Ralph Gilles, President & CEO for Dodge announced his long term plan for the brand. He announced 11 new or updated vehicles by 2014. Download his presentation here.
Ralph Gilles Announces Big Plans for Dodge
Posted on: November 4, 2009 - 1:43 pm by RLD
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Jan, hey, thanks for the overseas support! Nice to see you reading the blog…and thanks for the comments…
December 4, 2009 @ 4:15 pm
Hey RLD,
You do have more overseas supporters than you might be aware of !
The Dodge brand has been strong in Europe for decades – alot of older guys
remember The Power Wagons since they were used by Fire Dept’s and The Military in various
European countries.
Your brand are especially known in Scandinavia, and allthough the Scandinavian countries combined has the population of one of the greater US states (app 20 mio people) you will have great oppertunities “overseas” if you give people what you used to be known for ” sharp looking – affordable – hot performers !
You will never be able to sell Calibers, Journeys, Nitros, and other poorly engineered diesel powered spin-offs !
Let Fiat do the engineering – they know the dieselgame – put The Hornet concept on a Punto chassis and ship it to Europe – KACHIING !!!
The DC merger was obviously not the “match made in heaven ” and allthough i personally drive the only good thing ever to come out of that marriage – The Chrysler 300 C with the M-B OM 642 V6 diesel – it s time to move on, as stated earlier – stuff a diesel in The Challenger – look at Audi A% 3.0 TDI !!!!
You have a very good brand – for lot’s of Europeans’ it is as exotic to drive US-cars as it is for people living in New Jersey to drive Audi & BMW’s !
Thanks
Jan Frederiksen
Treleborg, SWEDEN
December 5, 2009 @ 4:51 am
Hey again RLD,
Audi A% ? = Audi A5 or A6 !
Look at YouTube to see the acceleration capabilities of the 3 litre diesels !
They all have in the neighbourhood of 400+ ft/lbs of torque at low rpm’s
so they equal a lot of old muslecars, but get 35 + mpg !
A comment on the FixItAgainTony issues that surfaces when “cargurus” are asked their opinion on the Fiat entrance :
Read any review in a European carmagazine, Fiat makes very fine cars – they aim at Audi, but with a “human” touch !
The fit and finish a second to none – and I just hope that Fiat can be used as an inspiration for other members of The Chrysler Group.
Fiat used to have the same reputation in Europe – but that’s long gone !
Go for Dodge !
Again, Thanks
Jan Frederiksen
Trelleborg, SWEDEN
December 5, 2009 @ 6:11 am
When will the 2010 plum crazy and detonator yellow challengers start showing up on the new inventory search results? I checked within 200 miles of my home and got zero results. Other colors show up as in stock, or at least on order.
And no, I’m not settling for either color, I just wanted to see if the dealers are ordering anything outside of the standard colors.
And my new marketing slogan is “No green from Dodge, no green from indyrider”
Sorry Dodge Boyz, but I’m getting cranky.
December 5, 2009 @ 9:57 am
Yes, indyrider is correct…no sublime green Challenger, no green from the mopar purists. Dodge is really trying their best to run off their most loyal customers. The guy down the block has an original 383 shaker 70 sublime ‘cuda for sale and my money is leaning that way since you guys just can’t offer that color anymore. I thought the Italian guy from Fiat was going to fix this stupidity, but he has bought into the poor marketing and management decisions of Dodge as well. What a shame, and what a way to treat your loyal customers. Santa sure won’t give you guys anything for Christmas.
December 5, 2009 @ 11:02 am
Mr gilles,
please do the right thing and offer sublime challengers before the end of this year. I am ready to buy but I cannot purchase what does not exist. I am tired of posting let’s do this deal.
December 6, 2009 @ 10:35 pm
Larry, we’ve toyed with the idea, anything is possible. What should this car be?
December 7, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
SweDane, wow, thanks for the feedback! Great to hear your thoughts from Sweden.
December 8, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
According to the poles it looks like no one likes sublime so make sure you never paint any of your cars this color, NOT. We don’t want to sell cars and make a profit because then we would have to pay back our loans. We want to continue to make bad decisions and offer colors and packages that only we (Dodge management team) like. Can we (Fiat management team) fire this management team already and hire people who own and love mopars? Obviously the management team must be collecting a bribe from the foreign car makers. This has to be it, there is no other explanation for this insanity. There are so many of us that want to give you our money, but you just won’t paint cars the colors we tell you to. Why are we even running this poll, just to get people even madder? Why do you tease us like this and then let us down year after year? You are sadistic monsters that need to be fired by Mr. Marchionne himself.
December 13, 2009 @ 12:01 am
I think the best part of your presentation is the black sheep with the red racing stripe. The lowered Nitro with the flush side glass with no visible window frames is pretty sharp. The side shot of the Charger does not look any better than the one on the market currently. Maybe it is just the roof line that just isn’t right. I just hope that the only reason you are waiting to offer the sublime Challenger is because you have a refresh listed in 2011 in which you will update the interior and offer it in black instead of the dark gray upholstery. Lime green stitching would be nice as well.
