Charger and Challenger sell in way higher volume than any of those brands individual offerings. And Dodge buyers specifically avoid those brands because a lack of an affordable V8.
You guys are going to kill Dodge. The incredibly prevalent "becoming more relevant by shrinking marketshare" mindset. How'd that work out for the Big 3 the last 40 years?
This must be an age thing. Anyone under 40 I talk to (and the largest demographic of buyers for Dodge) gets it, anyone over 40 seems to be defending this position. Break out the EBIT and IRR for the last ten years for Dodge after offsetting carbon credits for Dodge - I dare you. Oh, and why do we need the Europeans again? Because we do business in China with PSA platforms and Chinese PSA suppliers provide us non-powertrain parts so we get better global pricing because we're a global automaker? Oh wait. We aren't big in China with PSA and that doesn't actually happen? Hell, even GM gets it right on that front. What do we need PSA for again? Gotta love those Agnelli's, they really look out for North America.
But hey - hurray for 14,000 Hornet reservations! That'll show 'em!
So let me get this straight...
When I grew up as a kid in the 70's and 80's, that is, back when they were still purely American owned, Dodge had NO V8 Muscle cars.
No vocational trucks. I never saw Dodge Tow trucks or utility trucks. I once saw a 60's Power Wagon at a country gas station, but that's it. Everything was either Ford or Chevy.
This pretty much continued up through their big revival in the mid 90's.
Under Fiat stewardship, they took whatever Dodge had, and elevated it to the point they outsold the Mustang!!!! and even the Chevy Silverado!!!!
Back when I grew up, If you had asked 1 million of the most die hard Mopar loyalists (American) if this was even possible, pretty much NONE of them would have said yes.
Heck, you don't even have to go back that far. If you had asked the same question of the entire planet back in 2009, or 2010, NO ONE would have said it was possible.
And yet, the Europeans actually ADDED to the tremendous legend of the Hemi with the Hellcat. That is, if you believe the Europeans were involved with it, rather than the Americans who were running things locally.
Personally, I choose to believe that the people running Dodge and Ram (the brands) have done a great job over the past 10 years. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt that they have something big in store for fans.
Just my opinion.