Chrysler Cancels Crossover, Concentrates on Compact
Chrysler's finally seen the light. After years of building versions of everything they build to sell under every brand they sell, they've canceled the Chrysler version of the Dodge Journey CUV. Co-prez Jim Press stopped by the passive construction site to explain that "resources have been deployed to basically support" development of the small car to be manufactured by Nissan. "It's a segment we are not competing in now." (What was his first clue?) Bloomberg reports that this move means Chrysler will only be introducing three new models for the 2009 model year: the Journey, the Challenger and a redesigned Ram. That leaves Chrysler looking toward the magic year 2010, when they hope to have their new compact ready to go along with new versions of the Grand Cherokee and Durango (no mention of the Aspen, though) and a redesigned Charger and 300. Will it be a case of too little, too late? We'll have to wait a couple of years to find out — if Chrysler lasts that long.
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Menno, Good summary of the Journey's parentage. Remember that the Outlander is also built off the same platform, and is comparable to the Journey. In my view, the fact that the 'Bishi vehicles are so much better than Chrysler's is less about karma and more about a willingness to sweat the details.
My boss has a Dodge Journey SXT as a rental car, and I got to ride in it yesterday. I was surprised by what a quiet vehicle it was, and it also rode quite well. The interior was not as bad as I was expecting, except of course for the gauge cluster. I still don't know what they were smoking when they designed that. Looked like it was straight out of a 80's dodge shadow.
Here's a crazy concept: take Chrysler UPMARKET. Why do Chryslers have to be rebadged Dodges at almost the same price? Design a kick ass RWD platform and make a bunch of different Chryslers out of it, gee, like Infiniti does? Then Dodge can be fwd cars, trucks at an affordable price like Chevy, but with an edge. Dodge can have 4x4 crossovers and leave the real off road stuff to Jeep. Jeep needs to ditch the Patriot and Compass and stretch upwards towards Land Rover. Not that they need a an $80k Jeep, but a full luxury with full Jeep offroad DNA would sell.