December 13, 2009 @ 12:36 am
Sense day one every RWD Charger body style has been near perfect. So much so that still today I go out and just look at my 3 Chargers [all one owner cars] 1969 Charger R/T SE triple black, 1973 Charger SE Deep amethyst pearl, and an 07 Charger R/T silver black graphics.
I’m sure the next Charger will be the same way. I wont trade but I’ll buy one I know me.
December 13, 2009 @ 1:58 pm
If DODGE considers it a BIG decision to offer colors, and finds it hard to choose which colors
to offer, then I would really hate to see what a gruelling time they have when it comes to which powertrains or options to offer. C’mon guys, its not that big a deal or secret. Just announce
the colors and when they can be ordered. Its easy, just offer the high impact colors of the classics, and everyone will be happy. If you want, you can contact me and I’ll take the job of the person responsible for the decision on this issue. He/she is obviously confused and don’t know enough about Mopar History.
December 13, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
I’d much rather spend my time drivng a sublime green challenger, then continue to post up on RLD, like a baby asking for sublime. Why is this such a hard deal? Come on Dodge, if this is a major decision within the company then provide details to us, so we can understand the situation.
Sorry RLD, I’m not feeling the love from ya. Should I just put my cash into a CD and call it a day? And I don’t mean financial CD.
December 13, 2009 @ 6:01 pm
Read this: Production of the all-new 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic and SRT8 in limited-production Plum Crazy Pearl Coat will start in late November 2009 at the Brampton Assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. This is from the Dodge News from your web site. It is almost Christmas and we still haven’t seen the spring edition yellow ones. Why do you write this stuff if you know it isn’t coming out for six months to a year. You lose your credibility and people will go elsewhere. Just be honest with us and offer the colors customers want instead of what your forecasters predict. This isn’t rocket science.
December 13, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
Patrick, that’s great to hear! Hey, if you ever want to post pics of your Chargers on our Flickr page, we’d love to see them. Click on the Flickr section on the right side of this page… Thanks for reading RLD!
December 14, 2009 @ 12:29 pm
It seems like rld is selective in responding to our posts. I’m calling you out to come clean on whether sublime is going to happen in 2010. I believe the answer is no. Do us a favor and break radio silence so we can get the truth. I’m over this game you are playing. Last call for 2009.
Sign me off
an unhappy potential buyer
indyrider
December 15, 2009 @ 11:13 pm
Indyrider/CMC we appreciate your patience. From your perspective it might seem like an easy change – just add the damn paint! Things are never that easy as you know from your professional life…
We have been managing paint on Challenger adding as many colors as the plant can handle. For 2010 Model Year in addition to the 10 standard paints at the plant and any special paints for Charger Police Cars, we have built B5 Blue, Detonator Yellow, Plum Crazy is just beginning, Hemi Orange is coming back in 1st Quarter 2010, and one more new color to be announced soon. This color is not Sublime. Green is in our future, we are hoping to do something in the 2010 Calendar Year.
We promise we’ll let you know here on this blog as new Challenger content and colors come to life. If you have further questions, please click “contact us” at the bottom of the page and drop us a line directly. Thank you for your longtime support of Dodge.
December 16, 2009 @ 11:01 am
well i know you cant tell us anything about future vehicles riddle me this? is the new charger going to be as drastic a change as the truck overhauls if so make sure you do as a good a job. and i agree with someone up above who said that the charger should be 2 door and the cornet should be 4 door. with fiat vehicles on the way the small car department should be improving to right? who wouldn’t love to see a GLH on the side of a any car again. maybe how about the pure red on all of dodge vehicles including vans and trucks and cars because inferno red is old. also one more thing for the next model year on the challenger try for more original 70s wheels with small rims and higher profile tires for a classic look. the new cars shouldn’t be bubbles either make them sleek aerodynamic with wings and low to the ground. i guess i wasn’t able to think back a couple of years ago but the challenger needs metal on it or at least chrome accent strips around the outside bottom of the bumpers
December 21, 2009 @ 2:02 pm
bad azz cars!
December 21, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
I waited patiently, I have owned dodges since I was a kid( 440 challenger, hemi cuda, 340 duster, 340 dart, 440 demon), I couldnt wait for the challenger release. You build a 4200 pound turd, what were you thinking?
Take 800 pounds out of the car, fix it’s handling and you won’t have to put more horsepower into it. The challenger is the heaviest of the 3 pony cars by 400 pounds over the camaro that has 400+ horsepower. The mustang beats it in all catagories except looks and is 600 pounds lighter and 60 horsepower less.
Lighten the car, 600 to 800 pounds would be a good start. Fix the handling, alot easier with a lighter car, hard to make a truck handle as well as a sports car. Change the power options if you want ( 400 HP wouldnt hurt) but the existing motors coupled with less than pickup truck weight to haul around, will be more than sufficient to power it.
