Chrysler Lancer Reviews

New court documents also claim Mr Kewell and his wife Sheree Murphy were holidaying with Simone and Clyde Campbell in the Maldives as recently as April this year.Car giant Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) alleges former CEO Clyde Campbell misused more than $30 million in corporate funds on deals it claims were "uncommercial", including providing loan cars to models, sport stars and TV personalities such as Jesinta Campbell, Shane Warne and Matt Preston.According to an amended Statement of Claim filed to the Federal Court in Victoria yesterday, FCA alleges Mr Kewell made four payments ranging from $580 to $8467 — which added up to $13,975 — between July and December 2013, months after Mr Campbell stepped down from his role as CEO in April 2013.The revised statement of claim says FCA is "not aware of any business reason why Kewell would deposit funds into Campbell's personal bank account".Sources close to Mr Kewell say the costs were reimbursement expenses incurred by Simone Campbell, a property lawyer, on Mr Kewell's behalf.The Kewell contract was "irrevocably" extended from January 2016 to December 2018The amended court document also notes that "photographs and comments on Instagram and Twitter by Mrs Campbell, Kewell and others show that Mrs Campbell and Kewell attended Amilla Fushi Resort in the Maldives" in April 2015.According to the original statement of claim, Kewell's sponsorship deal with FCA also included $2000 per month towards a rental property, assistance with school fees to a maximum value of $75,000 per year, and eight return business class airfares between Australia and Europe annually.According to the statement of claim, the Kewell contract was "irrevocably" extended from January 2016 to December 2018 on a company letter signed by Mr Campbell's successor, Veronica Johns, "on or about April 2014".Mr Campbell left FCA Australia in April 2013 to become an independent distributor of FCA vehicles in New Zealand, but has since sold his share of the business.The revised court document increased the amount of money FCA "suspects" was used to buy a boat, from $412,000 to $550,000, based on invoices paid to a third-party company called Maxus, which is now run by Mark McCraith.Mr McCraith was FCA Australia's marketing director from May 2013 and May 2015 and helped oversee the "brand ambassador" program and other marketing and sponsorship deals.Mr McCraith is now chief operating officer of media agency Maxus, which lists FCA Australia as one of its clients.The revised court documents also go into more detail about how much money was paid to a dealership part owned by former Mercedes-Benz executive Ernst Lieb, who was sacked from the Germany car maker in 2011 for misusing corporate funds.Mr Lieb and Mr Campbell worked together previously at Mercedes-Benz Australia.The lawyer for Mr Campbell, Sam Bond, and a representative for Harry Kewell, have been approached for comment on the amended statement of claim.A spokesman for FCA Australia, Andrew Chesterton, declined to comment on the new claims or answer questions as to why FCA still uses the Maxus media agency at the centre of the alleged boat deal.

