The internet has been flooded with rumors as of lately about future product from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). Some rumors have said that the Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger were going to be discontinued after the 2020 model year and are totally false. The latest one is that the Chrysler Portal Concept will be put into production in the 2020 model year. While that information is partially true, we want to set the facts straight.
While the 2017 Chrysler Portal Concept built a lot of excitement for the Chrysler brand last year, Chrysler will not put the concept into production. Our sources are stating that the Chrysler brand will launch an all-new small multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) based on the same architecture as the Chrysler Pacifica. However, it will be very different than the Portal Concept.
The new Chrysler MPV will more than likely be manufactured at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada (home of the Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Grand Caravan), after the Grand Caravan ends production. That should be after the 2019 model year. However, many of our sources are saying the Grand Caravan might return for just one more model year to allow more development time for the mini-MPV from Chrysler.
The new Chrysler mini-MPV will be slightly smaller than the Chrysler Pacifica. This vehicle will be priced to fit in the gap left by the sales leading Dodge Grand Caravan, which at the time of the article is still the best selling and most affordable minivan on the market.
The Chrysler mini-MPV will also be the first vehicle to offer autonomous vehicle capability from Chrysler according to our sources. Like the Portal Concept, it should incorporate its autonomous equipment into the design of the vehicle. However, this vehicle won’t get the capability to do so until 2023 or 2024.
We are hearing up to three powertrains could be available for the vehicle. A standard gasoline engine (probably either the 2.0-liter Turbo or the 1.3-liter Turbo inline-four cylinder engines), a gas/mild electric engine (eTorque system) and a full-electric powertrain.
We doubt we would see such a vehicle make production by the 2020 model year, as we have yet to see any spy pictures of prototypes running around.
But again, to debunk any idea that such a vehicle will be “replacing the Chrysler 300” is false. Brampton Assembly has future plans that still haven’t been green lit just yet. But you should expect another vehicle based on the same architecture of the next generation Dodge Charger and Challenger joining them at the plant.
