Dodge Durango!

[Submariner]

I'm very, very impressed. 

The Durango has no business sharing lot space with the shit box Caliber - truly, two different worlds. 

[Cookie Monster]

Okay, I like this more than the Explorer. It's a shame it's a Chrysler product.

Pssh, you probably cry yourself to sleep every night wishing that was the next Subaru Tribeca.

[the Teuton]

Pssh, you probably cry yourself to sleep every night wishing that was the next Subaru Tribeca.

It looks fantastic. But it's not out there enough to be a Subie.

I really, really like it. And the new GC looks as good in the flesh as it does in pics. I bet the Durango will be the same. It's a cut price Mercedes GL. It's a bargain.

[SVT666]

I like it more than the Explorer as well, though I would like to see interior photos of the Durango.

[Galaxy]

 I like it. I wonder if Europe will get it with a diesel? Well it would make a good alternative to the Jeep GC which we get.

[Atomic]

I'm very, very impressed. 

The Durango has no business sharing lot space with the shit box Caliber - truly, two different worlds. 

the changes start with the all new durango and 2011 charger, so things are finally looking good! nearly everything in chrysler's line-up will be upgraded this model year - with even bigger changes to be made across the board.

[omicron]

Okay, I like this more than the Explorer. It's a shame it's a Chrysler product.

Nonsense! That means it gets a Hemi!

[Atomic]

Nonsense! That means it gets a Hemi!

i am excited to see chrysler, as the undergo rise from the ashes. i am enamored by the onslaught of new products coming from chrysler, jeep, dodge and ram. fmc's getting cocky and the new explorer looks lame to me. actually, i would love to see all three "united states" brand success and compete as in years past.

[SVT666]

The new Explorer isn't lame, but the FWD biased AWD system puts me off a little.

[Atomic]

The new Explorer isn't lame, but the FWD biased AWD system puts me off a little.

educate me if you will, as i am definitely getting an awd/4wd vehicle fairly soon. what would this system compare to? the honda crosstour, perhaps? the subaru outback and audi a4's differ from the honda, eh?

[giant_mtb]

Audi's is rear-biased; dunno if Subaru's is 50/50 fixed or what...

[SVT666]

It would be fairly similar to the Accord Crosstour I guess.  But if you drive a Ford Flex, it would be exactly like that.  The Explorer's system does have 4x4 and 4x4 Low, but you can feel the difference especially if the roads are a bit slick.

[Atomic]

It would be fairly similar to the Accord Crosstour I guess.  But if you drive a Ford Flex, it would be exactly like that.  The Explorer's system does have 4x4 and 4x4 Low, but you can feel the difference especially if the roads are a bit slick.

got ya! someone with a current explorer or like-vehicle would certainly miss the truck-like utilitarian awd system, i see. i take it that the system on the flex is more fuel and cost efficient?

[MX793]

got ya! someone with a current explorer or like-vehicle would certainly miss the truck-like utilitarian awd system, i see. i take it that the system on the flex is more fuel and cost efficient?

The FWD biased system on the Flex (and upcoming Explorer) is a result of the vehicle being built on a FWD car platform (namely the Taurus's Volvo-developed D3 platform) rather than a RWD platform.  Same with the Honda Pilot and Ridgeline (which are based on the Odyssey's platform, itself heavily based on the Accord).  It's cost efficient by virtue of the fact that Ford didn't have to design a brand new platform and can share components across the several models based on that platform.  And FWD based systems are typically a little more fuel efficient than RWD.

[Atomic]

The FWD biased system on the Flex (and upcoming Explorer) is a result of the vehicle being built on a FWD car platform (namely the Taurus's Volvo-developed D3 platform) rather than a RWD platform.  Same with the Honda Pilot and Ridgeline (which are based on the Odyssey's platform, itself heavily based on the Accord).  It's cost efficient by virtue of the fact that Ford didn't have to design a brand new platform and can share components across the several models based on that platform.  And FWD based systems are typically a little more fuel efficient than RWD.

interesting, but doesn't the volvo-derived fords (the s80, i think) start off as rwd. i am pretty certain the s80 comes with either rwd or awd.

[CJ]

Volvo ditched RWD in 1998.  The S80 is either FWD or FWD-based AWD.

[Atomic]

Volvo ditched RWD in 1998.  The S80 is either FWD or FWD-based AWD.

interesting! i think i have only seen awd versions when admiring those cool xc60's on dealer lots and showroom floors. sweet!

[r0tor]

Kind of ironic that the products of the partnership between chrysler and mercedes are first coming out now... After the marriage has already ended

[the Teuton]

Kind of ironic that the products of the partnership between chrysler and mercedes are first coming out now... After the marriage has already ended

You think the SLS AMG-based Viper will be coming out anytime soon?

[SVT666]

I read that the SLS was supposed to be the Viper originally.

[Atomic]

I read that the SLS was supposed to be the Viper originally.

so did i! a collaborative project, but where was the article? i do not recall. "road and track" (october 2010) periodical has a rendering of the next generation viper confirmed by chrysler - the car, not necessarily the design. i love the shape!

[rohan]

Crazy Americans! 

Well let's be fair here- it wasn't meant to be a street car it was meant to propel us to victory over our European enemies.  We have the EU to thank for it becoming a road vehicle- Ahnuld got one and caused GM to market it- so it's all your guy's fault it was ever on the road.

[TBR]

Kind of ironic that the products of the partnership between chrysler and mercedes are first coming out now... After the marriage has already ended

Product development cycles aren't that long. You can probably figure that anything after the LX cars was at the very least Mercedes influenced.

[Galaxy]

I read that the SLS was supposed to be the Viper originally.

I think that rumor started because Mercedes ran the first SLS test mules with Viper bodywork.

[MX793]

Product development cycles aren't that long. You can probably figure that anything after the LX cars was at the very least Mercedes influenced.

Not really.  The crap-tastic Caliber (and siblings) and thoroughly mediocre Avenger/Sebring actually pulled mostly from Mitsubishi rather than from Mercedes' parts bin.

[TBR]

Not really.  The crap-tastic Caliber (and siblings) and thoroughly mediocre Avenger/Sebring actually pulled mostly from Mitsubishi rather than from Mercedes' parts bin.

Right, but Daimler Benz management were the ones that made the decision to do that. There's no way development on the Sebring and Caliber had made much progress before the new management was in place, if it had started at all (remember, the 2nd gen Neon and cloud cars weren't even out when the 'merger' occurred)

[rohan]

Didn't Chrysler have that advanced prototype to production facility?  Seems like they used to bring cars to market in less then 18 months using that wonder what became of it?

[2o6]

Didn't Chrysler have that advanced prototype to production facility?  Seems like they used to bring cars to market in less then 18 months using that wonder what became of it?

Damiler likely cut it to pieces.

[r0tor]

Didn't Chrysler have that advanced prototype to production facility?  Seems like they used to bring cars to market in less then 18 months using that wonder what became of it?

It was a bunch of bunk... Around the same time they also claimed to have injection molded an entire jeep body - which was also bunk as my cousin was on the team that faked it for an auto show

[Atomic]

Right, but Daimler Benz management were the ones that made the decision to do that. There's no way development on the Sebring and Caliber had made much progress before the new management was in place, if it had started at all (remember, the 2nd gen Neon and cloud cars weren't even out when the 'merger' occurred)

so far, the current arrangement with fiat looks the most promising of all. it will be sink or swim. the new jgc, durango and lx cars (were to be called "ly" this time 'round, i think) should be an enormous boost before the promising fiat-based cars and collaborations begin production.