Franklin Sussex Auto Mall Blog

While terms of the sale have not yet been completed, Chrysler has officially recognized that they have sold the Pacifica Advance Design Studio in Carlsbad California to Mercedes-Benz.

The Chrysler Pacifica studio opened in 1983 and spawned the Dodge Challenger concept in 2006. It also was responsible for the concepts that led to production versions of the Dodge Intrepid, Plymouth Prowler and Jeep Compass, as well as a number of influential concepts that were not produced, including the Chrysler Millennium and Chrysler Atlantic.

Chrysler closed the site earlier this year as part of a plan to streamline operations. The 20-person Pacifica design team has relocated or left the company.

Mercedes’ plans for its existing studio, 51 miles to north in Irvine, California, are unclear. It opened in 1990 and employs about 18 people, according to company materials. However, it measures about 13,000 square feet–less than half of the size of the Chrysler property.

Check out the full article on AutoWeek.Com

Yesterday, I was able to check out some Chrysler Concept vehicles that may become actual production cars some day! Here are a couple shots of what we might be seeing on the road in just a few short years!

Jeep Renegade

Dodge Zeo 500

Dodge Slingshot

Dodge Hornet 500

Chrysler EcoVoyager

As gas prices continue to rise, I am seeing more and more cartoonists creating images for local papers and the web that poke fun at something that is affecting us all!

However, don’t let these cartoons bother you! If you are in the market for a new vehicle, Franklin Sussex Auto Mall has a full line of vehicles that obtain incredible gas mileage. For example, the new Jeep Patriot with Chrysler’s World Engine is one of the most fuel efficient vehicles in Chrysler’s current lineup!

To see what we currently have in stock, take some time and browse our new vehicle inventory!

Yesterday, Chrysler announced something that no other automotive manufacturer is currently doing. When you purchase any new Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep vehicle, they will lock the price of gasoline to $2.99 for the next three years for you!

The campaign called “Let’s Refuel America” provides new customers with a special card that allows them to fill up their new vehicle, as well as other vehicles in their personal fleet, for $2.99/gal for up to a 12,000-mile a year limit. If a cardholder sells their vehicle before the 36-month time period is up, they can still continue to use the card for the remainder of the three-year period.

The great part about this deal is that it also includes diesel-powered Ram Heavy Duty pickups. With national diesel fuel prices averaging $4.239 per gallon, according to AAA, a Ram Pickup owner with a Cummins engine could save $3,747, if Chrysler estimates average fuel economy at 12 mpg.

The following vehicles are eligible for the new Let’s Refual America Program (click on the vehicle name to search our current inventory):

Small/Compact Car
Dodge Caliber, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible

Mid-size Car
Dodge Avenger, Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler Sebring Convertible

Large Car
Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum

Crossover
Dodge Journey

Minivan
Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town and Country

Compact SUV
Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass

Mid-size SUV
Dodge Nitro, Jeep Liberty

Large SUV
Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Commander, Dodge Durango, Chrysler Aspen

Pickup Truck
Dodge Dakota, Dodge Ram, Dodge Ram HD

Franklin Sussex Auto Mall has done it! We have been recognized as a Chrysler Pacesetter Club Member as we sold more than 1,000 new vehicles in 2007!

From the Press Release by Chrysler:

Chrysler LLC awarded nearly 200 dealerships across the nation with the 2007 Chrysler-Jeep Pacesetters award and the 2007 Dodge Charger Club Award. The Pacesetter winners are Chrysler-Jeep and the Charger winners all are Dodge-brand dealerships. The dealers each were selected for selling a minimum of 1,000
retail units or more during the 2007 calendar year.

“For our Dealers, becoming a Pacesetter or Charger Club member says that you have ‘made it’ and are now recognized as one of the best in the country,” said Landry. “These elite memberships prove that you can sell a
lot of vehicles, have satisfied customers, and be profitable. The real winners are our customers because in every market we have dealers that exemplify outstanding sales leadership and customer satisfaction.”

However, none of this would have been possible without the support from our incredible customers and our local community! We thank all of you for an incredible 2007 and we look forward to making it an even better 2008!

During the entire month of May, you can save up to $11,000 off MSRP on brand new Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep Vehicles!

Chrysler has also make 0% financing for 5 years available for all new purchases!

Here is May’s TV Commercial …

Chrysler recently announced that they’ve developed an innovative new system that will increase the fuel economy of their 2009 AWD Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger to rival the current mileage of their existing RWD platform.

