Dodge brand chief Ralph Gilles has shed more light today on the brand's future plans, announcing that 11 all-new or redesigned Dodge vehicles will debut by 2014. Speaking at Chrysler's highly-anticipated five-year plan conference, Gilles also noted that Dodge would receive a complete marketing overhaul, with several design levels from entry-level to high-end.The multi-level design scale ranges from "sweet and simple" for entry level vehicles, to "fun and practical", to "uptown luxury", to "thrill-seeker" including SRT vehicles, and culminates in "cool and extroverted" for such top-flight vehicles as the 2012 Viper replacement.
Among the redesigns slated for next year is the Dodge Nitro SUV. The Nitro will lose its black bumpers and large fender over-riders in exchange for new stripes on the front quarter panels. Other cars scheduled for a revamp include the Journey (new interior), the Caravan (complete interior and exterior overhaul, including a new Pentastar V-6 engine), the Caliber (new four-cylinder engine and instrument panel), and the Avenger (new interior, powertrain, exterior refresh, increase in ride quality and comfort).Revamps aside, Dodge announced that six all-new models will be arriving by 2014. As previously scheduled, an all-new Charger is in the works for the fourth quarter of 2010, while a new seven-passenger CUV will replace the current Durango and will be built on the unibody Jeep Grand Cherokee platform. An all-new C-segment compact sedan will also arrive, based on Fiat underpinnings, and a new B-segment "Hornet" small hatchback has been given the green light. An all-new D-segment Avenger replacement will also be waved ahead, as will a replacement for Dodge's Viper upscale sports car, set to arrive for MY 2012.In terms of powertrain development, C- and D-segment Chrysler group vehicles will receive a dry dual-clutch transmission by the fourth quarter of 2010. A 1.4L Multiair Fiat engine will debut in the Fiat 500 in the last quarter of 2010, while a turbocharged version comes a year later. Fiat Multiair engines will represent all Chrysler engines up to 2.0L as well as a 3.0L twin-turbo V6. Meanwhile, Pentastar V-6 engines will cover Chrysler's 3.3L to 3.6L range starting with a debut in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
In other Dodge news, Gilles announced that the brand will remain in motorsports, but with reduced resources at the top end. It's Nascar support will be cut from two teams to one and Penske Racing will focus on a 'grass roots' approach to racing, working to develop young drivers . No doubt, the program's lower budget focus will also tie into the Dodge brand's new marketing emphasis on building exciting vehicles.
As previously announced, Dodge will also shift the Ram pickup truck into its own brand, retaining the familar 'ram's head' logo. The new Ram brand will expand into larger commercial trucks including 18-wheeler cabs. New Fiat-based vans will arrive in 2012 to replace the current Sprinter lineup, which will be sold exclusively by Mercedes-Benz in the future.
Source: Chrysler