Future Models - Chrysler 2008 Journey
Voyager’s Journey begins
New Journey: Chrysler's other people-mover arrives here in September.
Chrysler is mounting a two-pronged people-mover attack with two distinct models
3 April 2008
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS
CHRYSLER is embarking on a two-model people-mover assault starting September with the release of the Journey.
Dubbed a CUV Crossover Utility Vehicle, the Journey is based on Chrysler’s ‘D’ segment (JS) platform that also underpins the mid-sized Sebring and Dodge Avenger, as well as the Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass compact SUVs and the Dodge Caliber small-car.
It will effectively give the company a sub-$50,000 presence in the seven-seater SUV segment, and will also allow for the established Grand Voyager people-mover to edge upmarket.
Speaking at the fifth-generation RT Grand Voyager launch in Melbourne last week, marketing and product boss Craig Bradshaw outlined the Journey’s positioning within Chrysler’s people-mover portfolio.
“The strategy for the company is to reduce the amount of overlap between the segments, and introducing a product like the Journey is effectively a short-wheelbase Voyager replacement,” he stated.
Chrysler discontinued the short-wheelbase Voyager midway through the previous-generation RG version’s model-life in late 2004, when it retailed for $53,490. The base-model RT Grand Voyager kicks off at $56,990.
There will not be a short-wheelbase version of the RT Grand Voyager, as demand for it was low.
“The decision was made to focus only on the long wheelbase,” Mr Bradshaw explained.
“For most international markets it was the preferred vehicle, although there was a small market for the short-wheelbase vehicle in Europe.”
Chrysler hopes the RT Grand Voyager’s new-found diesel availability and new luxury features will snag more traditional SUV buyers who are tired of the expensive running costs and creeping social stigma.
“I think with the current climate – with fuel prices and everything else – we’re going to see, as we have a with large 4WDs overall declining fairly rapidly, that we will pick up some of that SUV segment as people become more rational with their buying choices,” Mr Bradshaw believes.
Left: Dodge Journey and Chrysler Grand Voyager.
Chrysler Australia managing director Gerry Jenkins added that the introduction of the Kia Carnival in late 1999 and the price realignment of the current-generation Honda Odyssey in the middle of 2004 presented a challenge for the Voyager.
The Voyager’s market share began to contract from its 1997/8 high of 105-plus monthly sales to around 40 per month over the last two years.
“That’s why we’re really at the high end of the market. We’re not really competing against those vehicles (anymore),” Mr Jenkins said.
Nevertheless, Chrysler says there is a healthy level of interest in a vehicle specifically like the Grand Voyager.
“My experience has been that people who have bought the old one have not been interested in a whole lot of other cars other than the Voyager,” Mr Jenkins stated.
“They’re well researched, well informed, and that’s what they want.
“They got either US experience, or experience abroad, and they want something like this that meets all of their needs and have certain luxury appointments with all the bells and whistles.
“And that market isn’t a very large market but it’s a very interested market.
“And they seem to be very satisfied. A lot of people who have put in orders for the new one are existing (Voyager) owners, so there is a fair amount of loyalty regarding Voyager buyers.”
Mr Jenkins is confident that once people are given the chance to sit inside the Grand Voyager, they will be more inclined to buy this sort of people-mover.
“The key is that they got to drive it. A lot of people... a lot of my mates don’t want anything to do with this... (so) then what I do is that I force it on them.
“It’s absolutely great to drive. You’ve got great visibility, great handling, and you’ve got the comfort that everybody with you is enjoying the ride as well. They’re not stuffed-in in any way, not squeezed up against one another... they’re very comfortable.
“Of all the ones I’ve personally sold, at least 75 per cent are with families.
“But I have also sold some to empty-nesters who buy them and they love them – they throw their bikes in there, or furniture, and it’s just one of those vehicles that is very useful and that they can do a lot of running around in.”
Mr Jenkins admits that the diesel in the latest model is an unknown quantity as far as market acceptance is concerned.
“I don’t know. I have no idea. We’ll see what the reaction is,” he revealed.
Nevertheless, Mr Jenkins is sure that at least 60 per cent of sales initially will be for the high-end Limited version, and that he is predicting that “at least” 25 per cent of those will be the diesel.
“(But) we’ll gauge the interest as we go forward, and we have the ability to order as many diesels as we want, with absolutely no restrictions on it.”
Read more:
First drive: Chrysler goes Grander with Voyager
Buy, research or compare this Chrysler