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Hot Accessories for Cool Summer Looks

• Carson Kressley helps announce Chrysler Group's Top 10 Top Down Summer Style Tips

• Top Down Days launched to kick off 2004 convertible season

• Convertible enthusiasts can check out style tips online and enter to win a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible when they visit www.topdowndays.com

Auburn Hills, Mich., May 26, 2004 -To make sure you drive out in style in your convertible this summer, Chrysler Group - America's convertible company - announces the Top 10 Top Down Summer Style Tips for making a lasting impression this season.  

Carson Kressley, fashion savant and popular cable show star, kicks off national Top Down Days with the Top10 style tips that feature these must-have accessories for summer:

• Eyewear - Aviators in gold or silver with mirrored lenses ensure you won't get busted checking someone out.
• Clothing - Break free of those dull hues and break-out the pastels.  They're easy on the eyes and look great with a tan.
• Patterns - Vintage funky prints are back and crazy big prints are everywhere.  Don't miss out on the fun.
• Head Gear - A plastic visor with a removable terrycloth sweatband is very retro-tennis-chic.  It keeps your hair in place and provides sun protection without causing "hat head."
• Silver - A classic silver watch dangling from your left arm as you let it droop over the door makes a great drive-by impression.
• Flip Flops - Show off your well manicured toes in rubber Havaianas flip flops.  They're available in every imaginable color this summer.
• Canvas Tote - Lug all of your summer benefit party invitations around town in a monogrammed tote.  They're trendy but casual, and sturdy for holding a towel when you head to the beach.
• Skin Tone - Your skin is your best 24/7 accessory.  Ensure you have many more summers in your future and always apply SPF 15 or higher.
• Belts - Decorate your waistline with a casual Grosgrain belt.
• Lasting Impressions - Everyone looks good with the top down; Put some sizzle in your summer with a hot new convertible like the new 2005 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster or Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible in addition to the Chrysler Sebring Convertible or Dodge Viper SRT-10 Roadster.

"Top Down Day's style tips will help drivers look as great as their convertibles do this summer," said George Murphy, Sr. Vice President, Marketing - Chrysler Group.  "Chrysler is America's convertible company with more soft-top options than any other automaker.  National Top Down Days celebrates summer and the convertible as the ultimate summer icon."

Convertible enthusiasts looking to spice up their top down style this season can view Chrysler Group's new 2005 convertibles and the Top 10 Top Down Style Tips at www.topdowndays.com.  Visitors to the site can enter to win a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible.

"Nearly everyone liked the styling of the 300, its slab-sided "executive hot rod" look a nice change from so many years of lozenge-shaped cars. Its chopped roof gives the car a slightly menacing machine-gun bunker (or maybe classic gangster car) look that may be over the top for some, but certainly draws the attention of other motorists. The Chrysler is a car that exceeded our expectations, and it has features and style that will no doubt please both traditional American-car buyers and European sports-sedan types, without offending the sensibilities of either. And, no question, it's the value leader of the bunch."

R&T Cover Story: Seven to the Power of Six (6/2004)

Chrysler 300 costs about $9700 less than the next most expensive sedan in this group of vehicles tested by Road & Track.

Click Here to see our Chrysler 300 Inventory

Key Moments in Jeep History

1940 Willys Overland begins manufacturing military Jeep vehicles

1945 First civilian Jeep®, CJ-2A, is introduced

1949 Two-door Jeepster introduced with four-cylinder Willys engine

1963 Jeep vehicles first to offer automatic transmission with four-wheel drive

1970 American Motors Corporation acquires Jeep Corporation

1973 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offers automatic, full-time four-wheel drive with unique controlled slip differential

1984 The first unibody four-door sport utility launched with Jeep Cherokee

1985 Jeep Comanche pick up truck introduced

1987 Chrysler Corporation acquires American Motors Corporation

1992 Luxury sport utility market created with Jeep Grand Cherokee

1998 Chrysler Corporation and Daimler-Benz AG merge to create DaimlerChrysler AG

2001 Jeep Liberty compact sport utility vehicle introduced

2004 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited arrives

Click Here to See Our Memorial Day Weekend Sale Specials

Get up to thousands off the MSRP on select Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles. We're not just knocking a few hundred bucks off a new vehicle, we are talking Preferred Pricing. Hurry in, before this offer is history.

Click here to learn more about this offer.

