I think it's more than just Carlos Tavares not having a clue about the American Market, I don't think he (or stellantis) wants to see the American brands succeed. It would be nice to see the Mopar brands become what they once were and actually see all of them resurface and be back on the Road. Plymouth, Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler & Ram, all back on the roads, each with their own mission and differences.
1.) Plymouth and the STLA Medium platform
The STLA Medium platform has a wheelbase range of 106.3" to 114.2", making it the perfect Pony car size as most of those cars have roughly a 107"-110" wheelbase. Being that the brand is trying to move towards a more economic future and hybrid technology is on the rise, Plymouth may be the perfect place to re-launch the SRT4 vehicles with a new Plymouth Duster, Plymouth Valiant, Plymouth Cuda and Plymouth Roadrunner. Plymouth had an amazing Muscle car history with some of their cars even carrying the 425hp Elephant motor known as 426-Hemi. While these cars would not see that kind of engine, 425hp isn't hard to come by, especially with electrification. Before it became the mighty Hemi Cuda or Cuda AAR, the Plymouth Barracuda was a cool little coupe (hatchback or notchback) with a few hot small block engines, including the 340ci V8 in the Formula S Barracudas, that were pretty potent for their time. Taking the STLA Medium chassis and developing a coupe with a 108" Wheel base, a 305hp 3.6L Pentastar V6 up front with a 400V EDM out back pushing out maybe 120hp and an extra 90lb-ft of torque and you have a 425hp vehicle that can definitely be considered as a modern day Pony car and wouldn't be terrible wearing the Barracuda Formula-S name. Taking that same 425hp powertrain and putting in a Plymouth Roadrunner GTX on the 114.2" wheel base would actually make for an awesome hybrid muscle car as well. It pays to note that the wheelbase on a 1972 Plymouth GTX was only 115" so it wouldn't even have a full inch of difference and while it may not have the sound of a V8, the performance would definitely be there. Both cars would have a step down model with a 375hp/405tq Hurricane-4 hybrid powertrain. Along with these two cars, a Plymouth Duster coupe and Plymouth Valiant sedan would slot under them with a 106.3" wheel base, making them the smallest of the Plymouth cars with SRT4 models pushing 375hp and 405lb-ft of torque from hybrid Hurricane-4 powertrains. While small in size, those numbers out perform the 5.7L Hemi V8 and in smaller vehicles with instant torque assist from the rear motors, they should be able to easily outpace a 5.7L Hemi in the quarter mile. As for an SUV, Bring back the Plymouth Trailduster SUV. With the Trailduster full size SUV only having a 106" Wheelbase, even stretching it to 112" wouldn't be bad and have it powered by a 3.6L transversely under the hood with a 400v EDM out back pushing out 410hp. Lastly, a Plymouth Voyager Minivan to return back to the roots of the Minivan with a 112" Wheelbase and hybrid 4-cylinder powertrains from the Hornet. While that takes Plymouth back to a bit of it's Heritage roots, there is another aspect that could also help the brand become a volume seller and that would be the return of the Plymouth Reliant. The car that saved Chrysler back in the day could return as a high riding crossover sedan and crossover wagon. A small 4-cylinder/hybrid setup would work out well for this setup as it would be meant to be more on the entry level side of things. This family of vehicles would take over the void in the market that Jeep would leave as it exits the "entry level" vehicle playing field.
The return of Plymouth would see an entire group of Stellantis vehicles starting from about $19,999.00 and ranging into the mid $30K range. This move gives the Mopar umbrella flexibility and the finances to really move around. Building a strong base from which they can work from. It also is the first step in something I've been speaking on for awhile and that is brand repurposing.
2a.) Jeep and the STLA Large Platform
Jeep was once synonymous for well appointed vehicles with all-terrain performance. Returning the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Wagoneer to their roots would actually help the brand out alot. As it stands, Jeep really has spread itself all the way across the board, from entry level college student car, to the legendary Wrangler, to a luxury brand. Stellantis needs to let Jeep be Jeep and that's all it should be. The STLA Large platform is capable enough to produce a stout 4x4 vehicle with Hurricane power to return the brand to the glory of its Inline-6 days, dropping in the 420hp 3.0L Standard output engine to compliment already potent 4Xe hybrid powertrain and actually compete with the Bronco and the Ranger, even in Raptor trim. a more truck-like Jeep J10 Honcho would be a perfect mid-size entry on the STLA LArge platform with a 4Xe powertrain.
