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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is conducting a major dealership event in sunny Las Vegas. New vehicles are being announced, redesigned offerings are being teased, and promises are being made to the sprawling company's dealer body. And, as all these announcements are meant to be tip-top secret, they're leaking out left, right, and center. Naturally.

FCA is telling its dealers all of the vehicles shown at the Vegas gala will be in showrooms within 12 to 24 months, and that the product offensive will include at least 30 new or significantly refreshed models. Some of those we've known about since FCA boss Sergio Marchionne unveiled his highly ambitious five-year plan in May 2014, while we're hearing about others for the very first time. We've reached out to our sources within FCA, and will update this post as we learn more.

It should be noted that while we've tried to rely on concrete sources or corroborations from multiple sources, some of the news here comes from people claiming to have been in attendance and posting in forums like Allpar and Jalopnik's Opposite Lock. Unless corroborated by a mainstream source or confirmed by our own sources within FCA, we're listing each item that comes from a forum. Have those grains of salt at the ready.

THE RUMORMILL:

Chrysler

• Dodge Durango-sized SUV with stow-and-go was shown. A poster on Allpar Forums claims it had a Durango's interior. New Aspen?
• Town and Country PHEV confirmed (again). A plug-in minivan was originally announced as part of five-year plan.
• No news on 200 or 300.

Dodge

• The redesigned Charger will use the Alfa Romeo Giulia's rear-drive platform and, according Automotive News, draw inspiration from 1999's Charger concept car. We're wagering the 24-month time frame specified to dealers will move the new sedan's arrival up from 2018 to mid-2017.
• Jalopnik's Opposite Lock claims two new Challenger models are coming. Challenger ADR (American Drag Racer) and T/A. ADR should appeal to bracket racers and is more powerful than the SRT Hellcat, while T/A is for track rats, just like Viper T/A.
• Automotive News claims the legendary Barracuda nameplate will be revived as a Dodge. The Barracuda will be smaller than Challenger, offered as both a coupe and a convertible. Allpar claims it will feature modern styling.
• A Dodge Durango SRT was announced with 6.4-liter Hemi V8 and rear-drive. Sources within FCA confirmed its arrival with Autoblog. Apparently, dealers were shown an example in B5 Blue.
• Dodge will launch a turbocharged, 300-horsepower Dart, sort of fitting the five-year plan. Allpar Forums say no R/T or SRT model is in the cards and that a hi-po engine will be offered across the Dart lineup, while Jalop's Opposite Lock says there will be an R/T and a Carrol Shelby-invoking GLH model (see why we warned you about the salt?). Whatever it's called, expect the hot Dart to be powered by a Hurricane four-cylinder, which one FCA source tells Autoblog "will be going in a ton of ****."

Jeep

• A Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk was announced with all-wheel drive and the Hellcat V8. Allpar claims it will hit 60 in under three seconds, although Automotive News cited a 3.5-second time from another dealer. Again, salt.
• As previously reported, the new Grand Wagoneer was on display, with FCA telling dealers it will be aimed at Land Rover. Originally targeted for 2018, like the Dodge Charger, the GW's debut has probably been moved up to mid-2017.
• The next Wrangler was shown to dealers, and will be sold as 2017 model. According to Allpar, Sergio is claiming 30 miles per gallon, and mileage that backs up our report on the a diesel model.
• A Jeep Wrangler Pickup was mentioned, but wasn't shown. Autoblog's FCA sources claim it is coming, but we don't know when. We know at least one exec supports the idea.

Ram

• A source at Opposite Lock claimed images of the new Ram 1500 were shown and that it looked "neat."
• Both Oppo and Allpar claim a new Power Wagon is on the way, and that it was shown on stage with 37-inch rubber. 35s will be standard when it hits dealers. Sources said the next off-road truck looks "more focused" than today's Power Wagon.

Fiat

• Both regular and Abarth versions of the Mazda MX5-based Fiat 124 were shown.

Alfa Romeo

• As previously reported, Alfa Romeo will be getting its own SUV in 2016. It was on display for dealers. We're told the Giulia was also in attendance.

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/08/26/b...hawk-promised/