• Chrysler Introduces Hot New Convertible Styles for 2005

• Consumers Can Enter to Win a Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible When They Visit www.topdowndays.com

• Convertible Style Tips Offered by Carson Kressley, Fashion Savant

Auburn Hills, Mich., May 21, 2004 - Chrysler Group, America's convertible company, kicks-off the official convertible season and long-awaited summer months with the launch of National Top Down Days, just in time for Memorial Day weekend.

Chrysler Group invites consumers to join in the sun, fun and style of Top Down Days, celebrating the introduction of two new convertibles - the Chrysler Crossfire Roadster and the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible -- in addition to the powerful Dodge Viper Roadster and Chrysler Sebring Convertible.

Convertible enthusiasts looking to spice up their top down season can visit www.topdowndays.com and enter to win a PT Cruiser Convertible, pick-up Chrysler's Top Ten Top Down tips for style offered by fashion guru -  Carson Kressley, vote on their favorite top down driving songs and take a test to match their personality to the convertible that is right for them.

Overall, convertible sales in the U.S. have grown 21 percent since 1997, with more than 300,000 open-top cars purchased last year.

"At this time of year, it's easiest to see America's love affair with convertibles and their enjoyment of the open-top driving experience," said George Murphy, Senior Vice President, Marketing - Chrysler Group. "Chrysler is America's convertible company with more soft-top options than any other automaker. National Top Down Days celebrates summer and the convertible as the ultimate summer icon."

The lineage of Chrysler Group's convertibles is among the most notable in the industry, including the classic 1946 Chrysler Town & Country, legendary 'letter series' cars of the 1950s and 1960s, and the Chrysler LeBaron convertible - which reintroduced America to open-top driving in 1982.

Today, Chrysler Group's heritage of open-top driving is thriving with a selection of convertibles that offers consumers soft-top options no matter what their preferred style:

• New 2005 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster - combines Chrysler brand's signature design and convertible leadership with proven engineering. For a sophisticated driver looking to get noticed, Crossfire Roadster can drop its top in 22 seconds.
• New 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible - same great innovative design as the popular PT Cruiser, it now has a convertible top and a luxuriously refined interior.
• Chrysler Sebring Convertible - America's most popular convertible, it is ergonomically designed for unmatched driving comfort.
• Dodge Viper SRT-10 Roadster - the ultimate American sports car gone topless for the enthusiast driver who wants the open-air driving experience.

Click here for a preview of this weekend's ad.

Prices and offers are good through May 24, 2004.

What could be better than the Jeep® Wrangler?  More Wrangler. 

The Jeep Wrangler is now available in two distinct configurations – original Wrangler and the new longer Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, adding another page to the heritage of the Jeep brand.  The first time Jeep offered both shorter and longer wheelbase versions of the Jeep Universals was 1956 with the introduction of the CJ6.   

The new 2004½ Jeep Wrangler Unlimited delivers 13 inches more cargo space and two inches more second row seating space for more passenger comfort.  The versatility and functionality is increased with the 15-inch longer Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, which now has double the cargo capacity as the original Wrangler.  The legend grows. 

“It has been more than two decades since we offered customers a choice in their wheelbase size with the CJ5 and CJ7 Universals,” said Jeff Bell, Vice President - Chrysler/Jeep Marketing, Chrysler Group.  “We’re always listening to our customers by building on the Jeep heritage and giving them truly innovative products that others could never match.

“We expanded Jeep Wrangler line-up by staying true to the legendary 4x4 capability, yet combined it with more usable space, more balanced on-road ride comfort and quietness for a new Jeep Wrangler buyer.”

Jeep Wrangler Appeal Expands to New Buyer

The introduction of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited will broaden the Wrangler target customer to include those who need more space and versatility. 

The Jeep Wrangler continues as the only open-air sport-utility vehicle with legendary Jeep 4x4 capability.  In addition to the new longer wheelbase the Jeep Wrangler is available as a standard wheelbase with five models in the line-up:  SE, X, Sport, Rubicon and Sahara models. 

 “Wrangler stands out as a specialty vehicle that is uniquely classified to provide the incredible outdoor experience and excitement of driving with the top down, doors off and, if desired, the windshield down on the trails,” said Bell.

The Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited are built at DaimlerChrysler’s Toledo (Ohio) Stickney Avenue assembly plant. 

Click here to see our Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Model Inventory.

"Our Detroit Editor, Matt DeLorenzo, had a chance recently to get behind the wheel of Dodge's bold new Magnum. His initial impression of this radically different-looking wagon? That its looks are pretty polarizing: You either love it or hate it. Count me among those in the first category."

