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Chrysler Isn’t Dead: Big Changes And New Vehicles Coming In 2026

Chrysler Isn’t Dead: Big Changes And New Vehicles Coming In 2026​

A Revived Lineup, Fresh Direction, and Straight Talk From Chrysler’s CEO​


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For years, people have speculated that Chrysler was on its last legs. With no all-new models since the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica and a lineup limited to the Voyager, Pacifica, and Pacifica Hybrid, the brand looked like it was fading into the background. But after spending the summer covering event after event and hearing directly from Chrysler CEO Christine Feuell, I can confidently say this: Chrysler is not only alive and well—2026 is shaping up to be one of its biggest years in decades.

 
Just confirming based on what I just read, “2026”? So, we will see new Chryslers before the new mid-size Ram, Ramcharger SUV, Jeep Cherokee and Compass? Kind of a stretch seeing we have not seen ANYTHING other than the axed Airflow in the last 2 years. No concept art, clay models, prototypes, or test vehicles. This is either going to be a bigger surprise than Pearl Harber, or the best kept secret ever. Yet we have seen both Jeeps and have an idea on what the new mid-size Ram and Ramcharger may look like.
Well, I have ALWAYS trusted your reporting, so from your mouth to Gods ears!
 
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So the four years beyond its expiration date minivan will get an update in 2026. Three other models are “slated” to be introduced with no committed timeline. They will obviously be years away, IF we ever see them. Again, as I’ve said over and over, wake me up when they park them in the showroom . Otherwise, just the same old snake oil.
 
Part of that video came from the event they had some time ago and even if the first part was more recent, it's still just talk. After all this time, with the "rework" of the C6X that was happening over a year ago at this point and there's still no rendering or mock up, it's the same spill different day.

We know that Alfa Romeo is going in a different direction because the new CEO in Europe scrapped what was planned and has a whole new objective of what he wants that brand to look like. Chrysler has limped along with the Pacifica/Pacifica lite (I refuse to call it by anything else) and I don't see where they will be putting out anything in 2026 if we aren't even seeing mules, unless it's a reskin of something that already exists. I would love to believe that Chrysler is really back, but until there is real metal meeting the pavement, it's just more words without action.
 
Meh, it sounds good, but IDK. It'd be nearly impossible for Chrysler to really market themselves as a "premium mid-tier luxury brand" under the Mopar umbrella seeing that Jeep already holds that title and market. Let's really look at Chrysler over the last decade or so. The 300 was nothing but a squared-off charger is a suit with no real performance for most of the years it was around. The minivan's flounder around in a dead market and both Jeep and Ram make better luxury vehicles that Chrysler by far. SRT & Chrysler??? How about no.

Here's a better idea, Continue on with Ram, Jeep and Dodge and let Chrysler fade out of the way. Drop the full electrification nonsense, and go with ICE and Hybrids and let that be it. If Stellantis, North America is going to have "Premium" vehicles, since every is so focused on SUV's anyway, Bring back the Citadel options on Dodge cars and fix the poorly named Jeep lineup. Literally 99% of Jeep's lineup can be built on the STLA Large platform including the Cherokee, the poorly named Recon, the poorly named Grand Cherokee and the Poorly named Wagoneer S. The only vehicles not on the STLA Large platform should be the Wrangler and Gladiator, meaning that behemoth of a mistake known as the current Grand Wagoneer should immediately be dropped from the lineup. Current Grand Cherokee should be Grand Wagoneer with the Hurricane-4 engine and a 4Xe variant of that same engine with a ZF 8HP EVO plug in hybrid 8-speed behind it a all-wheel drive. Wagoneer S gets renamed Jeep Renegade powered by a 2.0L Hurricane 4Xe type power train same what's above and the same power train should go in the Recon. Cherokee needs the same 2.0L Hurricane as the only engine option with a rear EDM so it can still be a hybrid. This makes all Jeeps 4Xe on the STLA Large platform but it doesn't stop there. The Wrangler and Gladiator should be 4Xe only with the new 2.0L Hurricane-4 and the plug in ZF 8speed EVO transmission. Take these and offer them as affordable luxury option vehicles and that's all Jeep needs. No reason Jeep can't have a Wrangler/Gladiator trim option that rivals a Mercedes G-Wagon, or a Recon that Rivals the Land Rover Octa or a Renegade (Wagoneer S) trim level that can Rival the Range Rover in style and quality. Just make decent trim levels and that would work a lot better.

