Chrysler News: Rumorpile: Chrysler Could Do A 300 Hellcat, Dodge Charger and Challenger To Use Ghibli Platform

[William Maley 431]

If there is one thing that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is consistent on, it is their ability to change their future plans on a whim and cause us to scratch our heads. Case in point, Automotive News has learned that FCA has ditched plans on moving the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger/Challenger to the Giorgio platform - what underpins the Alfa Romeo Giulia. Instead, all of the models will get will one more refresh in 2019 that will cut weight and boost fuel economy. There is also talk about the 300 getting the option of the Hellcat V8 because FCA thinks we don't have enough vehicles with it?!

In 2021, the Charger and Challenger will be (finally) redesigned. They'll be based on the platform the underpins the Maserati Ghibli. There is no mention about the 300 moving to this platform, possibly hinting that the 300 will be shown the door - something we reported on back in November.

Will there be any Chrysler or Dodge model that will use the Giorgio platform? Yes and that will be the next-generation Journey that is possibly arriving in 2019.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), 2

 

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[Drew Dowdell 5,334]

This assumes that FCA makes it that long.

The LX platform, as a platform, is still quite good.  Sure, it's a bit heavier than the Avalon, but it's right around the same as any of the other full size cars give or take a few cases of water.  In V6 form, the cars get excellent fuel economy for their size/weight, and the Pentastar doesn't even use direct injection yet, though it was designed from the start to be able to get it. 

[dfelt 1,981]

Very interesting, I can understand this as Idiot Sergio is just squeezing out the last of the profits he can steal and put in his own pocket before leaving the mess to the board and a new CEO to clean up. 

I would not believe that much of anything will get moved onto a new platform in the 2020's era as they are going to have to be forced to clean house, close some brands down to survive.

I do not think Chrysler as a nameplate will survive till 2025 let alone 2030. Next name to to history books IMHO. Minivan back to Dodge and then can or will anyone buy the Jeep/Ram/Dodge family from FCA or will FCA truly let them die?

I really hope someone kills off the money sucking Alfa, What a waste of billions.

[Stew 367]

There are people who already want a 300 Hellcat, so it is a no brainer.  I find it interesting as aI was reading a review of the midsize M6 Gran Coupe and that sucker was 4300 pounds and the AWD tester it was being pitted against was an Alpina and over 4700 pounds!  Weights are similar with the E Class.  The weight is currently easily inline with other RWD cars, even a size smaller.  I have no problem with them keeping the LX platform around.  It is proven, it dances with anything in it's size rane, and all of them look great.  The offer all the modern safety features ie lane keep assist and emergency braking/adaptive cruise control, and all the comforts such as high quality leather, 8.4 inch touch screens, heated and ventilated seats, etc, etc.   I love the fact that for 2200 you can get the 6 piston Brembos and the wider 275 tires on any 6.4 model, and for 18 the Challenger R/T offers the 4 piston Brembos with a bilstien performance suspension.  This should also be available on the Charger R/T as well and possibly the 300S (the 18 Challenger is the one you can price out on their website so far).  I also like that they are getting rid of the 5.0 uconnect for the new Uconnect 4 with the 7 inch screen as standard (Uconnect 4 with the 8.4 is still an option).  Not to mention standard Android Auto and Apple Carplay.  And the "aging" Challenger has outsold the Camaro so far this year and even outsold the Mustang last month.  The Charger and 300 make up the bestselling fullsizers, outselling the Lacrosse and Impala Combined.  They aren't as stupid as you think.  And please do not even try to say it is just rebates.  Checking here, on the Chevrolet webiste for example, their rebates are just as high, if not higher. 

[smk4565 387]

Not moving to Giorgio means they want to kill these cars off or sell the band and not let the buyer get that platform.  No doubt they'll do a Hellcat 300 to milk in some sales at the end.  

To move the Charger to the Ghibli platform that is a car that came out in 2012 or 2013 in 2021 means it is 8 years old to start with.  You can tell FCA wants to get rid of Chrysler and Dodge.

