silvrsvt Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 http://www.inautonews.com/chrysler-to-cease-the-production-of-the-200-sedan-model-early-2017-at-the-latest Saw this interesting tidbit: Sergio Marchionne visited last week the Windsor Assembly Plant to officially celebrate the launch of the new Chrysler Pacifica minivan and to thank the 6,000 workers that brought the vehicle to market, which went into production at the end of February. The Pacifica platform could also be used for the next generation Chrysler 300 large sedan. “This plant and this architecture are capable of making the 300 successor, the front-wheel, all-wheel drive successor,” Marchionne added. So much for a RWD full sized Sedan...though I doubt FCA will be around long enough that they'll even be able to replace the 300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 ...the fact that they're just now talking about what "could" replace the new-for-2005 300... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgts Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 (edited) http://www.inautonews.com/chrysler-to-cease-the-production-of-the-200-sedan-model-early-2017-at-the-latest Saw this interesting tidbit: So much for a RWD full sized Sedan...though I doubt FCA will be around long enough that they'll even be able to replace the 300 That's old news, initially that was the plan but now all Dodge/Chrysler sedans will be rwd (or at least Charger) while on the AR platform while 200/Dart are contract build. Edited May 9, 2016 by Fgts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 That's old news, initially that was the plan but now all Dodge/Chrysler sedans will be rwd while on the AR platform while 200/Dart are contract build. Since when is the Pacifica RWD?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgts Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Since when is the Pacifica RWD?! No, but but the Charger will remain rwd, fwd didn't save Dart or 200 did it?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Don't listen to this man, I'm pretty sure we can do a better job speculating on Chrysler's future products than their CEO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
630land Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Well, Toyota and Honda still sell plenty of FWD cars, so they aren't going anywhere. But Fiat* just kicked their Dart/200 out the door thinking import buyers would come, thinking "it's Italian!, foreign, so it has to be good" but no way! *Chrysler is just a legacy name now, they may as well just call all their non-Jeep/Rams, 'Fiats" I'd bet that next gen 300 will be AWD only, to placate RWD fans**, but to also to go along with 4x4 crazy market. Audi does fine without a 'true RWD luxury sedan', in fact they mostly sell SUV's. **BTW, where are the "RWD loyalists' who were going to buy 300's in "bundles" after the end of Panther? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomcat68 Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 If they do an FWD/AWD 300 sedan, they could also do a wagony/CUVish thing as well and that probably would sell and that would be the product I'd push the most at this point because...Damn, they're out of options and time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
630land Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Supposedly, the next Charger will be based from the RWD-ish Alfa-Romero, but will it be too costly? Will there still be cop car versions? Will there be enough capacity to fill Brampton plant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 The large sedan market in the US is disappearing faster than the polar icecaps. Everyone who may buy one is probably buying their last one now. There won't be anyone to replace these buyers in the pipeline 5 or 6 years from now. If Chrysler wants to sell a sedan, it may make sense to make one that is sized between 200 and 300 and try skim both segments. But I don't see them plowing good money after bad to do another Dodge Charger. Maybe they keep the current Charger around indefinitely but I don't think we'll see anything based on that Alfa platform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 If they do an FWD/AWD 300 sedan, they could also do a wagony/CUVish thing as well and that probably would sell and that would be the product I'd push the most at this point because...Damn, they're out of options and time. They'll make more money selling that as a Jeep. Which is what they will do. The FWD one is Jeep Wagoneer. The RWD one is Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 The large sedan market in the US is disappearing faster than the polar icecaps. Everyone who may buy one is probably buying their last one now. There won't be anyone to replace these buyers in the pipeline 5 or 6 years from now. But yet the Taurus has been up 26% this year so far Most older folks (55+) are buying small CUV's...so basically the Escape is new Crown Vic for the Baby Boomer Generation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aneekr Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 But yet the Taurus has been up 26% this year so far That increase is due in large part to Ford NAFLRO clinching some significant wins with fleet customer accounts in early 2016. It's not indicative of a long term trend. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Chrysler should not be planing a new large sedan unless they can sell them in China. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgts Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 From all the stuff I read from the FCA inside guys the 300 will remain rwd. Interesting sidenote the Pacifica minivan platform is supposed to accommodate rwd/fwd/awd and it's separate from the new AR platform. Notice in the article S.M. said FCA is "not committed yet" on a fwd or rwd 300, he's blowing a bit of smoke here. IMO i believe a larger,fwd/awd (maybe rwd) "Imperial" car is on the way but it's not the 300s total replacement. With the 200 totally dead and Chrysler 100 still possibly in play a 2-3 sedan lineup is still manageable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 From all the stuff I read from the FCA inside guys the 300 will remain rwd. Interesting sidenote the Pacifica minivan platform is supposed to accommodate rwd/fwd/awd and it's separate from the new AR platform. Notice in the article S.M. said FCA is "not committed yet" on a fwd or rwd 300, he's blowing a bit of smoke here. IMO i believe a larger,fwd/awd (maybe rwd) "Imperial" car is on the way but it's not the 300s total replacement. With the 200 totally dead and Chrysler 100 still possibly in play a 2-3 sedan lineup is still manageable. Given what is going