Dodge Journey concept ready for Frankfurt

Early Australian sales of Nitro have exceeded expectations, so Dodge will be on fire to flog the 'Journey' here too.

It's a virtual certainty to happen, since the factory has already announced ahead of the new car's Frankfurt launch that both LHD and RHD versions will be built.

The Journey is not unlike the Ford Territory in concept, offering two- and four-wheel drive variants, flexible packaging and passenger-car comfort. As a measure of its size, the Journey's wheelbase is 2890mm, 48mm longer than the Territory's -- longer again than the Holden Captiva or Toyota Kluger.

When fitted with a 3.5-litre V6, the Journey drives through an all-wheel drive system as standard, but the 2.0-litre turbodiesel, 2.4-litre petrol four-cylinder and the 2.7-litre petrol V6 variants are front-wheel drive only.

At this stage, only the US and Canadian markets are confirmed for the 3.5-litre version, which will be coupled to a six-speed automatic.

The 2.7-litre V6 drives through a four-speed automatic transmission in North America, but export markets will get a six-speed automatic instead.

Markets outside North America will be able to purchase the Journey with the 2.0-litre turbodiesel matched to a six-speed DSG-type dual-clutch transmission. This transmission has been jointly developed with Getrag (more here).

Dodge has built the Journey on the company's 'D-Segment' platform and the vehicle is basically a front-wheel drive with AWD-capability and four-wheel independent suspension.

Active safety items include four-wheel discs, ABS, ESP and the Chrysler Group's ERM system ('Electronic Roll Mitigation').

The Journey's styling is appealing, but consumers will probably find the interior packaging to be the vehicle's long suit.

Dodge has designed the Journey to provide easy access to the second and third row seats (where specified) via doors that open outwards through a full 90-degree angle and a special tilt and slide facility for the second row seat.

Similar to the Territory, the Journey features 'stadium' seating, with the second row slightly higher than the first and the third row slightly higher again than the second.

The second row seat folds in a 60/40 split ratio and Dodge has configured the 60 per cent portion to move forward far enough for the driver to attend to a seat occupant (such as a child in distress), as long as the front passenger seat is folded flat. Named the 'child presenter', the seat travels forward an extra 51mm for easier reach from the driver's seat.

Integrated child booster seats are another feature of the second row seating. As for Volvos with the same facility, the Dodge raises the child to the 'adult belt zone' and furnishes the child with a better view from within the car.

Fore and aft travel for the second row seat is 120mm and allows adult occupants more rear seat legroom. Conversely, moving the seats forward increases cargo space or brings the child occupants closer to the parents in the front row seat.

The third row seat option for two children enhances the Journey's appeal to families and does so without detriment to the safety of the children in the third row, since the standard side curtain airbags deploy across all three rows.

For those vehicles without the '5+2' configuration, the Journey comes with a 'tri-fold' loading floor, which features a hidden storage compartment and can be reversed to hold groceries or removed altogether for cleaning.

Storage bins are located under the floor behind the driver and front passenger's seat and underneath the front passenger seat. The seat base flips forward in the front passenger position to reveal an additional storage bin (pictured).

The Journey will be sold in three levels of trim for North American markets; SE, SXT and R/T. SXT and R/T models can be specified with the 3.5-litre V6 and all-wheel drive.

Dodge has already established that the Journey's exterior colour selection will comprise: Inferno Red Crystal Pearl Coat, Light Sandstone Metallic Clear Coat, Melbourne Green Pearl Coat, Deep Water Blue Pearl Coat, Silver Steel Metallic Clear Coat, Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat and Stone White Clear Coat.

The Journey will hit American showrooms in the early months of next year, as a 2009 model. Other markets will see the new model around the middle of next year.

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