it might want to enter into an agreement with Mitsubishi, which says it has a new compact utility coming out in 1997.
Mitsubishi supplies Chrysler with V-6 engines and produces the Eagle Talon, Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring at its Diamond-Star plant in Downstate Normal.
“Mitsubishi would be a last resort,” Lutz said. “We’re not interested in such a venture.”
Due date: Toyota said its new compact Tacoma pickup truck will be in showrooms by Friday. No prices but there are rumors optional anti-lock brakes could run $950.
The numbers that are available are the fuel economy ratings-the regular cab 4×2 model with standard 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed comes in at 22 miles per gallon city/28 m.p.g. highway and the regular cab 4×4 with the larger 2.7-liter, 4-cylinder and 5-speed is rated at 18/22.
Make note, the extended-cab Tacoma features a pair of jump seats that fold from the rear wall and cupholders that fold from the jump seat.
Stretching sales: Showroom activity for the midsize Toyota T100 pickup was dragging along until the extended-cab model joined the lineup in late December.
In January, the first full month for the T100 extended cab, sales skyrocketed 214 percent, according to Toyota general manager Dave Illingworth.
In 1993, the T100’s first year in the market, sales were 22,028 units versus predictions of 50,000.
In 1994, sales dropped to 15,080 and dealers complained they had too many in stock.
With the extended cab for 1995, Toyota expects to sell 45,000 and dealers are complaining again-that they want more trucks. Illingworth said extended cabs will account for 60 percent of T100 sales this year.
The T100’s V-6 engine has been beefed up for 1995, but Illingworth said he hasn’t given up on offering a V-8 in the truck.
But fuel economy regulations may dictate if and when a V-8 is offered. The new 3.4-liter, 190-horsepower, V-6 in the T100 (replacing a 3-liter, 165-h.p., V-6) claims 0- to 60-mile-per-hour times of 8.8 seconds, which Illingworth calls “the performance territory of a sports sedan or coupe” and enough pep to hold off on a V-8.
Riv’s No. 1: Buick general manager Ed Mertz said the No. 1 market in the country for the 1995 Riviera is Chicagoland, which accounts for 8 percent of all Riv sales nationwide.
Mertz also said the midsize Buick Regal will start offering a 3.8-liter, 205-h.p., V-6 engine option later in the model year.
