Ever since its Fiat overlords saw fit to divest the brand of its trucks and commercial vehicles, Dodge has had the freedom to reposition itself in the marketplace. According to reports, we can expect the division to adopt a sportier image, although expect some small cars and family haulers to remain in the lineup for years to come.

Here’s a quick rundown of what we can expect from Dodge’s future portfolio:

Brandwide: Expect the ram’s head logo – now the logo for Ram Trucks – to disappear. A new script Dodge emblem may be revealed later this year and could eventually be rolled across the entire lineup. Expect fewer offerings to use the distinctive cross-hair grille — although the Charger will likely retain the design cue, it will be another hallmark shifted to the Ram brand.

Avenger: Just like its Chrysler Sebring twin, the mid-size Avenger is due for a serious refresh for the 2011 model year. Expect the Avenger’s changes to be somewhat mild — an interior update is par for the course, along with a revised powertrain lineup. Look for the car to receive Chrysler’s new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, along with a Fiat-engineered six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The updated car, which should hit dealers later this year, will serve as a stand-in until a replacement can be engineered off Fiat’s Compact Wide platform. Look for the successor to launch around 2013.

Caliber: Earlier this year, Dodge introduced an updated interior and revised model trims for the small hatchback. Those changes will remain in place until 2012, when the Caliber range will be replaced by a Fiat-based compact sedan. The compact sedan will be sold as a 2013 model.

Challenger: Although recent spy shots suggest that the refreshed Challenger is nearly production ready, reports say the car — possibly a 2012 model — won’t launch until next year. The Pentastar V-6 will replace the current 3.5-liter V-6, and a 450-horsepower, 6.4-liter V-8 will replace the 425-horsepower, 6.1-liter V-8 found in the Challenger SRT8. Like its Charger and Chrysler 300 LX platform-mates, the Challenger will receive Chrysler’s new eight-speed, ZF-sourced transmission and will likely continue to be the only LX car offered with a six-speed manual. Look for a replacement to arrive in 2014.

Charger: Few changes have been gifted to the Charger sedan since its launch in 2005, but the new car, expected to launch this fall, is reportedly a complete redesign of the car. Spy photos suggest that the car largely resembles the current Charger but is a little softer looking than before and may draw more inspiration from Chargers of the past. Expect designers to perform a complete refresh of the cabin as well.

Mechanically, the new Charger will receive the same powertrain updates applied to other LX cars, including the Pentastar V-6, the new 6.4-liter V-8 for the SRT8 range, and the new eight-speed automatic. Expect the finished product to reach dealers by February or March of 2011.

Grand Caravan: For 2011, the Grand Caravan will get a refreshed interior and a simplified engine portfolio — the 3.3-, 3.8-, and 4.0-liter V-6 engines will all be dropped in favor of the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6. We’d expect Dodge to incorporate a few other cosmetic tweaks for the new van, due to launch in 2014, but expect exterior revisions to be kept to a minimum.

Journey: Dodge’s Avenger-based crossover remains in the lineup, although it’s blessed with an interior makeover and a new engine offering — you guessed it, the Pentastar V-6 — for the 2011 model year. The refreshed Journey will hit dealerships this November.

Magnum/Durango: The name of the vehicle is up in the air right now, but the crossover is seen as a replacement for the deceased Durango SUV. Look for the mystery machine to debut in the fourth quarter of 2010 and ride upon a stretched version of the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s platform.

Nitro: Like the majority of Dodge’s lineup, the Nitro is set to get a mild refresh, due to occur later in 2011 for the 2012 model year. Look for a revised interior and the Pentastar V-6 to be added to the compact SUV.

Viper: Production of Dodge’s snake ceased earlier this summer, but all isn’t exactly lost for Dodge’s sports car aficionados. A replacement halo sports car, possibly using the new 6.4-liter V-8, is reportedly under consideration. If approved, expect it to launch after 2012.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)

Ever since its Fiat overlords saw fit to divest the brand of its trucks and commercial vehicles, the Dodge brand has had the freedom to reposition itself in the marketplace. According to reports, we can largely expect the division to adopt a sportier image, although expect some small cars and family haulers to remain in the lineup for years to come.

Here’s a quick rundown of what we can expect from Dodge’s future portfolio:

Brandwide: Expect the ram’s head logo – now the logo for Ram Trucks – to disappear. A new script Dodge emblem may be revealed later this year, and could eventually be rolled across the entire lineup. Expect fewer offerings to use the distinctive crosshair grille – although the Charger will likely retain the design cue, it will be another hallmark shifted to the Ram brand.

