Chrysler rumor wrap / upcoming cars and trucks

Both Canadian assembly plants are being closed at the end of 2023 for renovation, to produce STLA Large vehicles in late 2024. STLA Large includes battery-electric, hybrid, and pure-gasoline vehicles—at least eight of them (more than are shown below). Expect Hurricane engines in the full range of STLA Large cars as well as Ram pickups.

Stellantis promised 8 battery-electric launches in 2023-24. Confirmed are ProMaster City, Ram 1500 REV, “Wagoneer S,” Recon, and Charger Daytona (five cars) but an electric Wrangler has also been mentioned—odd since the Recon fills that role.

Dodge

2025 Challenger and Charger: In 2021, Stellpower.com wrote that a new Challenger coded LB was set to be produced with 4xe as the base engine, Hurricane optional, and a BEV version. (FCA US has renewed its Cuda trademark for vehicle names again). Plans do change. Stellpower suggested a hybrid using ZF’s 8HP transmission and the Hurricane Six—the top Hurricane engine is currently rated at 510 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque, which puts it in final-Viper turf. The work put into the E85 Hellcat Demon 170 suggests that new technologies for the Hurricane engine; the Demon 170 is a 1,025 horsepower monster with production up to 3,300.

There will be a new Charger and possibly a Challenger with a choice of full-BEV or gasoline engines, with or without a hybrid setup, made from the same body. The electric version will have a “frunk” with some power or computer equipment lining the sides, hidden behind removeable dividers. Reportedly the car has entered the advanced tooling stages. There is a small chance that updated Hemi power will be one of the options.

Despite predictions by outside companies, Dodge reitierated that there will be no 2024 Dodge Charger Pursuit car or any other 2024 Charger; however, 2023 Charger production is going into December 2023. Durango will continue as a police car almost unchanged in the 2024 model year with Hurricane engines replacing Hemis in the 2025s.

Stellantis targeted a top 0-60 mph acceleration of under 2.0 seconds for its large battery powered cars, with up to a 500 mile range. One approach is a single-motor, low-range RWD model and a dual-motor, 500-mile-range AWD model. Solid state batteries may change these figures in the 2026-27 models.

Many expect the future Durango to be based on the Wagoneer, but focusing on towing and stripped of the luxury. The current design will go into the 2025 Durango, which will gain Hurricane power. The 2024 Dodge Durango police model will stick with the current engines; the 2025 police model may also keep the current engines.

Existing cars had some updates—a new Durango Hellcat, factory-warranteed Challenger conversion (at $26,000 plus Challenger), and some special edition big cars as they get into their final year (the most impressive being the 1,085-hp Hellcat Demon 170).

Ram

Ram pickups were freshened for 2023; one update is a 12-inch customizable gauge cluster. Redesigns of the 2500 and 3500 are still years off, but the company said they will include hydrogen versions (maybe fuel-cell based, but Cummins will have a hydrogen version of its big B engine by then). The Hurricane Six is almost certain for the 2025 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500. The next generation of the lightest-duty pickup is confirmed as the 2025 Ram 1500, to enter production just before the Ram 1500 REV. This marks the end of the Classic.

The ProMaster gets a BEV in 2023; ProMaster City will be redesigned for 2024 and that’s when the 2.4 engine is likely to be replaced. There may be a hydrogen fuel cell version of the ProMaster eventually, using Peugeot’s swap-power technology. (ProMaster City was dropped in mid-2023.)

A Mitsubishi L200 (Ram 1200) replacement may be key to spreading Ram through the rest of the world. There is already a Peugeot compact truck and a small Fiat pickup, neither of which is suitable for US sale. FCA US trademarked “Dakota” in April 2020, and has been talking about a midsized pickup for a while. (Speculation: could a lighter, regular-cab Ram 1500 fill the gap for now?)

Ram 1500 Classic’s last year will be 2023 or 2024; Ram Special Service Vehicle’s last year, for now, is 2023.

Ram 2500-5500 “Low Carbon Fuels”

Cummins is reworking its B-engine family to work with natural gas, propane, gasoline, or hydrogen (depending on which variant is used). Ram uses the 6.7 liter B-engine in its Ram 2500 to 5500 series trucks. Cummins is keeping many parts the same below the head gasket; and plans to deliver full systems, including fuel storage, injection, and such, easing the demands on Ram itself. The engines should start appearing in 2024, and Ram has hydrogen as a solution for heavy duty pickups in their long-term plans; but Ram using Cummins hydrogen engines remains speculation for now.

Stellantis is testing engines in Europe for compatibility with “e-fuels” (sustainably created artificial gasoline and diesel fuel) as well, in case this technology is viable in the long run—and because the European Union will start phasing e-fuel requirements in for fuel sellers, starting in 2030 (with 1.1% of consumption targeted).

