Chrysler c The Stretched Version

Chrysler C: The Stretched Version

Summary: Chrysler is planning on building a stretched version of the C, a car that will receive favor by the livery crowd. One drawback: a price premium as high as $ over the standard model!

performance auto parts, auto accessories, car parts, auto parts, Dodge parts, Chrysler parts, Lexus

Article Body: As automakers go, developing well received models is a chore all by itself. When a model becomes a hit, as has the Chrysler C, the result is favorable press coverage, high customer satisfaction ratings, and a halo effect that can extend to the entire product line. Chryslers C is a hit, but the German-American automaker isnt stopping there. A stretched version of the car is being developed, one that may find a following amongst enthusiasts, but only if the price is right.

So, why would DaimlerChrysler authorize a stretched version of the C? For several reasons including:

The Limo Market Although the C is not on the same level as the Lincoln Town Car or Cadillac DTS, the car does compete with the Ford Crown Victoria. Hence, taxi and limousine operators will be drawn to the stretched C as the car gives its passengers the room that they need.

The Pursuit Market The Ford Crown Victoria is the most popular police pursuit vehicle followed by the Chevy Impala. Chrysler long ago ceded this market when they quit building larger rear wheel drive automobiles. The stretched C could fit in nicely and give the automaker some additional sales to boost market share. Look for a similarly stretched Dodge Charger to also be built once C demand has been proven.

The Luxury Market No, the C is not a luxury car, but a model coming down the pike - years from now will be. Yes, the Chrysler Imperial will be returning and it, too, will be a stretched version of the C, but even longer and larger than the stretched version of the C. Dont think for a moment that DaimlerChrysler will not be measuring demand for its new C to determine Imperial demand.

For the record, there are a few things that we know about the bigger C: the car will be stretched only by six inches and all of those gains will show up in the rear passenger area. In addition, Chrysler will not be building the stretched C, instead an outside supplier will handle the task of taking existing models and reworking them.

Prices for the bigger C havent been finalized yet, but they may carry a premium of as much as $ over the shorter model. This is a concern, however, as the price may be more than what some livery drivers could justify. Perhaps DaimlerChrysler will eat some of the costs and hold the price down to a $ premium. If they dont, the company could be in for a rude awakening and find demand for the stretched C to be tepid at best.