“It’s different now,” Doug Betts, senior vice president in charge of quality at Chrysler, told the News. “People are talking openly about problems now and how to fix (them.)”

In an exclusive interview Wednesday with The Detroit News, Betts said changing Chrysler’s culture to collectively attack quality problems has been as difficult—and essential—as making better cars. Uneven product quality has been Chrysler’s Achilles heel for decades and addressing the problem a top priority under a series of corporate owners and chief executives, the paper said.

Most recently, Cerberus Capital Management LP pledged change and two years ago recruited Betts from Nissan Motor Co. to get it done, but Chrysler ran out of money and ultimately into bankruptcy, the paper said. Today, he says, there is company-wide support for doing what it takes to improve quality and everything from management structures to manufacturing processes has been overhauled, the story said. (The Detroit News)

Peters, who represents Auburn Hills, where Chrysler is headquartered, took issue with the comments made Sunday by McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate, who said helping Chrysler and General Motors Co. was a bad political decision, the paper said. While serving as grand marshal of a NASCAR race in Arizona, McCain said, “Anybody believes that Chrysler is going to survive, I’d like to meet them.”

Peters has accepted the offer and sent McCain a letter in which the congressman said he “will meet with you at your convenience to discuss the future of Chrysler and the contribution they make to our nation’s economy,” the News said.

“Better yet, I’d be more than happy to bring you to my district to meet with thousands of Americans who are working hard every day to design new and exciting vehicles and ensure the continued future of the American automobile industry,” Peters wrote. “Hopefully then you might choose to be a partner in the continued success of an industry critically important to our country.” (The Detroit News)

The 2010 Dodge Journey, 2010 Chrysler Sebring (when equipped with available Electronic Stability Control [ESC]), 2010 Dodge Avenger (when equipped with available ESC) and 2010 Jeep® Patriot (with available seat-mounted air bags) were named top safety picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Sebring, Avenger and Journey also were awarded IIHS top safety picks for both the 2009 and 2010 model years. The 2010 Patriot joins the trio in receiving the highest possible rating from the nonprofit research organization.

For the 2010 model year, Chrysler Group products comprised almost 15 percent of the total vehicles awarded top safety pick status by the IIHS to automakers. The award recognizes automobiles with ESC that perform well in the safety group’s front-impact, side-impact, rear-impact and new for 2010, roof-strength evaluations.

“With the addition of the Jeep Patriot, the Chrysler Group has received four top safety picks in the 2010 model year—a great accomplishment for our company,” Scott Kunselman, Senior Vice President—Engineering, said. “IIHS’ recognition of our products underscores the Chrysler Group’s engineering capability and leadership in occupant protection.”

The 2010 Patriot, Sebring, Avenger and Journey use a two-fold approach to safety—passive features combined with accident-avoidance features. Available safety and security features on all four vehicles include ESC with traction control, Brake Assist and anti-lock braking system (ABS), driver and front-passenger active head restraints, front seat-mounted side air bags and advanced multi-stage front air bags.

“Chrysler showed the most improvement of any automaker for 2010,” IIHS President Adrian Lund said. “These Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge models are part of an elite group that afford the best overall crash protection and have electronic stability control, which can help keep drivers out of crashes altogether.”

The Chrysler Group’s four top safety picks all feature the company’s new active head restraint system for front-seat occupants. This new system aids the head restraints ability to minimize neck injuries caused by rear-impact accidents. In the event of a rear impact, the head restraints deploy to remove the space between the occupants head and the restraint to help minimize whiplash-type injuries.

Johnson, the No. 6 qualifier and driver of the Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T, drew Deceglie in an opening-round battle of J&J Racing-prepped Mopar HEMI®-powered Dodges. The left lane appeared problematic for the pro stockers during the first two matchups, prompting Johnson to switch to the right lane. The decision proved prescient as Johnson captured the round win with a 6.648-second elapsed time (ET) at 207.18 mph, with Deceglie struggling to make it down the track with a 7.187/128.19 mark.

Johnson squared off with Line in the second round. Johnson was first off the starting line with a reaction time of .023 (.000 is perfect) to Line’s mark of .057, but his lead was short-lived, as his Mopar Dodge shook the tires shortly after takeoff, bringing an end to his 2009 campaign.