Jeep

The Renegade is supposed to be replaced with a new vehicle going first to Fiat, around 2024. “The vehicle maybe to be known as Jeepster” will slot in underneath the Renegade in Europe and India; it’s around 16 inches shorter in length, runs a little Peugeot engine, the Peugeot BEV system, or a Peugeot hybrid powertrain, and may only have AWD in hybrid and/or BEV form. This vehicle will sit on Peugeot’s CMP, along with (we think) the future Fiat Panda and an Alfa Romeo whose name hasn’t been released yet. (This vehicle is not the Avenger shown below.)

KL Cherokee ended as we predicted, and will be replaced by the KM Cherokee. The new Cherokee may well be a Grand Cherokee-based vehicle, allowing Grand Cherokee to be three rows while the new Cherokee is two rows. This change would suggest that the underused Detroit plant which makes Grand Cherokees would host the Cherokee as well, leaving the old KL plant empty—or hosting different vehicles.

Compass is moving to a new platform. Either Compass or KM might share with the Dodge Dakota and be built in Mexico. Regardless, the 2023 Compass is getting the much hotter 2.0T engine with the nine-speed automatic.

Jim Morrison, head of Jeep, said a 392 engine was unlikely to return to the Grand Cherokee, and said that the Trackhawk badge might be dropped. A BEV version seems likely in the not-very-near future. The 4xe four cylinder hybrid seems to be a critical success and has garnered some sales. The Hurricane 510 (hp) is standard on Grand Wagoneer L, optional on other Wagoneers, and coming as a Grand Cherokee option.

The Jeep Meridian (pictured above) is an upscale, extended-wheelbase version of the Compass for India and other countries—possibly not the US or Canada, though it might be sold there under a different badge (or even as a Jeep if it’s really as tough as Indian reviews suggest).

The Jeep Recon appears to be an addition to the Wrangler line, aimed closely at the Ford Bronco. Only available as a battery-electric, and larger than it looks (it’s the size of the Wagoneer S, on the STLA Large platform), the Recon has batteries low to the ground and no powertrain hump despite the AWD setup. The Recon looks smaller than it really is... (The concept is shown below.) The Wagoneer S and Recon have both been confirmed for 2024 production. Jeep’s web site still has it on target to buy them in 2024.

The Recon will come with locking axles, skid plates, tow hooks, off-road tires, and removable doors and glass; it appears to have an independent suspension, which along with the larger size differentiates it from the Wrangler. It ran the Rubicon Trail on a single charge, with enough battery remaining to get from town and back. A BEV gets quite good range when going slowly, as one would on the trail.

The Wagoneer S and Recon, again, will both be sold entirely as BEVs. The Wagoneer S target range is 400 miles, with target power of 600 hp, and a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds. Production versions of both vehicles will be shown next year and production will start in 2024, probably in Canada. (The Recon might be a sneaky way to get a next-generation Wrangler going.)

Wrangler has a few years left till its planned 2027 redesign in spite of a great deal of new competition—both real (Bronco) and planned (VW’s new Scout brand). A Gladiator 392 is unlikely because Gladiator sales aren’t high enough to merit it. The Hurricane might be possible as a 392 replacement in the Wrangler and later as an option in Gladiator. If nothing else, Bronco and Scout may push Jeep to be more capable off-road—and perhaps to have an independent front suspension on all but one or two trim lines. (Jeep had an optional IFS on the original Wagoneer.)

A 2024 Wrangler/Gladiator update has been rumored at stellpower.com with 10.25 inch screens, upgrades to other electronics, and such, but no word is official yet.

Chrysler

In 2022, Christine Feuell said that the first BEV (battery electric) Chrysler is due as a 2025, with two more showing up in 2026-27 and an all-BEV line by 2028. She promised at the 2022 New York show that the 300 will be updated and continue past 2025. The logical letter for an electric 300 is 300E, but nothing is forcing Chrysler to use it. Chrysler is working on its options for brand character and characteristics. History does not help much, since Chrysler has had many brand images over the years. In May 2023, Feuell told Motor Trend that the Airflow car—as shown below—and name have been dropped as they are inconsistent with the desired image. Ralph Gilles clarified that they are still working along these lines.

Pacifica: Windsor plant retooling starts in October 2023 and will go on for months. Electrified vehicles beyond Pacifica Hybrid were promised to Windsor in the 2020 union agreement, by the 2025 model year; but the minivan could change plants. A companion crossover is likely but not the previously predicted American version of the Grand Commander. The Airflow is a placeholder for a BEV to start production in 2024 or 2025, sitting on STLA Large; the name and appearance may or may not stay.