R&T Photo Galleries: Photo Gallery: Dodge Magnum (6/2004)

""Change is good." It was Andre Agassi's mantra when he lost the shoulder-length hair and headband for the Bruce Willis look, and it could be Chrysler's with the new V-6-powered 300 and our test car, the 300C, which resurrects the Hemi label for its V-8 powerplant after a half-century of absence. It's the third car, after the Crossfire and Pacifica, to bear the fruits of the Mercedes-Benz/Chrysler merger, and it's radically different from the François Castaing-era LH cars it replaces -- to scratch the surface, this new LX platform is rear drive, and let's just say the cab-forward look is squarely in the rearview mirror."

R&T Road Test: 2005 Chrysler 300C (5/2004)

Auburn Hills, Mich., May 12, 2004 -Jeep® Brand and Genesis Orlando, a digital animation production company, entered into a licensing and marketing agreement on May 5, 2004, to launch the animated film property "Tugger, the Jeep® 4x4 who wanted to Fly".

The original Genesis Orlando story centers on an animated character modeled after a Jeep vehicle who dreams of one day flying like an airplane. The film is being released in connection with the official launch of the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee and will release around the time vehicles will be available in dealerships, Fall 2004.

“Tugger is a great asset to help launch the all-new 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee,” said Jeff Bell, Vice president Jeep and Chrysler Marketing, “The animated character upholds the Jeep brands reputation for innovation and the go anywhere do anything spirit of the Jeep brand.”

Principle marketing will be directed through BBDO Detroit, the advertising agency of record for Chrysler Group.  Key licensing will be handled through the Joester/Loria licensing group in New York City.

Another marketing partner to join the “Tugger” property is the Stewart & Stevenson Company  “TUG Tractor” of Marietta Georgia. As part of Genesis Orlando’s marketing roll out of “Tugger,” Genesis has co-developed with “TUG Tractors” a new spin-off series named “Timmy the Tiny Tug.”

Additionally, Genesis has signed a Production, licensing and marketing partnership with Maxine Clark’s “Build A Bear Workshop” of St. Louis. Genesis Orlando is producing the first “Build A Bear” Computer Generated Animated film based on the famous Build A Bear characters. The film is set for release in late 2005.

Other Genesis Orlando projects include “GeeBee the Racer,” for Kermit Weeks and his “Fantasy of Flight” theme park in Orlando Florida. “Futureball”, a Science Fiction Action film based on a revolutionary new sport concept, and “The Adventures of Toby Digz” a children’s adventure series based on the David Hernandez comic novels published by Tommy Nelson Publishing.

A three-year-old CG animation house, Genesis Orlando is a boutique production company that maintains a staff of 25 highly experienced storyboard artists, writers, modelers, animators and technicians. Founded by an ex-Disney Supervising Animator with 27 years in the feature animation industry, Genesis has successfully made the jump from outsource animation facility to original content producer.

“Our corporate and creative mission is to develop and build strong entertainment properties along side mutually beneficial marketing partnerships,” says Alan Guimond, Genesis Orlando’s COO. “We’re extremely excited about our partnership with both the Jeep brand and “Build A Bear.” We are following in the footsteps of companies like PIXAR by building on our Disney heritage of story telling while securing our independence through self funding.”

“Though Genesis Orlando’s key staff is primarily Disney trained, we are beginning to staff bright young talent from areas as diverse as Full Sail in Orlando, Ringling School of Design in Sarasota, Florida and Savanna School of Animation and Design In Georgia” said Guimond.

Mr. Guimond continued, “Our key focus will always be Story and Character. Although we are extremely proud of our technological abilities, we know in our hearts that true success and value will be won through our ability to connect emotionally with our audiences.”

For further information, contact: Steve Brodsky, Genesis Orlando Inc. at 407 566 1722 or visit www.genesisorlando.com, www.tuggerjeep.com, or Suraya DaSante, Jeep Brand PR 248-512-4889.

Boilerplate:
The all-new 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee upholds the Jeep brands reputation for innovation and will be available in dealerships this fall.  It raises the performance bar to a new level by offering improved off-road capability and superior on road handling in a well-appointed package with a number of premium amenities.  An available 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 gives Grand Cherokee class leading performance.

We have over 150 Dodge Ram Trucks in stock with 25 priced under $20,000!

Take advantage of May Bonus Cash Month Savings.

Click here for a preview of this weekend's ad.