“I’m not that happy with our ending today,” Johnson said. “I think we had a package there that maybe could have knocked him (Line) out. We had a really good light. It’s not the ending we wanted. But, you know, it’s been another year and we’re all safe. We’ll come back next year and try to get that title.”

Johnson finished the season with two victories, at the O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka and the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver. The two triumphs were a single-season career high for the Greeneville, Tenn., native. The Team Mopar veteran also captured his seventh career No. 1 Qualifier Award at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle. Johnson is scheduled to switch to a new Mopar Pro Stock Dodge Avenger in 2010.

Mopar-powered driver Johnny Gray went down in defeat in the first round, losing to Kurt Johnson. HEMI-powered pro stockers Larry Morgan and Rickie Jones also exited in the opening stanza. Allen Johnson finished seventh in the final NHRA pro stock countdown to 1 point standings, with Gray ninth and Jones 10th. The 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will begin with the 50th Annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Feb. 11-14.
 

Capps finishes third in funny car standings

Mopar® HEMI®-powered NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T funny car driver Ron Capps reached the semifinal round at the 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals on Nov. 15 before he was defeated by Ashley Force Hood. Capps ended up third in the final 2009 NHRA Full Throttle funny car point standings, having earned the most class victories (five) this season.

En route to the semifinal, Capps dismissed Bob Tasca III in the opening round with a 4.312-second elapsed time at 236.67 mph, then disposed of his Mopar-fueled Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) teammate Matt Hagan in the second round, with a 4.144/310.48.

Force Hood was there for the taking after she launched with a .143 reaction time to Capps’ .086, but the veteran lost traction, allowing Force Hood to take the win with a 4.133/307.09 pass, while Capps followed with a losing 4.775/248.25.

“We were still on a mission to try to stand on the podium at the awards banquet in second place,” said Capps, who missed out on his fourth runner-up season finish by 48 points. “It would have been nice after winning five races this year to finish second. We ended up third, and that’s OK.”

Capps’ DSR teammate, Jack Beckman, lost in the opening round at Pomona, finishing fifth in the standings. Capps and Beckman (two wins) combined to drive Mopar HEMI-powered Dodge Charger R/T funny cars to seven wins during the 2009 season.

Shaul claims stock eliminator victory at NHRA finals

John Shaul, of Fultonham, N.Y., drove his AA/SA 1964 Plymouth Fury to the overall stock eliminator class victory on Nov. 15 at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif.

The veteran Mopar® Sportsman driver defeated Tony Janes, Phil Mandella, Larry Petersen, Jeff Jerome (driving a 1973 Duster) and Jody Lang, in order, to set up his finals appearance against the 1969 Camaro of Jimmy DeFrank.

Shaul hauled in his Wally trophy by scoring a holeshot win against DeFrank. Shaul recorded an elapsed time of 9.772 seconds with a reaction time of .019 to DeFrank’s 9.736 run, paired with a slower .064 reaction time. Shaul’s margin of victory was 23 inches.

Here are the top stories from Chrysler Group LLC for the week of Nov. 9. Stories include a glimpse at the new Jeep® commercials, the reveal of the new Dodge Challenger that will race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series next year and a look at Dodge Sprint Cup driver Kurt Busch’s win last weekend at Texas International Speedway.

“Cars, Trees & Traditions” spotlights eight decades of holiday style through 23 nostalgically- and thematically-decked evergreen trees, paired with vehicles from the museum’s collection. Each vignette is wrapped with text, images and advertisements reminiscent of holidays past.

Following the exhibition’s narrative from one vignette to the next, guests see how vehicle progression—from horseless carriages to enclosed, more comfortable and better engineered models—helped change the ways in which Americans celebrated the season’s festivities.

New for 2009

Thirty vintage pedal cars dating back to the 1920s, including many Chrysler-inspired models and specialty vehicles, will lend an additional nostalgic touch to this year’s exhibition. The miniature cars and trucks are from the private collections of Greg Gladki of Westland, Mich., and Earl Ickes of Clinton Township, Mich.

