Upcoming Dodge, Ram, and Jeep Trucks and SUVs
Also see upcoming cars, minivans, and Journey and engines and transmissions.
Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango, Wagoneer, Maserati
The 2014 Grand Cherokee and 2014 Dodge Durango are out. The Maserati Levante version is under way; it uses Maserati and VM engines, and will be built in Italy.
The Wagoneer, a luxury seven-seater positioned above the Grand Cherokee (Durango is currently $2,000 more at the base level), is still planned, maybe for calendar year 2015. One correspondent reported: “Grand Wagoneer looks just like the classic Wagoneer with a bit of Durango styling.”
Durango was supposed to be dropped when Wagoneer arrived, but the 2014 revision gives some pause. It is possible that all three will still be made, with Wagoneer simply taking up residence at the top of the food chain; buyers have proven willing to pay ever-larger sums for the luxo-Jeeps, but there is still a place for Durango. Among other things, it might be the only vehicle, outside Ram, to get an eight-speed shifted by a knob, rather than the finicky electro-shifter.
Ram vans (commercial vans)
Fiat Doblo may be sold as Ram ProMaster City, with minor changes, imported from Turkey; we expect the sole powertrain to be the 1.4 liter turbocharged engine, most likely made in Europe.
The Ram ProMaster van, Chrysler-modified from the Fiat Ducato, will see life in model year 2014; it will be made in Mexico and sold under both North and South American free trade agreements. Ducato/ProMaster is sized between Doblo/Transit and Daily/Sprinter (Doblo, Transit, Daily, and Sprinter are not related to each other). See Fiat commercial vans. We still expect Daily to come out in Ram form... eventually.
Ram Heavy Duty / Medium Duty Pickups and Chassis Cabs
oh20 wrote: “Dodge is currently working on a plan that would make the Ram 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs available to all Ram dealers.”
Two sources, including oh2o, have now said that there would be a 6.4 Hemi option for the Ram heavy duty trucks, along with a new six-speed Aisin transmission to compete with the GM’s Allisons. The 8HP70, made by ZF, will be used with the standard Hemi; the six-speed Aisin with the 6.4 Hemi. (No word on diesels yet.) Chrysler-built 845REs will be used with the V6 models.
RamMan said DEF would be used in 2014 diesels; the new Ram 1500 interior will be used, but the exterior may not change much, if at all. They will probably be pushing for better gas mileage.
The Long Hauler concept used a Kelderman air suspension in front and rear, for higher capacity with a smoother ride; that model was based on the Ram 5500, which has a leaf-spring rear suspension. The Long Hauler now appears to be a “go” for production.
Commercial heavy-duty trucks (e.g. tractors, class 7-8) might be planned, though they could be Ivecos, and aren't expected until 2015 at the earliest. Update: These were discussed, but leaders decided that they did not know the market well enough, and decided to wait until the end of the Five Year Plan and then to reconsider it.
Mid-sized pickups
The Gladiator concept truck was driven on-stage at a 2010 dealer meeting, with an indication that something like it might be made. Sergio Marchionne later said it would probably be a Wrangler-based vehicle with a short bed. A Mopar pickup kit followed, then a September 2011 statement that a Jeep pickup is still a few years out. It now appears to be slated for 2015-2016.
Two new pickups have been rumored to be closer and more likely. One is a Ram 50-sized compact powered by the Tiger Shark four cylinder belting out over 200 horsepower (in Dodge Dart it’s 184 hp), probably a Fiat Strada worked over by Chrysler guys; it’s due for Mexican production — Mexico, because then they can sell it all over North and South America without duties — both the South American and North American free trade zones include Mexico.
The other is the Dodge Dakota replacement, possible 2015 Ram Dakota, lighter but still capable -- the so-called "lifestyle Dakota."
In 2007, when we first broke the story on this new truck, we quoted a Dodge rep saying that it would still be capable, just not as capable. The upcoming one-metric-ton Dodge truck for Europe is also out there and is likely to be the same as the Dakota replacement; as Bob Sheaves pointed out, European truck capacity standards are different.
Ram 1500 pickup trucks, SRT10
See the 2013 Ram 1500 page. As for another SRT10 Ram, Ralph Gilles said in May 2012, “We'll never put an SRT engine just randomly in any car... just never, that's just not what you do with a performance engine. ... [When John McElroy asked about the Ram V10:] We did look at it, to be honest with you...in the past... but, the original short wheelbase V10 truck was an amazing machine... When we went to four doors we ruined the formula. ...I vowed, we will never do that again.” A two-door Ram with the Viper V10 is possible, but seems unlikely in the foreseeable future, and would not arrive until 2016 at the earliest.
