Charger, Challenger still on Aussie wishlist

The Aussie background of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' new local boss, the loss of local manufacturing and Ford's strong-selling Mustang could prove the greatest allies for Australians who continue to wait for Dodge's legendary Charger and Challenger muscle cars.

After many false starts, most recently including the previous FCA Australia chief's bid to produce the current Challenger coupe in right-hand drive and sell it as the Charger here, both all-American muscle cars remain off the agenda for Australians.

In fact, the last time the Charger was officially sold in Australia, the badge was worn by a two-door version of Chrysler's 1970s CL Valiant, and the Dodge brand – reintroduced here under Daimler ownership in 2006 – has now been killed off under Fiat ownership.

All that could change thanks in part to the first global Mustang's success in Australia, where it has become the nation's most popular sports car and Ford's third best selling model behind the Ranger ute and discontinued Territory SUV, and the lack of a RHD Chevrolet Camaro from GM Holden.

Also helping the local Charger/Challenger cause is Steve Zanlunghi, who was appointed FCA Australia president and CEO just two months ago, has an Aussie mother and spent his formative years in Melbourne.

Zanlunghi and his kids are dual (US/Australian) nationals, and was previously FCA's chief in the UK and Ireland, which is FCA's largest RHD market ahead of Australia, so he has intimate knowledge of the automotive tastes and sales volumes in both countries.

"I spent a lot of time growing up here and Australia is somewhere I've always aspired to, so it's like coming home," he said at this week's Los Angeles motor show. "I'm very excited about it."

At the same time, Zanlunghi says he's well aware of the problems facing the Italian-American company in Australia, including sagging sales, recalls, court cases against two former CEOs and the lack of the US car-maker's most iconic performance models (three including the Viper).

But he has a plan to regain consumer confidence in his brands and to return FCAA to 30,000 annual sales, and he says it could include the implementation of a five-year warranty and a consistent pipeline of new products.

They will include the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio, the new Jeep Compass and Grand Wagoneer and, potentially, the next-generation Charger and Challenger due in 2020.

"We’ve obviously had a discussion on it, and we’re looking at the business case, because we know what Mustang does in Australia,” he said.

“We are constantly searching for new opportunities in the marketplace, and that’s one of them, especially now that we’ve lost the [Ford] Falcon and going to lose the [homegrown Holden] Commodore.

“So if we can make a business case out of it, then I think you’ll see those vehicles in Australia.”

As we've reported, Dodge's next large coupe and sedan models are not due until next decade  and will likely be based on FCA's new Giorgio platform, which underpins the Alfa Giulia and Stelvio.

Also speaking in LA, FCA's Asia Pacific CEO Mike Manley confirmed neither model would be engineered for RHD in their current generation, but again left the door open for Aussie exports of their successors.

“If the [RHD Charger and Challenger] decision was made, it would be made for the next-generation platform on the vehicle,” Manley said.

“And that actually is going to help Steve’s case, because as you move towards the next-generation platform, they tend to be more global, and therefore they tend to be much more easy to package.”

Asked when that could take place, Manley said: “Realistically, if that was to happen, you’re probably still three years out."

Manley provided the strongest hint yet that the new Charger and Challenger will shift from the aged rear-wheel drive LX platform they have shared with the Chrysler 300 for almost a decade, to the new RWD Giorgio platform.

“All the RHD components… could be shared across other cars – which makes it a lot easier, because then you’re adding up more than one volume per brand,” he said.

“[Giorgio] is a great example of a global platform… because of the strength of that platform. When I think about next-gen for any of our vehicles, elements of that platform are going to find their way into other vehicles."