2b.) Jeep and the STLA Frame Platform
It's rumored that the next-gen Wrangler and Gladiator will move to a modified version of the STLA frame platform. Jeep has been hinting at a 500hp hybrid variant of the 3.0L S/O Hurricane which would actually work out well as the Hybrid 4Xe variants for the next-gen vehicles. Having that powertrain with the 3.0L S/O 420hp variant would be more than enough for the brand's flagship off roaders. Hopefully on the frame platform, the Gladiator will get a deeper bed and more storage options and the Wrangler will get more storage space.
Already that's eight vehicles, with every single vehicle having an electrified powertrain option along with small displacement engines to keep the EPA off of Mopar's back and would make great use of the new platforms.
3a.) Chrysler and the STLA Large platform.
If Chrysler is going to survive, Jeep needs to move out of the Luxury category. Period. On the STLA Large category, the Chrysler 300E could return as a 1970 Coupe replica with alot of cues taken from the new EV Charger but with more focus on luxury. This, along with a similarly style Chrysler New Yorker sedan (both being larger and longer than the Charger) Could truly be what both Chrysler needs and what the American EV industry needs as it would be powered the 800V "Banshee" system as true contenders to the Lucid Air when it comes to EV Luxury performance. The Jeep Wagoneer S needs to be the Chrysler Lebaron (all-electric) as an 800V competitor to the Tesla Model-X plaid and other premium luxury performance SUVs. The Chrysler Town and Country minivan should return as the premium full size minivan with the 800V system and full power options to whatever the 800V system is capable of. This lineup doesn't mean Chrysler should be without gasoline powered cars, hybrids or anything like that. A Chrysler Marlin, Chrysler Javelin AMX and Chrysler Rebel Machine, all of them with the 550hp 3.0L Hurricane I-6 twin turbo under the hood with AWD and everything else would actually make awesome American Luxury performance cars to Rival German performance vehicles. Early '70's styling modernized both inside and out with Hurricane High Output performance would be a great move for the Chrysler brand and dip into Mopar's AMC heritage (even though these cars were around before Chrysler purchased AMC Jeep back in the day. Chrysler could even pirate the Hornet name from Dodge and put it on a long, low riding SUV akin to the Durango and have the High Output Hurricane powering it.
3b.) Chrysler and the STLA Frame Platform
The current grand Wagoneer needs to be renamed the Chrysler Imperial and take it's place as Cadillac's true luxury SUV contender. The Grand Wagoneer could get a couple different powertrains such as the Ramcharger EV system with the 3.6L range extender, the Ram REV powertrain and an 800V pure EV powertrain along with a 510hp version of the Hurricane High Output I-6 twin turbo.
Repurposing Chrysler this way gives the brand validation and distinction and purpose. This lineup puts Chrysler right at the forefront of electrification but with purpose. Chrysler would be the brand that keeps Stellantis from having to buy tax credits and pay fines while also truly competing with the big brands in electrification. it will also be the first major competitor to Cadillac's Escalade in several years. It will also be the first time in over two decades Chrysler will have had a serious competitor to the european market. Something they haven't had since the departure of the 2002 Chrysler 300M.
4.) THE RAM BRAND
Nothing really missing here. Except for a few street-performance tucks. Bring back Ram Rumble Bee, Ram R/T , Ram Daytona and Ram 1500 SRT.
5.) DODGE, THE MIGHTY!
5a) Dodge and the exceptional STLA Large Platform
With everything listed above. Dodge could do something right here, with this Brand that would make every last one of us happy. Dodge could bring back the V8 and we could have old school-like V8 muscle into the future. But not the way we have it now. The STLA Large platform can absolutely handle a V8 engine and there is no reason why a modern V8 shouldn't be under the hood of this new car. I introduce to you the idea of one, small displacement, modern V8 engine, with two different configurations that still pays homage to the '60s and 70's Mopar muscle cars. The 5.2L (318ci) DOHC & DOHC S/C. Yes I am absolutely taking pages out of Ford's playbook but you know what, Who has a V8 car and who doesn't? Dodge could easily produce a 520hp 5.2L DOHC V8 Magnum and a 780hp 5.2L Supercharged V8 Commando engine and not have to worry about EPA and tax credits due the the fact that everything else listed above is pretty much an EV or a hybrid. Now here is how you bring Hotrods back to the Dodge brand all on the STLA Large platform. You take the 375hp 2.0L Hurricane-4 hybrid with the ZF 8-speed Gen 4 hybrid transmission as the base powertrain along with the 420hp 3.0L Hurricane S/O as the GT powertrain. a 520hp 5.2L V8 Magnum as the R/T powertrain and at the top of the food chain, the 780hp 5.2L Commando V8 sits as the undisputed king of the Muscle car hill. You bring out a big 2+2 Coupe named the Dodge Charger, a four door coupe named the Dodge Coronet, a four door, low slung, long 3-row optional high performance SUV called the Monaco (taking over for the Durango), with styling like the '70 Dodge Monaco Wagon and then lastly a mid-size pickup truck called the Dodge D100, built on the STLA Large frame with a Lil Red Express and Lil Black Express package and a Warlock package. There should also be a 420hp Hurricane option Dodge Dude D100 variant and a base D100 with the 375hp Hurricane-4 Hybrid.
