Spy Shots: Dodge "JC49" Crossover
by John Neff on Dec 18th 2006 at 2:28PM 
You never know what you'll see while sitting high up in a tree. Case in point is this crossover from Dodge that KGP photographers caught while, um... rescuing a kitten. Known internally as the "JC49", this CUV based on the Dodge Avenger/Chrysler Sebring platform is news to us. Apparently it's meant to take on such vehicles as the Ford Edge and Toyota Highlander in the marketplace, which we suppose there's room for in Dodge's lineup considering most of its utility vehicles are of the truck-based "Sport" variety. Only the Caliber stands out as being based on a unibody platform, so something larger with a smooth ride and decent mileage could do well in Dodge's lineup. It's a little hard to tell if the JC49 has three rows of seating, but from its profile we can see there appears to be room for an extra bench. While the description from KGP claims that the styling follows traditional Dodge styling cues, we don't really see them. The exposed metal on the vehicle's side is very clean and reminds us of the Acura MDX. The front end, though heavily masked, does show a Dodge "crosshair" grille, but not an upright, in-your-face one that we see on on so many Dodge's. This one appears to be shaped like a shield and raked back quite a bit.
What's more surprising is the price at which KGP claims this vehicle may start. According to them, the JC49 could go for as low as $20,000, probably equipped with a four-cylinder engine. That would certainly overlap with a well-optioned Caliber in the marketplace and, quite frankly, seems a little low for such a large vehicle.
[Source: Winding Road]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fabulo 2:40PM (12/18/2006)
Sebring Wagon. Oops. I mean crossover.
Reply
ZooTrouble 2:46PM (12/18/2006)
3 rows of seating?
ZooTrouble
Reply
Voz 2:49PM (12/18/2006)
Oh come on dodge not another 4 door whats up with the hornet or how about a coupe small car ?
Reply
D Man 2:52PM (12/18/2006)
Looks like a piece to me!
Reply
B-Noit 2:53PM (12/18/2006)
Looks like a Pacifica rebadge - hope Dodge has more success with it than Chrysler has.
DCX needs help. There have been signs of hope in the last couple of years but too many mistakes to mask. The Aspen, Caliber/Compass, new Sebring styling (to say the least)... I think Dr. Z needs to re-think his strategies.
Reply
Michael Karesh 2:54PM (12/18/2006)
I've got three kids, so it looks good to me. But then the Freestyle also looks pretty good to me, and we know how well that and the Pacifica have done. In general, wagonish proportions haven't done well, yet the Dodge appears to also be going in that direction.
My comparison of the Outlook, Freestyle, and Pacifica:
http://www.epinions.com/content_286658760324
Also just reviewed the Edge:
http://www.epinions.com/content_293066739332
Reply
Tony 2:58PM (12/18/2006)
I hope Dodge is smart and uses the Stow-n-Go on this... that would offer a huge advantage over its competition
Reply
Ivan the Terrible 3:15PM (12/18/2006)
Just what we needed
Another STUPID breadvan on stilts fat-ass crossover
JEEZ!
Hint, morons at Chrysler:
Toyota yaris, Honda FIT (probably this year's CAR OF THE YEAR), Nissan Versa.
Can you do it?
Don't hold your breath.
Next time they lose a home game to the Japanese (conicidentally, also next time gas is over $3.50), you will see these big 3 retards begging for handouts again, meeting with Bush, and blaming their incompetence on the ...alleged manipulation of the Yen!
Reply
Mike 3:06PM (12/18/2006)
Can we please have someone informed write the articles? Please?
"which we suppose there's room for in Dodge's lineup considering most of its utility vehicles are of the truck-based "Sport" variety. Only the Caliber stands out as being based on a unibody platform, so something larger with a smooth ride and decent mileage could do well in Dodge's lineup."
-Except the Nitro, which is a unibody platform, and larger. Rides smoother? Decent Mileage? eh. Unibody though, c'mon.
"Known internally as the "JC49", this CUV based on the Dodge Avenger/Chrysler Sebring platform is news to us."
- http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/16/chrysler-will-share-next-pt-cruiser-with-dodge/
Reply
Stphane Dumas 3:11PM (12/18/2006)
Mike, there Allpar who also have some stuff about the JC-49 http://www.allpar.com/trucks/JC49.html
Reply
Mike 3:25PM (12/18/2006)
Thanks Stephanie, I'm a member on Allpar as well and know the JC49 code has been in circulation/speculation for a year to year and a half now...if not longer. I was just pointing out that this platform is apparently new news to autoblog, even though they had a post about it more than two months ago...
Reply
DJ 3:47PM (12/18/2006)
Interesting, very interesting........
Given that DCX recently announced plans for a next gen Pacifica had been scrapped and the current model's life would end in 2010, why would Dodge get this and not Chrysler? How OLD is this shot? At one point, there was a "Dodge Pacifica" design study done and even an aftermarket version built, but it was supposedly ended there.
Reply
Derek 3:55PM (12/18/2006)
well lets just call it what it is
avenrango.
It is funny I live in sc by the BMW plant and they very, very rarely use and camo on there vehicles normally the only kind of camo on them is the manufacture license tag.
Reply
ramsport47 6:02PM (12/18/2006)
ummmm...Updated Magnum!. The side smacks of Magnum
Reply
Michael 6:48PM (12/18/2006)
Maybe it's just me, but it looks like a rebadged Mercedes R-Class. Take a look at it from the side and you'll see R-Class cues, especially on the rear doors.
Reply
sam 8:27PM (12/19/2006)
I think that it is the production version of the chrysler/jeep/dodge concepts debuting at detroit (http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/18/video-glimpse-the-chrysler-nassau-jeep-trailhawk-and-bongo-dru/
Reply
ron 11:50PM (12/18/2006)
it looks like the upcoming BMW X6.http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/24/spy-shots-bmw-x6/
Reply
JGeary 11:56PM (12/18/2006)
JC49 is the chassis code for the PT Cruiser replacement
Reply
Glenn 2:06PM (12/20/2006)
This is confusing ...
Not sure if the JC49 thing is correct or what, but a real quandery as to what this is. Dodge has a pretty good set of SUVs -- granted it does have that Acura look too it, so maybe they want to go after the Japanese makers with this.
Reply