We started out with GM, which has quite a product salvo on the way in 2006. We followed this with Ford, which does not have quite the plethora of product on the way over the next 12 months - though they are coming off of a product blitz was taken mainly in 2005.
Now, we are going to take a look at the remaining member of the 'Big 3', though some now consider DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group as a foreign manufacturer, their legacy issues are similar enough to Ford and GM to be counted with them.
Chrysler Group is arguably in the best shape of the 3 - they also are slated to have one of the most impressive, both in number and excitement/buzz-worthy-ness sets of launches in 2006. Let's take a look:
If you've already read my GM and Ford then you might already know what I'm about to say...yep, Chrysler Group has some new truck based and car based SUV's on the way. Also, there are, more than from their cross-town rivals, some cars due as well.

Since we're discussion variants...it is worthwhile to mention that Dodge is not only getting a variant of another brand's SUV, they are also donating their Durango chassis to Chrysler for use in the new Chrysler Aspen. Expect this vehicle to debut in the summer with unique styling as well as an upgraded and more luxurious interior.
That isn't the only news for the Durango as rumor has it that the 6.1l hemi will get dropped into the vehicle this fall in a Durango SRT-8.
That would be plenty of SUV news to keep Chrysler's buzz buzzing, but that's not all. Over at Jeep, there is a rumored addition of a Commander SRT-8 with the 6.1l hemi in the fall. Also, the new Wrangler is expected to go on sale sometime during the next year. That most Jeep-like of Jeeps would be big news, but that's not all. For the first time ever, the Wrangler will be available in 2 body-styles. The traditional 2-door we all know and love, but also a 4-door. This seems to make the Liberty redundant, but with Jeep's recent decision that not everything they build needs to be 'trail rated', they may be planning to make the Liberty more of an on-road SUV and make the 4-door Wrangler take the spiritual place of the old Jeep Cherokee and go head-to-head with the other hard-off-roaders like the Nissan XTerra and the upcoming Toyota FJ Cruiser.
That's not all the Jeep news, but we'll get back to that in a minute.
A slightly harder to believe rumor is that SRT may be working their magic again on the Ram pickup, only this time providing us with a cheaper alternative to the Viper-powered SRT-10 Ram...this time with the 6.1l Hemi in an SRT-8 Ram. Expect this one in the spring and maybe with a non-SRT badge.


The real news at Chrysler Group is also on this Mitsubishi/Chrysler chassis. This platform is not only used for mid-sized vehicles like the ones we just talked about, but also works very well for smaller vehicles as well. Mitsu will be using this for the next Lancer, Evo 10, and the Outlander small cross-over SUV.

In the fall, expect a 2.4l turbo version of the Caliber, likely called either the SRT-4 or the SRT-4 Caliber, perhaps with all-wheel drive, to replace the previous SRT-4 based on the Neon. Expect a more refined high-po small-car than the last SRT-4 (for good or bad) and aggressive styling and a hood scoop like the rest of the Dodge SRT line.
Now, remember how I mentioned earlier that we weren't done with Jeep news? Also remember how I mentioned that Jeep was no longer committed to trail-rated Jeeps across the line? Well, if this makes you cringe, you may want to move on to some other site...


Well, that brings to an end our 2006 preview of what the 'Big 3' have up their sleeves. It's shaping up to be a busy year and will hopefully buy all of the companies time to get their legacy issues behind them.
Next up...the Asian manufacturers.