If anyone is interested, here's a summary of news from the other guys that I've picked up the past few weeks. Some of it you've probally heard or read before, some you haven't. It's all very reliable stuff.

I've left out "speculation" and single source items that might get someone in hot water:

Chrysler:

*AWD Magnums & 300s will be phased into production over the summer. Yes, some will have Hemis.

*Next winter the Dodge Charger goes into production. It's supposed to be a shortened version of the current 300 sedan (yes, a sedan) with different sheetmetal, a Dodge front end, and in Hemi R/T trim will be the 2nd quickest thing in Chrysler's lineup (it will put out more power than the current 5.7 Hemi in the Magnum & the 300C).

*The new Dakota & Grand Cherokee will start production later this summer. Yep, the Hemi will be available in both.

*The next Neon will share engines & chassis with the Mitsu Lancer. The mind runs wild with the prospect of the Evo-IX turbo engine powering the next Neon SRT-4.... through the front wheels.

*The Stratus & Sebring names are apparently dead once the current modles are replaced next year.

*Chrysler minivans are scheduled to be redone again in 2 years.

*So far it still seems Dodge will have a coupe in 2007 (a year after the Charger). If it isn't called Challenger, it might be called the Charger coupe. It will also probabally hold the record for the longest gestation of any new Chrysler in recent memory (remember the Dodge Venom from 1994?).

*The Smart will be sold here soon. The first vehicle will be a crossover, and it's running mate will be the production version of the Dodge Slingshot.

*The Dodge Kahuna concept is the theme if not the actual look of an upcoming Dodge (likely the next PT Cruiser). It's NOT a preview of the next Dodge minivan as some places & people mentioned. Although the minivans will be redone soon, Chrysler isn't going to go very far stylistically since this is a very conservative market segment. That's why Ford, GM, and Chrysler's current "new" minivans looks much like before.

*Jeep is getting a big SUV in the middle of next year.

*Jeep will also be replacing the Wrangler by spring next year.

*The next "Sebring" convertible (will use a different name) will be RWD. In a way, you can say that 300 convertible that Daimler cancelled less than a year from production will finally get made.

Meanwhile, at Ford:

*Mustang's chassis is called D2C. You'll see alot of that chassis within a few years. It will have IRS on all future applications. The solid axle will be a Mustang only item.

*When the Lincoln LS is redone, it will be on the D2C. It will also be called the Continental.

*The Crown Victoria, the Marquis, and the Town Car will all get yet another reskining & interior. Yes, there will be another Crown Victoria.

*The so called "Premium Lincoln" will be based on an improved "Panther" chassis. Ford is certainally getting it's money's worth from that structure. No expected date yet.

*SVT which will have no vehicles for 2005 (a model year that's actually only a few months long... 2006 MY begins January 2006) will have a multitude of vehicles by 2007. Mustang, Futura, Lightning, an unnamed Ford that's not the Five Hundred (Thunderbird??), a Lincoln, a Mercury, and a crossover vehicle.

*The Mark X was strictly a concept. If a Mark X does see production, it will have a different look. It's still likely to be based on the current T-bird, though.

*The next Thunderbird is well on it's way in the development cycle. The only thing that I can get is that it's going to be a 4 seater and based on D2C. I have no idea if it's going to be a coupe, a convertible, or what size it will be.

*The Futura is to be a downsized dead ringer for the 427 concept. It's supposed to be quite a performer, and will be a Ford only car (no Mercury counterpart). Merc will get a crossover based on the car though.

*Mercury will also get a rebodied Mustang with automatic transmission and the GT's V8 engine. No word if it's going to be called Cougar or Capri (which will soon be in production in Europe on a FWD chassis).

*The next Lightning will outrun the Dodge Ram SRT-10!!

*The Lincoln Aviator concept is for all intents & purposes a production preview.

*What's keeping Ford from importing a high performance Ford Falcon is that the Falcon isn't made in left hand drive (unlike Holden's current V series cars) and Ford's Australian plant has far less capacity than Holden's, who does extensive exporting to other countries unlike Ford Australia (Ford simply uses the Crown Victoria in the Middle East). Ford is considering building a Falcon-like vehicle here in the US on the D2C for Mercury, but it's not likely before 2008.

 

"Hi, my name is The General. I am late to the game and I've lost all enthusiasts' support because of it."

 

I'd rather see the Dodge powerplant than the Mistu one, for whatever that's worth.

Damn interesting stuff in the rest of that report. It's notable that there's a general lack of small-car stuff in there; apparently, we learn our lessons slowly.

 

What? Do you mean MY 2006 begins January 2005? If it begins in January 2006 then it seems MY 2005 will be pretty long, unless MY 2004 runs way into 2005?

 

Or Daytona.......

 

FWIW, when the Daytona came out, it didn't go over well. How about using the Coronet for the sedan and Charger for the coupe, or is it set in stone that the sedan will be called a Charger?

 

Is the Ford Futura a RWD vehicle?

 

It seems GM needs to stop procrastinating and get in the game and beat the others to the punch. That is a good number of new vehicles that will be on the market soon enough.

 

'I believe it'll be FWD and have AWD optional.

 

I don't know if that will help the neon's image or just bring down the evo's image. What's the point of 300+ hp in a FWD car anyway?
Fair enough, I vote for keeping the 4g63, though. Its proven over the last 15 years to be one hell of a tuner engine. There is already a huge aftermarket for it and a wealth of knowledge on how to make serious power with it. The Dodge engine uses a Mitsu turbo eitherway.

 

While the SRT-4 is a nice car, Its neon ties aren’t exactly image friendly. The neon name is almost synonym with “pos”. That tie brings down the image of the otherwise respectable SRT-4. Making it closer to the EVO wouldn’t be smart in my book. That can only mean bad things for the EVO.

I say have a derivative, not the same exact motors.

And 300+ in a lightweight fwd car? Here i was thinking 250 should be the maximum limit. Unless they toss in the EVO's AWD, a 300hp front driver has no real appeal for me or “most” other serious enthusiasts.…let alone one based of a Neon.

 

Once upon a time, any cars that came out mid model cycle were given the 19XX 1/2 designation.

For at least the past 10 years, car makers take advantage of giving their cars the following year designation if they bring it out after January 1st.

Perfect example is the 2005 Magnum & 300C coming out in about a month & in early production now. Or the 2006 Solstice, in showrooms next winter.

Advantages to the carmaker? The value of 1st year cars is artificially high since it covers nearly 2 years instead of 1. Exagerated 1st year sales figures for advertizing.

I'm sure there's alot more that I can't even imagine.

 

Hopefully future SRT-4 will be offered with AWD (and more upscale interior). I'll toss in a vote for matured styling as well. That would succeed at a WRX price point.

Thanks for all the news.

 

"2nd quickest thing" Does this mean faster then the SRT-10 or just faster then any car? Either way it will probably run 13s. Also, when you say more power then the current 5.7 Hemi, is there a chance that the new 6.1 will make its debute?

Is there suppose to be a response from Dodge?

 

Word is that the Dodge Charger Hemi R/T will have a PVO massaged Hemi engine (unlike the Magnum R/T), with acceleration and top speed that should put it above the Ram SRT-10. I haven't heard anything on displacement.

John Colletti of SVT at Ford and John Fernandez of PVO at Chrysler are apparently good friends and there is a bit of personal rivalry (and trash talking... at least on one end ) between the 2 of them.

Neither of them is going to be satisfied in 2nd place behind the other, and at the moment both Ford & Chrysler management is egging them on giving them whatever they need (why SVT became part of Ford Performance Group). That means you can expect a response from Dodge immediately after the next Lightning comes out.