STLA Medium

STLA Medium is covers compact and midsize cars and crossovers (C and D), with sizes that would include the Renegade, Cherokee, Neon, Stratus, and even the original Duster. It is based on Peugeot e-VMP (which was based on EMP2), with numerous upgrades for American crash standards and electrification. Propulsion is FWD or AWD, the latter using a second electric drive unit in the rear. Range will start at around 310 miles with the standard battery and 435 with the Performance Pack, using the global test procedure which is somewhat optimistic. Batteries will range be 87 kWh or 98 kWh (the latter optional), with a 400V power system. Efficiency may be better than 14 kWh/100 km; charging can go from 20% to 80% in 27 minutes.

The platforms will have different “top hats,” like body-on-frame cars, to allow for similar chassis in sedan, hatch, and crossover formats. One which has already been shown is the Opel Manta concept car; the actual Manta will be made in 2025 in Italy.

Power output will range from 215 to 382 hp; the wheelbase will have a 0.2 meter range, centered on around 108 inches, while length can go from 170 to 193 inches. Ground clearance will peak at 8.7 inches. Wheels can be up to 30 inches.

The battery pack is a single-layer unit to maximize interior space, ride, and handling (low center of gravity); standard and performance packs share dimensions and cooling designs. Secondary systems such as HVAC were engineered to reduce energy use. Three electric drive modules will be shared between front-drive, rear-drive, AWD, and hybrid vehicles. STLA Medium has provisions for future battery chemistries, as well as the one it will use at launch; like all serious automakers, Stellantis has invested in several different battery chemistry technologies.

Belvidere may go to electric versions of STLA Medium, which covers compact and midsized cars—e.g. Cherokee and best-seller RAV4—in 2025; or it might take over from Warren as a truck plant; or it might simply be closed down.

Platforms and engines

Platforms: STLA Small, Medium, Large, and Frame. Frame is for pickups, Wagoneers, and possibly Durangos. Alfa Romeo is moving the Giulia and Stelvio to Medium around 2025-2027. A large number of new Larges is expected around 2024-25.

Engines: 1.3T GSE in Renegade, with hybrid in Hornet; 2.0 GME with or without hybrid; Hurricane Six. Tigershark 2.4 and 3.2 dying in mid-2023. Hellcat will be dropped in calendar year 2023. The other Hemis have unclear futures given the Wagoneer, Ram, Grand Cherokee, and ramp-up time for Hurricane and new types of powertrain. Dodge Fleet confirmed that the Hurricane Six was engineered to work with hybrid systems.

A 1.6 liter turbocharged engine for hybrid powerplants was announced in August 2022; it will be based on the Peugeot EP6 series. The existing EP6CDTX has 201 hp and 203 lb-ft with a twin-scroll turbo and direct injection; a hybrid version pumps out 296 hp. A new version, likely to have even more letters in the name, will include an updated hybrid-electric system and transmission. As you can see in the chart below, the 2.0 4xe system is a fine replacement for the Hemi V8, while the plain 2.0T can replace the Pentastar. (2.0H and 1.3H are hybrids, but both are also turbocharged.)

The chart above shows the best power from each outgoing engine (the 3.6, 3.0 diesel, and 5.7 Hemi are all taken from the Ram 1500; the Hemi was rated at 375 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque in the Challenger with manual transmission and 372/400 in the Challenger automatic). The Hellcat (6.2S) comes in 707 and 797 horsepower flavors, but an extra-high-power final version with electric motor assistance is expected to beat even the Demon.

The peak torque range of the new engines is higher than in the models they replace. As an example, replacing the Pentastar with the 2.0T looks foolish on paper, but the usable torque of the 2.0T is stronger, and the engine is much quicker, in the same vehicle, than the V6 was.

Both the 4xe plug-in hybrid and Hurricane I-6 clobber the old Hemi in torque; with the 4xe, electric assist is strongest where gasoline engines are weakest. The 4xe is more responsive, and in the Wrangler, it comes close to the 6.4 Hemi in acceleration.

The Hellcat is the toughest act to beat. The Hurricane tops out at 510 hp, 500 lb-ft. Topping or matching the Hellcat might require electric motors and ligher car bodies. Dodge is unlikely to settle for lower acceleration.

Hemi engines were supposed to be phased out by the end of 2024, but whether this happens or not is a good question. They remain a selling point for Ram and Dodge.

All of the newer engines increase the gas mileage of the vehicles they are in by a good margin, saving money for both the driver and for Stellantis, which has to pay hefty sums for fuel-economy credits each year.

More current / future cars and factories

Old	HP	Torque	New	HP	Torque
2.4	184	177	1.3T	177	200
3.6	305	269	1.3H	288	383
	↑	↑	2.0T	268-270	295
2.4+3.6	↑	↑	1.6T	180-300?	TBD
5.7	395	410	2.0H	375	470
			3.0T	420	468
3.0D	240	420	2.0H	375	470
6.4	485	475	3.0T	510	500
6.2S	797	707	3.0H	TBD	TBD