The number of vehicles caught up in the world's biggest recall over potentially deadly airbags has ballooned to more than 660,000 in Australia, after more cars were added to the list overnight.Despite the increase in numbers, car safety experts have warned motorists of affected vehicles not to disable the airbags in their cars, even if they are worried they may explode shrapnel when deployed in a crash -- because it may make the cars less safe and unroadworthy.Honda is recalling 18,210 Accords made from 2001 to 2006 and added 3030 MDX family SUVs made from 2003 to 2006 to the list of more than 20 popular makes and models.Meanwhile Chrysler has also increased the number of 300C sedans to be recalled locally, from 4500 to 5500.The executive director of the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce, Geoff Gwilym, told News Corp Australia motorists should not "attempt to disable, deactivate or remove airbags".Mr Gwilym said disabling an airbag is "more likely to contribute to the damage caused by an accident, in the same way that you are at greater risk if you do not wear a seatbelt"."Airbags should never be tampered with by motorists or unqualified people," said Mr Gwilym.Follow the advice of their relevant car company and return the vehicle to the dealer when the replacement part becomes available"Airbags are not a discretionary item of equipment and cannot be simply turned off and on again. The mechanism is technically sophisticated and forms an important part of the vehicle's engineering."If the airbags in a car were deliberately tampered with, the car would be deemed unroadworthy, he said, and any mechanic who carried out the work could be liable."In addition to the legal implications, a professional vehicle technician will not deactivate airbags as they are aware of the risks to the vehicle occupants," said Mr Gwilym."While the recent global airbag recall is a concern, we advise affected vehicle owners to follow the advice of their relevant car company and return the vehicle to the dealer when the replacement part becomes available."The VACC also warned that buyers considering the purchase of a used car should check to see if it subject to a vehicle recall notice by visiting recalls.gov.au.The majority of motorists have no option other to wait up to a year before the airbags are replaced — because the supplier at the centre of the crisis can't build them fast enough.It became the biggest recall in the world after Japanese manufacturer Takata — which supplies 20 per cent of the car industry's airbags — admitted in a US hearing this week the problem was more widespread than it had claimed for years.The faulty airbags, which can explode shrapnel if deployed in a crash, have so far claimed six lives overseas. No deaths or injuries have been reported in Australia.Authorities in the US and Australia have not ordered the recalled cars off the roadLegal experts say motorists have little choice but to endure the painstaking wait for the replacements, and they can't sue the car companies unless someone dies or is seriously injured from the defective airbags.The crisis has left drivers with the unenviable task of taking the risk and driving their cars or — if they can afford it — park their recalled car until new airbags become available.So far, authorities in the US and Australia have not ordered the recalled cars off the road.The odds of being killed are difficult to calculate. Not all of the airbags in the 53 million cars are defective.But internal testing by Takata over the past six months found 265 of 30,000 recalled airbags had ruptured — or less than 1 per cent.That may sound like good odds, until you realise it still leaves 530,000 cars around the world — and at least 6000 in Australia — with airbags that can kill.Chrysler 300C sedan 2005 to 2007BMW 3 Series 1997 to 2006Honda Jazz 2004 to 2009Honda Accord 2001 to 2006Honda Accord Euro 2004 to 2007Honda CR-V 2002 to 2008Honda Civic 2004 to 2005Honda MDX 2003 to 2006Lexus SC430 2001 to 2003Mercedes-Benz SL and SLK 2014Nissan N16 Pulsar 2000 to 2006Nissan D22 Navara 1997 to 2004Nissan Y61 Patrol 1997 to 2010Nissan T30 X-TRAIL 2001 to 2007Nissan A33 Maxima 1999 to 2003Subaru Impreza 2004 to 2007Toyota Echo 2003 to 2005Toyota RAV4 2003 to 2005Toyota Corolla 2003 to 2007Toyota Yaris 2005 to 2007Toyota Avensis 2003 to 2007

The biggest scandal to ever hit the Australian automotive industry is off to a stalled start.

