Chrysler presents more than 20,000 buyout offers

Chrysler announced late yesterday that it will offer 2,400 buyout offers at its Belvidere, Illinois, assembly plant, the 20th Chrysler factory to receive buyout offers since September, and another 18,000 white collar buyouts. Those offered the buyouts have until November 26th to accept Chrysler’s offer.

The Belvidere facility builds the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Patriot and Compass. A third shift at the plant was eliminated earlier this year, though the automaker says it will continue to operate two shifts even without the workers.

Chrysler also delivered more than 18,000 buyout proposals to its white-collar employees yesterday, which the automaker hopes will put it closer to its goal of eliminating 25 percent of its work staff. Should the automaker need, it will begin involuntary layoffs, said Chrysler spokesman David Elshoff.

Though details aren’t available on the assembly plant buyouts, the white collar offers included a $25,000 voucher to be used towards a new Chrysler vehicle invoiced to a dealer before July 1 in order to clear out extra stock.

The Chrysler spokesman also said that another 938 buyout offers are headed to Canada, 1,250 to Mexico and 470 elsewhere in the world.

© Source: leftlanenews
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2008 Dodge Caliber Review

What's New for 2008
The enthusiast-oriented Dodge Caliber SRT4 makes its debut this year, bringing with it a turbocharged 285-horsepower engine. The rest of the 2008 lineup is pretty much unchanged. Caliber SXT and R/T models have some additional standard equipment this year, and all Calibers get new chrome accents within their cabins.

Introduction
The 2008 Dodge Caliber shines in certain respects. Those who favor styling with an aggressive edge will enjoy its looks. Huge headlights, a crosshair grille and testosterone-laden fenders call to mind the Dodge Ram, and available 18- and 19-inch wheels only add to the Caliber's swagger. Inside, you'll find a versatile interior that's a good fit for passengers and cargo; there's seating for five, along with available 60/40-split fold-flat rear seats. The Caliber also boasts distinctive features like liftgate speakers that flip down for tailgate party entertainment, a chilled glovebox for beverages and a handy center armrest-located flip-out storage area that's meant for a cell phone or digital music player. Dodge also offers a wide range of engines in the Caliber, and available all-wheel drive makes it a trusty companion in rough weather.

Powertrains and Performance
The Caliber offers a range of engines for your driving pleasure. Front-drive SE and SXT models come standard with a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine rated at 148 hp and 125 pound-feet of torque. A 2.0-liter engine is an optional upgrade; it makes 158 hp and 141 lb-ft of torque. The Caliber R/T comes with a 2.4-liter engine good for 172 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque. The R/T is also the only Caliber available with all-wheel drive. The high-performance Caliber SRT4 is front-wheel drive and packs a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine good for 285 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque.

© Source: edmunds
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