Chrysler Brand to launch its First Sport Utility?
Does it really make sense for Chrysler Group to be doubling its sport utility lineup amidst the most severe gas crisis since the mid-'70s?
Auburn Hills certainly thinks it does, and with a track record that includes some of the most intriguing new models to come along in decades, you might want to think twice before betting against them.
Altogether, Chrysler Group, made up of the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands, will introduce at least five new SUVs within the next two to three years, as part of a new initiative internally called "Full Throttle.". The domestic automaker sees segment opportunities that it is not yet taking advantage of, which could even include a mid- to full-size Chrysler sport utility, plus a variety of new Jeep models, and even two more under the Dodge label.
While flying in the face of caution is hardly unusual for Chrysler Group, the popularity of its new fleet of V8-powered muscle cars - including the 300C, Magnum and
Charger, plus the much more powerful SRT8 derivatives of each - is the perfect example that environmentally friendliness, MDS cylinder deactivation technology aside, doesn't appeal to everyone. Therefore, also bucking current trends, new SUVs will be arriving in the automaker's showrooms en masse.
But hold on a minute. Convicting anything with an SUV label as an offender without first finding out what its fuel economy ratings will result in would be jumping to conclusions, wouldn't it? After all, are Toyota's RAV4 and Honda's CR-V considered gas guzzlers? What about Ford's Escape, or for that matter its new Escape Hybrid alternative? No, while jumping on the "ban the Essuvee" bandwagon might be trendy, the fact is a large portion of new vehicle buyers still want the convenience and go-anywhere style of such wagon-like people haulers, and therefore it only makes sense for new Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep SUVs to fill in the "white spaces" currently missing from the lineup.
Does it really make sense for Chrysler Group to be doubling its sport utility lineup amidst the most severe gas crisis since the mid-'70s?
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| Does it really make sense for Chrysler Group to be doubling its sportutility lineup amidst the most severe gas crisis since the mid-'70s? (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
Altogether, Chrysler Group, made up of the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands, will introduce at least five new SUVs within the next two to three years, as part of a new initiative internally called "Full Throttle.". The domestic automaker sees segment opportunities that it is not yet taking advantage of, which could even include a mid- to full-size Chrysler sport utility, plus a variety of new Jeep models, and even two more under the Dodge label.
While flying in the face of caution is hardly unusual for Chrysler Group, the popularity of its new fleet of V8-powered muscle cars - including the 300C, Magnum and
 |
| A large portion of new vehicle buyers still want the convenience andgo-anywhere style of such wagon-like people haulers, and therefore itonly makes sense for new Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep SUVs to fill in the"white spaces" currently missing from the lineup. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
But hold on a minute. Convicting anything with an SUV label as an offender without first finding out what its fuel economy ratings will result in would be jumping to conclusions, wouldn't it? After all, are Toyota's RAV4 and Honda's CR-V considered gas guzzlers? What about Ford's Escape, or for that matter its new Escape Hybrid alternative? No, while jumping on the "ban the Essuvee" bandwagon might be trendy, the fact is a large portion of new vehicle buyers still want the convenience and go-anywhere style of such wagon-like people haulers, and therefore it only makes sense for new Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep SUVs to fill in the "white spaces" currently missing from the lineup.