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Chrysler in crisis

By Liz Turner, in the US Motor Industry 02 March 2007 04:28 The trouble with Chrysler: the background In 1996 when Chrysler opened its $1.1bn headquarters in Auburn Hills, 30 miles north of Detroit, executives joked that if things didn’t work out, they could always sell it as a shopping mall. Following DaimlerChrysler’s annual press conference on 14 February, local realtors are, no doubt, sneaking in to take measurements. Chrysler Group announced a staggering operating loss of $1.5 billion for 2006, and in the subsequent question time, DaimlerChrysler’s CEO Dieter Zetsche said the company ‘will examine far-reaching strategic options with partners’.

Mercedes want more Tesla-powered EVs. A-Class & CLA EV?

The Mercedes B-Class EV (pictured) could be joined by more Tesla-powered compact Mercedes EVS When Tesla was still trying to be something more than just the Silicon Valley company that put an electric motor in a Lotus to create the Tesla Roadster, Mercedes took a stake with an eye to the future. That deal between Mercedes and Tesla has already reaped some rewards with the Smart EV and electric B-Class, but it seems Mercedes wants more EVs in its lineup and wants Tesla to provide the powertrains and batteries. Speaking to Reuters, Daimler’s CFO, Bodo Uebber, said they were looking at more ways to work with Tesla and that they were looking to fo more in the premium compact arena to appeal to a younger demographic.

Land Rover Freelander

Land Rover has released pictures of the new Freelander (LR2), due to be launched at the British Motor Show in July. Harder edged than its predecessor, the chiselled exterior has simpler surfaces that update the same overall styling theme. The profile of the new car is more dynamic, borrowing cues from Range Rover Sport, though the stepped roofline has been diluted.