Avenger: Just like its Chrysler Sebring twin, the midsize Avenger is due for a serious refresh for the 2011 model year. Expect the Avenger’s changes to be somewhat mild — an interior refresh is par for the course, along with a revised powertrain lineup. Look for the car to receive Chrysler’s new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, along with a Fiat-engineered six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The updated car, which should hit dealers later this year, will serve as a stand-in until a replacement can be engineered off Fiat’s Compact Wide platform. Look for the successor to launch around 2013.

Caliber: Earlier this year, Dodge introduced an updated interior and revised model trims for the small hatchback. Those changes will remain in place until 2012, when the Caliber range will be replaced with a Fiat-based compact sedan. The compact sedan will be sold as a 2013 model.

Challenger: Although recent spy shots suggest the refreshed Challenger is nearly production ready, reports suggest the car — possibly a 2012 model — won’t launch until next year. The Pentastar V-6 will replace the current 3.5-liter V-6, and a 450-horsepower, 6.4-liter V-8 will replace the 425-horsepower, 6.1-liter V-8 found in the Challenger SRT8. Like its Charger and Chrysler 300 LX platform-mates, the Challenger will receive Chrysler’s new eight-speed, ZF-based transmission, and will likely continue to be the only LX car offered with a six-speed manual. Look for a replacement to arrive in 2014.

Charger: Few changes have been blessed to the Charger sedan since its launch in 2005, but the new car, expected to launch this fall, is reportedly a complete redesign of the car. Spy photos have suggest the car largely resembles the current car, but is a little softer looking than before, and may draw more inspiration from Chargers of the past. Expect designers to perform a complete refresh of the cabin as well.

Mechanically, the new Charger will receive the same powertrain updates applied to other LX cars, including the Pentastar V-6, the new 6.4-liter V-8 for the SRT8 range, and the new eight-speed automatic. Expect the finished product to reach dealers by February or March of 2011.

Grand Caravan: For 2011, the Grand Caravan will get a refreshed interior, and a simplified engine portfolio — the 3.3, 3.8, and 4.0-liter V-6 engines will all be dropped in favor of the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6. We’d expect Dodge to incorporate a few other cosmetic tweaks for the new van, due to launch in 2014, but expect exterior revisions to be kept to a minimum.

Journey: Dodge’s Avenger-based crossover remains in the lineup, although it’s blessed with an interior makeover and a new engine offering — you guessed it, the Pentastar V-6 — for the 2011 model year. The refreshed Journey will hit dealerships this November.

Magnum/Durango: The name of the vehicle is up in the air right now, but the crossover is seen as a replacement for the deceased Durango SUV. Look for the mystery machine to debut in the fourth quarter of 2010, and ride upon a stretched version of the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s platform.

Nitro: Like the majority of Dodge’s lineup, the Nitro is set to get a mild refresh, due to occur later in 2011 for the 2012 model year. Look for a revised interior and the Pentastar V-6 to be added to the compact SUV.

Viper: Production of Dodge’s snake ceased earlier this summer, but all isn’t exactly lost for Dodge’s sports car aficionados. A replacement halo sports car, possibly using the new 6.4-liter V-8, is reportedly under consideration. If approved, expect it to launch after 2012.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)

It’s no secret that Chrysler is planning on launching several new compact vehicles based on Fiat platforms, but their launch timing is a little surprising. The automaker had originally planned on introducing the new models well after 2012, but it may be able to launch them before that point.

One of the voids found in Chrysler’s lineup was a lack of a compact sedan. The company presently has three crossover-type compact vehicles — Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass, and Patriot — but the Fiat-based compacts would add a sedan to the mix. Other body styles could be in the works as well, but Chrysler Group and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is being coy on the details.

According to Marchionne, the compact Fiat-based Chrysler vehicles could hit U.S. shores as soon as the fourth quarter of next year. Marchionne says this new launch date is due to the extensive design work already completed.

“We’ve run extensive clinics on the first vehicles,” Marchionne said during a conference call yesterday. “We’re 98-percent there on styling. My expectation today is we’ll be able to get this car into the market Q4 2011. We continue to work pretty aggressively on timing.”

Chrysler is also moving quickly to renovate its aging midsize sedans, the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger. According to the CEO, the two vehicles will receive significant updates this year and will be “significant improvements” over the current cars.

“We have carried out significant surgery on the architecture of those cars and made significant improvements of the interiors,” he said.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)