Adding to speculation that Chrysler’s original deal with China’s Chery Auto to source a Chinese-built compact car for sale in the U.S. may be in trouble comes news that the Auburn Hills carmaker has now signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with rival Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motor (GWM). The MoU is for the exploration of long-term business ties between the two carmakers in various areas including distribution, components and technology.

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At Chrysler's annual "What's New" gathering at its Chelsea Proving Ground, we were able to get a demonstration of the new uConnect Web system, which transforms any vehicle into a rolling WiFi hot spot. The hardware consists of a WiFi router with a built in wireless 3G modem. The 3G modem automatically connects to the internet and allows any WiFi enabled devices, such as a laptop, iPod Touch, Nintendo DS or XBox to connect, as long as you're within range of a cell signal. Chrysler is offering the system as a dealer installed option through it's Mopar parts division starting this August. Initially, it will only be available for 2009 models, but earlier models will be added further down the road. The system will cost about $500 installed plus $29 a month for unlimited service, and if you sign up for a two-year contract you get two months for free.

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Apparently hoping to avoid the ignominious fate of the full-size hybrid SUVs from two-mode hybrid partner General Motors, Chrysler is getting aggressive with the pricing of its new Durango and Aspen hybrids. At launch this fall, the Chryslers will be stickered at 45,340 and $45,570 respectively, some $8,000 below the four-wheel-drive versions from GM. GM recently had to slap $4,000 cash on the hood to entice customers to check out the Tahoe Hybrid and Yukon Hybrid. Unlike GM, however, Chrysler has chosen not to offer a two-wheel-drive variant of its hybrid SUVs. At this point we still don't know how equipment levels will compare between the GM and Chrysler models, so it's hard to do a direct comparison of these high-mpg hybrid SUVs.

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Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli seems to recognize that the automaker he's at the helm of needs to reduce its dependence on trucks and SUVs and begin offering more fuel efficient cars. Remember that Chrysler recently made a deal with Nissan to get a new small car in exchange for a full-size truck platform. Nardelli would be interested in more of these cooperations, according to the Detroit Free Press. Nardelli said, "We are accelerating our technology in response to the environment. We can't bet on every technology as some companies can. Hybrid, electric -- if you're at the roulette table, those are the two numbers we're betting on."

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When the Chrysler 300 dropped on an unsuspecting public in 2004, it was all crisp edges and upright stance, with a bulldog face to help drive home the message of urgent thrust delivered by a reborn Hemi V8. Chrysler's got a refreshing in the pipeline for the 300, and that's giving designers fits. It's akin to sophomore album syndrome - when the original is a huge hit, how, exactly, do you follow it up? Chrysler designers are invoking the Porsche philosophy used to update its 911 through the generations as a roadmap for the 300's body changes, so don't expect anything too dramatic on the outside.

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If you're trying to conserve fuel, making said fuel cheaper doesn't help the cause. If you're trying to sell cars, making the stuff they run on cheaper might help. But one thing is for certain, not everyone is a fan of Chrysler's new "Let's Refuel America Gas Card."

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So what elements do you need to voyage grandly, to carry you, loved ones and luggage across huge distances in safety and comfort? Large seats? Undoubtedly. Seven of them? Quite possibly. A practical, spacious cabin? Certainly. A refined, frugal engine, smooth drivetrain and cosseting ride? Tick, tick and tick.

This is what the Chrysler Grand Voyager aims to provide, and has done so with varying degrees of success throughout its history, which can be traced back to 1984 when it was born a Plymouth.

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Chrysler has just announced its dual-clutch transmission - developed in partnership with Getrag – will make its debut by the middle of the year in international markets. The advanced gearbox will be available on the 2009 Dodge Journey, Avenger and Chrysler Sebring models and is claimed to reduce fuel-consumption and carbon emissions by 6%.

It does this by reducing parasitic losses. First, by eliminating the torque converter, and second, through the use of synchronizers instead of shift clutches. The first units will be available with a 2.0L turbodiesel engine but there are plans to add it to more models in the near future.

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Expanding on their product shareing alliance, Nissan and Chrysler announced today that Chrysler will begin builing pickup trucks for Nissan while Nissan will produce subcompact cars for Chrysler.

Under the agreement Nissan will discontinue building its Titan pickup when Chrysler begins production of Nissan trucks in 2011. Chrysler in return will get a Nissan-based compact car which will be produced in Nissan’s Oppama, Japan factory. The car will arrive in North America and Europe in 2010.

