Spy Shots: Dodge JC49 Crossover
by Dan Roth on May 17th 2007 at 11:16AM 
Whoopee, just what Dodge needs, another crossover. We're glad that operations are still underway after the sale announcement, but come on, have cars been forsaken? The Jalopnik boys captured an odd duo cruising around; a JC 49 with camo, followed by a PSA minivan. Would it be rude to confess we're more interested in the French van? Based on the Sebring/Avenger platform, the JC 49 will likely wind up with a 3.5 liter V6 at the top of the range, if the dual exhausts are any indication. The JC 49 will share a familial resemblance to the Nitro, so think squared shoulders, crosshair grille, essentially an Avenger adaptation of the Magnum idea. Look for the camo to come off around the end of the year. We can hardly contain ourselves.
[Source: Jalopnik]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Avinash machado 11:22AM (5/17/2007)
I do hope that Jeep will not get a badge-engineered version of this thing. The Compass is bad enough.
Reply
Mike 11:24AM (5/17/2007)
Considering the enthusiasm Autoblog shows for the Edge, Vue, Highlander, Santa Fe, Outlander, CRV, and other CAR BASED CUV's, why is it an issue for Dodge to release a CAR BASED CUV?
There is something called journalistic integrity...something that is sorely lacking in general at this blog.
Reply
Mike 11:33AM (5/17/2007)
Oh, and DAN ROTH, plese answer this question for me:
"just what Dodge needs, another crossover."
Name another Dodge crossover. Please. I BEG you.
Caliber: NOT a crossover.
Nitro: Based on the Liberty platform, NOT a crossover.
Durango: Body on Frame. NOT a crossover.
Caravan: NOT a crossover.
Please let me know if I am missing any 2 box dodge vehicle that could be considered an SUV... all the ones that I count, and not one car based SUV, which is the definition of the CROSSOVER vehicle...
Reply
Jro 11:57AM (5/17/2007)
I can tell that your enthusiasm toward this vehicle is such that your editing skills are exactly what I'd expect from the quality writers at Autoblog. What exactly is this JC40 platform you speak of (in the HEADLINE nonetheless)?!?!?! Is it smaller than the JC49? C'mon guys! Anybody ever heard of professionalism?
Reply
gforce 12:09PM (5/17/2007)
I completely agree with Mike - yes, so Dodge currently has no real crossovers in a market segment which is arguably pretty hot right now? So please explain why this is a bad thing for Dodge. The blog entry just makes no sense. It's patently ridiculous and just shows no thought whatsoever.
Reply
sk 11:46AM (5/17/2007)
I saw this car driving around in Lake Orion MI over a month ago. It was going in and out at the Chrysler Tech Center on Lapeer Rd.
Reply
Chet 11:46AM (5/17/2007)
Will Chrysler get a version of this crossover? Can it just replace the Sebring? Please?
My eyes... the goggles do nothing...
Reply
Mike 12:12PM (5/17/2007)
"I completely agree with Mike "
it only hurts the first couple times you say it...
Reply
teabag 12:17PM (5/17/2007)
Another great Japolnik post from Ray "I used to work for the Governor" Wert.
Reply
Scott 12:33PM (5/17/2007)
Wow. I understand this is a blog and that the individual contributors can have opinions, but this piece shows an utter lack of understanding of anything automotive. "Another Dodge crossover"? Pray tell what was the first Dodge crossover that makes this "another" one? And what do you mean "have cars been forsaken"? Hasn't Dodge come out with basically an all new car lineup in the past two years? Magnum, Charger, Avenger, and Caliber? Exactly what car segment has Dodge NOT redesigned very recently? Sorry Dan Roth, but maybe automotive journalism just isn't the field for you. This was a painful read.
Reply
Elliott 12:37PM (5/17/2007)
If you had an editor, he / she would have suggested that you wrote it more like this:
"We aren't sure if Dodge is lacking a crossover in their lineup, but after the recent sale announcement it's good to see that product development is still marching forward."
or...