[Stew 367]

2 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

Not moving to Giorgio means they want to kill these cars off or sell the band and not let the buyer get that platform.  No doubt they'll do a Hellcat 300 to milk in some sales at the end.  

To move the Charger to the Ghibli platform that is a car that came out in 2012 or 2013 in 2021 means it is 8 years old to start with.  You can tell FCA wants to get rid of Chrysler and Dodge.

Do you even read?  They are moving to the Ghibli platform.  Probably cheaper and better suited for their larger sizes o be honest. 

[Drew Dowdell 5,334]

@smk4565 when it moves the platform will be refreshed.

[dfelt 1,981]

Surprised Jeep has not done a Hellcat Wrangler themselves and continue to let another 3rd party do it.

[Drew Dowdell 5,334]

That's a good way to end up in a ditch.

[surreal1272 836]

3 hours ago, Stew said:

There are people who already want a 300 Hellcat, so it is a no brainer.  I find it interesting as aI was reading a review of the midsize M6 Gran Coupe and that sucker was 4300 pounds and the AWD tester it was being pitted against was an Alpina and over 4700 pounds!  Weights are similar with the E Class.  The weight is currently easily inline with other RWD cars, even a size smaller.  I have no problem with them keeping the LX platform around.  It is proven, it dances with anything in it's size rane, and all of them look great.  The offer all the modern safety features ie lane keep assist and emergency braking/adaptive cruise control, and all the comforts such as high quality leather, 8.4 inch touch screens, heated and ventilated seats, etc, etc.   I love the fact that for 2200 you can get the 6 piston Brembos and the wider 275 tires on any 6.4 model, and for 18 the Challenger R/T offers the 4 piston Brembos with a bilstien performance suspension.  This should also be available on the Charger R/T as well and possibly the 300S (the 18 Challenger is the one you can price out on their website so far).  I also like that they are getting rid of the 5.0 uconnect for the new Uconnect 4 with the 7 inch screen as standard (Uconnect 4 with the 8.4 is still an option).  Not to mention standard Android Auto and Apple Carplay.  And the "aging" Challenger has outsold the Camaro so far this year and even outsold the Mustang last month.  The Charger and 300 make up the bestselling fullsizers, outselling the Lacrosse and Impala Combined.  They aren't as stupid as you think.  And please do not even try to say it is just rebates.  Checking here, on the Chevrolet webiste for example, their rebates are just as high, if not higher. 

It’s rebates. Got a problem with that so much that you have to bring it up? Sounds like the truth bothers you regarding the rebate leader FCA (and again that is based on factual manufacturer data and not typical bait and switch dealer rebate ads). 

 

And before you even go there, I have made it known many times that I would take a Challenger over a Camaro or Mustang any day of the week so you please just hold on to that GM bias card for now. 

[William Maley 431]

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

Surprised Jeep has not done a Hellcat Wrangler themselves and continue to let another 3rd party do it.

That will be announced next week.

[smk4565 387]

There is also rumor that the 300 will move to the Pacifica platform and be a front drive sedan.  Although I wonder if the 300 even survives, Pacifica sales should slide off by 2019, I can easily see them closing down the Chrysler brand.  That will make this mess easier to sell, which is the end goal by those in charge.

[Drew Dowdell 5,334]

42 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

There is also rumor that the 300 will move to the Pacifica platform and be a front drive sedan.  Although I wonder if the 300 even survives, Pacifica sales should slide off by 2019, I can easily see them closing down the Chrysler brand.  That will make this mess easier to sell, which is the end goal by those in charge.

moving to pacifica is not an unsound idea, and it's a quick way to offer a plug-in hybrid in a full size mid-lux car as well as helping with Pacifica amortization. Might involve a rename, that's why we're not hearing of the 300 continuing.

Concorde anyone?

[Stew 367]

13 hours ago, surreal1272 said:

It’s rebates. Got a problem with that so much that you have to bring it up? Sounds like the truth bothers you regarding the rebate leader FCA (and again that is based on factual manufacturer data and not typical bait and switch dealer rebate ads). 

