2010 Chrysler Town & Country Lx on 2040-cars

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Suppliers love Toyota and Honda: Why that matters to you

You might think that a survey of automotive suppliers and their relationship with OEMs is the automotive equivalent of nerd prom. In some ways that's what the North American Automotive OEM-Supplier Working Relations Index (WRI) is. The study, the 17th annual conducted by Planning Perspectives Inc., is based on input from 652 salespeople from 108 Tier One suppliers, or, PPI points out, 40 of the top 50 automotive suppliers in North America. Suppliers to General Motors, Ford, FCA, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. But the results have consequences in terms of tens of millions of dollars for OEMs - and in the quality, technology, and cost of the next vehicle you buy. There are a couple of ways to look at the results of the WRI. One is, "So what else is new?" And the other is, "Damn! How did that happen?" The study looks at five relationship areas — OEM Supplier Relationship; OEM Communication; OEM Help; OEM Hindrance; Supplier Profit Opportunity — within six purchasing areas — Body-in-White; Chassis; Electrical/Electronics; Exterior; Interior; Powertrain. In the overall rankings, Toyota is on top for the 15 th time in 17 years, with a score of 328. Honda, the only company to best Toyota (in 2009 and 2010), comes in second, at 319. Those two companies, explains John Henke, president of PPI, have collaborative working arrangements with colleagues and suppliers alike built into the very fabric of their cultures. This, however, is not a situation where one can readily conclude it is about "Japanese companies," because the third company with headquarters on the island of Honshu, Nissan, came in dead last. This is the "How did that happen?" portion. The Nissan score of 203 puts it 125 points behind Toyota. There hasn't been a number that low since the then-Chrysler Corp. scored 187 in 2010, when the company was clawing its way out of the recession. Clearly, the suppliers don't feel particularly engaged by the buyers at Nissan. Henke explains that whether a company does well or not on the WRI is rather simple. All people do things based on what they're measured on. "If you're measured on taking 10% out of your annual buy, you immediately know how to do it. But if you're also measured on improving relations, suddenly there is a new dynamic as to what you can do to achieve both.

Weekly Recap: Obama reflects on the auto bailout's legacy

President Obama took a victory lap of sorts this week at the Detroit Auto Show, lauding the industry's progress and reflecting on the decision to bail out General Motors and Chrysler seven years ago. While the rescue was controversial at the time, historians will likely judge the president's actions to help save two of America's industrial symbols in a positive light. Much like Theodore Roosevelt's trust-busting tactics were controversial in the early 20th century, Obama's plan drew fire from critics who argued the free market should be left to its own devices. But providing financial aid and forcing the automakers to restructure had an enduring impact on the US economy. The auto industry has added more than 646,000 jobs since the companies emerged from bankruptcy, including manufacturing and retail positions. Make no mistake, GM and Chrysler were nearly dead in 2009. Now, GM is a powerhouse that's set to capitalize on a market that could see 18 million vehicles sold this year. Chrysler, which was renamed FCA US, survived as part of the Italian-American Fiat Chrysler Automobiles conglomerate. It's also performed well amid the strong industry conditions, though CEO Sergio Marchionne very publicly went looking for alliance partners last year, something from which he's since backed off. While Obama can claim a win, the bailout was actually started by George W. Bush, who provided short-term loans to GM and Chrysler in December 2008. Without that, they might not have made it much past Obama's inauguration. NEWS & ANALYSIS News: Spy Shooters captured the next-gen BMW Z4 during extreme cold weather testing. Analysis: The upcoming Z4 (which might be called the Z5) looks sharp. But the big deal is that BMW's much-anticipated sports-car project with Toyota is coming to fruition. Refresher: BMW and Toyota agreed to work together back in December 2011 and then announced an expansion of that deal to include sports cars in June 2012. Ultimately, it will provide BMW with a new Z4 and Toyota with another sports car, perhaps the Supra replacement. BMW is developing the platform, while Toyota is expected to chip in with hybrid technology. Big picture, this project is a good thing. It's providing enthusiasts with two modern sports cars that Toyota and BMW might not chose to develop on their own. This template has been shown to work, as the Fiat-Mazda alliance produced the MX-5 Miata and 124 Spider. News: The Jeep Grand Cherokee Hellcat was also spied, briefly.

SpeedKore's 'Baba Yaga' Chrylser Pacifica will eat kids, not shuttle them

In American movies, the Baba Yaga wears a tailored tactical suit, carries an HK P30L as his primary, drives a 1969 Mustang Mach1, and answers to the name of John Wick. In Slavic folklore, the original Baba Yaga wears less exclusive garb, carries a mortar and pestle, and lives in a cottage that stands on and walks around the forest on chicken legs. The latter version would probably trade in her cottage for SpeedKore's conceptual creation named in her honor, a Chrysler Pacifica with a Demon engine. Working with virtual artist Abimelec Arellano at Abimelec Design, the Wisconsin-based tuners drew up a minivan that could put fear into any children unfortunate enough to anger the mother behind the wheel. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. This isn't just about a witch, either. It's a witch with a side of demon plus an extra side of demon. The Hellcat powertrain reaches 1,025 horsepower in the limited-edition Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. That wasn't enough. The caption notes, "The 6.2L V-8 has been treated to what we're calling the 'Lilith Package.' Named for the primordial mother of demons, the Lilith Package brings the supercharged Hemi to a proper 1,514 horsepower and channels it through an 8-speed ZF transmission before the Michelin wrapped SRT wheels deliver power to the pavement." Visual treats include a hood scoop, remade grille, and larger intakes for better breathing, fender flares, tinted taillights, central-exit dual exhaust, and the appropriate badging. A sleeper this is not.  A regular Chrysler Pacifica weighs about 4,530 pounds and makes, at most, 296 horsepower when given hybrid help. SpeedKore's version not only multiplies that figure by more than five, the aerospace-grade carbon fiber body panels that are a shop specialty are claimed to drop 1,000 pounds. They'll do a fine execution of the mission statement, which we're told is "setting lap records, roasting tires, and putting a pep in your step." Anyone who hasn't been too scrambled to step out of the van at its destination, at least. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.