I have heard rumours of 400+ horsepower for the mustang GT for 2011 so you are going to have to look at more than just a motor upgrade to compete anyway.
Do some of that and I will probably buy a Challenger instead of the new mustang I am considering. I love Dodges, but I wont drive a 4200 pound truck dressed in sports car paint.
January 3, 2010 @ 7:02 pm
Hey, John, thanks for your feedback. We’re listening to you…
January 4, 2010 @ 12:05 pm
I see you got your Motorsports page updated. Not much to look at with only 3 drivers listed
there now. Sad to see Kahne gone from the driver line up. I think you could possibly pick Kahne up for a fourth driver for Penske. I don’t think it will hurt the budget that much. Give us Dodge fans something to watch on Sundays. I am thinking I will have alot of free Sundays this year. If Generic Motors can keep going without really axing teams, and as you know they have sunk alot more money than Chrysler into Nascircus, than I think you can step it up a little for your loyal followers. What about all your fans at those tracks? I pity them, and I am glad I don’t
live anywhere near a track to have to attend. You’d better hope Kahne dosent do to well in that
“Failed On Race Day” car, or you’ll know who everyone will blame for past seasons he could have done better in.
January 4, 2010 @ 7:12 pm
I will wait to see what 2011 releases bring us. I was too young to enjoy the dealership showrooms of muscle cars in the 60′s and 70′s by a few years but I grew up in that era and when I was old enough I filled my garage and driveway with all mopar muscle I could find. I even spent some time destroying ford and chevy owners at the drag strip.
I have waited a long time for this to come back around and now am waiting to see what the showrooms will hold for 2011 so I can decide if I will be behind the wheel of a new challenger, mustang or Camaro. I am hoping it will be a new challenger but so far other than the best looks, I don’t see the challenger pushing to the front in the performance department.
Call Jenny Craig, I hear they are good with diets, the Challenger needs one badly.
Fix this will you. I loved all my dodges, I want to again.
January 9, 2010 @ 3:36 pm
I AM A 74 YEAR OLD RETIRED “QUALITY COORDINATOR”. YOU KNOW, THE PERSON THAT MAKES SURE THE RIGHT HAND KNOWS WHAT THE LEFT HAND IS DOING. MY FIRST CAR WAS
A CHRYSLER DeSOTO. TODAY I DRIVE A CHRYSLER 300. MY ONLY CLAIM TO FAME IS THAT I WAS PART OF A TEAM THAT IMPROVED THE FOUR CUP CARRIER THAT YOU SEE AT FAST FOOD SERVICES AROUND THE WORLD.
I’M TRYING TO CONTACT SOMEONE IN DESIGN ENGINEERING AND SOMEONE FROM CHRYSLER ADVERTISING. I NEED TO KNOW THAT WHOMEVER CONTACTS ME WILL KEEP OUR CONVERSION PRIVATE.
I HOPE SOME PEOPLE WILL CONTACT ME AS I COULD NOT FIND A FITTING ADDRESS.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COOPERATION . tapolito@msn.com
April 21, 2010 @ 8:42 am
Hello RLD,
I am not sure if this blog is still going, but wanted to ask how do you submit ideas on designing your own Challenger? I have an idea about a Challenger that wish I had in my driveway.. Anthony
May 24, 2010 @ 11:53 am
What can be expected for the 2011 Challengers and how will Dodge compete with Camaro’s 312hp v-6 and Mustang’s 305hp v-6. We know the Challenger is bigger and heavier; Dodge should have made the base motor the 4.7 truck v8 similar to the old 318 in my old 72′ Challenger. Love the looks of the Car but the price range of Base model is $5000.00 or Camaro and Ford’s price with over 50 hp less! Common on Dodge break from the mold and offer some real value at the base level if you did this you would outsell Chevy and Ford 2 to 1. Thanks for listening!
May 28, 2010 @ 9:58 am
Dear Mr. Gilles,
I rented a Dodge Grand Caravan when my son was graduating from Great Lakes to take the family to see his graduation. I was so pleased with the vehicle I purchased one within 2 months of returning from the trip. I drove that Caravan into the ground and then purchased a new 2008 Dodge Stow & Go Grand Caravan.
I am EXTREMELY displeased as I purchased a demo/rental from Marina Dodge in Webster NY; I had the front calipers go after owning it for 10 months; THEN yesterday my brakes on the rear were gone so I installed pads and roaders to find out that there was a calipers issue on the rear too. HOW can I have loved my Caravan for so many years and NOW not have the manufacture stand behind the “bulletin” stating that there is a defect in the design of the calipers on ’08 Caravan’s and they all need to be replaced. I had to pay over $750 to repair a 2 year old van. My husband has been unemployed for 1,5 years; we do not have this money.
I have written a letter that is being sent with documentation to your Dodge Customer Assistance Center in Auburn Hills MI to your attention. At this point I cannot afford to keep this van.
Sincerely,
June Nickens
July 9, 2010 @ 9:05 am