 

And before you even go there, I have made it known many times that I would take a Challenger over a Camaro or Mustang any day of the week so you please just hold on to that GM bias card for now. 

Acptually my information comes from www.chevrolet.com and www.dodge.com.  GM is the same or higher discounts on comparable vehicles.  If you have a problem with that........

 

I would be completely fine with a base R/T with the new handling package, 8 speed auto, sound group, and sunroof.  Lots of standard features (ditching the puny 5.0 screen for the 7 incher makes a hue difference in the interior aesthetics of the base cars).  In destroyer grey or Granite [please. 

13 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

That's a good way to end up in a ditch.

Or worse.  Much more excited about the ecodiesel than I ever would be a hellcat in a Wrangler. 

Edited September 20 by Stew

[surreal1272 836]

39 minutes ago, Stew said:

Acptually my information comes from www.chevrolet.com and www.dodge.com.  GM is the same or higher discounts on comparable vehicles.  If you have a problem with that........

 

I would be completely fine with a base R/T with the new handling package, 8 speed auto, sound group, and sunroof.  Lots of standard features (ditching the puny 5.0 screen for the 7 incher makes a hue difference in the interior aesthetics of the base cars).  In destroyer grey or Granite [please. 

Or worse.  Much more excited about the ecodiesel than I ever would be a hellcat in a Wrangler. 

And my information came from an unbiased third party source for manufacturer discounts only and FCA was tops overall. Yours were dealer rebates, hence my point of distinction so if you have a problem with the unbiased facts....

[ccap41 1,303]

14 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

That's a good way to end up in a ditch.

Silly Drew... It's a Jeep! It's a good way to get out of ditches too! 

[surreal1272 836]

16 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Silly Drew... It's a Jeep! It's a good way to get out of ditches too! 

Not if you’re upside down from trying to take a corner like you’re in a Porsche and not a Jeep.

[Frisky Dingo 649]

What a shit show.

[smk4565 387]

12 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

moving to pacifica is not an unsound idea, and it's a quick way to offer a plug-in hybrid in a full size mid-lux car as well as helping with Pacifica amortization. Might involve a rename, that's why we're not hearing of the 300 continuing.

Concorde anyone?

Oh yeah, They will be lined up out the door to buy a Concorde.  I mean this was a car that even rental car agencies didn't want.  

The market doesn't need another near luxury brand or car even because all the mainstream cars are offering electronic everything, driver assist tech, leather, moonroof, heated steering wheel etc.

I don't see a place for Chrysler in the market, they have 2 products both of which are in sales decline.

[Stew 367]

6 hours ago, surreal1272 said:

And my information came from an unbiased third party source for manufacturer discounts only and FCA was tops overall. Yours were dealer rebates, hence my point of distinction so if you have a problem with the unbiased facts....

Nope, not dealer rebates.  These are manufacturer rebates factored in on the Chevrolet website, NOT the dealer website. 

4 hours ago, smk4565 said:

Oh yeah, They will be lined up out the door to buy a Concorde.  I mean this was a car that even rental car agencies didn't want.  

The market doesn't need another near luxury brand or car even because all the mainstream cars are offering electronic everything, driver assist tech, leather, moonroof, heated steering wheel etc.

I don't see a place for Chrysler in the market, they have 2 products both of which are in sales decline.

How is the Pacifica in a sales decline?  Actually how is the 300?  Both sales seem pretty steady. 

[surreal1272 836]

27 minutes ago, Stew said:

Nope, not dealer rebates.  These are manufacturer rebates factored in on the Chevrolet website, NOT the dealer website. 

How is the Pacifica in a sales decline?  Actually how is the 300?  Both sales seem pretty steady. 

Then post them for all to see. I posted mine a few weeks ago and you went into denial about it. Think about it. How is it that the Challenger, which again I love, goes from a perennial third place sales position for years to all of a sudden, a marked increase while offering only modest changes compared to the competition? Higher incentives and rebates. These are simply facts you cannot deny. 

