Chrysler and Nissan

“Chrysler-Renault-Nissan” (CRN or will it be Chrysler-Nissan-Renault/CNR?) may have been started with the recent talks which resulted in a joint-venture between Chrysler, Nissan, and by extension, Renault. First with the Versa sold as a Chrysler model in South America and then, the next-generation Titan (if they still call the Titan) will use the Dodge Ram chassis and drivetrains while Chrysler will receive from Nissan a small-car platform then some expect then it could span the Hornet. Some (including me, I must confess) begin to think then it could be the 1st step of a bigger plans hence the name I mentioned earlier in the beginning of the text. Unless “Captain Kirk” Kerkorian reserves another surprise with its recent move of acquiring 5% of Ford.

However, until something unexpected arrives from nowhere, we leave the idea of CRN/CNR as a pipe dream for a moment. For the small car, the Hornet could use the Nissan B-platform which includes the Nissan Cube, the Versa known in overseas markets as the Tiida, Renault Clio, etc…there the Renault Logan (sold as Dacia in some markets and as Nissan Aprio in Mexico) which could be the new “Dodge Rambler.” I also thought of reviving the Dart nameplate but I don’t think purists might like the idea althought then the Dart nameplate was once used in Mexico for a K-car variant.

Could we begin to imagine some other possibilities like a Dodge Demon based on a future small Nissan RWD platform or a Nissan Frontier built on the Dakota chassis. (Don’t worry, I won’t imagine some swap of engines like using the Hemi instead of the Twin-turbo V6 under the hood of the GT-R or using the Twin-Turbo V6 of the GT-R for a very limited edition of the Challenger.)

I guess we have to stay tuned for further developments at the “same Mopar-time, same Mopar-channel.”