Japanese company Takata, which manufactures 20 per cent of the car industry’s airbags, has finally admitted to a US hearing overnight that the number of faulty airbags is much greater than it originally forecast.The number of affected vehicles has now climbed to a staggering 53 million worldwide, including 34 million in the US alone.The car brands that are affected include Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.So far, at least 556,000 cars have been recalled in Australia to have their Takata airbags replaced, but that figure is set to rise following the developments in the US which has dramatically expanded the number of affected vehicles.At least six overseas deaths have so far been linked to the faulty airbags which can spray metal shards if the airbag detonator has been exposed to moisture due to a fault in the manufacturing process.Until now Takata had claimed there was no fault, or that the problems had been fixed in its manufacturing process.But as recently as November 2014, Takata was accused of destroying evidence of internal testing of potentially faulty airbags.The recall is so massive not all car companies have been able to calculate which models are affectedThe Takata turnaround comes as authorities in the US are now trying to remove airbags from cars in junkyards so that the potentially faulty airbags don't end up being fitted to another, roadworthy car.Despite the horrific consequences, US and Australian authorities have so far refused to ground the potentially affected cars.The recall is so massive not all car companies have been able to calculate which models are affected, and some have admitted the replacement airbags won't be fitted until next year, because they can't be built fast enough."Replacement parts are presently being prepared and, due to the number of vehicles impacted globally, it is anticipated that sufficient parts will be available to commence recall repairs by early next year," said Toyota's media statement.Toyota, the world's largest car maker, last week recalled a further 5 million cars globally, including 181,000 in Australia, bringing the number of locally-affected Takata airbag-equipped Toyotas to 207,000.Honda Australia has also expanded its recall to include 109,000 cars with potentially faulty passenger airbags and 22,000 cars with potentially faulty driver airbags. It brings the total number of Hondas recalled in Australia with Takata airbags to 188,000.Honda Australia says it has not been advised from Japan if the latest Takata developments will lead to a further increase in the number of vehicles recalled.Nissan Australia has now recalled a total of 156,000 cars equipped with Takata airbags, and also says it is yet to receive information on further recalls.US company Chrysler has recalled 4500 examples of its 300C sedan made in 2006 and 2007.The car industry will struggle to contact owners of the affected vehicles because most cars are no longer with the original buyersThe Takata airbag recalls are due to the potential that, depending on the vehicle, either the driver's or passenger's airbag inflators may be susceptible to moisture intrusion over time."If this happens, this could potentially make the inflator assembly prone to rupture during an accident, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant," said the Toyota media statement.To date, all of the car brands involved in the international recalls so there have been no incidents, injuries or deaths reported in Australia.However, adding to the recall drama, the car industry will struggle to contact owners of the affected vehicles because most cars are no longer with the original buyers, given that they are typically made between 2003 and 2007 and now on the used-car market.Motorists concerned they may be driving an affected car have been advised to search the recalls.gov.au website and check if their particular make and model is being recalled.However, since this article was published the recalls.gov.au website has been overwhelmed by web traffic and numerous users have reported that the site was unable to be opened. The full list of cars we know are affected are listed below. Even though it is part of General Motors, Holden says its Australian-delivered vehicles are not affected.Ford says it is yet to be notified of any recall action following the new, broader scope of the overseas Takata recall campaign.News Corp Australia was waiting on feedback from Mazda, BMW and Mercedes-Benz as this article was published, to find out how many -- if any -- cars are affected locally.Chrysler 300C sedan 2006 to 2007Honda Jazz 2004 to 2009Honda Accord Euro 2004 to 2007Honda CR-V 2002 to 2008Honda Civic 2004 to 2005Nissan N16 PulsarNissan D22 NavaraNissan Y61 PatrolNissan T30 X-TRAILNissan A33 MaximaToyota Echo 2003 to 2005Toyota RAV4 2003 to 2005Toyota Corolla 2003 to 2007Toyota Yaris 2005 to 2007Toyota Avensis 2003 to 2007

More than 1.1 million cars have been called back to dealers for rectification work that varies from serious (a brake failure) to silly (windscreen wipers).And although 2014 is likely to be the first big sales dip since the Global Financial Crisis, the number of new car sold is also likely to top 1.1 million.The last time more cars were recalled than sold in a year was 2001.It's been a bad year for recalls globally too.General Motors has recalled 2.59 million cars because of an ignition fault so far linked to at least 30 deaths, as part of a recall of 13.8 million cars this year for other ignition problems or keys slipping out of position.But the biggest of all is the Takata airbag recall which has so far been linked to six deaths after shrapnel fired from the airbags.It's a big problem because Takata supplies 20 per cent of the world's airbags and it has taken in cars made by Honda, Toyota, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.More than 18 million cars around the world have been recalled for the Takata airbag problem including 110,000 in Australia.Meantime the dubious honour of most recalls this year is a dead heat between Holden and Jeep with a record 14 each. Never before has any brand recalled so many cars in one year.Market leader Toyota was next with nine recalls ahead of Mitsubishi 8, Nissan 6, Ford 4, Volkswagen 4, Hyundai 3, Mazda 3, Land Rover 3 and Peugeot with 2.Then again the year isn't quite over yet. There may be more.

December and January are already good times to drive a bargain as dealers clear 2014 stock and make way for cars built in 2015.But it could be an even better time to buy if the Australian dollar continues to weaken against the US dollar.Senior car company executives have told CarsGuide that if the Australian dollar drops below 80 US cents for any length of time then we may start to see price rises on certain models by about March or April next year.Not all car companies buy in US currency, and the Australian new-car market is still more closely tied to the exchange rate with the Japanese Yen (which has been accused of being artificially devalued by the Japanese government to boost exports) given that about half the new cars sold in Australia wear a Japanese badge.But brands such as Jeep and Chrysler, which have enjoyed massive sales growth in recent years on the back of sharp pricing, may be forced to raise prices.Likewise the US-sourced Toyota Kluger, BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz ML which, despite their Japanese or German badges, are in fact made in the USA.So if you’re in the mood to treat yourself to a new car, buyers continue to have the upper hand with record low interest rates, overstocked dealers (the market is down 2 per cent yet the forecast was for another boom year) and, now, the prospect of price rises around the corner.

