Straightline

According to a report in Automotive News, the U.S. launch of the Mahindra compact pickup truck has been delayed.

Originally scheduled for a 2009 debut, Mahindra has delayed the truck's on sale date to February of 2010. A Mahindra spokesman confirmed the on-sale date and noted that start of production is now scheduled for the first week of December.

Minor exterior changes are being made to the truck. A new grille, hood and rear end are in the works, presumably to better suit American tastes. The truck has already been on sale in various world market for some time.

The Mahindra Pik-Up, its name in current markets, will use a 2.2-liter diesel four-cylinder engine connected to a six-speed automatic transmission. It will offer both two- and four-wheel drive versions with either two- or four-doors.

Automotive News: Tweaks to truck delay Mahindra launch

Categories: Mahindra,Trucks

The Wall Street Journal reports today that with the closing of the Lochmoor Chrysler Jeep dealership on the East Side of Detroit, it is now impossible to purchase a new Chrysler or Jeep vehicle in the city of Detroit.

Lochmoor was one of the 789 dealerships Chrysler dropped recently while in bankruptcy. That dark nugget of information was part of a larger story about the city that was so bleak we can't bring ourselves to retell it here.

Suffice to say, that no national grocery chain operates a store in a city in which 30 percent of residents are on food stamps. And -- gasp! -- there are only four Starbucks outlets within city borders.

Oh, and what becomes of Lochmoor Chrysler Jeep? It becomes a used-car dealer and has agreed to sell the upcoming Mahindra & Mahindra mini pickup trucks.

Wall Street Journal

Categories: Chrysler,Jeep,Mahindra