Spied! New Dodge “JC49″ Crossover!

WINDING ROAD AUTO NEWS |December 18th, 2006 10:42 AM

Our “Men In The Trees” over at KGP Photography have captured shots of what they say is new Dodge prototype, which appears set to do battle with larger two-row crossovers like the Toyota Highlander and Ford Edge.

According to KGP, the new model known as the “JC49” is based on the same floorpan that underpins the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger. Claims of a base price as low as $20,000 are being floated, though that strikes us as on the cheap side for a vehicle this large, especially when the markedly smaller Caliber can creep up and over that price point when well-equipped.

From the looks of this mule, the vehicle appears to be quite far along in gestation, so perhaps we can look forward to a 2008 introduction with a 2009 model year designation.

(Click through to the jump for KGP’s full take on the vehicle, along with a bunch of additional shots)

Dodge engineers have begun testing prototypes for a new crossover
vehicle to do battle with the Ford Edge, Toyota Highlander, and the
rest of the burgeoning crossover crowd. This all-new model–known
internally as the JC49–is based on the just-released Chrysler
Sebring and soon-to-be Dodge Avenger sedans, although this spin-off
is clearly larger than its platform-mates.

Despite the camouflage, typical Dodge styling cues show through. The
cross-hair grille design takes after the Avenger, the headlights
appear to have some of the Nitro’s detailing, while the chiseled
shoulder line, flared wheel arches and chunky lower body sculpting
appear somewhat Caliber-inspired. The tail-lights have Dodge’s
typical red lenses with white bands, as on the Charger and Avenger.
The prototype also displays a fetching profile, thanks to a nicely
raked windshield and a rising beltline which gives this new Dodge a
fairly athletic stance.

DaimlerChrysler reps have described this model as a “new concept
crossover”, somehow designed to separate it from its competitors, but
from what we can see here it’s pretty much what you would expect from
the mainstream crossover offering. Where this model might cause a
stir is in price–if initial reports of a starting price around
$20,000 hold true. This looks like a lot of car for twenty-grand.
To go for that price, we expect that it will be offered in both four-
and six-cylinder forms. This seems to fit the evidence we have seen
on the testing circuit, since, in addition to the dual exhausts
visible on the prototype in our photos, we spotted another prototype
sporting a single exhaust.

Dodge’s new midsize CUV will be built in its updated Toluca, Mexico
assembly plant, alongside the PT Cruiser. Dodge planners hope for
150,000 annual sales of this model. A production run in the east
China province of Fujian is reportedly also planned, for export to
other markets outside of North America.

The JC49 is expected to reach the market in early 2008. A Chrysler
spin-off is possible for 2010, likely serving as the replacement for
the Pacifica.