Cars will soon have technology that will notify the dealer when something is wrong, and then check itself in to get fixed.Car companies are in a technology race to take the grime and uncertainty out of vehicle servicing -- and lure customers back to dealerships. Ford has begun distributing more than 1000 iPads across its network of 200 dealers nationally, to streamline the service check-in process by emailing owners a fixed quote before they hand over the keys. But Chrysler-Jeep plans to take the process one step further, and have the car diagnose itself and make an appointment on your behalf. The company already has more than 1 million cars on US roads that self-diagnose any problems and alert the driver that a service is required. More than a simple service reminder, or an engine warning light, the system operates over a built-in wifi network that communicates between the vehicle and the dealership. Chrysler-Jeep says in the near future its cars will automatically know what’s wrong with them and when it’s time for a repair beyond a routine service. A unique telematics system means mechanics won't even need to plug a device into the car to find out what’s wrong: simply drive into the service centre driveway and the car will “dock” into the local wifi network and tell the dealer what needs attention on the car. All before the driver has unclipped their seatbelt or handed over the keys.  “When you show up at a service lane in the very near future we’ll be able to, on an iPad device, determine (who) just showed up, the vehicle history, what service it’s ready for, or if it has any fault codes,” says Patrick Dougherty, the newly-appointed boss of Fiat Chrysler Australia. He said the technology was ready in the US today, on vehicles such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, and will be in Australia within a few years. Two years ago Toyota’s luxury division Lexus introduced a similar wifi system at dealerships in the US; it identifies the car and the owner and helps the service check-in process but doesn’t yet diagnose the car. The technology push comes as the industry review continues into how much repair data car makers are prepared to share with independent mechanics. Meanwhile, for those concerned about the protection of their privacy, given that the technology on this and other brands of cars can track where and how the vehicle was driven, much like an aircraft “black box” data recorder, Chrysler-Jeep says “we don’t share the data with anyone else”.

Updated Chrysler 300 unveiled at LA motor show.A 6.4-litre Hemi V8 will continue to power performance versions of the facelifted Chrysler 300 in Australia.Chrysler has dropped the SRT model in North America to focus on Dodge as its performance car brand.The existing Dodge Charger coupe and Challenger sedan are fitted with 6.4-litre engines in SRT guise and a supercharged 6.2-litre engine in the "Hellcat" variants.Chrysler CEO Al Gardner says the forced-induction engine is reserved for Dodge."Australia will get the 6.4," he says. "We appreciate there are enthusiasts over there and it's a market we won't ignore."The announcement came as Chrysler launched an update of its second-generation 300 at this week's Los Angeles Motor Show.The changes amount to a 30 per cent bigger grille that gives the car a more purposeful look without reverting to the chromed front end that earned the first generation vehicle a reputation as a "Mafia staff car".That enlarged mesh area is now adorned with a bigger Chrysler winged logo and flanked by revised headlamps with more pronounced C-shape daytime running lights.The rear lamps are also LEDs and Chrysler chief designer Ralph Gilles says the square design gives the flagship large sedan a point of difference at a time when most makers are stretching their tail-lamps out."The most important part about the 300 is the silhouette," Gilles says."Everyone knows what this car is as it approaches and it's the same for the profile — it is unique."The interior changes are topped by a seven-inch configurable information display and a rotary dial transmission selector in the centre console.The steering wheel now has larger buttons.A software update for the 300's UConnect infotainment improves connectivity and shows the satnav display in 3D on the 8.4-inch touchscreen.Under the big bonnet the show cars were fitted with 3.6-litre V6 and 5.7-litre V8s matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission to improve smoothness and trim fuel use.Output on the V6 has been boosted from 210kW/340Nm to 224kW/358Nm. The 5.7-litre V8 is good for 270kW/534Nm. Ironically the V8 is the more economical engine by virtue of its cylinder-on-demand technology that shuts down four pistons when coasting or on light throttle pressure.Chrysler has yet to announce power outputs or fuel economy for the Aussie-spec 6.4-litre engine, which is fitted with the same fuel-saving technology.V8 models will include a sports mode that sharpens transmission and throttle response and tightens the electric steering.The updated 300 is due in Australia next year. CarsGuide understands there will be little movement from the current $43,000-$66,000 range.

