I think it's more likely the next dak will be based off the next Grand
Cherokee. As it stands, Brampton probably can't take on another vehicle,
while the GC/Durango platform will be new, and it's probably easier to tool
up the plant to build three trucks from the get-go, than to add a truck to
an existing car line.
It's also probably cheaper to build a truck off a truck frame, than to adapt
a car platform to a truck, and strengthen it enough to support the trucks
needs. However, I could be wrong (see generally Honda Ridgeline).
Gabriel A. Couriel
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
[mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net] On Behalf Of Andy Levy
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 2:41 PM
To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
Subject: Re: DML: New Dakota
On Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 13:10, Gabriel Couriel <gcouriel@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I just saw this posted up on AllPar
>
> "With the Dakota bumping up against the Ram in weight, capacity, size, and
> gas mileage, sales have fallen with the current generation. We reported
two
> years ago that the Dakota would be made into more of a "lifestyle vehicle"
-
> lighter, more agile, and smaller. Other news outlets have now caught up
and
> have reported that the Dakota would be "car based," which could mean that
> they will finally use the rear-drive LX platform for something other than
a
> car, or that it will share the Grand Cherokee/Durango platform. (We have
not
> heard any specifics on how the Dakota is being engineered, but the Dakota
> will have to be run on the same line as other vehicles, and Chrysler is
> unlikely to create an "all new" Dakota when they have existing platforms
to
> adapt)."
>
>
http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php/2009/01/dakota-going-to-lighter-chassis
> /
I thought I heard somewhere that the next-gen Chrysler "large" SUVs
would be on a platform shared w/ GM.
A car-based Dakota would be the final nail in the coffin. I have to
wonder why they would even bother with the R&D money on that in the
current economy - especially w/ the state Chrysler is in.
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