TBirdStangSkyliner Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 http://www.motortrend.com/future/future_vehicles/1204_chrysler_looks_to_the_cuda_to_replace_the_dodge_challenger/ Hope it happens and works, and Ford one-ups em with a new one of their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 With Sergio, next week it could be the HEMI FIAT, or whatever. Lots of ho-hum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Meh, it's MT. I'll believe it when I see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Add more to the branding confusion over at FiatChryslerAlfaDodgeRamSRTJeep....Plymouth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Disaster. This is a niche product. Fiasco has other, more important needs to address. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Disaster. This is a niche product. Fiasco has other, more important needs to address. DeSoto? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgts Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 (edited) Disaster. This is a niche product. Fiasco has other, more important needs to address. So the Mustang is a disaster too?. According to Chrysler insiders the platform will get shared with Euro only Alfas, no overlapping. Edited February 20, 2012 by Fgts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 So the Mustang is a disaster too?. According to Chrysler insiders the platform will get shared with Euro only Alfas, no overlapping. Hey — that's great! How much money are they spending? Large, I hope. Sure glad there's no overlapping, with that giant North American Alfa distribution network to feed; Chrysler/FIAT sure have avoided a huge problem. The Mustang? That's a vehicle with almost 50 years of continuous production. Chrysler/FIAT/Alfa? Not so much. DeSoto's been out of production 50 years, maybe they could bring out a commemorative FIAT 500 edition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 It's basically the 2nd gen Challenger (which never got a 2nd gen like the 300 and Charger). It's either invest now in a shared world platform or continue being on an overweight platform for a 2 door coupe that can only be used in NA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 (edited) It's basically the 2nd gen Challenger (which never got a 2nd gen like the 300 and Charger). It's either invest now in a shared world platform or continue being on an overweight platform for a 2 door coupe that can only be used in NA. Chew on this... -First, rumors of Avenger-based Barracuda to replace Challenger, Mopar fans balk. Then.. -Dodge rumored to be working on RWD midsize sedan to replace Avenger, followed by -Widely reported cancellation of Avenger after current lifecycle, then -Dodge reaffirms commitment to next gen Avenger, and finally -New midsized RWD platform under development for the new 'Cuda. RWD Avenger sedan and Barracuda coupe, anyone? It's ballsy, but I like it. It's like Dodge is becoming what Pontiac should have been. Edited February 20, 2012 by PREMiERdrum 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 So the Mustang is a disaster too? Unlike Fiasco, Ford has sound midsize car & CUV architectures, and a decent B segment vehicle. Fiasco is taking a page out of the old GM playbook--scattershot platform investment directed primarily by media buzz and executive ego. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 (edited) Unlike Fiasco, Ford has sound midsize car & CUV architectures, and a decent B segment vehicle. New midsizer and CUVs both locked in and out in CY2013. I don't see why they need to wait until those vehicles are on sale to begin planning future iterations of existing vehicles. ---------------- Here's how I see their playbook if they want to keep their 2 door RWD car (or even 4 doors in the long run), they have two (actually three) choices to keep it on the lots: 1) Continue with the current Challenger, on the last gen LX platform until it withers away like the PT Cruiser. If they want to leave this segment, this is a possibility. 2) Redesign the Challenger completely on the current LX/LC architecture. Still uncompetitive in the NA market because of it's size (being handicapped with a large 4 door sedan platform)....forget about it ever leaving these shores to boot. 3) Plan for the next gen (years away still), share resources and build a smaller global platform that can be utilized by multiple nameplates around the world and possibly stretched to incorporate the next-gen LX's and RWD Lancias. Edited February 21, 2012 by Intrepidatious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Not buying it. IMO, the current crop of Fiasco FWD vehicles is in need of total overhaul. Given the rather tepid response to the new Dodge Dart, I think Fiat's priorities are a bit off if they're investing in a niche product instead of short-cycling the current bread and butter stuff and getting top notch product out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 http://www.motortrend.com/future/future_vehicles/1204_chrysler_looks_to_the_cuda_to_replace_the_dodge_challenger/ Hope it happens and works, and Ford one-ups em with a new one of their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomServo92 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 (edited) Not buying it. IMO, the current crop of Fiasco FWD vehicles is in need of total overhaul. Given the rather tepid response to the new Dodge Dart, I think Fiat's priorities are a bit off if they're investing in a niche product instead of short-cycling the current bread and butter stuff and getting top notch product