With Europe as an ally, and many DCX dealers in inner-city USA looking to attract more and more first-time new car buyers,
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| Dodge hasn't had a car the size of the Hornet since the old Mitsubishi-built Colt. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
DaimlerChrysler Canada has a fighting chance to get the small car it's needed since the demise of the old Mitsubishi-made Colt.
Dropping Mitsubishi's name brings up a possible resource partner. Chrysler Group isn't about to develop a standalone chassis architecture and micro-sized drivetrain for a vehicle that will only result in a single model, as a subcompact Chrysler won't happen in the North American market at least, nor will a mini-Jeep (Mini Moke fans shouldn't hold their collective breath - see http://www.mokeclub.org/ for a wee-bit of an
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| No doubt the interior of a production Hornet wouldn't be as tricked out as this concept. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
education as to what a Mini Moke is). Therefore, DCX needs a development partner, and despite recent differences of opinion and direction between the two automakers, Mitsubishi and its award-winning Colt would be an ideal donor car. It just so happens that Mitsubishi Cars North America is weighing the possibility of importing the next-generation Colt to this part of the world so as to not lose out on the subcompact wave, and no doubt would like to ease development costs by sharing its underpinnings with a like-minded strategic partner. Could this once again be DaimlerChrysler's Dodge division?
DCX and Mitsubishi have worked together for years, most recently sharing chassis
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| Mitsubishi's Colt would be an ideal donor car for the Hornet. (Photo: Mitsubishi Cars North America) |
architecture and the joint "World Engine", a project which also includes Hyundai, for the new Caliber as well as Mitsu's upcoming Lancer replacement, plus Dodge makes the chassis and drivetrain, among other components for Mitsubishi's Raider pickup truck; although this relationship is reportedly strained due to the Japanese company's inability to fulfill purchase quotas thanks to slow sales. Just the same, assistance developing a global-market subcompact model might ease tensions, and give Dodge the Hornet it needs while providing Mitsubishi with a much-needed capital injection.
Then again, there are rumblings that Chrysler is looking elsewhere, possibly
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| DCX doesn't need another high-priced, questionable-quality smart car experience, therefore it may look to Japan or even China for manufacture. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
even China's Chery Automobile Co., championed in North America by Malcolm Bricklin. Reportedly Chery is is a step above other Chinese producers, building some well-made cars. This would be an interesting partnership, if the rumours came true. The fit with Mitsubishi seems the most obvious choice, although who knows how deep the rifts between the two automakers reach. A clean break may be a smart move (excuse the small car pun, as smart has also had a partnership with Mitsubishi for quite some time, sharing its forfour model underpinnings with the Colt and building it at the joint NedCar plant in the Netherlands). This experience will also make clear the need to build the small car anywhere but Europe, as the tiny fortwo, which comes over from Europe, is extremely expensive compared to others in the subcompact class. Yes, China may be a good choice. Then again, with DCX global czar Dieter Zetsche in tight with former DCX exec cum new Volkswagen boss Wolfgang Bernhardt, the VW Lupo, or something similar, may underpin the new Dodge compact.
