SWEEPING changes aimed at putting Chrysler Corporation back on the road to profitability have delayed the UK introduction of a high performance version of the Chrysler Neon saloon. British customers will have to wait only a few more weeks for the go-faster version of the US company's smallest model.

'Supplies have started to reach us and each of our dealers should have two examples of the R/T in stock by the time it is launched at the end of the month,' said Chrysler UK marketing chief Steve Gray. He told Fleet NewsNet: 'We expected to have the car on sale by now, but production has been affected by the cutbacks announced by new chief executive Dieter Zetsche. However, our plans for the R/T have been only slightly affected and despite the delay, we're still confident of selling 500 examples this year.'

Tuned to produce 150bhp, the 2.0-litre compact car is said to accelerate to 62mph from rest in about nine seconds and have a 120mph top speed.