From Jalopnik.com:

REPORT: The not-so-all-new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Alfa lineup!

One week before Chrysler's planned media unveil of Fiat's future plans for Chrysler, The Wall Street Journal's reporting nine current vehicles will be axed from the lineup and one Chrysler plus three Alfa Romeos will be added. Full list below.

Basically, Chrysler gets to be the brand of — umm — a minivan, a large sedan and a little cinquecento. Dodge gets gutted and apparently becomes the retro brand. Ram pickup trucks are — umm — maybe their own brand? Jeep gets back to basics (yay!) and Alfa Romeo randomly shows up, adding a small car, a smaller car, a mid-size and the 8c competizione.

So basically, Fiat's grooming Alfa Romeo to replace Chrysler. Full details below:

Chrysler

* Town and Country
* 300: Redesign in 2011
* Fiat 500: 2011

Dodge

* Charger: Redesign in 2011
* Challenger
* Journey
* Ram trucks (separate brand?)

Jeep

* Wrangler
* Grand Cherokee: Redesign in 2010

Alfa Romeo

* Mito
* Milano (replacing 147)
* New Mid-Size Sedan
* 8C Competizione

[via WSJ, Kicking Tires]


Send an email to Ray Wert, the author of this post, at ray@jalopnik.com.

 

I was stoked to learn that the Challenger survives. It would have been madness to cancel it before they even got a full model year of production on them (08 SRT only, 09 shortened by bankruptcy).

 

The Oct. 31, 2009 issue of the Detroit News stated that Chrysler/Fiat was considering a "second generation" Challenger. If this happens, how can they possibly improve upon this retro design? Could they be thinking about a retro/modern design like the Camaro? I hope not!

 

Weight savings would be the obvious way to go. If all they did was focus on making it lighter, I think they would make a lot of people happy. A lot will depend on the platform, which I'm sure will be shared with the new 300/Charger

 

According to Chrysler's new 5 year plan;

*The development of the 6.4 Hemi will continue

*Challenger gets refreshed for 2011 and continues at least through 2014

Which would seem to indicate that the Challenger...
will get the 6.4 Hemi at some point in the future (outside forces aside, such
as CAFE fuel standards, etc..)

(I just can't help but think about what they did to the front end of the 72-74
Challenger, let's hope they do better this time around) (sorry--just my opinion)

 

I gotta agree with you on the front end of the '72-74 Challengers, Joe. But I'd rather see that than a return of the Mitsu Challengers.

 

For all of those that said that the Challenger would be sent out to pasture after 2010 or 2011..... just goes to show ya..... I guess the only thing is that if sales drop off they may consider killing it before 2014 though too.....

 

I loved the Mitsu Challenger ! LOL Way ahead of its time.

 

I guess it remains to be seen what is in store for the Challenger. But I've lived through a new Challenger-less world and I'll survive again. I'm just thankful I had the opprotunity to own a modern retro Challenger. I hope that it survives a few more years and the power increases as well as the improvements in all aspects of the car. We got a good product considering all that was against its being built and retro as anyone could of dreamed. I'll enjoy this R/T for a long time to come.

 

I hate to be pessimistic, but I tend to think that making it more retro is one of the last of their ideas and I further doubt they would make the interior that way which seems to be the only gripping point about its styling. The power, fuel economy, and possibly weight would probably improve.