Chrysler and Cerberus couldn’t provide the UAW with specific product guarantees because they’ve figured out they have too many vehicles that do too little for sales and the bottom line.

The Auburn Hills, MI-based automaker is expected to cut at least five vehicles from its product lineup, including the much ballyhooed, but cannibalizing Jeep Commander. Did they really need another Grand Cherokee that, if possible, looks cheaper and is less comfortable? Clearly not.

Other models expected to get the boot include the Dodge Magnum wagon and PT Cruiser. Additionally, newly hired executive Jim Press, fresh from Toyota North America, sat in a Sebring and discovered in less than five seconds why Chrysler is having some problems: the interiors look cheap. So the automaker is also undertaking a review of its interiors and will made adjustments according, according to a published report.

Tweaking the interiors is just one of many changes Cerberus is going to be trying to affect over the next two years. Shutting down plants is likely next and in spite of the new contract being more favorable to the UAW than many expected, it does allow for the closure of some plants.

However, Chrysler is not the only one that should be and probably will be reviewing product lineups. Ford is still seeing Wall Street analysts call for the death of the Mercury brand. They cannot see the value in the mid-level product linuep. For example, a fully equipped Ford Fusion is just as appealing as the Mercury Milan. The only difference is the front fascia, rear fasica and the price. Ford CEO Alan Mulally has said in the past that every aspect of the company is being reviewed. If they’re willing to dismantle the Premier Automotive Group (Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin and Volvo), cutting Mercury might not be as far fetched as some think.

Like most guys, I’ve always had a fondness for Jeeps. The classic looks, coupled with off road capability brings to mind thoughts of cruising down to Baja with a blonde and a surfboard. As often happens with such fantasies though, reality is a whole different image. There is little place for a 4 passenger convertible in a family of five. Why oh why can’t they just add another seat to the classic Jeep body style. Hey wait! They’ve done just that! The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is a 4 door, 5 passenger machine with rough and ready looks and a removable top to boot. Maybe I’ve gone to heaven.
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When you spend your day in a new car dealership, it’s not often you see any really different vehicles. So today, when Vijay Parany from JDM Cars arrived in a 1991 Mitsubishi Jeep, we all noticed.

Now many of you will say, as I did that Mitsubishi and Jeep have nothing to do with each other. You would be wrong. I was too.
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Car enthusiasts love concept cars. Journalists love concept cars. Chrysler loves to build concept cars! In fact they are dedicated to building the Coolest of Cool concept cars. In reality, every designer and every manufacturer thinks that their concepts are the coolest. Not every concept is a driver though and the Chrysler boys and girls try to make most of them runners. the even get them out on the road for journalists to have a go at. Not long ago, one lucky guy got to take the new Challenger down a drag strip!

It has been 20 years since Chrysler began taking this approach and they are pretty proud of some of those cars. Rightfully so, as a number of the cars on the list went on to production and a full model life. Viper, Prowler, Ram, Neon. These and more have been important to Chrysler fans all over, not to mention the company.

More images and press release after the break
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Remember the first Dakota? It was one of the first mid size pickups, maybe even the first. Much larger than the little offerings from Japan, but much smaller than the full size trucks of it’s domestic cousins. It was a great truck for the small contractor who wasn’t carrying a huge load or towing much more than a utility trailer. The new 2008 Dakota has been revealed and it certainly exceeds anything those old trucks could do. It even beats most of the basic half tons from the eighties too. This thing has a tow rating of a whopping 7,050 pounds, all the while carrying the whole family in four door comfort. It looks great too.

Get all the details from Dodge and tons of photos after the break.
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Collisions between deer and cars are never a good combination. Often the driver, or passengers end up dying from the severity of the impact. This however was a real oddball crash.
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