out. Lutz must have left some of his product development cooties at Chrysler while he was there.... Edited February 21, 2012 by TomServo92 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 If the Challenger were replaced by the narrower Cuda/Alfa it might actually give Alfa a decent RWD 3-size platform for the EU and elsewhere, and the Cuda would be about right-size for a ponycar. This Alfa-platform potential market may be an important concern for FIAT. Whether that concern is delusional, time will tell. I wish them success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I hope Fiat does it. I love to see the Barracuda come back and duke it out with the Mustang and Camaro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgts Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 (edited) New midsizer and CUVs both locked in and out in CY2013. I don't see why they need to wait until those vehicles are on sale to begin planning future iterations of existing vehicles. ---------------- Here's how I see their playbook if they want to keep their 2 door RWD car (or even 4 doors in the long run), they have two (actually three) choices to keep it on the lots: 1) Continue with the current Challenger, on the last gen LX platform until it withers away like the PT Cruiser. If they want to leave this segment, this is a possibility. 2) Redesign the Challenger completely on the current LX/LC architecture. Still uncompetitive in the NA market because of it's size (being handicapped with a large 4 door sedan platform)....forget about it ever leaving these shores to boot. 3) Plan for the next gen (years away still), share resources and build a smaller global platform that can be utilized by multiple nameplates around the world and possibly stretched to incorporate the next-gen LX's and RWD Lancias. The word on it is the new large fwd/awd/rwd platform ( it's CSW+.... or somthing?) will replace everything fron minivans, Jeeps, the LX/LY sedans, unibody Dakota,etc. The new Cuda won't be on this platform (think current size Mustang or a bit smaller) no platform streching is needed. As i mentioned on another fourm the Challenger may not go away in '15, it may get redesigned on the new smaller platform as a platform mate to Cuda, (imo) just replaced entirely by a Charger coupe or as said it may just die slow on the current platform, "Not buying it. IMO, the current crop of Fiasco FWD vehicles is in need of total overhaul". We get it, yea Ford, boo anybody else............... Edited February 21, 2012 by Fgts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 We get it, yea Ford, boo anybody else............... You do not see me making similar remarks about: Honda (platforms decent, styling iffy). Hyundai/Kia GM (not all of their FWD architectures are substandard, although I note that they lag in AWD adoption) Subaru Nissan Toyota is coasting on their laurels and Fiat's products still lag the competition in important segments. Of course, maybe if Sergio & co. plan on repositioning the brand as something other than a full-line manufacturer (they're practically the smallest one in the US), this makes sense, but I doubt that Sergio sees any limitations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercury Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Disaster. This is a niche product. Fiasco has other, more important needs to address. Fiat(the parent company) doesnt seem to be afraid of investing in niche product,look at their other brands: Ferrari. Mazerati. Alfa Romeo(I'm including Alfa because of several Limited prodution sport cars). SRT. There is an new SRT Viper coming out(this year?) and a new smaller Mazerati on the way so maybe the 'Cuda is related in some way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Given the rather tepid response to the new Dodge Dart, I dunno seemed like most people I've seen on the net where pretty excited about it....guess we'll see how that translates in real world sales though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I'm okay with everything except the name. Why the heck are you going to resurrect a name from a long-dead brand when you already have the perfectly viable Challenger nameplate right there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I'm okay with everything except the name. Why the heck are you going to resurrect a name from a long-dead brand when you already have the perfectly viable Challenger nameplate right there? For those of us who were around back then, the Barracuda name has a bit more panache than the Challenger. Little know fact, the Barracuda beat the Mustang to market by about two weeks (April 1, 1964 for the 'Cuda, April 17, 1964 for the Mustang). But, to be fair, the first Barracuda was just a gussied up Plymouth Valiant. The first Mustang-competitor Barracuda came out in 1967. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Someone on this board had, perhaps, the best dismissal of that early Barracuda ever written: "There's a reason why they call them pony cars and not fish cars." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 For those of us who were around back then, the Barracuda name has a bit more panache than the Challenger. But realisticlly here, how many of you who were around back then are in the heart of the current pony car market? And sure, it might have a bit more panache to some. I kind of prefer Challenger. Some Mercury names have panache too, but I wouldn't suggest reviving them as Lincolns or Fords. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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