STATE OF FCA: DODGE CHALLENGER HITS ITS STRIDE, FIAT A WORK IN PROGRESS

FCA's future has had an air of uncertainty about it as executives past and present have pursued mergers with other automakers. The company's latest thwarted effort was with Renault, and although those talks fell apart, they might not be dead yet.

And whereas the future of the Chrysler portion of FCA could be in doubt, the automaker continues to operate as if it's business as usual. Before his death, former CEO Sergio Marchionne finalized a five-year business and product plan that plotted a future for all eight brands, but in that plan four brands were elevated to yeoman's service while the other four were relegated to regional, almost niche status. Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati are supposed to do the heavy lifting. Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, and SRT are the more boutique brands.

And their biggest champion, Tim Kuniskis, is back in charge of the lower-tier passenger car brands. Kuniskis is the one who injected his passion for these cars into the brands, especially Dodge, before he was moved to other responsibilities. But with the retirement of Steve Beahm, CEO Mike Manley has put Kuniskis back into the role where he feels most comfortable.

Kuniskis was only a few days back on the old beat when time has been spent with him to get a better assessment of the vehicles and brands he oversees, which include Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and SRT.

For starters, Kuniskis notes this is not small potatoes: A quarter of the total product investment for the five-year plan goes to these brands.