This system was one of several new technologies that Chrysler revealed at its Auburn Hills technical center.

Over the last year, product development teams at Chrysler have been working extremely hard to improve their current model lineup. With over 500 improvements already made, Frank Klegon (VP of Product Development) promises that there are even more on the horizon including reduced engine noise for the Jeep Patriot and Dodge Caliber and soft-touch materials in some of the vehicles’ interiors.

This new and innovative all-wheel drive system improves fuel economy by disconnecting the front axle from the drivetrain until the all-wheel drive system becomes necessary for safety and control.

As I check out our current inventory, we’ve got a little over two dozen Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger vehicles that are a blast to drive and boast great fuel mileages already!

The Jeep Liberty is all-new for 2008. It’s slightly bigger and has a smoother ride, but it maintains the ruggedness of the previous version. The 2008 Liberty is quite capable off road, one of the best in its class.

The 2008 Jeep Liberty is 2.5 inches longer overall and its wheelbase is two inches longer than that of its predecessor. With heavily revised styling, the 2008 Liberty is taller and more angular than the 2001-2007 models, reminiscent of the much-loved, rugged but crude 1990s Jeep Cherokee. Compared to recent Jeep offerings such as the Patriot and Compass, the all-new 2008 Liberty is more of a true Jeep, with off-road prowess and bold, upright styling.Safety features include the mandated dual front airbags, plus head-protecting side-curtain airbags with rollover sensors and front side airbags for torso protection. Active safety features include anti-lock brakes with brake assist, hill start assist, traction control, and electronic stability control with rollover mitigation. The antilock brakes have rough road detection; when rough conditions are detected, the system holds the brake pulses longer to better slow the vehicle. Hill descent control is standard on 4×4 models. Optional safety features include trailer sway control and rear obstacle detection.The most noticeable aspect of the front end is Jeep’s characteristic seven-slot grille, which is taller on this model. The grille is body color on Sport, chrome on Limited. The front fascia is body color on all, and the front air dam is removable to provide more ground clearance for off-roading.

From the side, the Liberty looks like a junior Commander, with tall windows in a squared off greenhouse. The Limited’s chrome theme extends to the side with chrome side trim and roof rails. These components are black on Sport, and the roof rails are optional. In an attempt to give the Liberty the open feel of a Wrangler, Jeep offers the Sky Slider sunroof. Jeep says this canvas power sunroof is four times the size of an average sunroof.

The 2008 Jeep Liberty offers a pleasant driving experience. The ride is generally firm, but the Liberty smoothes over most bumps and is never punishing, even with the available 18-inch wheels.

In off-road conditions, the 2008 Liberty is quite capable. With generous approach and departure angles and low-range gearing for 4×4 models, it can crawl over large rocks and logs. Four-wheel-drive models have Hill Descent Control, which pulses the brakes through the ABS to limit the vehicle’s speed when driving down steep grades. Hill Start Assist is also standard. It holds the brakes on hills when the driver releases the brakes to prevent the vehicle from sliding backward.

The 2008 Jeep Liberty has better off-road capability and more towing capacity than most of its competitors.  It offers generous cargo space and a high seating position. All-new for 2008, the latest version is more refined than the previous generation.

During the entire month of April, you can save up to $10,000 off MSRP on brand new Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep Vehicles!

Chrysler has also make 0% financing available for all new purchases!

Here is April’s TV Commercial …

Each day, my staff and I are presented with all kinds of service requests. They range from simple oil changes and tire rotations to strange noises and inoperable vehicles. Our A+ Certified technicians work extremely hard to diagnose and fix any problems that come through our bay doors to provide the customers with the most efficient turn-a-round time on their vehicle.

Here is a recent experience that prompted a letter to our dealership’s owner …

I wanted to let you know how appreciative I am that you have such a terrific leadership in your service department.

Two weeks ago, I was frantic because I lost the connection between my Blackberry and the U-Connect fuction in my Jeep, which was purchased at your dealership. Your service manager tried to help me over the phone as I was several hours away from your business. The Jeep user manual was of no help to me. When I was finally able to bring the Jeep and my Blackberry into your facility, your service manager was able to fix the problem in less than five minutes.

Just knowing that I had a sympathetic response and someone with the intelligence and speed to fix the problem was very important to me. I am grateful for the professionalism and help from your team. This is why I will be a loyal customer.

Paula Filler