Is Sergio Cooking Up a Chrysler 300 Built on the Pacifica Platform?

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Is Chrysler’s LX platform doomed to meet the same fate as the beloved Panther?

Replacing the aging Chrysler 300’s rear-wheel-drive architecture with that of the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivan is one idea festering in the mind of Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, judging by recent comments published by Automotive News.

Marchionne was speaking at FCA’s Windsor, Ontario assembly plant, where Pacifica production recently replaced that of the retired Town & Country. He was asked about the excess capacity that could occur once Dodge Caravan production ceases next year, and what vehicle might fill it.

The FCA boss was non-committal, saying it was “premature to make other allocations” to the Windsor plant. The excess space could be taken up by Pacifica production if demand is high, he said, but noted that there was a mystery model they could bring — under the right conditions.

“Let’s fill that up, and then we’ll look at this,” said Marchionne. “There is a product that is available that we can make here. We’ll have to wait for the allocation of capital to be in the right cycle for us to get it.”

In talking about the Pacifica, Marchionne mentioned that the model’s platform could be flexible enough to use for a next-generation Chrysler 300.

Say what?

The Brampton, Ontario-built Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger/Challenger ride atop the venerable LX platform from the old DaimlerChrysler days. The Pacifica’s Fiat-sourced platform is front-wheel drive, with provisions for all-wheel drive.

Last year, FCA pushed a redesign of its full-size sedans off into the future, focusing instead on shuffling Jeep and Ram production to maximize output of its hottest selling brands. Small car production holds no interest for Marchionne — while in Windsor, he reaffirmed his commitment to outsource production of the slow-selling Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart to another automaker.

With Jeep and Ram production finally figured out, and small cars on their way out, that narrows down the selection of what vehicle class could come to Windsor. Marchionne wants the Pacifica to compete with crossovers, so it’s unlikely that a Chrysler-badged utility model would ever join it at the plant.

That leaves the 300, which has seen its sales drop for the past four years — a trend seen across the once-popular full-size sedan field.

Will FCA kill the 300’s rear-drive architecture? If it does, where does that leave Brampton Assembly?

Marchionne played coy with the possibility of a front-drive full-sizer.

“It’s capable,” he said of the Pacifica’s platform, “but that’s not a commitment.”

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Frylock350 Frylock350 on May 09, 2016

    If the RWD Charger goes, so does any chance of me buying something that isn't a truck (unless GM or Ford get off their lazy asses and make an aggressively styled big RWD sedan). I'm willing to bet a decent percentage of Charger owners bought the car specifically for RWD. Those who bought it for styling also are buying it for RWD implicitly (can't replicate the look on FWD). And any FWD replacement FCA produces will simply live in the Impala's shadow. For an FWD sedan the Impala V6 is very hard to beat. Its fast, reliable, efficient, comfortable, quiet, rides well, handles well, looks great, and isn't expensive. IMO its the best overall sedan on the market right now. Instead lighten LX, upgrade the HEMI with direct injection, tune for 87 octane, etc. Imaging a 420hp 5.7L HEMI Charger with 8sp for $32k MSRP that runs on cheapo 87.

    • See 1 previous
    • Drzhivago138 Drzhivago138 on May 10, 2016

      @1st_one You mean like they did with the L-body?

  • Spartan Spartan on May 10, 2016

    The 300/Charger is the best RWD car in its class that you can buy right now. There is no better riding RWD car at its price point. The Impala/LaCrosse/XTS is the best FWD car in its class that you can buy right now. There is no better riding FWD car at its price point. If the 300/Charger goes FWD, the GM cars will kill it off, quickly. I have a rental 300C and an XTS right now. Without question, the XTS is better in every way. I find it hard to believe that FCA could even build a car that would come close to unseating the Impala/LaCrosse/XTS right now.

    • Old Man Pants Old Man Pants on May 10, 2016

      Such a battle of the big sedans would be like a struggle for the crown of Swaziland. Both may have been a big deal back in their day, but...

  • Ronin It's one thing to stay tried and true to loyal past customers; you'll ensure a stream of revenue from your installed base- maybe every several years or so.It's another to attract net-new customers, who are dazzled by so many other attractive offerings that have more cargo capacity than that high-floored 4-Runner bed, and are not so scrunched in scrunchy front seats.Like with the FJ Cruiser: don't bother to update it, thereby saving money while explaining customers like it that way, all the way into oblivion. Not recognizing some customers like to actually have right rear visibility in their SUVs.
  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
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