Dodge Journey 2008 News

Manufacturers including BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Peugeot and Citroen have issued recalls via the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The shock news comes as Fiat looks at making the Fiat Freemont a niche model in Australia after its successful launch into Europe.In Beijing this week, Fiat's global boss Olivier Francois says the death of Dodge was "likely''. Dodge remains in Australia with only one model, the Journey people mover. Its clone, the Freemont,  is intended to become Fiat's second model here, but there could be a time delay as Fiat allocates time to first establish the 500 as its volume seller. But it is believed Dodge will remain a brand name in one market - the US - purely for historic reasons. Mr Francois says Freemont was a "surprise'' seller in Europe. The car is a seven-seat copy of the Dodge Journey - still sold in Australia - that hit the spot with European buyers because of its simplicity and functionality. But Mr Francois has made it clear that Dodge doesn't have a place in the new Fiat-Chrysler alliance. "To us, the Freemont was an opportunistic car,'' he says. "It was never born a Fiat and we knew it was an American product, so how could it fit into Europe? "Well we have sold 35,000 Freemonts in Europe, built in our plant in Mexico, in less than 12 months. "It is so successful that we now have to lift production.''The Freemont could be in  Australia before the end of 2013, depending on its demand in other markets and the progress  of a roll-out of new cars based on the Fiat 500. 

The Dodge Journey R/T arrives with a host of significant upgrades to styling and equipment. And the Journey R/T scores a powerful 3.6-litre Pentastar 206kW/342Nm V6 Pentastar petrol engine from the SXT variant — the most powerful fitted to an MPV in the Australian market.Both SXT and R/T models gain a fresh new exterior look to compliment the Journey's styling, as well as a new interior featuring a dramatic new dash, along with restyled trim and upgraded equipment.Over and above that, the Journey R/T model enhances customer appeal with an array of new features adding up to more than $3000 extra value over the previous model. However the $43,500 price of the new Dodge Journey R/T is $1500 dearer than the previous version.Standard equipment in the new Journey R/T includes the Pentastar V6, but also leather seats, 8.4-inch touch-screen satellite navigation, second-row overhead video with wireless headphones, a reversing camera, heated front seats and 19-inch alloy wheels. 

Just a brief look into any junior sports club shows fewer people now do more to keep such clubs and teams afloat.

The all-new Dodge Journey is designed to blend the practicality of a people mover, the flexibility of an SUV and the overall efficiency of a passenger car.

The all-new Dodge Journey is designed to blend the practicality of a people mover, the flexibility of an SUV and the overall efficiency of a passenger car.The Journey will arrive in Australia with a 139kW/258Nm 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine mated to a six speed automatic transmission as standard across the range.Also on offer will be a 103kW/310Nm 2.0-litre direct-injection turbo diesel engine -- which uses high-pressure fuel injection, a variable geometry turbocharger and four valves per cylinder -- matched to a Chrysler-Getrag six-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. This is the first application of this six-speed automatic transmission, which Dodge says is expected to deliver a fuel economy improvement of up to six per cent compared to a conventional automatic transmission.Flexible seating and storage combinations include standard seven-passenger seating with spacious cargo room and all the safety equipment consumers expect from Dodge. Seven-passenger seating and spacious storage bins -- hidden in the floor and under the front passenger seat cushion -- are standard on all models.The Journey’s safety list includes standard multi-stage front driver and passenger air bags, front-seat-mounted side air bags, three-row side-curtain air bags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM).Comfort and practical features include second and third row theatre seating that gives passengers – especially children – a better view. The second row also has stadium Tilt ’N Slide function, that means with the push of a single lever on the side of the seat back, the seat cushions easily fold upward and the seat slides forward. The 50/50-split-folding third-row seat provides enough room for two passengers on an as needed basis. The seatback reclines six degrees to make the ride even more comfortable. A rear in-floor hidden storage bin located behind the third-row seat is standard on all models.Model line-upDodge Journey SXT - 2.7L petrol V6 and six speed automaticDodge Journey R/T - 2.7L petrol V6 and six speed automaticDodge Journey R/T - CRD 2L turbo diesel and DCT six speed automatic 

Chrysler will axe four models next year in a global cost-cutting plan.The vehicles to go include the Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible, Chrysler Crossfire sportscar, Chrysler Pacifica SUV and the Dodge Magnum (a wagon version of the 300C sedan).Australia only imports the PT Cruiser convertible and Crossfire.DaimlerChrysler Australia/Pacific PR manager Jerry Stamoulis emphasised that the PT Cruiser sedan would remain and that the cabrio was “only low volume; about 10 a month”.However, he admitted the loss of the Crossfire would be a blow.“Crossfire is the biggest blow for us because it's a very attractive car, drives well and had a positive response from media and public,” he said. “But as yet we have received no date as such for these to be cut.”While cutting its cloth to fit a suspected worsening in the US economic climate, Chrysler will next year add four models.There will be two new Dodges — the Journey minivan and Challenger large-medium sedan — plus two new hybrid SUV models — the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango.Stamoulis said the Challenger was in left-hand drive only.“So that is not a plan at all at this stage,” he said.“It is early days for discussing the hybrids. They are developing the hybrids for the US, but there are no specific dates for us as yet.“The Dodge Journey we are working on bringing to Australia in 2008, but they have not officially said whether it will be released here.“At this stage it is looking likely for later in 2008.”Stamoulis said Chrysler's Australian portfolio would not suffer from the loss of two models.“It's not as if we don't have a decent portfolio,” he said.“We've had five new models this year — the Sebring, Avenger, Compass, Patriot and Nitro — and the sixth will be Sebring Cabrio in December, so essentially we've brought in six new cars this year and are losing two in the next 18 months.”Chrysler Australia will also re-introduce the new Voyager and launch the Jeep Cherokee in February.Global Chrysler chairman and CEO Robert Nardelli said the impending model cuts reflected an expected reduction in sales next year.The new round of cutbacks follows an earlier announcement that Chrysler planned to chop 85,000 units from its fourth-quarter production plans.“These actions reflect our new customer-driven philosophy and allow us to focus our resources on new, more profitable and appealing products,” he said.The cuts will lead to a loss of 12,000 jobs in American factories.Nardelli said their plans were in addition to cutting 13,000 jobs by the three-year Recovery and Transformation Plan announced in February.