The Chrysler car will be built on a new Nissan platform and will follow Chrysler’s already completed design. Chrysler will built the Nissan truck at its Saltillo, Mexico plant and will shift Dodge Ram production to St. Louis North and Warren, Michigan.

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Unfortunately for Chrysler's army of some 14,000 white-collar retirees, the automaker has announced that it will be cutting the free life insurance that workers were previously covered by. Those affected will be given a one-time opportunity to buy into the plan themselves, which offers coverage equal to their last year of pay if retired before 2003 or $50,000 for those who retired after the cutoff. They're also eligible for receiving a $4,000 bump in their pensions. Of note is that the cancelation does not affect any union-represented workers or retirees.

Clearly a cost-cutting measure for the company, we're not sure how much it will actually save Chrysler per year, but apparently it's enough. Since those affected no longer work for the company, Chrysler knows that the move will not affect how its business currently runs, and since these workers aren't unionized, there's not much they can do about it, either.

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After inventing and reinventing the minivan, Chrysler added a ton of features to the new-for-2008 models. Two such items - Swivel 'n Go seating and the three-screen video setup - were found to have slight incompatibilities, but Chrysler has come up with a clever solution.

The problem arises when the second-row seats are swiveled to face rearward. In this configuration, the rear-facing passengers are now facing the back of the third-row video monitor. To solve this road trip catastrophe waiting to happen, 2009 vans will have a swiveling monitor. Problem solved, right? Not quite. Since this monitor will now be visible at times in the driver's rear-view mirror (against the law when a vehicle is in motion), a safety has been put in place so that the swiveled monitor only operates when the second-row screen is folded down and obstructing its view. This clever idea may save a family vacation or two.

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The second member of the Two-Mode hybrid partnership to bring a vehicle to the streets following GM's launch of the Tahoe/Yukon hybrids will be Chrysler. The Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hybrids don't actually go on sale to the the public until later this fall. However, the first "saleable" Aspen hybrid rolled silently off the assembly line at Chrysler's Newark, DE assembly plant on the March 10. So-called saleable units are typically built many months ahead of retail sales and built from production intent parts on production units. These vehicles are generally kept for internal use including durability testing and final validation of hardware and software. These vehicles will also be used for early media drives that will likely take place this summer. The Chrysler hybrids are using the same hybrid transmission used by GM supplied from that company's Baltimore transmission plant. The only difference is the case casting to allow it to interface with the Chrysler V-8 engine.

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Speaking to reporters in a talk sponsored by the Levin Institute, Chrysler’s Vice Chairman said that the every model will be offered as a hybrid. In a previous interview with The Detroit News, Press said that Chrysler “absolutely” expects to provide a hybrid or diesel variants of all their models.

Press said that every vehicle that Chrysler makes would be powered by a hybrid system. While Press did not offer a schedule for when this will take place, he did say that Chrysler will work hard to meet the government’s mandate to increase fuel economy by 40 percent by 2020. According to PopularMechanics Press’s statement was the first by an auto executive that talks of hybrid technology being implemented across-the board for all vehicles in a company lineup.

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Chrysler's previous consolidation strategy, dubbed "Project Alpha," was implemented in 2004 to trim and combine dealers. All told, Chrysler was able to cut its dealer network down from 4,000 to 3,600. Not nearly enough to get outlets on par with demand. So Chrysler's co-pres, Jim Press, announced today that Project Alpha is out and Project Genesis is on the way in.

According to Automotive News, as you read this, business teams are fanning out across the U.S. to negotiate with dealerships to either buy other outlets or sell their own in an effort to pair down Chrysler's bloated sales network. The plan is to get all three of the automaker's brands – Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep – under one roof, with the possibility of creating satellite dealerships and service-only facilities in outlying areas.

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We discovered the weird looking Chrysler 300C Hollywood limo “hiding” somewhere between Chrysler’s main stand and Jeep’s indoor 4x4 test course. We don’t have any official information on the car other than it was also seen at the Detroit Show last month.

Apart form the longer wheelbase that helps the two rear passengers stretch their legs into infinity, the 300C Hollywood limo also features a partially exposed cabin over the driver and his companion. Thing is, while the rear cabin is enclosed, there’s no cover for the front passengers who are left to deal with whatever mother nature has in store for them.

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