Rumors of a Ram diesel have been around since 2009, and Allpar was told in 2010 that there was definitely work on a Cummins V6 in the Ram 1500 (a V6, not the straight-six Ram currently uses in the 2500 and up). We wrote in 2011 that we believed the Ram 1500 diesel will use the VM 3.0 instead, partly to cut inventory and training needs, given that the VM is used in Grand Cherokee and export vehicles. This was officially announced on February 14, 2013, after numerous Allpar news stories on its imminent arrival. The engine will be coupled with an eight-speed.
Meanwhile, there has been more talk of fitting the 6.4 Hemi into the various Rams; in the Ram 1500, it could be a sport engine, and in the heavier duty Rams, it would match “the best of the rest.” The 6.4 in Ram trucks is almost a dead certainty.
Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Scrambler / Gladiator
The 2012 Jeep Wrangler is here. A revised VM diesel is for export markets. Scrambler pickup appears to be “no-go” for until at least 2016, with the redesigned Wrangler. Jeep Wrangler • Scrambler pickup • Jeep Off-Road Campers
A US diesel is being looked at seriously. An updated transfer case may appear, possibly bringing back a full-time setting for broader market appeal. Sheet metal changes will improve aerodynamics (strong chance of major windshield and front end redesign). There is a chance of some sort of "stripped" model as production line can now apply bedliner to tubs during assembly. Better quality is also expected.
Word from within Chrysler suggests that the Jeep Wrangler plant in Toledo, Ohio, has come under increasing scrutiny by company engineers, as they attempt to expand production and, many believe, make room for variants including a factory pickup and vehicles closer to the original Peeps in functionality. Insiders told Allpar that the plant was built without expansion in mind, which may have made sense at the time, with sales well below the plant's maximum output for many years. Engineers have found ways to "make" space within the existing plant by reconfiguring it.
CUSW, C-EVO, D crossovers
Jeep Liberty / Cherokee
The next Jeep Liberty / Cherokee will move to an altered version of the new midsized car platform in the late first quarter of 2013, after a six-to-eight-month factory shutdown and refit (it appears to have been somewhat delayed, possibly so it can launch with nine-speed automatics). One observer wrote, “It looks like a mix of the Compass and the Grand Cherokee. Sleek and un-Jeep-like.” Its debut will likely take place in New York in April 2013.
Many people think we will get something that is less off-road capable than the current model, with a single Trail Rated version that matches or comes near the current Trail Rated Liberty. It will have a 3.2 V6 instead of the 3.6, to allow better wheel travel, and is likely to be the first vehicle with that engine. A VM diesel is possible as Euro and US standards converge. Four cylinders are likely to be a Tiger Shark 2.4, and the 1.4 liter Fiat turbo as a gas-mileage king.
Production will continue to be at Toledo. An Alfa Romeo on the same basic dimensions is expected, and the same basic platform will support a Chrysler crossover and hatchback... a bit lower to the ground, most likely. [2014 Jeep Cherokee / Liberty details]
Jeep Patriot / Jeep Compass
For the current model: as predicted by oh2o, the Compass and Patriot switched to a normal six-speed automatic, jettisoning the Nissan CVT2. The 2014 model year started early (February 2013), but by January 2014, both Compass and Patriot will have been replaced (this might no longer be the case. Compass appears to have gotten a new lease on life.)
The new transmission is, as predicted by informed speculation at the Allpar forums, likely be the same one used on the Kia Sportage and Hyundai ix35.
The DynaMax AWD system, currently built in Korea by Hyundai, uses an electric oil pump to create pressure, applying a multi-disc clutch to move torque from the front wheels to the rear differential. As more pressure is applied, more torque is shifted back. The Controller Area Network (CAN bus), which is also used by Chrysler, monitors the steering angle, car's speed, throttle position, wheel speed sensors, and the clutch oil pressure, to calculate the ideal front-rear torque split and the current system status. The system starts up with all wheels engaged by default. It does not use any pump valves. We do not know if this system is in use on Compass/Patriot but we do know you still need CVT with Freedom Drive II.
As for their replacements:
redriderbob, historically a good source, wrote: “Jeep engineers are working closely with Fiat engineers on this project. We will more likely see a diesel version of the replacement Compass/Patriot here in the US and Canada. They are also making sure this new Jeep is more capable then the ones it replaces. Expect for a vehicle that is built to be a 80% on road 20% off road vehicle but still have trail rated offerings.”
It appears Chrysler’s going to go with the Compass name instead of Patriot. There are two sets of insider comments, one saying it would “look very much like the current Patriot in shape and size but mixed just slightly with the soft lines of the old Jeep Renegade and Willys2 concepts” and the other saying it looks like an Alfa Romeo Giulietta with a Grand Cherokee/Compass front clip.
The Compass/Patriot successor and an Alfa Romeo CUV are to be closely related and all are built on CUSW, the same platform as the Dodge Dart, as is Liberty. The “Compatriot” would likely be front wheel drive and all wheel drive, lighter in weight and duty cycle than Liberty, and smaller — C class versus D class.