Dodge News: Rumorpile: Current Dodge Journey To Soldier on for Two More Years

[William Maley]

2016 was supposed to be the year when the current Dodge Journey would head off into the sunset and a new version would appear, using the CUSW platform that underpins a number of FCA vehicles. But a source tells Automotive News that the current Journey will continue for a couple more years.

 

The source explained the 2017 and 2018 Journey will retain the JC body code. In FCA's internal model nomenclature system, the vehicle's body code only changes when it is redesigned for a new platform.

 

Why is FCA extending the lifecycle of the Journey? Redesigning the Journey would have meant production of the vehicle would have moved from Toluca, Mexico to either Sterling Heights, MI or Belvidere, Illinois; homes to 200 and Dart. But with FCA outsourcing production of the next-generation Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart - models that use the CUSW platform - has caused the company to rethink their overall strategy.

 

A spokeswoman for Dodge declined to comment.

 

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)
Pic Credit: William Maley for Cheers & Gears

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[ccap41]

Does Dodge or even Ram have anything that's even remotely new at this point? 

[William Maley]

Does Dodge or even Ram have anything that's even remotely new at this point? 

 

I don't believe so.

[FordCosworth]

Does Dodge or even Ram have anything that's even remotely new at this point? 

 

Nope. 

 

Make one wonder how their earnings can be so low with such dated vehicles. FCA should be raking in Gross/Net. But reports show differently.

[ccap41]

 

Does Dodge or even Ram have anything that's even remotely new at this point? 

 

I don't believe so.

 

I don't want to sound all fan-boy-like but why in the hell so people buy their stuff, for the most part???? I know none of it is junk but it's all just about out classed by everything else because of how stagnant they let their stuff get. Their bread and butter Ram 1500 is actually just getting old at this point. The other two just seem so much better overall to me.

[smk4565]

Avis and National need crossovers to rent out, this fits the bill.

[ehaase]

I wonder if Chrysler has any new vehicles in development after the Pacifica, Compass, and Wrangler, maybe the Grand Wagoneer.  People on allpar talk about Giulia based 300, Challenger, and Charger in 2019 as well as new Dodge and Chrysler crossovers, but I wonder if that is just vaporware. 

[surreal1272]

Just another day in the "Thanks for screwing it up Fiat" department. Pathetic what they are doing at this point.

[smk4565]

I wonder if Chrysler has any new vehicles in development after the Pacifica, Compass, and Wrangler, maybe the Grand Wagoneer.  People on allpar talk about Giulia based 300, Challenger, and Charger in 2019 as well as new Dodge and Chrysler crossovers, but I wonder if that is just vaporware. 

They have lots of new products in the works.  Hellcat Grand Cherokee, Hellcat Durango, Hellcat Wrangler, Hellcat Pacifica, Hellcat Dodge Dart, Hellcat Fiat 500, etc.  All you have to do is put a monster V8 in a super dated and otherwise lackluster product and jack the price up and watch the sales roll in.  Every other car company that has models on 6-7 year cycles has got it wrong.  You want vehicles on Crown Vic style 17 year life cycles, throw in some body kits or new engine every 7 years as a "special edition"  this is the way to make it in the auto industry.  

[ccap41]

I wonder if Chrysler has any new vehicles in development after the Pacifica, Compass, and Wrangler, maybe the Grand Wagoneer. People on allpar talk about Giulia based 300, Challenger, and Charger in 2019 as well as new Dodge and Chrysler crossovers, but I wonder if that is just vaporware.

They have lots of new products in the works. Hellcat Grand Cherokee, Hellcat Durango, Hellcat Wrangler, Hellcat Pacifica, Hellcat Dodge Dart, Hellcat Fiat 500, etc. All you have to do is put a monster V8 in a super dated and otherwise lackluster product and jack the price up and watch the sales roll in. Every other car company that has models on 6-7 year cycles has got it wrong. You want vehicles on Crown Vic style 17 year life cycles, throw in some body kits or new engine every 7 years as a "special edition" this is the way to make it in the auto industry.

Hahaha I knew i was forgetting something! Edited April 26, 2016 by ccap41

[Suaviloquent]

We just had a what would your rather buy thread on this same vehicle.

 

Fiat I feel is the worst parent to date of Chrysler. That's not something one does easily. 

 

You know, when GM committed billions to Cadillac - the division had to prove they would be profitable and pay for themselves. 

 

This is the complete opposite. 

[smk4565]

I have to imagine the only FCA brands that make any measurable amount of profit are Jeep and Ram.  Jeep they can sell world wide with good margins.  Ram has pickups that make money, and the Promaster and Promaster City were already developed and paid for by Fiat, so it just lets them sell more to recoup cost.  Everything else they sell needs big rebates or fleet sales to move metal.  Alfa sells like 900 cars a year in the US, that has to lose money, Fiat has no sales and with subcompact prices, plus import costs, that has to lose money.

[Suaviloquent]

Sergio always talked of market oversaturation, lack of common architetures, etc...