Pat Dougherty to head Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Australia.Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has announced Pat Dougherty will become the group's next Australian CEO and President, taking over the role from Veronica Johns who announced her departure on Tuesday.Dougherty has been with the North American arm of FCA for over 30 years, and moves into the role on December 1, from his current position of Vice President of Mopar, the parts and service division of FCA.Prior to this, he was the Head of Fleet Sales, Network and Operations and Head of Fleet Sales in North America.Veronica Johns tendered her resignation from FCA in August of this year citing personal reasons, but her departure was only made public earlier this week.Ms Johns’ two-year tenure at the top of FCA Australia saw not only record sales, but also a dramatic shift in the treatment of women within the company’s Australian arm.John Kett, Corporate Vice President of FCA and General Manager, APAC Operations said the company will look to continue down the path Ms Johns crafted."We need to continue our focus on sustainable growth across all of our brands and imperative to this will be the further development of our after-sales business to ensure that FCA is one of the most customer-focussed automotive companies in the market," he said.

Veronica Johns oversaw record sales at the Fiat Chrysler Group, and took a unique approach to breaking down the gender barriers.The first Australian woman to head a car company, Veronica Johns -- who earned notoriety for tearing down workshop posters of naked women, as well as record sales -- has announced her resignation as the boss of the Fiat Chrysler Group after almost two years in the role and 16 years with the corporation. Her departure at the end of the year means there will no longer be a woman as the boss of any car brand in Australia. Ms Johns earned the credibility of her industry colleagues after overseeing record sales growth, but she also quickly attracted attention from car dealers after she tore down posters of naked women in workshops during showroom visits. “It does take a certain personality type to cope with men in the car industry,” said Ms Johns. “Thankfully we’ve eradicated any gender issues in our company.” The transition didn’t come easily for some people. “When I started you could still walk into workshops with posters of naked women on the walls. “I ripped them off and threw them in the bin. The (workers) didn’t say much, and I’m sure they probably got them out of the bin after I left. “Women have to work in this environment and that’s what they’ve got to look at. Some people in the industry are blind to it. It’s just accepted as the norm and it shouldn’t be.” Ms Johns, 43, said she’d taken down posters of naked women “about four times” over the past three years, but hasn’t had to do so lately. “We’ve eradicated the gender issues from our business, but it’s still in other parts of the car industry,” said Ms Johns. The Melbourne-based executive says women are in more prominent positions in the car industry globally, but Australia is still catching up. In January 2014, Mary Barra became the first woman to become the global boss of a major car company, as the CEO of General Motors based in Detroit. Only handful of foreign women have run car companies in Australia over the past 15 years. American Judith Wheeler was the first, she ran Chrysler-Jeep in Australia from 2000 to 2003. Germans Jutta Dierks and Anke Koeckler successively ran Volkswagen’s Australian operations from 2007 to 2013. But Ms Johns is understood to be the first Australian woman to have run a large car company in Australia. At the time of her appointment in May 2013, she edged out male rivals from North America who were keen to take up the prime posting. Ms Johns said the car industry -- and car buyers -- would benefit from gender equality. “With modern technology so many cars have so many similar features these days, the biggest difference is how you treat people,” said Ms Johns. “Women are very competitive, and some can be brutal, but I believe we are still more inclined to treat people with kindness and respect. I think that, and the ability to relate to people, comes more easily to women than to men.” Car industry consultant Tony Devers, the former boss of Honda and Suzuki motor vehicles in Australia -- who accurately predicted in 2010, three years before any announcements, that the local car manufacturing industry would close by the end of the decade -- says there should be more women in the car industry. “There’s no excuse, women clearly have the skills and the drive and the passion for the business, but they typically tend to come into the car industry in marketing or human resources roles,” said Mr Devers. “The executives who rise to the top in the car industry have earned their stripes in sales, finance and strategic planning,” he said. Ms Johns will work with the her successor -- due to be announced in the coming days, and likely to come from Detroit -- until the end of the year, when she is expected to announce a new role the automotive industry. Under Ms John’s leadership, the monthly sales of Chrysler, Jeep, Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles increased by 53 per cent as the rest of the industry grew by about 2 per cent. So far this year, sales across all four brands are up 39 per cent in a market that is down 2 per cent compared with the same period last year. When Ms Johns accepted the role to run Fiat Chrysler Group Australia in 2013, she said: “I don’t think it makes a difference if you’re male or female in this business anymore. Good people rise to the top. The car industry is not a man’s world anymore.”