Dodge Was Totally Unprepared For Hellcat Demand - Should They Expand The Franchise?

Here's what I love about Chrysler, with sedans like the 300 and the hellcat series and SRT they continue to prove that there is a market for All American performance oriented products.

I just want Cadillac and Lincoln to take note that it has nothing to do with following the Germans or trying to fit in with the Germans because there is an underserved market out there that wants nothing to do with the luxury Marques but feels they have no real choice of anything else.

Cadillac return to your unapologetic American roots, build it, and they will come

There is certainly a demand for The American Muscle Car. There's no question about that.

The questions are around the *nature* of that demand: How big is it? Is it just a pent-up blip or is it sustainable? Is it expected to grow or contract in the future? (etc.) Those are big questions. Get your head wrapped around those answers, and then it just becomes a matter of the ability to meet that demand in a cost-effective manner. This is the "devil in the details" behind thoughts of expanding the franchise.

FWIW, it pleases me to see someone have a hit! :-) Nicely done, Dodge.

Actually, FCA/Dodge should've produced the Hellcat Charger & Challenger only as limited numbered, special edition models. And if FCA hadn't been so stupid by changing & positioning the SRT division exclusively under Dodge, they could have also expanded a exclusive Hellcat lineup under other vehicles such as the Grand Cherokee, 300 & Ram Truck. This would add additional volume without
over-saturating the production of just two models.

2 Door Muscle Car - Challenger SRT Hellcat
4 Door Sport Sedan - Charger SRT Hellcat
4 Door Luxury Sport Sedan - 300C SRT Hellcat
Mid-size Sport SUV - Grand Cherokee SRT Hellcat
Large Sport Truck - Ram SRT Hellcat

I don't see the products to base them on. I suppose what monopoly has mentioned above might work but Dodge needs new platforms that are engineered from the beginning to be HellCatized.

Sell as many as possible and rake in the profit for as long as the gravy train lasts. It's that simple.

Hellcat Ghibli and Qporte would be wonderful and American engines in expensive Italian cars is certainly nothing new.

I like that idea, give the Grantourismo an excellent exit as well :)

Fca has designated CHRYSLER as their base level Car Brand - to compete with Chevy and Ford - and They have also designated DODGE to be their "performance" brand. So they are ending the Caravan because it does not fit with the performance image - amopng other things. Obviously - FCA wants the room to add Alfa/Maserati ABOVE Chrysler - to compete with the Germans and Cadillac. So - anything they can do to enhance the performance image of Dodge is something they need to do. THey cannot rest on a few cars - like Pontiac did - and hope to survive.

Many older Americans also see Chrysler as a Buick Competitor - as they were previously sold. So - selling Chryslers to those people at lower prices of Ford and Chevy is an easier sell.

But - what FCA really needs are new platforms - that are lighter that the competitors - and have competitive interior space. The Charger and the Challenger are getting really old on an even older Mercedes platform.

It's great to see the MOPAR moniker and mystique become mighty again!