Among the pedal cars on display:

1925 Hudson
1937 Airflow Sedan
Airflow Fire Truck
1938 Dodge Sedan
1939 Chrysler Airflow Fire Truck
1939 Dodge
1941 Dodge Fire Chief
1941 Chrysler
1941 Chrysler Sedan
1968 Plymouth Sport Fury
1968 Dodge Charger
Jeep

Family Fun Day

Cars, Trees & Traditions opens with Family Fun Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. 

Festivities include:

• informal exhibition tours
• visits with Santa in a vintage Dodge truck – bring your camera
•  a host of holiday crafts
• air brush body art (11 a.m.-1 p.m.)
• Christmas Traditions Unwrapped, presented by Lisa Gleeson of Lisa’s Gift Wrappers in Royal Oak (11:30 a.m.). Gleeson will share origins of holiday traditions, including:
- The Christmas tree’s German “roots” and popularization by the British
- Holiday cards dating back to 1870
- The evolution of St. Nicholas into Santa Claus
- The introduction of exchanging gifts
- Gift wrapping, starting with brown paper packages tied up with strings
- balloon art
- holiday music
- sweet treats

The museum’s gift shop also will feature discounts on a number of collectibles, providing an opportunity for guests to get a jump on their holiday shopping.

Special Family Fun Day admission is $7.50 per person for ages 2 and older, and $28 for a family of four. (Member admission is $6.25 per person and $24 per family of four.)

Holiday Ornament Workshops

For crafty guests, the museum is hosting Holiday Ornament Workshops, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. or 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, including a bulb-making session, refreshments and an exhibition tour.

Participants will create a keepsake memento from a favorite photo scanned prior to the workshop and slipped into a glass bulb. Participants will adorn the ornaments with a variety of silk flowers, leaves, beads and baubles—all with the help of a pro, Kathy Burm of Bulbs by Blondie.

Registration is $21/person, including Museum admission ($19 for members). Visit Featured Events at www.wpchryslermuseum.org or e-mail events@wpchryslermuseum.org for registration and details for submitting photos via e-mail or mail.

Saturday Crafts

Everyone in the family can test their creativity with holiday crafts du jour, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday from Thanksgiving through year’s end. Two to three child-friendly crafts will be offered each Saturday with regular museum admission.

“Cars, Trees & Traditions” will be open for self-guided tours from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. The museum is closed every Monday, as well as Nov. 25 and 26, and Dec. 24 and 25.

General museum admission, which includes “Cars, Trees & Traditions,” is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (62 and older) and $4 for juniors (6 – 12). Children 5 years old and younger are free. Admission is $4 per person for groups of 15 or more with advance registration.

For more information—and two-for-one admission coupons—visit www.wpchryslermuseum.org or call (248) 944-0001. To schedule a group visit, e-mail grouptours@wpchryslermuseum.org or call (248) 944-0450. Two-for-one admission coupons are not valid for Family Fun Day or the Holiday Ornament Workshops.

Initial plans by Chrysler were to add the shift in October, the news service said. The company postponed the move because of supplier shortages, the AP said.

A company spokesman says the second shift will begin next week, but that production of the 2010 Dodge Caliber, with updated interiors, wheels and color choices, will start Nov. 30, the report said.

Chrysler has about 1,700 employees in Belvidere on one shift. When announcing the temporary shift, the company said it would add nearly 1,000 workers, the story said. (Associated Press)

This special, expanded edition of Under the Pentastar, for the week Nov. 2-6, covers the rollout of the Chrysler Group LLC 2010-2014 Business Plan by CEO Sergio Marchionne and the company’s top executives at a meeting with investors and media on Nov. 4.

Compared with September, October sales rose from 7,068 to 7,535 units, which represents an increase of 7 percent and a decrease of 22 percent from October 2008.

Sales success was led by the Jeep® Patriot, Jeep Compass, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler Town & Country, and Dodge Avenger, all of which achieved the highest monthly sales for the year.

The Dodge Journey continues to be the No. 1 selling crossover vehicle in the market with sales of more than double its nearest competitor. Meanwhile, the Dodge Ram and Dodge Dakota continue to be the hottest-selling trucks in the Mexican market with year-to-date market share of 27.5 percent.