THE Dodge badge will disappear from Australia later this year.

[csv8]

THE Dodge badge will disappear from Australia later this year.
As Dodge's parent brand Chrysler, and Italian partner Fiat further develop their arrangements, Fiats will replace Dodges here.
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The Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands will move into an expanded Chrysler-Jeep operation that reflects the global alliance between the Italian and American brands.
Part of the change will include switching the Dodge Journey to a Fiat Fremont as the Italian products slide in at the bottom of a bigger new Fiat-Chrysler operation.
Although details are still secret, Carsguide believes the new collaboration will begin in May following a buyout of the Fiat-Alfa agency from Australia's biggest independent distributor, Ateco Automotive.
Ateco will retain its luxury Ferrari and Maserati agencies, but is resigned to losing the mainstream brands just as it has been bought out of its Suzuki and Kia franchises in the past. "There is no deal. Nothing is signed," the head of Ateco, Neville Crichton, tells Carguide.
But Crichton does not deny discussions, or a plan that will see Ateco - which already holds the Chery and Great Wall franchises for Australia - expanding its import connections to China.
"We're always looking for new opportunities," Crichton says. Chrysler-Jeep as been growing strongly in the past 18 months following the new alliance with Fiat Group that came after the American company - like General Motors - went into bankruptcy in the USA and needed a massive government bailout.
The latest Grand Cherokee reflects a stronger commitment to quality and driving enjoyment, something that should also benefit the upcoming SRT performance versions of the Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300C sedan.
But Chrysler in Australia has rejected approaches to become the fourth brand in V8 Supercars racing, based on the cost of the project and questionable short-term returns for a brand that is yet to receive supplies of its latest 300C.
Chrysler was approached by at least two V8 Supercars teams, with Garry Rogers leading a push to put the 300C onto local tracks alongside the Ford Falcon, Holden Commodore and upcoming Nissan Altima.
But Chrysler admits that it might look again at a V8 Supercars proposal for 2014, once it gets its new business plan bedded-down.

My comment "Hey Fix It Again Tony"

[Bossxr8]

Who cares, the only things they sell are the Dodge Caliber, Nitro and Journey, which are all pretty rubbish.

Where's the Dodge Charger and Challenger FFS. Bring them here.

Isn't the Viper now a Chrysler and not a Dodge?

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Who cares, the only things they sell are the Dodge Caliber, Nitro and Journey, which are all pretty rubbish.

Where's the Dodge Charger and Challenger FFS. Bring them here.

Isn't the Viper now a Chrysler and not a Dodge?

agree, with the death of falcon and commodore get the challenger and charger in here...

isnt the viper just 'viper' now? no other branding at all?

[Matty4]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Where's the Dodge Charger and Challenger FFS. Bring them here.

It is here, well the Charger is anyway......
(took these recently on a Melbourne wharf... SRT8 version too!!)
/crappy iphone pics though

[calais]

Dodge will continue to be a missed opportunity, they have some seriously cool cars in their line-up in the USA which really could have pushed a far stronger case for Dodge to remain in Australia had they been offered for sale here.

Of course I'm talking about the Charger and Challenger. They represented a niche of aggressively styled and powerful cars, which just like Chrysler's halo 300c gave Australia something different to consider.

Sucks that the Dodge Charger and Challenger were never built as RHD..... really.

[EL97]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

isnt the viper just 'viper' now? no other branding at all?

It's branded under the SRT division now. Though, 'SRT Viper' doesn't really have a ring to it.

[mytgxl]

Seen a red challenger going down the freeway the other day & thought " dam that looks hot" & I didn`t give a stuff about the name!

[Pedro]

When I was at the CarCraft Nationals in Minnesota in 2008 I was impressed with the Charger and thought it would be a good move by Chrysler to market it here with it's V8 Hemi against FPV and HSV.

Here's a pic of the American Charger (July 2008)





Here's a pic of a Challenger I recently had for a week while my car was being repaired ...



And while I'm at it, here it is along side my neighbour Glen's 74 Challenger...

