AUBURN HILLS, Michigan � Under Fiat's controlling hand, Chrysler plans to rebuild Dodge over the next few years as a car-only brand with a sharper focus on younger buyers � and lots of new products, beginning with a full-size seven-passenger crossover in late 2010.
Under the new "Soul by Design" strategy, however, the Dodge Viper appears to be an orphan. Chrysler now plans to drop the iconic supercar in mid-2010, but says a potential successor is "under consideration" for mid-2012 or beyond.
Ralph Gilles, president and CEO of Dodge, said the big CUV will be followed in 2012-'13 by a new subcompact hatchback and new compact and midsize sedans. The latter three cars will be built on Fiat platforms, while the CUV will get a Chrysler platform, possibly a version of the Grand Caravan.
In the meantime, the slow-selling Dodge Caliber, which gets a new interior and other minor changes for model-year 2010, will be dropped in mid-2012.
As part of what Gilles described as a "complete overhaul" of the brand, Dodge will begin freshening � and, in some cases, repackaging � existing models, including the Caravan, the Journey and the Avenger, all of which will be face-lifted in late 2010 in what Gilles referred to as a "major product intervention."
The Charger will get a major overhaul for model-year 2011, according to Gilles, including a new engine and "class-leading interior (and) features."
The Nitro, which shares its underpinnings with the Jeep Liberty, remains in limbo. Dodge will repackage the midsize SUV, but hasn't decided whether to drop it or replace it beyond model-year 2011.
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