Raft of new cars from Chrysler

19 July 2006

Chrysler to target new European market niches
Sporty supermini may be launched first
MPVs and pick-ups also being considered

A sporty supermini, similar in spirit to this Dodge Hornet concept, could be on its way to the UK

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Sporty American superminis, MPVs and pick-ups could be on the way from the Chrysler Group.

Global sales boss Joe Eberhardt says a decision on whether Dodge will launch a sporty supermini will be made by the end of the year.

It's unlikely to be exactly like the recently unveiled Hornet concept, because there are no existing platforms it could be built on.

However, discussions to build it on a number of existing platforms, including the Volkswagen Polo, continue.

Eberhardt says MPVs and pick-ups are also being considered for Europe, although the enormous Dodge Ram is almost completely ruled out.

So, too, is the Dodge Challenger muscle car, which will go on sale in the US in 2008. While it will be built on a platform already approved for use in Europe, Eberhardt said it would require too much expensive reworking at the front end to meet our pedestrian impact regulations.