Ram trucks put every single Chrysler to shame so I don't have much to say where the Ram brand is concerned. They're just another nail in the coffin for Chrysler. My only thing is that I would love to see Ram build an STLA Large Rampage pickup truck, a midsize Dakota on the similar frame to the Gladiator and a Ramcharger SUV on that same setup, no bigger than a Rampage. WE DO NOT NEED SOME MASSIVE SUV HULKING DOWN THE HIGHWAY!!!!! WE NEED something like the Bronco or 4-Runner but better. We also need some real Street Performance trucks, something with a Hurricane-6 H/O Hybrid pushing out about 800hp and 970lb-ft of torque. a Wild Ram 2500HD Street truck with the Cummin I-6 turned up a notch or two would be pretty awesome as well.

Where Stellanits needs to put it's focus at is DODGE AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE ON THE STLA LARGE PLATFORM!!!!!!!!! We currently have the 8th Gen Charger in coupe and sedan form and the Durango, which needs to hurry up and move its archaic self from it's ancient platform from 2011 to the STLA Large platform, but the brand needs more. What is needed is a Charger Wagon (Coronet), a slightly smaller performance sedan under the Charger (Dart) still RWD based with AWD, powered by the 2.0L Hurricane-4 along with an SRT version powered by a 2.0L Hurricane-4 w/ the ZF 8-speed Gen-4 EVO gearbox behind it and the Grand Caravan with a GLH model, hearkening back to the days of the Turbo Caravans back in the 80's, with styling and options like the street vans of the '70's an Citadel SE would be positioned for luxury. Chargers, Coronets and Durango SUVs would be powered by Hurricane powertrains and Hurricane Hybrid powertrains only. Charger would have the GT with the Hurricane-4, the Super Bee with the 420hp S/O Hurricane, the R/T with the 550hp Hurricane and then the Dodge Charger SRT Daytona with the Hurricane H/O Hybrid with the ZF Gen-4 EVO gearbox making a combined 818hp and 974lb-ft of torque with AWD. The Coronet would have a similar lineup with the low end being the Coronet GTX with the Hurricane-4, the Hurricane Super Bee Six Pack with the 420hp Hurricane-6, next the Coronet R/T with the 550hp Hurricane-6 and then lastly the Coronet SRT Super bird with the 818hp Hurricane Hybrid setup. The Durango would get a similar lineup with 4-performance tiers, the Hurricane-4 SXT, the 420hp Hurricane-6 Durango GT, the 550hp Durango R/T and an 818hp Durango SRT Rumble Bee. The Durango would also get one more option, a Citadel version with a 3.6L Pentastar hybrid power train. No need for Chrysler.
 
Feuell, to be kind, seems totally lost in this job, mouthing pre-written or memorized talking points clearly out of her comfort zone on Chrysler or frankly anything automotive. Call it tough love or just good business acumen.
I hope she can find an executive job somewhere, but if Chrysler is to prosper, she needs to go ASAP. I bet you could find someone real quick who knows Chrysler.
As to product:,
The most obvious first, we must continue the Pacifica minivan
A spin-off 300 built off the Charger Six Pack is beyond logical, an absolute.
A spin-off Jeep Grand Cherokee two row SUV is very easy.
A spin-off Cherokee two row SUV is very easy.
A spin-off Dodge midsize hatchback with Airflow styling is not a stretch.
The brand wide absolute rule is affordable luxury and a return to the Chrysler signature front end styling. The concepts of the past could all apply today, use them. They still resonate and should guide the team.
Look what I’ve done, at much less than Feuell’s salary, I’ve solved the Chrysler confusion with six logical and easily executed suggestions, and two absolute rules for brand identity.
I’ll take her job at half the salary and save the poor women continued embarrassment trying to talk her way around something she is totally ill equipped to handle. Time to unload the baggage and get Chrysler going. Call me.
 
