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Who Took Whom for a Ride? A DaimlerChrysler Special Report on TheCarConnection.com Explores the Downward Spiral of an American Icon - And the Crisis Facing its German Owners

4 December 2000

Who Took Whom for a Ride? A DaimlerChrysler Special Report on TheCarConnection.com Explores the Downward Spiral of an American Icon - And the Crisis Facing its German Owners 
    DETROIT, Dec. 4 Who took whom for a ride?  The
conventional wisdom suggests DaimlerChrysler Chairman Juergen Schrempp pulled
off a coup, disguising the takeover of Chrysler Corp. as a "merger of equals."
But as the American automaker's fortunes continue to fail -- and Schrempp's
job looks increasingly fragile, TheCarConnection.com asks whether the
Americans didn't really take the Germans for a ride.
    In a special edition, TheCarConnection.com takes a close look at the
crisis at DaimlerChrysler -- plunging sales, rising incentives, plant
closings, possible job cuts, and the growing threat of a boardroom revolt that
could topple Schrempp, the architect of what was the largest industrial merger
in history.
    In a special commentary, TCC questions whether the chess-playing Schrempp,
in his bid to outsmart his American counterpart, former Chrysler Chairman Bob
Eaton, may have outsmarted himself -- paying top dollar for a company that was
in far more trouble than he realized.
    On a brighter note, this week's edition of TheCarConnection.com offers a
holiday gift guide for car lovers.  Then check out TCC's Winter Driving Tips.
    Take your first test drive behind the wheel of the new Audi allroad.  Spin
the wheels on the Mercedes-Benz C320 Sport.  And find out why some hip young
buyers are enthralled with that rolling dinosaur, the 2001 Crown Victoria.
TCC's sleuths are always seeking out tomorrow's hot cars, and this week,
they've got shots of the 2004 Volkswagen Golf.
    Cargirl examines one of the more serious issues of our day: Driving while
blonde.  Denise McCluggage examines the causes of road rage -- and how to
prevent it.  And TCC's Sue Mead wins the crown as Baja champion.
    You'll find all this -- along with buying, selling, and leasing tips; and
a wide range of news, views, and reviews from the automotive world's top
columnists and correspondents.  Whatever you're interested in, TCC's got
everything automotive on the Web's Automotive Authority,
http://www.TheCarConnection.com .
    Web users also can access The Car Connection by going to the PR Newswire
site http://www.prnewswire.com .