Chrysler Future Product Plans: Looks Dismal (For Now)

Automotive News released its future product review for Chrysler LLC and I have to say it looks very bleak:

Jeep may ax the Compass and Commander. Good riddance. The hot selling Wrangler will get a pickup version. The Grand Cherokee will probably add a third row option with its next makeover to help fill the Commander's shoes.

Dodge may give the Avenger some emergency surgery to help boost its sales, although those nip/tucks wouldn't appear until the 2011 model year. The slow selling Magnum may not get picked up on the next go around. If the Magnum does get a stay of execution, 2011 model year would mark its major model change. Of course there is the ultra cool Challenger, but it will never be a high volume model. The Durango and Dakota are on the bubble for a remodel, so they may not make it past 2009/2010. According to sources inside the company, the 2009 Ram may loose the truck-like face for more of an F-150 visage (think Nitro or 2008 Dakota).

For the Chrysler brand the future of the Pacifica is hanging in the air. A Chrysler version of the Dodge Journey may be stillborn. The Aspen is probably not going to make it and the Crossfire will likely be caught up in the crossfire.

Oh, it's all just so depressing, isn't it? For one thing, the 2008 lineup really is evidence of how bad Chrysler's German masters screwed things up. Chrysler was a hot brand before it got married to the wrong partner. At first I thought it might be a good union. Heck, look at the stellar 300C, how could they lose, right? Well, it appears that the 300C was one of the few bright moments. Many of Chrysler's other products were replaced by inferior models with cheap interiors and less than stellar styling.

Well, THERE IS A BRIGHT SIDE! The new management realises that the cheap interior plastics have to go. They know that a badge engineered version of the Journey for Chrysler is a bad idea. The see that the Compass was never right for Jeep and the Commander arrived in the wrong decade. I would argue that the Dakota and Pacifica deserve another go around. I would also argue that taming the styling of the 2009 Ram might not be such a great idea. On the balance I think that Chrysler is making the right moves towards salvation. However, look at all these time frames: 2010, 2011...that's a ways off and there really is no way around that. Small cars manufactured by China's Chery Automobile Co. are still on tap but not before 2010 for North America. However, we will have to wait a bit to see what Chrysler LLC believes its new portfolio should look like. Until we can see what's coming to replace the stinkers, hang in there everybody!