• SRT-4 already the quickest production car under $21,000 – but Mopar Performance offering even more power

• Stage 2 Turbo upgrade kit: An additional 30-50 horsepower (to 260-280 hp)

• Stage 3 Turbo kit offers the ultimate: Over 300 horsepower

Center Line, Mich., May 10, 2004 -Mopar_®, Chrysler Group's parts and accessories brand, offers a complete line of performance upgrades designed to make the ultra-quick and ultra-popular Dodge SRT-4 even more desirable.

When Chrysler Group's Street and Racing Technology (SRT) engineers were given the challenge to make Dodge's new sport compact even quicker, they saw many tuner-inspired opportunities. The SRT-designed upgrades include “go-fast” items such as turbo upgrade kits, upgraded suspension parts and transaxle modifications. 

Dodge SRT-4 owners have been raving about the Mopar goods that are already available, and they’re eagerly awaiting the next Mopar Performance products to arrive from the Mopar Performance Parts engineers at SRT. The parts are — or soon will be — available at local performance parts shops and Dodge dealers. 

“We engineered these parts with driving enthusiasts in mind,” said Dan Knott, Director – Street and Racing Technology. ”Many aftermarket products for vehicles like the SRT-4 are focused on appearance. We aren’t ignoring that, but our main concern is improving the driving performance of this highly capable vehicle.  And we do that through products designed by enthusiasts on our team who ‘walk the talk’ when it comes to developing credible performance parts.

“Our extensive line of products from Mopar Performance hits a home run in adding to the performance leadership of the Dodge SRT-4,” Knott added.

The Dodge SRT-4 was designed to appeal to the highly sought-after 16-to-27-year-old age group, but current sales statistics show that SRT-4 owners span an impressive range of ages from teenagers to baby boomers and beyond.

» Read More

- Chrysler PT Cruiser awarded best in customer vehicle satisfaction in compact sport utility segment

- Dodge Ram Heavy Duty Truck named best in customer vehicle satisfaction in the large heavy-duty segment

Auburn Hills, Mich., May 06, 2004 -Two Chrysler Group products have been named segment leaders in the 2004 AutoPacific vehicle customer vehicle satisfaction study. The Chrysler PT Cruiser tops the vehicle satisfaction survey in the compact sport utility segment and the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty Truck is the leader among large heavy-duty trucks.

Regarded as an industry benchmark for objectively measuring owner satisfaction, the annual study by AutoPacific establishes numerical satisfaction ratings for virtually every passenger car and truck in the North American market. The results gauge customer satisfaction in 44 specific areas related to a vehicle's operation, comfort, and safety as well as the overall lease/purchase experiences. More than 32,000 individuals who purchased or leased new vehicles in 2003 contributed to the study results.

According to George Peterson, President of AutoPacific, the Chrysler PT Cruiser is recipient of the 2004 Compact Sport Utility Award because of its distinctive retro styling, great color palette, innovative interior, utility and value. "In the Chrysler PT Cruiser, buyers get a vehicle that's fun to look at, fun to drive and fun to own. So no matter how you slice it, PT's unique combination of form, function and fun spell a compact SUV winner," Peterson said.

Originally introduced in 2000 as an all-new vehicle, the Chrysler PT Cruiser has the distinction of having redefined the small car segment. It remains a class-leading , award winning vehicle with its various models, including the new Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible introduced this year.

As recipient of the 2004 AutoPacific Large Heavy-Duty Truck Vehicle Satisfaction Award, the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty Truck is recognized for its distinctive styling and engine options. "The diesel has enough muscle, guts and torque to change the curvature of the earth, if not the earth's orbit around the sun." said Peterson.

In addition to the Cummins Diesel, customers may choose the 5.7-liter HEMI® to power the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty Truck. With its best-in class safety, interior space and handling capabilities, the Dodge Ram also has garnered recognition as Motor Trend Truck of the Year and ranks first among heavy-duty pickups in the J.D. Power 2004 Initial Quality Survey.

The 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT -- Dodge will offer five minivan models for the 2005 model year -- two standard-wheelbase models and three extended-wheelbase models. Standard wheelbase minivans include Dodge Caravan SE and Dodge Caravan SXT. Extended-wheelbase minivans include Dodge Grand Caravan SE, Grand Caravan SE Plus and Grand Caravan SXT. With an MSRP of $18,995, including $665 destination, the Dodge Caravan SE is now the lowest priced minivan on the market.

Auburn Hills, Mich., May 07, 2004 -Chrysler Group’s Dodge brand today announced that it will be the exclusive automotive partner for ClubMom, the first National Membership Organization for Moms that recognizes rewards and celebrates Moms for what they do every day.