[dfelt 1,981]

@smk4565 @Stew @surreal1272 @ccap41 @oldshurst442

We all love auto's and especially all have brands we favor, I would like to suggest if you are going to POST saying a model or brand is in decline or rising, a rebate is dealer or manufacture, etc. Lets post along with our thoughts some actual facts, be it a screen shot from the dealers web site, the OEM web site, post a link to our own Sales section proving the decline or rise.

Enough of blow out from our butts!

I love ya all and enjoy the conversations but the vague statements really need to end. 

Not picking on anyone person but using this as an example.

SMK says Chrysler's lone two products 300 and Pacifica is in sales decline.

Proof:

August shows the following

300 down 23% to 4,073 units moved

Pacifica up 2% to 7621 units moved

July shows the following

300 up 31% at 3,090 units moved

Pacifica up 5% to 8288 units moved

June shows the following

300 up 47% to 5355 units moved

Pacifica up 59% to 12,399 units moved

These figures are what Bill posted in the sales section of the monthly sales figures per OEM.

So in this case the proof is for the most part Chrysler sales are up on these two models only. I did not bother with the other chrysler versions that are EOL.

Please post facts to back up your statements.

Thank you!

[surreal1272 836]

13 minutes ago, dfelt said:

@smk4565 @Stew @surreal1272 @ccap41 @oldshurst442

We all love auto's and especially all have brands we favor, I would like to suggest if you are going to POST saying a model or brand is in decline or rising, a rebate is dealer or manufacture, etc. Lets post along with our thoughts some actual facts, be it a screen shot from the dealers web site, the OEM web site, post a link to our own Sales section proving the decline or rise.

Enough of blow out from our butts!

I love ya all and enjoy the conversations but the vague statements really need to end. 

Not picking on anyone person but using this as an example.

SMK says Chrysler's lone two products 300 and Pacifica is in sales decline.

Proof:

August shows the following

300 down 23% to 4,073 units moved

Pacifica up 2% to 7621 units moved

July shows the following

300 up 31% at 3,090 units moved

Pacifica up 5% to 8288 units moved

June shows the following

300 up 47% to 5355 units moved

Pacifica up 59% to 12,399 units moved

These figures are what Bill posted in the sales section of the monthly sales figures per OEM.

So in this case the proof is for the most part Chrysler sales are up on these two models only. I did not bother with the other chrysler versions that are EOL.

Please post facts to back up your statements.

Thank you!

In my case, I posted the source weeks ago on another thread but you are very correct sir. 

[oldshurst442 1,126]

7 hours ago, ccap41 said:

Silly Drew... It's a Jeep! It's a good way to get out of ditches too! 

 

7 hours ago, surreal1272 said:

Not if you’re upside down from trying to take a corner like you’re in a Porsche and not a Jeep.

 

[oldshurst442 1,126]

28 minutes ago, dfelt said:

@smk4565 @Stew @surreal1272 @ccap41 @oldshurst442

We all love auto's and especially all have brands we favor, I would like to suggest if you are going to POST saying a model or brand is in decline or rising, a rebate is dealer or manufacture, etc. Lets post along with our thoughts some actual facts, be it a screen shot from the dealers web site, the OEM web site, post a link to our own Sales section proving the decline or rise.

Enough of blow out from our butts!

I love ya all and enjoy the conversations but the vague statements really need to end. 

Not picking on anyone person but using this as an example.

SMK says Chrysler's lone two products 300 and Pacifica is in sales decline.

Proof:

August shows the following

300 down 23% to 4,073 units moved

Pacifica up 2% to 7621 units moved

July shows the following

300 up 31% at 3,090 units moved

Pacifica up 5% to 8288 units moved

June shows the following

300 up 47% to 5355 units moved

Pacifica up 59% to 12,399 units moved

These figures are what Bill posted in the sales section of the monthly sales figures per OEM.

So in this case the proof is for the most part Chrysler sales are up on these two models only. I did not bother with the other chrysler versions that are EOL.

Please post facts to back up your statements.

Thank you!

 

 

Ill just amp up my game a little bit more...