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[dakrt99]

My prediction:  This year, sales will be up 10-15% over last year!  What predictions are you guys willing to make?   Another, the Dart is going to be the newest sweetheart!

Edited by dakrt99, January 1, 2012 at 01:40 pm.

[Jeepnut]

I predict that sales will continue thier climb and the Dart will be a success. Superbowl commercial will feature Dart. We might get a few surprise vehicles at the auto shows such as Dart based small truck and maybe Jeep Liberty and 200 replacement.

[MoparNorm]

Jeepnut, on January 1, 2012 at 04:31 pm, said:

...  such as Dart based small truck ...

Wow!

That was some New Years Party you went to...

[Jeepnut]

MoparNorm, on January 1, 2012 at 04:33 pm, said:

Wow!

That was some New Years Party you went to...

Yes actually it was but remember a small truck has been rumored to debut this year and I'm not talking about the Dakota replacement

From the upcoming section on here

"Two other new pickups have been rumored. One is a Ram 50-sized compact (Dodge has not built a compact pickup since the A-series) powered by the Tiger Shark four cylinder belting out over 200 horsepower (though in Dodge Dart it’s around 185)."

You also have to look at the plants and what is to be built there

SHAP= 200, Avenger(probably cancelled), maybe Alfa

Belvedere= Dart, maybe the Patriot replacement

Toledo=all CUSW based crossovers

Seems like SHAP and Belvedere have plenty of leftover capacity for a CUSW based trucklette or some other vehicles

Edited by Jeepnut, January 1, 2012 at 07:03 pm.

[MoparNorm]

Jeepnut, on January 1, 2012 at 04:39 pm, said:

Belvedere= Dart, maybe the Patriot replacement

Toledo=all CUSW based crossovers

Seems like SHAP and Belvedere have plenty of leftover capacity for a CUSW based trucklette or some other vehicles

Belvedere will have Dart, Compass/Patriot and possibly other CUSW and CUSW+ variants.
I would expect any pick-up or FWD lifestyle variant to come from Winsor, or Toledo, not Dart based. There is a small niche for a small truck with real capability, there is no discernible market for a car based truck and historically, Rampage, VW and other attempts have been sales failures.

[Jeepnut]

MoparNorm, on January 1, 2012 at 07:39 pm, said:

Belvedere will have Dart, Compass/Patriot and possibly other CUSW and CUSW+ variants.
I would expect any pick-up or FWD lifestyle variant to come from Winsor, or Toledo, not Dart based. There is a small niche for a small truck with real capability, there is no discernible market for a car based truck and historically, Rampage, VW and other attempts have been sales failures.

A car based pickup will only come from Windsor if it is based on that platform and IMHO the Dakota replacement will be a global truck similar to the Global Colorado and Ranger. Belvedere is so far only slated to get CUSW while Toledo and SHAP will get CUSW+. The market for small trucks has changed since the VW and rampage and the MPG advantage would make sense if the truck was small enough. There is even a rumor that the Ridgeline replacement will be CR-V based instead of "Accord" based. GM NA head Has even stated that the future of small trucks in NA might be car based so there is a precedence for such a vehicle and there is open capacity at belvedere.

[MoparNorm]

Jeepnut, on January 1, 2012 at 07:49 pm, said:

GM NA head Has even stated that the future of small trucks in NA might be car based so there is a precedence for such a vehicle and there is open capacity at belvedere.

The GM head doesn't call the shots at Chrysler and GM isn't doing too well right now.
There will not be room at Belvedere when they get all the vehicles I mentioned above, up and running and a small pickup will not be in the 2012 mix.

There may be a market for a small truck, but it had better have capability, or it will fail just like all of the others failed. A CUSW based "truck" will be a failure and a waste of resources right now. A CUSW+ has a better chance and it would allow a AWD variant.

[Jeepnut]

MoparNorm, on January 1, 2012 at 07:57 pm, said:

The GM head doesn't call the shots at Chrysler and GM isn't doing too well right now.
There will not be room at Belvedere when they get all the vehicles I mentioned above, up and running and a small pickup will not be in the 2012 mix.

There may be a market for a small truck, but it had better have capability, or it will fail just like all of the others failed. A CUSW based "truck" will be a failure and a waste of resources right now. A CUSW+ has a better chance and it would allow a AWD variant.

I never meant to imply that GM calls the shots at Chrysler. Also how is GM not doing well last time I checked they are very profitable. They are also bringing the global Colorado here as a 2013 model. Which is another reason I think the Dakota replacement will be a BOF global model as it can be sold under the Fiat and Ram brands in pretty much any global market depending on who is the stronger brand. If they go that route a CUSW+ based truck would be to close to a global Dakota. But a CUSW based truck would be AWD capable and have the MPG to sway some customers and not bump up against a midsize truck. Also it would fit with the "Ram 50" size truck rumors and could also be a replacement for the Brazilian Fiat Strada

[MoparNorm]

Jeepnut, on January 1, 2012 at 08:13 pm, said:

I never meant to imply that GM calls the shots at Chrysler.

Oh, I know that. I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up.
GM is getting by, but they "aren't very profitable"...and soon they will have to come to terms with their falling stock price and what that means to fund future efforts.

[Jeepnut]

MoparNorm, on January 1, 2012 at 08:32 pm, said:

Oh, I know that. I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up.
GM is getting by, but they "aren't very profitable"...and soon they will have to come to terms with their falling stock price and what that means to fund future efforts.

Oh I'm not getting any hopes up I have the Wrangler diesel truck to do that it is just spitballin on my part based on rumors

[tomtex]

I predict  the  EPA and its laws will we begin, a painful death after Nov 012. That the keystone pipe line will  be built, and in 013 we could be up to our ears in diesel  and NG engines.

[Steve Ort]

tomtex, on January 2, 2012 at 02:13 pm, said:

I predict  the  EPA and its laws will we begin, a painful death after Nov 012. That the keystone pipe line will  be built, and in 013 we could be up to our ears in diesel  and NG engines.

God I hope so.