 

and probably never realized that his company was probably the biggest contributor to those problems facing the industry.

[surreal1272]

 

I wonder if Chrysler has any new vehicles in development after the Pacifica, Compass, and Wrangler, maybe the Grand Wagoneer.  People on allpar talk about Giulia based 300, Challenger, and Charger in 2019 as well as new Dodge and Chrysler crossovers, but I wonder if that is just vaporware. 

They have lots of new products in the works.  Hellcat Grand Cherokee, Hellcat Durango, Hellcat Wrangler, Hellcat Pacifica, Hellcat Dodge Dart, Hellcat Fiat 500, etc.  All you have to do is put a monster V8 in a super dated and otherwise lackluster product and jack the price up and watch the sales roll in.  Every other car company that has models on 6-7 year cycles has got it wrong.  You want vehicles on Crown Vic style 17 year life cycles, throw in some body kits or new engine every 7 years as a "special edition"  this is the way to make it in the auto industry.  

 

So the Hellcat lineup is the AMG of Fiat/Chrysler/Doge/Jeep? Just slap the label on any old car and call it day and the suckers will gladly overpay for it? Sounds right to me.

[daves87rs]

That is scary....it has little to offer now....

[G. David Felt]

Sergio proof that he is an Idiot and failing in leading FCA. Rapes all product lines to prop up the crap Fiat brand and the history Alfa that should have stayed dead.

[Frisky Dingo]

Dodge and Chrysler are doomed. They'll either die off completely, or get bought and absorbed by another brand. Jeep and Ram might be okay.

[William Maley]

Dodge and Chrysler are doomed. They'll either die off completely, or get bought and absorbed by another brand. Jeep and Ram might be okay.

Jeep is safe no matter what, it has a lot of value. Ram Trucks might be another story.

[G. David Felt]

^ +1 

 

I would agree with Bill, at one time I would have thought RAM was safe, but now they are hanging on by name and hard core loyalist. If it was not for the Cummins loyalty this line would be dead. With all very tired and aged products, Sergio is killing off everything just about. The only line I see any strong value left in is Jeep.

 

All this to keep the Lazy socialist Italians building crap Fiats and now crap Alfas again.

[ccap41]

^ The current Ram's bones are from back in 2009 and as far as I know(which isn't sayin a lot..lol ) there's no new one in sight. 

 

At this rate I could almost guarantee GM and Ford AND EVEN TOYOTA AND NISSAN will have a second brand new vehicle in the time Ram finally does one update. 

 

They're done one thing in the past few years and that was add a small diesel engine. 

Edited April 26, 2016 by ccap41

[Drew Dowdell]

 

 

Does Dodge or even Ram have anything that's even remotely new at this point? 

 

I don't believe so.

 

I don't want to sound all fan-boy-like but why in the hell so people buy their stuff, for the most part???? I know none of it is junk but it's all just about out classed by everything else because of how stagnant they let their stuff get. Their bread and butter Ram 1500 is actually just getting old at this point. The other two just seem so much better overall to me.

 

 

The LX cars are still great and get excellent fuel economy for their size... only the Avalon beats them in my experience, but the Avalon has other downsides.  The 200S and 200C are excellent as well as long as you're not shopping for cubic feet of passenger room. 

 

And even though the Journey is old, they've kept it fairly updated... it's the only vehicle of that size with a V6 (plus if you like the power, minus if you're looking for fuel economy) and it is one of the least expensive vehicles you can get with a 3rd row unless you go with a Mitsubishi. The 4-cylinder is meh, but there's nothing inherently bad about the car. 

[smk4565]

 

 

I wonder if Chrysler has any new vehicles in development after the Pacifica, Compass, and Wrangler, maybe the Grand Wagoneer.  People on allpar talk about Giulia based 300, Challenger, and Charger in 2019 as well as new Dodge and Chrysler crossovers, but I wonder if that is just vaporware. 

They have lots of new products in the works.  Hellcat Grand Cherokee, Hellcat Durango, Hellcat Wrangler, Hellcat Pacifica, Hellcat Dodge Dart, Hellcat Fiat 500, etc.  All you have to do is put a monster V8 in a super dated and otherwise lackluster product and jack the price up and watch the sales roll in.  Every other car company that has models on 6-7 year cycles has got it wrong.  You want vehicles on Crown Vic style 17 year life cycles, throw in some body kits or new engine every 7 years as a "special edition"  this is the way to make it in the auto industry.  

 

So the Hellcat lineup is the AMG of Fiat/Chrysler/Doge/Jeep? Just slap the label on any old car and call it day and the suckers will gladly overpay for it? Sounds right to me.

 

AMG engines aren't put into super dated, uncompetitive vehicles though.   The base cars are actually good and sell.

[daves87rs]

I do have to agree with Drew....it's not a great car, but there is really nothing bad about it either. It is old school, but  I have to say it's pretty easy to drive for it's size.

 

As long as they can make some money on it....

