The first decade of the new century has not been kind to the Chrysler Corporation. Left bloodied and beaten first by a laughable “merger” with Daimler, then forced into bankruptcy by an abrupt and ill-played takeover by Cerberus Capital, a Federal bailout was only offered because of an eleventh hour lifeline from Italy’s Fiat. Fast forward two years and for the first time Auburn Hills is starting to show signs of life.
Chrysler called the nation’s automotive journalists up to the San Francisco Bay Area for what can be best described as a Valley Forge moment. In a remarkable flurry of new metal, Chrysler introduced no less than eight either all new or severely reengineered models. The effort is nothing short of astonishing; an overtime, last second Hail Mary if there ever was one. As the very fit looking Dodge president Ralph Gilles told us at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, “Our reputation dies today.”

But does it? Are the new Dodge and Chrysler cars good enough to lift both brands up from also-ran status, justify the bailout and most crucially sell some product? Did they reinvent and transform their ailing product line enough to warrant such a late in the game bivouac against all the forces conspiring to pull them asunder? We think so.
Certain products are absolute winners. Namely the surprisingly reworked Charger, the bold new Durango and the aggressively refreshed Grand Caravan/Town & Country. These are the cars that are going to carry Dodge and Chrysler’s flags forward, not just in terms of sales but also via the positive halo effect they’ll generate. These vehicles are for real, and frankly undismissible. Then of course there’s the Challenger, a vehicle already loved by many that basically gets nothing but more power – the right thing to do with the last of the pure muscle cars.

As for the rest of the new soldiers, they’re mostly pretty good. Of course, the products they’re replacing were so bad (the Sebring, Avenger and Journey, specifically) that almost anything would be an improvement. But are they good enough to back up Mr. Gilles’s claim? Read on and see.