Dodge President and CEO Tim Kuniskis says the brand has something special planned for this year's Woodward Dream Cruise. Kuniskis would not release exact details of what the muscle car brand has in store, but said "it might be a lot better than a buzz model," when asked how it would compare to the Ram 1500 Rumble Bee concept that Dodge's sister brand unveiled during last year's cruise.
ROCHESTER HILLS, MI- Dodge President and CEO Tim Kuniskis says the brand has something special planned for this year's Woodward Dream Cruise.
Kuniskis would not release exact details of what the muscle car brand has in store, but said "it might be a lot better than a buzz model," when asked how it would compare to the Ram 1500 Rumble Bee concept that Dodge's sister brand unveiled during last year's cruise.
"We're going to do some fun stuff at Dream Cruise this year," he told MLive during an event Friday to celebrate the brand's 100th anniversary.
Automakers have celebrated different milestones during the week of the Woodward Dream Cruise – from Chevy marking 60 years of Corvette in 2012 to companies occupying different parts of Woodward Avenue with lavish displays.
Chrysler has occupied Northwood Plaza on the southwest corner of Woodward and 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak home for years, while General Motors Co. has occupied north of 13 Mile Road on Woodward Avenue and Ford Motor Co. has parked at 9 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue in Ferndale.
The 2014 Woodward Dream Cruise is scheduled for Aug. 16, with events planned all week leading up to the event.
Dodge President and CEO Tim Kuniskis at the Dodge 100th celebration event June 27, 2014 at Meadow Brook Hall. The Woodward Dream Cruise is dubbed as the world's largest one-day classic car event – spanning 16 miles through nine communities along Woodward Avenue. More than one million visitors and 40,000 antique and classic cars annually gather for the event.
Dodge celebrated its 100th anniversary Friday during a private event at Meadow Brook in Rochester Hills, where brothers John F. and Horace E. Dodge developed their first vehicle.
The brothers, who died in 1920, started Dodge on July 1, 1914. They released their first Dodge vehicle in November 1914, followed by excessive growth for the company.
Kuniskis said the Dodge brand is more than a centennial of business, it's a story of a family and two "really visionary" brothers whose personalities still represent the brand today.
"They were only alive for five years of the Dodge brand, yet their attitude and personality carries on through all the products," he said.
Chrysler had dozens of Dodge vehicles on display and to drive for media. The vehicles ranged from the 1915 Dodge Brothers Touring and 1920 Screenside to a host of newer concept and production vehicles, including the 2015 Charger and Challenger (see slideshow).
Through the past year, Chrysler, which purchased Dodge in 1928, has celebrated the 100th anniversary -- from releasing commemorative vehicles to resurrecting famed Dodge products like Shaker hoods and Scat Packs.
Michael Wayland covers the automotive industry for MLive. Email him at MWayland@mlive.com & follow him on Twitter @MikeWayland or Google+.