[Suaviloquent]

That's of bad taste...

 

I love both Hellcat and AMG, but there is a time and place to make a performance variant of every car.

 

And arguably, AMG because of the new E43 name introduces a relatively fuel-efficient engine for the first time.

Oh yeah, the Journey is excellent on the value for money quotient. New car, warranty, lots of them out there, good supplier base, if it breaks, it can be fixed.

[ccap41]

 

 

 

Does Dodge or even Ram have anything that's even remotely new at this point? 

 

I don't believe so.

 

I don't want to sound all fan-boy-like but why in the hell so people buy their stuff, for the most part???? I know none of it is junk but it's all just about out classed by everything else because of how stagnant they let their stuff get. Their bread and butter Ram 1500 is actually just getting old at this point. The other two just seem so much better overall to me.

 

 

The LX cars are still great and get excellent fuel economy for their size... only the Avalon beats them in my experience, but the Avalon has other downsides.  The 200S and 200C are excellent as well as long as you're not shopping for cubic feet of passenger room. 

 

And even though the Journey is old, they've kept it fairly updated... it's the only vehicle of that size with a V6 (plus if you like the power, minus if you're looking for fuel economy) and it is one of the least expensive vehicles you can get with a 3rd row unless you go with a Mitsubishi. The 4-cylinder is meh, but there's nothing inherently bad about the car. 

 

 

The LX cars are just so...old... now though. Isn't everything around it at least 3-5 years newer? I know they just had a big refresh a year or so ago to make it look more modern(and they do look pretty dang good). 

 

The 200 is leaving.

 

Journey is being compared to a Mitsubishi.. 'nuff said. Hahaha

 

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2009-nissan-murano-vs-ford-edge-dodge-journey-mazda-cx-7-and-hyundai-santa-fe-comparison-tests

 

Back in 2009 they still had it ranked poorly! I'll admit, some of this is bias as the Journey is one of my least favorite vehicles ever, let alone still being made and sold. It's like a van with different doors. I feel like there was zero effort to give it any style or character. They just slapped the cross-like grill on a very standard shaped box.

Yes, it's got space for days for the dollar but that's about it. At least that is the only selling point that I can see. Space:Dollar ratio is favorable. 

[ccap41]

That's of bad taste...

 

I love both Hellcat and AMG, but there is a time and place to make a performance variant of every car.

 

And arguably, AMG because of the new E43 name introduces a relatively fuel-efficient engine for the first time.

Oh yeah, the Journey is excellent on the value for money quotient. New car, warranty, lots of them out there, good supplier base, if it breaks, it can be fixed.

It's got a warranty and a good supplier base, sweet car purchase. Hahaha I kid I kid.

[Drew Dowdell]

 

 

 

 

Does Dodge or even Ram have anything that's even remotely new at this point? 

 

I don't believe so.

 

I don't want to sound all fan-boy-like but why in the hell so people buy their stuff, for the most part???? I know none of it is junk but it's all just about out classed by everything else because of how stagnant they let their stuff get. Their bread and butter Ram 1500 is actually just getting old at this point. The other two just seem so much better overall to me.

 

 

The LX cars are still great and get excellent fuel economy for their size... only the Avalon beats them in my experience, but the Avalon has other downsides.  The 200S and 200C are excellent as well as long as you're not shopping for cubic feet of passenger room. 

 

And even though the Journey is old, they've kept it fairly updated... it's the only vehicle of that size with a V6 (plus if you like the power, minus if you're looking for fuel economy) and it is one of the least expensive vehicles you can get with a 3rd row unless you go with a Mitsubishi. The 4-cylinder is meh, but there's nothing inherently bad about the car. 

 

 

The LX cars are just so...old... now though. Isn't everything around it at least 3-5 years newer? I know they just had a big refresh a year or so ago to make it look more modern(and they do look pretty dang good). 

 

The 200 is leaving.

 

Journey is being compared to a Mitsubishi.. 'nuff said. Hahaha

 

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2009-nissan-murano-vs-ford-edge-dodge-journey-mazda-cx-7-and-hyundai-santa-fe-comparison-tests

 

Back in 2009 they still had it ranked poorly! I'll admit, some of this is bias as the Journey is one of my least favorite vehicles ever, let alone still being made and sold. It's like a van with different doors. I feel like there was zero effort to give it any style or character. They just slapped the cross-like grill on a very standard shaped box.

Yes, it's got space for days for the dollar but that's about it. At least that is the only selling point that I can see. Space:Dollar ratio is favorable. 

 

 

Lots of cars are sold on value rather than being the newest.   That old Car and Driver test is a head scratcher... the Journey is at minimum $9,000 cheaper than the rest of those (except the mazda for which I didn't see a price).

 

I have no problem with an old platform hanging around when it is a good one... and in the case of the LX cars, it is a great one.  They can do everything an Avalon or Impala or Maxima can do and more.  Their primary downfall is some questionable materials choices on the interior... but that is a business decision by FCA, not a platform issue