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I'll believe this when I see it.
And I think Fuell should be gone.
Chrysler needs someone at the top with vision that loves cars and wants to change the world. Chrysler needs someone with that kind of spirit and energy and not just another yes man (woman in this case) doing someone else's bidding. Chrysler's new product needs to be exceptional and unique and not just spin offs from other existing product with a different grill.
 
I'll believe this when I see it.
And I think Fuell should be gone.
Chrysler needs someone at the top with vision that loves cars and wants to change the world. Chrysler needs someone with that kind of spirit and energy and not just another yes man (woman in this case) doing someone else's bidding. Chrysler's new product needs to be exceptional and unique and not just spin offs from other existing product with a different grill.
Here you go. Chrysler had such a person, in fact she was a lead engineer on the last Chrysler 300 program before she left Auburn Hills.
 
I'll believe this when I see it.
And I think Fuell should be gone.
Chrysler needs someone at the top with vision that loves cars and wants to change the world. Chrysler needs someone with that kind of spirit and energy and not just another yes man (woman in this case) doing someone else's bidding. Chrysler's new product needs to be exceptional and unique and not just spin offs from other existing product with a different grill.
I think Walter P.'s (great?) grandson, Frank Rhoads would be a good fit. Yes, I know he is not in the car business, but I bet he has knowledge passed on from his family, and he actually cares about the Chrysler Division. No offence to Fuell, I would bet Frank would do a better job than her. Passion (and knowledge) for your vehicles is a good part of the job. I think Elkann and Filosa, based on what they are trying to do, have this passion for the North American arm. If they didn't, we would not be seeing this activity for the American brands.
 
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I'll believe this when I see it.
And I think Fuell should be gone.
Chrysler needs someone at the top with vision that loves cars and wants to change the world. Chrysler needs someone with that kind of spirit and energy and not just another yes man (woman in this case) doing someone else's bidding. Chrysler's new product needs to be exceptional and unique and not just spin offs from other existing product with a different grill.
I understand your passion, I share it, but pragmatism must carry our flag for now. If done right, spin offs work for almost every car brand and in the situation Chrysler finds itself, the only choice.
If Chrysler remains off the market long enough to start from scratch with anything stand alone, it will have died a slow painful death. Personally I’d be all over a near luxury Chrysler SUV, fully aware it might be a warmed over Jeep, a rather worthy and sound starting point. I stand by my spin off predictions that might not be passionate, but pragmatic. Join me, won’t you.
 
I understand your passion, I share it, but pragmatism must carry our flag for now. If done right, spin offs work for almost every car brand and in the situation Chrysler finds itself, the only choice.
If Chrysler remains off the market long enough to start from scratch with anything stand alone, it will have died a slow painful death. Personally I’d be all over a near luxury Chrysler SUV, fully aware it might be a warmed over Jeep, a rather worthy and sound starting point. I stand by my spin off predictions that might not be passionate, but pragmatic. Join me, won’t you.
Historically, all the other legacy Chrysler Corporation brands were spun off of Chryslers. The corporation went overboard in the 1950's offering different V8s for every brand. There were also two different six cylinder engine blocks between the Chrysler/DeSoto and Dodge/Plymouth divisions. After 1961 everything was down to A and B(RB) engines and the slant six. Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth models shared a lot for each given platform. I have owned two Chrysler branded vehicles and had the use of a Chrysler Cirrus over the summer of 1995. These vehicles were all built before the death of Plymouth. From my experience a Chrysler always was a more premium vehicle than a Dodge or a Plymouth, despite sharing platforms and engineering.

