2012 Chrysler 'Cuda


J. White pointed out that Ralph Gilles said, during CEMA: "There is a lot of pressure on me to bring the 'Cuda back. I think somehow we will find a way to do that, right?"

There appear to be no plans to bring the Plymouth brand back, particularly as dealerships have already been ordered to buy new signs that have no apparent spot for Plymouth (unless the Ram brand is dropped again). Again, the dealership specifications for brand sign location on the building itself is exact and leaves no room for Plymouth.

Most likely, a Chrysler 'Cuda (or a Dodge 'Cuda though the name does not flow as well) would be based on the C or D platform cars -- compact or midsized. The original, critically acclaimed Plymouth Barracuda was a compact based on the Valiant; the famed 1970-74 Barracudas were larger, largely a mix of A-body (Valiant/Dart) and B-body (Coronet/Belvedere).

Chrysler is due to receive one compact sedan in 2012, according to the Five Year Plan, along with one small (B) car provided by Fiat, and one midsized (D) sedan. Dodge, likewise, is set for one compact sedan and one midsized sedan, with no coupes or domestic hatchbacks showing up on the plan; one subcompact from Fiat is due for Dodge as well.

However, if the company's financial picture is better than expected, and at this time that appears to be the case, then creating a second coupe (after the Challenger) would be feasible, especially given the work already put into the Chrysler 200 Convertible's (assumed) replacement.

The Chrysler car chart, incidentally, does not show Sebring as being a sedan, coupe, or convertible - it just shows Sebring. With the Sebring/200 name change already in place, it would not be inconceivable to see a third car, keeping the 200 Sedan's roof and the 200 Convertible's two doors, done as a coupe ... in the spirit of the original Plymouth Barracuda.

five year plan