on with FCA, this is pie in the sky thinking. I don't see them really investing in anything but Jeep or RAM at this point, since that is where the $$$ is coming from. I doubt they'll find anyone willing to build the 200 or Dart for them, unless they are Chinese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 From all the stuff I read from the FCA inside guys the 300 will remain rwd. Interesting sidenote the Pacifica minivan platform is supposed to accommodate rwd/fwd/awd and it's separate from the new AR platform. Notice in the article S.M. said FCA is "not committed yet" on a fwd or rwd 300, he's blowing a bit of smoke here. IMO i believe a larger,fwd/awd (maybe rwd) "Imperial" car is on the way but it's not the 300s total replacement. With the 200 totally dead and Chrysler 100 still possibly in play a 2-3 sedan lineup is still manageable. LOL transverse engine RWD platform? Stop making stuff up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgts Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 LOL transverse engine RWD platform? Stop making stuff up ??, for a bit of auto history the old LH platform (Intrepid, LHS, etc...) was fwd/awd/rwd capable, more so the LX platform is based off of the LH rather then the myth of being on an E-Class platform. In other words it can be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgts Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Given what is going on with FCA, this is pie in the sky thinking. I don't see them really investing in anything but Jeep or RAM at this point, since that is where the $$$ is coming from. . If the car is based off the minivan or the AR platform why is it impossible?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 the LX platform is based off of the LH rather then the myth of being on an E-Class platform. The LX platform is Chrysler's full-size rear wheel drive automobile platform for the mid part of the first decade of the 21st century. The LX was developed in America to supersede the previous Chrysler LH platform, which had been designed to allow it to be easily upgraded to rear and all-wheel drive. Many Mercedes components were incorporated, including the Mercedes-Benz W220 S-class control arm front suspension, the Mercedes-Benz W211[1] E-Class 5-link rear suspension, the firewall and floor pan, the W5A580 5-speed automatic, the rear differential, and the ESP system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) ??, for a bit of auto history the old LH platform (Intrepid, LHS, etc...) was fwd/awd/rwd capable, more so the LX platform is based off of the LH rather then the myth of being on an E-Class platform. In other words it can be done. You don't know what you are talking about so just stop. LH had longitude engine which makes it theoretically possible if you want to convert it to RWD. Pacifica is CUSW which has transverse engine. There won't be RWD 300 based on Pacifica platform. The engine is sitting in the wrong direction for that to happen. In order to change CUSW to RWD, you would have to change everything about the platform, which means it will be a new platform essentially. So no, "Pacifica platform" (which is the same platform as Cherokee, 200, and Dart) cannot accommodate FWD and RWD without major engineering work. Edited May 11, 2016 by bzcat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgts Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 You don't know what you are talking about so just stop. LH had longitude engine which makes it theoretically possible if you want to convert it to RWD. "When the original LH was being designed, there was an LX platform that was configurable as AWD, FWD and RWD by swapping components around. Three LX prototypes with V8 engines and ZF AWD transaxles were remade as "Premier" police cars, and crashed on the TV series Viper"" http://www.allpar.com/model/lh2/index.html Stick with Ford information, ok?. Pacifica is CUSW which has transverse engine. There won't be RWD 300 based on Pacifica platform. The engine is sitting in the wrong direction for that to happen. In order to change CUSW to RWD, you would have to change everything about the platform, which means it will be a new platform essentially. So no, "Pacifica platform" (which is the same platform as Cherokee, 200, and Dart) cannot accommodate FWD and RWD without major engineering work. I'm reiterating what the FCA guys are saying, by all means go get an job application to FCA engineering department and tell em what they can't do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted May 11, 2016 Author Share Posted May 11, 2016 "When the original LH was being designed, there was an LX platform that was configurable as AWD, FWD and RWD by swapping components around. Three LX prototypes with V8 engines and ZF AWD transaxles were remade as "Premier" police cars, and crashed on the TV series Viper"" Huge difference in doing a couple prototypes vs an actual production car. You can stuff a V8 into a Focus and make it RWD, but you can't make a production car out of it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgts Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Huge difference in doing a couple prototypes vs an actual production car. You can stuff a V8 into a Focus and make it RWD, but you can't make a production car out of it. Can't believe I'm answering this, the "Premiers" were driving prototypes of the actual design study for a production awd/rwd/fwd sedan(s), which led to LX and an original MY 2001 launch before Benz got involved, not a "one-off" performance kit like V8 Focus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) "When the original LH was being designed, there was an LX platform that was configurable as AWD, FWD and RWD by swapping components around. Three LX prototypes with V8 engines and ZF AWD transaxles were remade as "Premier" police cars, and crashed on the TV series Viper"" http://www.allpar.com/model/lh2/index.html Stick with Ford information, ok?. I'm reiterating what the FCA guys are saying, by all means go get an job application to FCA engineering department and tell em what they can't do. I already explained to you why RWD was possible on LH. It's the orientation of the engine. RWD is not possible on CUSW. I don't know why you keep referring to the LH platform... it contradicts your made up assertion that FCA is going to make a RWD 300 based on Pacifica. But I'm beginning to suspect that you simply do not understand what longitude and transverse mean. And if there are "FCA guys" saying that besides you, then they are just as clueless as you. Edited May 11, 2016 by bzcat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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