Chrysler Plans To Add 1,250 Jobs, Invest $374 Million In Indiana

There's major business news in Indiana today:

"Chrysler will hire 1,250 new workers and spend $374 million to upgrade transmission plants in central Indiana — the only place in North America where the automaker makes transmissions," the Detroit Free Press reports from Kokomo.

The Associated Press says Chrysler is "investing millions in the Kokomo area to build fuel-efficient eight- and nine-speed automatic transmissions. Chrysler plans to use a new nine-speed transmission in the Jeep Cherokee midsize SUV and in the Dodge Dart compact. The Cherokee will replace the aging Jeep Liberty later this year."

As NPR's Sonari Glinton reported back in December 2011, "Fiat came to Chrysler's rescue after the American company filed for bankruptcy and, despite some bumps along the way, the Italian car maker has helped Chrysler to focus on products and financial stability. ... [And] after its bankruptcy, Chrysler repaid nearly $8 billion in bailout loans it got from the Canadian and U.S. governments."

Courtesy of NPR.

Azalea Festival Home Tour sites announced

WILMINGTON, NC (NEWS RELEASE) -- The Historic Wilmington Foundation (HWF) announces the 9 homes and one historic synagogue for the 2013 Azalea Festival Home Tour on Saturday, April 13, from 1 to 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 14, from 1 to 5 p.m.

The tour this year is a great reflection of the variety of architectural styles of the homes and religious buildings in four of Wilmington's National Register Districts. From the charming Carolina Cottage to the UNCW Chancellor's mansion, the tour showcases the breadth of home styles in Wilmington's history.

Mayor Bill Saffo, New Hanover County Commissioner Chairman Woody White, County Commissioner Vice-Chair Beth Dawson, NC State House Representative Susi Hamilton and City Councilman Kevin O'Grady will officially open the tour during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, April 13th, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. at T.J. and Judy Porter's Home, the Alexander Sprunt House at 1615 Chestnut Street.

Tickets for the tour are $25 and will be on sale at the Azalea Festival Office, 5725 Oleander Drive, and at the Historic Wilmington Foundation office at 2011 Market Street. Tickets will be available at all local Harris Teeter stores starting March 20th ($2 off with a VIC card). Additionally tickets are available at The Sterling House, The Ivy Cottage, The Fisherman's Wife, The Transplanted Garden and The Proper Garden. Tickets can also be purchased both days of the event for $30 at any of the homes on the tour. HWF Members can purchase tickets for $15.

2013 Home Tour Sites
Alexander Sprunt House, built 1929-1930, 1615 Chestnut Street
Emerson-Kenan Mansion, built 1907, 1705 Market Street
Freeman-Peters House, built 1912, 1805 Perry Avenue
Triyonis House, c. 1922, 2010 Creecy Avenue
J.E. Gilliard House, built 1914, 2009 Wrightsville Avenue
Temple of Israel, built 1875, 1, South 4th Street
William A. French House, c. 1871, 107 South 4th Street
Donald MacRae House, built 1901, 25 South 3rd Street
Cumming-Duls House, built 1871,120 Nun Street
J.W. Brooks Building, built 1920, 18 South Water Street, Suite 10

All proceeds from the Home Tour will advance the Historic Wilmington Foundation's efforts to protect and preserve the irreplaceable historic resources of Wilmington and the Lower Cape Fear region. Since 1966, the foundation has successfully saved more than 100 historic properties from demolition.

Courtesy of WWAYtv3.com.

Jeep Pondering A Diesel-Powered Wrangler

Atop the wish list for many Jeep Wrangler owners is one simple request: build our beloved, go-anywhere SUV with a diesel engine option. Not only would a diesel Wrangler offer up greater fuel economy on road, but it would deliver an extended range off-road, too, presenting a win-win scenario for hardcore off-roaders.

As The Detroit Free Press points out, a diesel Wrangler may soon be a reality, but there’s still one final hurdle to clear. To justify the expansion of Jeep’s diesel product offerings, first the new diesel-powered Grand Cherokee must prove to be a commercial success.

The Grand Cherokee diesel uses a Fiat-sourced 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6, rated at 240 horsepower and a stump-pulling 420 pound-feet of torque. On the highway, the diesel version will deliver up to 32 mpg, a gain of 9 mpg over the gasoline-powered 3.6-liter V-6 Grand Cherokee, or 11 mpg better than the current 3.6-liter Jeep Wrangler.

While there’s no doubt that a 30+ mpg Wrangler would have appeal, it’s not clear if buyers would be willing to shell out the additional cost that the diesel engine dictates. That’s why Jeep is using the more expensive Grand Cherokee as a barometer to gauge customer interest in diesels.

If you want a Jeep Wrangler diesel, then, it’s in your best interest to convince all your neighbors to buy Jeep Grand Cherokee diesels, and preferably as soon as they hit dealerships.

Courtesy of Auto Authority.