What’s Next for the Dodge Grand Caravan?

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When it comes to talk about larger vehicles in the Fiat-Chrysler line-up lately, that talk is mostly around the new Chrysler Pacifica and what It is doing for the minivan segment.  One of the most popular larger vehicles that remains popular with the buying public but doesn’t generate the press is the Dodge Grand Caravan.  What is next for the Grand Caravan now that the Pacifica seems to be stealing its thunder.

That’s the question The Ellsworth American is pondering.  The Grand Caravan was originally supposed to be ending its production at the end of the year and the Pacifica would be taking over as the one-true minivan for Fiat Chrysler.  It was all part of a plan to try to limit the various brands from undermining themselves in various segments.  That plan has been walked back a bit though.  Now the Grand Caravan will get another year on its life, but once that year is up, no one is certain what will happen next.

The Ellsworth American doesn’t have any major leak or idea of what is to happen next.  What follows the recent history of the Grand Caravan is a love letter to time spent with the Grand Caravan and a reminder of why it may not be time to let go of it.  If there was ever a writer making a case for a vehicle to stay on the market, it is in this lovely tale of a “final ride” with the Grand Caravan.  Check it out and think if it may be a good reason to keep it around.

If you’re interested in learning more about the current model of the Dodge Grand Caravan, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  You can also view our new and used inventory online.  Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit our YouTube page for more auto news and special offers.

No Dodge Dart in 2017

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The Dodge Dart, sadly, struggled.  It was the first real release from a revitalized Chrysler company off of its bankruptcy and wanted to show it was really getting back into the car-making business.  It was a radical new design for a Dodge sedan and it certainly had its early fans.  The bad news for the Dart, however, is that it’ll be taking a break for 2017.

The Dart has been out since 2013 and has never been the big seller it deserved to be.  The biggest struggle it has had of late is the way Fiat-Chrysler is reorganizing the brands after the recent sales.  It’s clear that the biggest business for the company is in the Jeep and Ram markets.  The sedans, both the 200 and Dart, haven’t been succeeding on the same level.  For that reason, Chrysler is putting the Dart away for the time being to focus efforts elsewhere.

While the Dart is a great vehicle, it makes sense why FCA would do this.  The brands are having their belts tightened to focus on what they are best at.  Dodge is aiming to be more of the performance branch of the company.  The recent onslaught of the Challenger and Charger demonstrate that.  The Dart didn’t have that and openly competed with the other major sedans in the line-ups such as the 200.  So Chrysler taking the two of them away to focus on, say, the 300 is not a bad idea at all.

Still, it’ll be sad to lose the Dart.  It was the showing of a new generation and new mind-set.  Hopefully it’ll be back in some way and get the love it always deserved.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Dodge Dart, then contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge and view our Dodge, Jeep, and Ram new and used inventory online.  Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to see more auto news and our monthly specials.

Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge Expands in 2016!

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Dodge is going to be helping muscle car and performance car fans get their need for speed fix.  The company will be sponsoring this year’s “Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge” on TEN: The Enthusiast Network.

“When more than 10,000 performance enthusiasts flooded the gates at the first ‘Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge’ event at last year’s Woodward Cruise Week, we promised the event would be back and it is,” said Head of Passenger Car Brands Tim Kuniskis.  “Even more than a pure enthusiast event filled with drag racing, thrill rides and live music, Roadkill Nights gets people off the streets and onto a track run by professionals, so they can really show how their hot rods perform in a more controlled environment.”

The Roadkill event started last year at Detroit during the Woodward Cruise Week.  It was a major success with the performance enthusiast who attended and Dodge is looking to give that group even more of what they wanted.  First off, the event will be expanding as it heads to two additional stops in Kansas City and Pontiac, Michigan.

The first event will be on Saturday, June 18th and the lineup for the day looks like one that any enthusiast would not want to miss.  It’ll be a day of open-run drag racing, Dodge thrill rides where you get to ride along with a professional driver in the SRT Hellcats and Viper, and live music.  Definitely sounds like an amazing way to spend the day.

To find out more information on the event, visit their website.  For the rest of us who cannot attend, all we can do is dream of the drag races in our fantasies.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Dodge Journey, then contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge and view our Dodge, Jeep, and Ram new and used inventory online.  Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to see more auto news and our monthly specials.

Dodge Journey’s Platform Update Delayed?

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There has been a lot of change lately at Fiat-Chrysler as they’ve been reconsidering much of their five-year plan to compensate for the way the market has changed.  While many of the major milestones they hoped to hit are still in place, little ones have been being made.  Mainly it seems that there was no way to see just how popular Jeep was going to grow; that it would have such an explosion of popularity.  Because of this, many resources have been diverted into keeping the Jeep enthusiasm.  What may have this affected?

Automotive News has put out an article stating the upcoming Dodge Journey will still be keeping its older platform.  It seemed like the Journey was due for something new, but Dodge is keeping things the same for the immediate future.  This decision is set to be till the 2018 model year when the Journey may get that new platform.

This is all according to an un-named source, so take it with the grain of salt that comes with such news.  It is certainly plausible.  Dodge is making a shift to being the place for premium driving experiences, focusing much of their energy on performance, as seen in the Hellcat Charger and Challenger.  It is possible that they have putting off an update to the Journey and other vehicles that use the platform to give them some wiggle room in development.

The future is bright at Fiat-Chrysler, no matter how you look at it.  While it may take some time, I do see the Journey getting some loving attention that it deserve, it just needs time to get the dedicated care.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Dodge Journey, then contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge and view our Dodge, Jeep, and Ram new and used inventory online.  Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to see more auto news and our monthly specials.