With more than a million members – and more joining every day – ClubMom’s mission is to bring together the CEO of the household, Mom, and recognize her by offering special discounts, rewards and savings from America’s best companies, including Unilever (the makers of household names like Ragu, Skippy, Hellmann's, Dove, Suave, etc.), The Home Depot, Coca-Cola and Verizon Wireless. ClubMom also paves the way for moms to meet other moms through community events and online, access timesaving tips and advice and provides a platform for moms' voices to be heard

“Since launching the minivan more than 20 years ago, Dodge has consistently anticipated and fulfilled the needs of Moms and their families,” said Julie Roehm, Chrysler Group Director of Marketing Communications. “Clearly, women deserve to be recognized for doing the hardest, yet most rewarding job in the world…being a Mom. ClubMom is a natural extension of Dodge’s continuing commitment to America’s Moms and their families.”

Dodge’s continuing commitment to providing family-friendly, leading-edge innovations shows in the all-new 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. More than 15 new features are offered on the new minivan including the exclusive Stow ’n Go™ seating and storage system. Able to go from seven seats to two in 30 seconds, Stow ’n Go™ allows for the seats to fold quickly and easily into huge in-floor storage bins creating a completely flat-load floor. The result is unprecedented flexibility and convenience for Moms and their ever-mobile families.

Dodge will be giving away a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT with its unique storage system as part of ClubMom’s “At Mom’s Service Sweepstakes,” running now through June 30. In addition to the Dodge Grand Caravan, Moms will have a chance to win $100,000 in products and services being provided by ClubMom’s other partners. Moms will be automatically entered into the sweepstakes when they join ClubMom or by updating an existing ClubMom members profile between now and June 30.

In addition, Dodge will reward ClubMom members in a variety of other ways. When members purchase or lease a new Dodge Caravan, Grand Caravan or Dodge Durango, they will be awarded 20,000 reward points that may be redeemed for items from the ClubMom Rewards Catalog, which includes spa visits, movie tickets, dinners out, getaways and more. If she purchases or leases any other eligible Dodge vehicle, she will be awarded 5,000 reward points.

For further information on how to enter the sweepstakes as well as the Terms and Conditions, Moms can go to www.clubmom.com.

Just Announced! May Bonus Cash when you finance with Chrysler Financial Corporation. Rebates up to $3500 Plus Bonus Cash up to $1000.

Click here to see this weekend's ad.

Auburn Hills, Mich./Stuttgart, Germany, May 04, 2004 - Eric Ridenour, Executive Vice President Product Development at the Chrysler Group, announced an innovative opportunity for the Chrysler Group to achieve goals of improved vehicle and highway safety and efficiency, save lives and, eventually, contribute to the quality of people's lives, as the direct result of practical innovation.

"Our company and industry have made great strides in designing safer and safer vehicles over the years," Ridenour said. "Making great engineering ideas practical and affordable to the mass market is in our Chrysler Group DNA. The automotive industry's safety shift toward accident avoidance and collision mitigation is the next frontier in safety for us to innovate."

Current research by the Chrysler Group on Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) enables a new class of communications applications, which can support real-time vehicle-to-road, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-stationary location, to support current and future transportation systems and needs through a WiFi wireless technology, which is readily available in computers today.

Vehicle-to-roadside communications could enable the vehicle to receive and communicate to the driver in real-time. For example, traffic information, weather patterns, construction work zone warnings and road condition advisories all could be communicated. Through vehicle-to-vehicle applications, cooperative driving assistance, forward collision, merging or lane change warnings, intersection collision avoidance and emergency vehicle notification would be known. Furthermore, vehicle-to-stationary point could provide instant repair or diagnostic service by a dealer, point of interest information, parking space advisories and drive-through payments or orders.

"By executing practical innovation through the research of DSRC, we can enhance a driver's awareness, knowledge and decision-making in real-time, creating great benefit to our customers, shareholders and society," Ridenour added.

In 2003, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated a new spectrum - 75 MHz at 5.9 GHz - to be used extensively for vehicle-to-vehicle and infrastructure-to-vehicle communication in the U.S. and articulated support for public safety and private applications.

The Chrysler Group continues to research and evaluate the potential applications of DSRC. "We are committed to working with other government and industry decision makers to evaluate standardization and deployment viability," said Ridenour. "Our primary motivation for investigation of DSRC is to improve vehicle and driver safety."