[Crazy Dazz]

yeah, becuase Fiat's have such a good reputation here...
pretty much goes into the "who cares?" basket

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

yeah, becuase Fiat's have such a good reputation here...
pretty much goes into the "who cares?" basket

Fiat went through a bad stage, (like most manufacturers have) and have come back well.
Should everyone besides Mazda and VW just pack up shop?

[Polyal]

Man Id get a mopar in a heart beat.

[Franco Cozzo]

I reckon the new ones look a hell of a lot better than the old ones even though its a modernisation of the old one.

[Polyal]

Big Damo, there where a few different styles but yeah its all personal.

My dream daily would be a older Challenger with a new SRT8 drivetrain..retromod FTW.

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I reckon the new ones look a hell of a lot better than the old ones even though its a modernisation of the old one.

Agreed, and I almost bought one just on the looks alone... but Mustang won out for being the better performer.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Matty4

It is here, well the Charger is anyway......
(took these recently on a Melbourne wharf... SRT8 version too!!)
/crappy iphone pics though
image
image

Its not a factory import sold through a dealership though. Its just an import with the steering wheel shifted to the other side, and a price tag 5 times higher than what it costs in the US.

Only factory sales are recorded in VFacts.

[TMC]

Love the Charger and Challenger. Wish they were available here. Always had a soft spot for Mopar muscle.

But a Fiat badge on a Dodge???????????? All I can see in my mind is the Fiat of the 70's. They'd rev to 7500rpm but got 10mpg and always stank of raw fuel. That's my impression of them anyway. Rusted like a dispirin in coke too.

[FacultY]

Love that challenger

[mik]

if i was a car maker from over sea`s, i don`t think i`d bother bringing another big car to an all ready flooded drowning and diminishing market here, not worth the headaches for a small return..............unless it was..........
the chinese dodgey chajjaa version .

[4.0i_SiX]

no big loss IMO. most of their products are inferior garbage

[Mesa]

Originally Posted by csv8

My comment "Hey Fix It Again Tony"

Or Feeble Italian Attempt @ Transportation!!!
Love those Challengers!!!

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by BluFGXR6

Or Feeble Italian Attempt @ Transportation!!!
Love those Challengers!!!

Coming from ford lovers.... remember all the names for ford??
sad to see.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

and a price tag 5 times higher than what it costs in the US.

This... quoted for reality. (also applies to mustang and camaro).

Originally Posted by mik

if i was a car maker from over sea`s, i don`t think i`d bother bringing another big car to an all ready flooded drowning and diminishing market here, not worth the headaches for a small return..............unless it was..........
the chinese dodgey chajjaa version .

so, would you try and muscle in on the cut-throat small car market or the saturated SUV market?

[csv8]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Coming from ford lovers.... remember all the names for ford??
sad to see.

Fix Or Repair Daily and still holds true !!!

[Pedro]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Big Damo, there where a few different styles but yeah its all personal.

My dream daily would be a older Challenger with a new SRT8 drivetrain..retromod FTW.

You mean something like this? .... http://justacarguy.blogspot.com.au/2...and-power.html

[MrZ]

Too bad the tail-lights on that Charger look like a Mitsubishi 380s. The new Charger has improved things a lot at the back with full-width LED lights.

[Nic85]

Am I alone here? I mean, I think both of those cars, the Challenger and the Charger, both look terrible. All the reviews done on them always complain about how slow they are and how bad they are to drive too.

I guess I just don't get it?

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by Nic85

Am I alone here? I mean, I think both of those cars, the Challenger and the Charger, both look terrible. All the reviews done on them always complain about how slow they are and how bad they are to drive too.

I guess I just don't get it?

Challenger looks great, Charger? meh.
They are for that old muscle car fan demographic. Wont appeal to everyone.

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Coming from ford lovers.... remember all the names for ford??
sad to see.

we are just answering and having fun
at least we are not trolling on a fiat forum

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

we are just answering and having fun
at least we are not trolling on a fiat forum

Why would you want to? With the long history Fiat has...
Troll a Toyota forum instead..

[janddbone]

Nice range of cars, a shame...