Jeep has arguably been the brightest star of Fiat Chrysler’s portfolio over the last few years, and the company will look to keep that momentum going by building the division’s iconic SUVs in six countries by 2018. Jeeps are currently only produced in the United States.
Those additional production sites should be enough to double Jeep’s sales to 1.9 million units over the next five years.
The Dodge brand will actually contract somewhat over the next five years – with the Avenger and Grand Caravan going away – but there are some exciting things planned for Chrysler’s performance brand. An all-new Dart compact is coming in mid-2016, followed by a high-performance SRT variant later in the year. The Dart SRT will reportedly employ a turbocharged four-cylinder and all-wheel drive.
A replacement for the Dodge Journey will also launch in 2016. An SRT version of the new crossover is scheduled to debut in early 2017.
Dodge will gain a new sub-compact in 2018. The B-segment vehicle will be offered as both a sedan and hatchback.
Interestingly, Chrysler has decided to dissolve its standalone SRT brand. SRT will now be a performance halo for the Dodge brand. As such, the current SRT Viper, which is scheduled for a refresh in 2015, will become a Dodge once again.
Following a new SRT model later this year, the Dodge Challenger will carry on without any major revisions planned until mid-2018.
The Chrysler brand, meanwhile, will move into more of a volume role, with the division planning a new C-segment car for 2016.
Chrysler will carry the minivan torch for FCA, with the brand scheduled to get an all-new Town & Country in 2016. Chrysler will also offer a plug-in hybrid version of the new minivan.
Chrysler’s crossover cupboard will remain bare until a new full-size utility vehicle arrives in 2017. Like the Town & Country, it too will be offered as a PHEV.
The Chrysler 300 will be refreshed at the end of 2014; an update for the all-new 200 sedan is planned for 2017.
Fiat will totally reinvent its Alfa Romeo brand by 2018 by introducing a total of eight new vehicles, including two compact cars, a mid-size car, a full-size luxury vehicle and two utility vehicles. Alfa’s transformation will require a $7 billion investment.
Fiat will remain a niche brand in the United States, but the Italian automaker will launch a new 500X crossover by year’s end.
Ram’s light-duty trucks will be updated for 2015, with a major revision planned for 2017. An update for Ram’s heavy-duty models is planned for 2018.
It remains to be seen if Ram will follow Ford down the aluminum construction path.
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