The GC platform would make sence especially since the durango is
migrating to that platform from one shared with the dak. It would be
more cost effective to have all 3 share the same platform. It would
have more engine options, think Dakota rt with the 5.7 and an srt with
the 6.2 and the suspension the GC srt8 has. The one draw back is that
it would be on a unibody, but it would be smaller, lighter, and get
better milage. The journey platform is the other one I've seen
mentioned, but bye bye v8. Let's hope for the GC platform.
On 1/9/09, Gabriel Couriel <gcouriel@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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.
>
>
-- Sent from my mobile device
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