The STLA Large platform can also host some slightly smaller vehicles with maybe only 113" wheelbase. While it would be slightly longer than the 111" Wheelbase of the original. The return of the Dodge Dart on this platform wouldn't be a terrible idea. A four-door sedan paying homage to the 1971 Dart hardtop and Dart swinger along with a swoopy two-door coupe Dart Demon would actually be pretty cool. With a base 305hp 3.6L Pentastar V6 with an 8-speed ZF conventional transmission, a 375hp 2.0L Hurricane-4 Hybrid version and lastly the 405hp 3.6L Hybrid version with around 480lb-ft of torque wouldn't be a bad trio in the realm of affordable muscle. One last vehicle on the STLA Large platform would be a higher riding all-terrain SUV called the Dodge Ramcharger. This vehicle would be the only vehicle on the Dodge STLA Large roster to get the full Hurricane lineup from a 375hp 2.0L Hybrid setup, the 420hp S/O setup to the 510hp H/O setup. This would be more of the equivalent to the Ram RHO as its not a dune jumper but more of a rugged trail SUV with Dodge level tech and comfort.
While epic power is always awesome. Dodge could also step back into a few other aspects of their history, moving into the late '70s and early 80s on the STLA Large platform. While the Plymouth Voyager was the original Minivan, Dodge kicked off the whole idea of a cool van in the '70's known as the street van. While a minivan is not always the beacon of cool, the return of the Caravan as the Dodge Street Van might just add a bit of kick to that soccer mom image. (see what I did there?) Admittedly, yes most minivans have short hoods that make working on them a genuine pain at times, however, a longitudinally mounted 405hp 3.6L Hybrid setup with all wheel drive might not be that bad and a 375hp 2.0L Hurricane-4 hybrid should be even easier mounted the long way. Minivans can be a cool people mover if done right and a cool looking, coke-bottle shaped minivan with running boards that end in side exhaust tips, optional wide wheels and tires, spoilers, cool interiors, lights, some wild colors, graphics and things like that all with sportscar like handling and alot of safety including a body with a built in roll cage and all kinds of other things could definitely make a Caravan "Street Van" absolutely desirable. For those who are interested in EVs, a 400V 670hp AWD minivan with a fratzonic exhaust system could actually be really cool and it would give the guy next to you in the Tesla a genuine shock! That's three different minivans, two on the STLA large platform and one on the Medium platform that are completely different from each other in design and mission.
5b.) Dodge and the potential-laden STLA medium platform
While most people think of SRT Hellcats when they think of SRT, it actually started out with the SRT4 neon back in the early 2000s. But even before that Dodge had been cooking up alot of FWD and FWD-based performance cars back in the late 80's and early 90's. From the K-car legend known as the Dodge Spirit Turbo (the fastest 4-door in America for it's time), making the Charger Hellcat the second time the Dodge had the fastest four door in America along with cars like the Daytona IROC-Z, the Dodge Stealth TT (which only had a wheelbase of 97"), the Dodge Omni GLH & GLHS, I see no reason why Dodge can't bring these cars back with a 375hp Hybrid 4cyl turbo setup at the top of their lineup as GLH vehicles. Have R/T trim level cars below that with the hybrid powertrain from the Hornet R/T and then the GT powertrain from the Hornet GT in all of these cars and there are a bunch of entry level cars (including a revised hornet that is a bit less awkward looking and slightly longer) that are affordable and have options.
To me, this truly sets the brand up to be way more successful than what we are seeing right now. Its respectful to the heritage of each brand while moving things forward in ways that won't have Mopar buying credits from Tesla or getting hit with fines. The lineup here gives each brand distinct purpose, but never takes away from what the Mopar brands are all about. It also adds a bit of diversity to the Mopar lineups which also helps in offsetting the production of any V8, which is exactly how Ford got to keep the 5.0L V8 in play. This lineup has it's EVs, it has it's hybrids, it has it's ICE lineups and it has its V8s. It's balanced.
Along with all of this, as I've said many times before. Direct Connection needs to be directly involved with all of this. Stellantis can also add to its profit by being generous with the amount of factory-backed aftermarket accessories Direct connection can provide for these vehicles. Not to mention, it will increase customer loyalty back to where it needs to be. Bring in Quadratec for Jeep upgrades as well and Mopar will be rocking into the future comfortably without alot of financial problems.
moparinsiders.com
