I can't cite the Prowler and Viper? Then the Japanese Car Fans can't site the Skyline GTR and Honda Civic Si as innovative products.

Chrysler has built plenty of good vehicles in the last 20 years many of which were leaders in innovation:

1. The cab-forward movement was pioneered by Chrysler. Its a design strategy that shifted the passenger compartment forward and spread the wheels outward creating a more aerodynamic albeit unpopular shape today. Nevertheless still innovative in that it shed the notion of how a car had to be packaged.

2. The introduction of the Neon SRT-4 heralded a new horsepower war. Dodge generated huge amounts of power out of the Neon's powerplant yet still maintained its civility. In a time when the Civic Si's 160HP seemed like a lot the SRT-4's 230HP was a major improvement. This upp'd the ante, and you can thank Dodge that today our sport compacts come with more guts.

3.) I'm going to cite it anyway....the Viper. Besides its obvious reasons, the Viper started as a concept with no promise of being produced. But Dodge did a 180 and in less than one year it was a production model. At a time when car makers took 3-5 years to develop a car, Dodge did it in 1 year. Since that time, car makers have shaved years off development using the same strategies Dodge pioneered in 1989.

4. The dodge truck. The full size Ram proved that a truck didn't have to be just utilitarian, but that it could be nice to look at and civil. Add to that the Dakota was way ahead of its time, as a mid-size truck. Something Nissan tries to take credit for with the Frontier

5. The sport compact car/hatch. Yes, thats right. You can give dodge the credit. Sure a bit later than 20 years ago when it all started. But the innovative Shelby Chargers, Daytonas, and GLHS's were light years ahead of the Japanese when it comes to real performance in a budget package. In fact today, those 20 year old Shelbys could lay waste to some modern "performance" imports.

6. V-10 Trucks. Today a common site on any construction site. Dodge was the first to offer an oversized powerplant for oversized work loads. Then there is the diesel versions....a market segment that the Japanese don't even try to compete with.

7. Making retro cool. When most car companies were making jelly beans with wheels in the mid 90's. Chrysler/Dodge started making cars that had some appeal.
The Prowler and even the lowly PT Cruiser paid homage to yesterday's hot rods.
Rising from the dead, the Charger and Challenger offer everyone a chance at reliving the musclecar era all over again. When most car companies try to make a car for everyone. Dodge has never been afraid of making a car for the enthusiast.

8. The PT Cruiser. Love it or hate it (okay hate it) you have to recognize that it ushered in an era of personal, economical, and affordable mini transport. Like a shruken mini-van it was the first of a wave of small transporters that hit the American shore. Scion Xb anyone? Do you really think we would have seen so many little boxes on wheels had Chrysler not sold a shit ton of PTs? (Plus a turbo PT will kill a Xb....but they are both fugly)

9. The mini-van. Yes it came about a little over 20 years ago. Today Chrysler still manages to make the right van for the right price. Thats hard to do for 20+years consistently. The Odyssey is a nice vehicle, but priced like a luxury car, so it better be nicer.
new yearly innovations on the Caravan keep everyone else trying to keep in step.

10. Jeep and Marketing. Chysler saved Jeep. An American institution. The original off road vehicle for the mass public. Yes, there are better off road vehicles that can take you to places you'll never end up going in real life. But at what price?
The Jeep (aside from the dismal Compass) has always delivered what's promised at an affordable price. But the real innovation here is the marketing. Its more than a vehicle its a lifestyle brand. Chrysler has done a good job of selling the "feel" of owning a Jeep to the world. Including a magazine, and clothing line. Something other car makers only wish they could do as well. And, you probably won't find more die-hard fans than Jeep fans. Its more of a cult and less of a owners group. Plus the Cherokee SRT-8 is just superb.

11. SRT. The marque's high performance division can make even the most benign car a fire breathing monster. If any one of the SRT-8 cars were Japanese cars, there'd be SO MANY nutswingers on this message board it would clog the server.

12. Risk taking. When it fails its bad, but when it works it's innovative. The modern Chrylser 300. Who thought a wannabe Bentley could sell so well. When the world said no one wants big rear drive American sedan, Chysler said , "screw you."
and built one anyway. Sure it doesn't break any new ground, but it sure beats another front drive jelly bean.

I could probably keep going, but it's fruitless. There are just too many people out there that are too close minded to realize that when it comes to quality and innovation....the Japanese do not have the market cornered. Yes, the big 3 have had some hard times, but this is the same big 3 that pulled through the great depression and WWII. If people would get their heads our of their collective asses and walk into a Big 3 dealership they might realize that there is a whole new world of cool cars and trucks out there.