"We aren't too excited to see what is underneath the cladding, but at least we know the Chrysler space at the NAIAS won't need to be divvied up amongst the other manufacturers.:
See, your role is to use this type of optimistic double-speak that people call "fair". We get to be the rabid fanboys/ girls that leave comments like, "booooooooooorrrrrrrriiiiiinnnnnnnnggggggg. zzzzzzzz. Wake me up when Dodge makes something without a crosshair grille and a 3.5L V6. Seriously, this looks like a Taurus X with a Dodge grille. I'm over it."
Reply
mj 12:42PM (5/17/2007)
Maybe the author is just tired of crossovers in general, but obviously this is a poorly written entry.
And, actually, I agree that the minivan looks cooler, like a Kia if it wasn't ugly.
Reply
THOMAS 1:02PM (5/17/2007)
It's just great when the Autoblog journalists not only have incorrect information, but also make judgement calls on subjective issues.
The ultimate in professionalism.
Reply
Calebe 12:57PM (5/17/2007)
Sooo, why is Chrysler using a PSA van as a support car? Or was it? Are they going to get PSA diesels for the Euro market? Or did I already read that? I know they use VW units. I'm confused.
Reply
Aaron 1:11PM (5/17/2007)
spot on mike...
We see quopting the bloomberg article where we CRAVE the crv, the rav and the escape, while the explorer is out in the cold. A trend which isn't even new but bloomberg stumbled onto so everyone else followed in kind.
We see the prevalence of the crossover touted with sales figures and now dodge seemingly is called out for trying to provide what customers want... priceless.
Reply
Shawn 1:13PM (5/17/2007)
Guys, give them a break. Most of these bloggers are not car guys nor journalists. All they do is search online for other people's stories and then insert a little write up. It's really just a step above data-entry. You can't expect them to know the difference between cars and crossovers or even being able to tell the brands apart.
They perform a service in that we don't need to go everywhere for automotive stories, but we shouldn't take them any more seriously than we do oh, let say, your neighbor telling you a story about something he read somewhere 2 weeks ago.
Reply
bmoredlj 1:19PM (5/17/2007)
"Journalistic integrity"? Let's not forget, this is a blog, not CNN.com.
Bloggers can say what they want, how they want. It's not perfect, or unbiased, but as far as I know, they don't claim to be either.
Reply
66coronet 1:39PM (5/17/2007)
The short wheel base mini van is no more. The JC49 & JZ49 is to take their place. It's like the first generation mini vans of the '80's. It will be light enough to have a 4cyl pull it agin. But I'm sure a V-6 3.5L will be an optional motor.
It's not going to be called a van do to no sliding back doors. Standard back doors. I suppose you could call it a tall station wagon since it's off the avenger/sebring platform. Similar to the Subaru forester is just a little bigger than the legacy wagon.
For those who want to get out of your K car wagon. The last small car dodge wagon.
http://www.allpar.com/trucks/JC49.html
Reply
Mike 1:48PM (5/17/2007)
Shawn and bmoredlj:
This is NOT your average autos.blogspot@blogspot.com basement blog. This site is one of the premiere automotive blogs on the internet, run with financial backing from Weblogs/AOL. The contribtors are paid for their 'articles', all contributors hold press passes, and have you ever noticed an 'In the Autoblog Garage' article?
For all intents and purposes, this is a journalism driven news source, and does not fall within the realm that is generally considered to be the blogosphere.
Reply
66coronet 2:09PM (5/17/2007)
From the side, looking at the doors. The window and doors look similar to my pt cruiser. The lower part of the door has that bumper simiar to the pt cruiser.
As for being a cross over. Is the pt cruiser a crossover? It's classified as a truck/van do to removable back seats and flat floor loading like a van.
I do not think this vehicle can be called a cross over unless you mean cross over between van and wagon.
Reply