Words by Larry P. Vellequette from http://www.autonews.com/
http://www.autonews.com/
New products include a pickup based on the Ram Rebel TRX concept ...
Ram
The brand will re-enter the U.S. midsize pickup market with a production version of the Ram Rebel TRX off-road concept unveiled in 2016 and targeting the Ford F-150 Raptor. Timing was not announced.
The TRX is intended to boost Ram's average transaction price, which lags those of Ford and Chevrolet pickups largely because of the aging Ram 1500 pickup, said brand head Mike Manley. He said Raptor transaction prices are $28,000 above Ford's average in the segment. Manley said Ram can achieve similar results with the TRX, which has a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine.
Ram also hopes to improve pricing with the introduction in 2019 of a heavy-duty pickup with updated technology. The current heavy-duty Ram transacts at an average of $50,000, about even with Chevrolet, but below Ford's $56,000 average in the segment, Manley said.
On the commercial van side, Manley said FCA will roll out a new version of the Ram ProMaster City small van but will not significantly update the ProMaster large van.
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Jeep's Desert Hawk designation, expected by 2020, emphasizes high-speed sand capability.
Jeep
New to the U.S. portfolio — beyond announced plans for a pickup and Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer luxury SUVs — is a three-row version of the Grand Cherokee and a strategy to electrify all Jeeps. The Grand Cherokee and its three-row variant are to be built on a modified Giorgio platform, which was developed for Alfa Romeo.
Manley told investors that Jeep will expand its global lineup into the A segment, with a model below the Renegade subcompact crossover. That vehicle is not expected to come to the U.S.
Also planned is what FCA called a low B-segment SUV, and a low D-segment SUV, similar to the three-row Grand Commander introduced in April at the Beijing auto show.
Manley also said Jeep would build four EVs with its Chinese joint-venture partner to sell in China. He said the brand will electrify all vehicles in its portfolio, with 10 plug-in hybrid versions and four full-electric models.
Jeep also announced its Desert Hawk designation, expected to launch by 2020 with "eight desert-specific engineering standards" that emphasize high-speed sand capability. The designation is expected to be applied to various models.
New to the product plan
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles pulled out some surprises but had little to say about timing for most of these models.
Jeep
- 3-row version of the Grand Cherokee
- A-segment crossover (below Renegade, not for U.S.)
- Low B-segment SUV (a lower-cost version of the Renegade)
- Low D-segment 3-row SUV (believed to be similar to the Chinese-only Grand Commander)
Ram
- midsize pickup due in 2021
- Hellcat-powered off-road pickup based on Ram Rebel TRX concept
- heavy-duty pickup with updated technology, due in 2019
- new Ram ProMaster small van by 2022
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You can reach Larry P. Vellequette at lvellequette@crain.com -- Follow Larry P. on Twitter: @LarryVellequett
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