Except for its lineup of heavy-duty pickups, the Chrysler Group of Germany's DaimlerChrysler Corporation won't have too much that's new to offer Canadian auto consumers for the 2003 model year.
The regular product cycle and the company's serious financial pressures will keep it from offering anything really different until about a year from now. By then, the Chrysler Crossfire sports coupe should be here, and so should the Chrysler Pacifica station wagon/minivan.
When the 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty arrives in 3/4- and 1-ton models, it will get a new style from pretty much front to back. It will also get new interior fitments and a pair of new engines -- the first use of the all-new 5.7-litre Hemi Magnum V-8, and a new 5.9-litre Cummins turbo-diesel.
The Hemi should deliver about 350 horsepower at 5400 rpm and 375 lb.-ft. of torque at 4400 rpm. Dodge says this engine will outperform anything else of a comparable size on the market, and deliver better fuel economy in the bargain.
The new Cummins Turbo Diesel will put out 305 horsepower at 2900 rpm and 555 lb.-ft. of torque at 1400 rpm.
All of this will fit on a new full-length hydro-formed chassis and is apparently designed to offer exceptional durability in real-world work situations.
DODGE TO LAUNCH PERFORMANCE MODELS: For some time, Dodge has been tub-thumping its SRT line of performance cars, and now it looks as if we might actually see some later this year.
The 800-kg gorilla of the family will undoubtedly be the Viper SRT-10, which get an 8.3-litre V10 good for producing 500 horsepower and 525 lb.-ft. of torque.
As always, that model will be over-priced and low-volumed and will go to rich, middle-aged men who don't want to take Viagra.