The Chrysler brand truly needs to embrace the multi-energy drivetrain to set its products apart from the other muscle bound brands. The Jeep Recon EV has 650hp, but few want a battery electric vehicle. A Chrysler branded vehicle with an IC range extender and unique Chrysler styling inside and out, would allow the Chrysler brand a chance to fill in a critical market gap.
 
Historically, all the other legacy Chrysler Corporation brands were spun off of Chryslers. The corporation went overboard in the 1950's offering different V8s for every brand. There were also two different six cylinder engine blocks between the Chrysler/DeSoto and Dodge/Plymouth divisions. After 1961 everything was down to A and B(RB) engines and the slant six. Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth models shared a lot for each given platform. I have owned two Chrysler branded vehicles and had the use of a Chrysler Cirrus over the summer of 1995. These vehicles were all built before the death of Plymouth. From my experience a Chrysler always was a more premium vehicle than a Dodge or a Plymouth, despite sharing platforms and engineering.

The Chrysler brand truly needs to embrace the multi-energy drivetrain to set its products apart from the other muscle bound brands. The Jeep Recon EV has 650hp, but few want a battery electric vehicle. A Chrysler branded vehicle with an IC range extender and unique Chrysler styling inside and out, would allow the Chrysler brand a chance to fill in a critical market gap.
I agree about the shared platforms. Years back I had a 1993 Dodge Intrepid and my wife had a 1995 Chrysler Concord. Same cars, but I did notice a difference in the ride and handling between the two. Fast forward to 2010, I had a Dodge Charger, wife had a 2008 Chrysler 300. Same car, yet once again, the Chrysler had a nicer ride, more comfortable. The Charger, tight ride, tighter handling. Chrysler has always been able to use the same platform, for different makes, then fine tune it to fit the make. Now, I am in a 2021 Durango, my daughter is in a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Yup, once again, we can notice the difference.
I am sure this can be done again with the new Chrysler sedan. Refine it to more luxury, keep the Dodges to sporty. Keep the Jeep/Ram/Dodge SUV's rugged and make the Chrysler SUV more Luxury. Ford is able to do it with the Lincoln and Ford SUV's; Chrysler can do it to.
 
I appreciate the thoughtful replies to my post. And I understand that Stellantis has fixed platforms that all vehicles must use. I just think for Chrysler to return to glory that it needs an all new vehicle as far as the exterior and interior design are concerned. And sheet metal not from Jeep stampings.
Who will Chrysler compete with? Will it be Cadillac, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lincoln, Lexus? All of these are established premium brands. I thought the Airflow was a great concept and a good first step in the right direction. It blended technology with history.
Chrysler must provide the consumer with a product that is a little unique from the competition but has value and good press reviews. To save costs I'd recommend just going with an ICE platform for now. People that buy premium vehicles don't care about the cost of gas and not many people are buying BEV's. But people do want technology in their cars. Make a good, medium sized performance SUV with an amazing interior and sound system. Then, if it sells well, roll out a hybrid powertrain later. Offer it in 2 trims. Entry level luxury and full luxury. Save costs where you can.
Chrysler needs to get their foot back in the door, so to speak. As Ray Kinsella once heard, "if you build it, they will come." But you must build it right Chrysler. Go for the gold or fold up your tables and go home. Go out swinging for the fences or be lost to the dustbin of history.
 
I'd like to see Stellantis do with Chrysler what GM has done with Cadillac. They've really cranked up the dial on Cadillac's presence as the luxury performance brand. Sporty, yet premium. That's what Chrysler deserves to be also.

But, alas we're talking about the company that's still using a 16 year old cab on their HD trucks, has allowed their 1/2 ton cash cow to become 7 years old with no changes other than adding an engine to the lineup, and ruined every chance they had to keep the Challenger/Charger sales on fire. We won't even talk about the ancient Durango or the 8 year old flagship off-road SUV they're trying to keep selling in the face of fierce new competition. So I don't look for anything great to happen with Chrysler. I'll believe it when I see them at my local dealership.

That video SavageGeese dropped on their YT channel yesterday basically sums it up.
 
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