Chrysler is not the number one brand name that comes to head when you think about hybrids. With their mix of here today, gone tomorrow hybrid models like the RAM, Aspen and Durango. But at this years Detroit Auto Show, Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler said “We will offer a hybrid variant of the 300 equipped with an eight-speed automatic in 2013″

With the plans for the 300, it seems that hybrids are back in favor at Chrysler. The company built hybrid versions of the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango SUVs back in 2008 but pushed a very limited amount of sales before ceasing production in late 2008. Shortly after declaring bankruptcy the following year. Since Chrysler’s bankruptcy in June 2009 they have emerged with a restructured focus on the hybrid market under new Fiat management. Plans initially made by Daimler Chrysler and Cerberus Capital Management to work the Dodge Ram pickup as a hybrid were changed.

Hybrids are quickly becoming a major part of luxury automakers production lines with the Lexus GS 450H and mid-range hybrids, 5 series and A6 from BMW and Audi.

Here are some hi-res photos of the Chrysler 300 sedan:

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Automotive News is reporting that Fiat / Chrysler is looking to introduce natural gas powered vehicles in upcoming Fiat and Chrysler models.

As the world’s biggest producer of natural gas, the United States market might well make for the perfect place to expand their natural gas vehicle options. Fiat has the European market cornered for natural gas car sales with an 80% market share.

Fiat points to the reduced cost of running a natural gas vehicle as well as the sheer amount of it as being the main reasons for the push with a natural gas power version of car costing less than a diesel, electric or hybrid car.

The 2011 Fiat 500 is coming to America and it’s landing with a base model (Fiat 500 Pop) price of $15,500. The mid-range model, the 500 Sport is coming in at $17,500 and the high-end fancy pants Fiat 500 Lounge is going for $19,500 without any options.

Oh la la! Wait, that’s French. Anyway, the Fiat 500 configurator will let you setup and price the 2011 Fiat 500 of your choice. It looks like the most pimped out of pimped out models with all the bling will set you back $25,236.

You’ll be able to find the Fiat for the first time in 25 years on US soil at around 130 Chrysler dealerships sometime in January 2011.

Chrysler, who filed for bankruptcy protection two weeks ago, announced today that they plan to cut a quarter of its 3,200 U.S. dealerships, closing almost 800 by June 9. At a bankruptcy court filing on Thursday the company claimed that they had too many stores competing with each other. Here is a complete list of Chrysler dealerships closing.

Ken Phillips, a Southern California dealership owner, recieved the bad news today. He told a local radio station, “I’m setting here with $5 million worth of inventory that they’re not gonna buy back. We just have to try and liquidate it. We’ll have a huge fire sale. It’s just a huge money loser.”

Notices were sent out today to Chrysler dealers all over the United States informing them whether or not they were to lose their franchises.

Chrysler is expected to file for bankruptcy today, becoming the first major automaker to file for Chapter 11.

President Obama was scheduled to deliver a noon ET address to discuss the bankruptcy plan. The Treasury is expected to provide financing for the company while it is in bankruptcy with the intent that the automaker will reposition itself as a smaller company under the umbrella of Italian automaker Fiat. Chrysler chief executive Robert Nardelli will be replaced by the management of Italian automaker Fiat.

Reportedly, under the plan, the flailing company will receive billions more in aid from the United States and Canada, where the company has much of its operations.

President Obama said it was “not yet clear” whether Chrysler would have to move forward with bankruptcy.

“I am actually very hopeful, more hopeful than I was 30 days ago, that we can see a resolution that maintains a viable Chrysler automobile company out there. The fact that the major debt holders appear ready to make concessions means that even if they ended up having to go through some sort of bankruptcy, it would be a very quick type of bankruptcy.”

Back in January Fiat and Chrysler struck a deal that saw Fiat get a 35 percent stake in Chrysler for which they’d get to use some of Fiat’s engine designs. Now, according to Quattroroute Magazine, it looks like Fiat is designing a hybrid system specifically for small cars which Chrysler will get to make use of.

The new hybrid vehicles would see Fiat’s new 900cc 2-cylinder turbocharged engine working with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. Interestingly this hybrid system will also be able to be plugged in.

While plug-in hybrids aren’t breaking any new ground, Fiat is looking to put the system into their little 500 series as well as the soon to be released Topolino. This would be a landmark for hybrid vehicles in that a 500 would be the smallest hybrid out there.

This type of vehicle might see some decent sales in the US which would be great for a struggling Chrysler assuming that they really do get some Fiat models with this hybrid system.

Yesterday marked the official launch of the Chrysler Peapod neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV). The Earth Day kick off saw some buzz for Chrysler and it’s little electric vehicle however that’s now being overshadowed by rumors that Chrysler is filing bankruptcy.

According to the New York Times as early as net week Chrysler is expected to file chapter 11.
What does this mean for the future of the Peapod and the rest of Chrysler’s plans? It remains to be seen but with Chrysler now being likely to be forced into a serious restructure you can be sure that things will definitely see a shake up.

The Peapod is priced at $12,500 and has a 30-mile range and a top speed of 25mph. If you want to order one they are supposedly available for ordering now but as our friends over at Autoblog Green point out, there doesn’t seem to be a place to do it on their website. In the face of bankruptcy it’s odd that Chrysler should not make it easy to plunk down a deposit for a Peapod.

If you’re looking to get around town this Earth Day, the smiling Peapod car might be your best bet. Chrysler has outfitted the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle with an iPhone docking station, which also transforms the iPhone into the car’s key.

Another nifty feature is that the iPhone will also work as a green meter, outlining the Peapod’s energy savings. The iPhone also functions as an interface to the Peapod’s sound system as well as a navigational system.

Maxing out at 25 mph (standard for all NEVs) on Earth Day today Chrysler will begin taking customer orders for the Peapod, which goes on sale at $12,500 and costs about two cents per mile to drive.

Car-battery maker A123 Systems Inc. has just finished raising $69 million, $15 million of which came from General Electric. This sum puts GE’s total ownership of the company at 10 percent and gets it a seat on the company’s board.

The money will go to building factories in Michigan to build lithium-ion batteries for the hybrid and electric car industry.

A123′s large investment is great news for Michigan, who has obviously suffered terribly from the recession and it’s effects on the auto industry.

A123 has already secured a major purchase of its batteries in Chrysler who will use the batteries for its upcoming line of electric cars.

President and chief executive of A123, Dave Vieau, stated that the success of the capital campaign shows that despite the crippled economy, investors are still looking for alternative energy tech that has potential.

By 2013 the production facilities that A123 is going to build will be capable of producing batteries for five million hybrid vehicles or a half-million plug-in electric cars like the Chrysler 200C EV pictured above.

Was it GM and Chrysler’s failure to fully address Obama’s environmental plans for the auto industry that prevented further bailout funds? Both Chrysler and GM had submitted plans detailing how they’d use the funding to help salvage their companies, however both  sets of plans were deemed “not viable.”

Reportedly, among their reasons was that neither planned on going green enough. The Obama administration laid out a “Path to Viability” for both companies, which emphasized allocating resources towards developing and selling fuel efficient vehicles.

The “Path to Viability” laid out by the Obama administration states, “Industry financial analysts and industry experts are nearly unanimous in their views that, to be competitive in the decades to come, auto companies will need to transform their processes and products to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and offer higher quality, more fuel efficient fleet.”