The Breakdown:
- Stellantis allegedly showed dealers an affordable model called the Pronto last fall.
- The car allegedly has a starting price in the $20,000 range.
Chrysler doesn’t have a big lineup. Right now, you can pick between two versions of the same minivan—that's it. The 300 died at the end of 2023, and since then, it's largely felt like Stellantis has abandoned the brand. But big changes could be on the horizon.
In an interview with The Detroit News, Pennsylvania Chrysler dealer Dave Kelleher revealed that last fall, Stellantis executives showed dealers a potential future model called the Pronto. That model would allegedly start in the $20,000 range, with the automaker also showing off affordable models for Jeep and Dodge.
Chrysler's Future (?)
Chrysler has largely languished under Stellantis—not that it was particularly strong when it was part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, either. It is now one of more than a dozen brands within the FCA and PSA Group merger.
The company's future could be revealed on May 21, when the automaker plans to host an investor day in Auburn Hills to unveil its new strategic plan. Stellantis will highlight its financial targets, technology, and products.
While an April report alleged that the automaker intends to focus its investments on Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, and Fiat, Chrysler’s new CEO, Matt McAlear, who also oversees Dodge, said Chrysler would play a "big part" on investor day. What that means remains a mystery. He told the News:
'I don't think there's anything to be worried about. It's some stuff that we've already talked with our national dealer council about, and we're excited to kind of lay that out.'
The updated 2027 Pacifica is on its way to dealers now, featuring a new front fascia. The Voyager is dead, replaced by a new Pacifica trim that retains the model’s 2026 design language. Chrysler sales were down 28 percent through the first three months of the year.
Motor1’s Take: Chrysler cannot continue with just two variants of the same model. It needs a robust lineup of vehicles, but a value-oriented model seems odd for the premium mainstream brand, unless McAlear and company plan to take Chrysler in a new direction.
Source: The Detroit News
