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2011 Chrysler 200 Limited

Filed under: Sedan, Chrysler, Reviews

Sebring Replacement Gets A Seat At The Big Kids Table – Barely

2011 Chrysler 200 Limited

2011 Chrysler 200 – Click above for high-res image gallery

You don’t have to take a trip to Egypt to know what the pyramid of Gisa looks like. It’s an amazing feat of engineering, the construction of which continues to confound scientists to this day. But while Gisa is a true world wonder, Egypt is also home to many structures that were never completed. Half-built pyramids, obelisks that were intricately cut out of solid bedrock only to be left un-hoisted and 1,000-ton rocks that were dragged by hand for miles and left sitting unused. Why would anyone go through all that effort without finishing what they started?

We’ve long asked the same question about the Chrysler Sebring. Engineers took the time to come up with all the components needed to craft a new sedan for Chrysler, yet the steering, chassis and engines were woefully unfinished works. When looking at the Sebring, it’s like designers threw darts at a wall to find the right sketch, and the same lack of completeness could be felt on the inside, where rubbery materials materials were assembled with the precision of a sofa cushion fort.

Luckily for Chrysler, the Sebring and those unfinished Egyptian objects have one more thing in common: They’re both consigned to history. Chrysler’s designers and engineers have worked together to right the wrongs of the Sebring, and those efforts have led to the newly named 2011 Chrysler 200. We spent a week with a nicely equipped Limited model to see if Chrysler’s mulligan can go toe-to-toe with its peers in a very competitive mid-size sedan segment. Continue reading…

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2011 Chrysler 200 Limited originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #228: Lamborghini Aventador, Lincoln performance, Chrysler profit and loan payback

Filed under: Podcasts, Acura, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Lincoln, Earnings/Financials

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Podcast Team number one – Chris Shunk, Dan Roth and Zach Bowman – kick it for Autoblog Podcast #228. The crew mulls our First Drive of the Lamborghini Aventador, a Lincoln performance sect, Chrysler’s profit and loan payback and the Forbes worst car list. Your feedback and questions finish it off, and we’ve re-posted the Q&A at the bottom of this post so you can play along at home, too. Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #228: Lamborghini Aventador, Lincoln performance, Chrysler profit and loan payback

2012 Lamborghini Aventador First Drive
Lincoln performance divison rumors
Chrysler profit and accelerated loan payback
Forbes’ Worst cars on the Road List

In the Autoblog Garage:

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible V6
2011 Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback
2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman
Runtime: 01:26:24

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #228: Lamborghini Aventador, Lincoln performance, Chrysler profit and loan payback originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 May 2011 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford joins GM, Chrysler in sitting out Tokyo Motor Show

Filed under: Japan, Tokyo Motor Show, Chrysler, Ford, GM

Tokyo Motor Show

An American auto show wouldn’t be the same without the participation of Japanese automakers. But the inverse could hardly be said, as all three of Detroit’s automakers are set to be no-shows at the Tokyo Motor Show once again.

News of General Motors and Chrysler passing on the semi-annual Japanese auto expo came back in February, with word of Ford’s plan to pass just now being released. It will be the second time that the Big Three are staying back in Detroit, after having sat out the last show in 2009. Tokyo Motor Show organizers tried to attract more exhibitors by changing its venue and timeframe – a necessary move, as Tokyo is quickly losing ground to the auto shows in Shanghai and Beijing.

A slew of European automakers are set to be on hand in Tokyo, as the list of exhibitors has been released to include Volkswagen and several of its brands, as well as Daimler and BMW, along with Saab, Renault, Citroën, Peugeot, Jaguar and Land Rover. However, like its American counterpart, Fiat and its brand portfolio are notably absent from the list.

[Source: Tokyo Motor Show via Automotive News – sub. req.]

Ford joins GM, Chrysler in sitting out Tokyo Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: Chrysler’s SRT division open to smaller engines, but there’s still a market for big V8s

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, SUV, Chrysler, Luxury

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 6.4-liter HEMI V8

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 – Click above for high-res image gallery

When asked about Chrysler’s Street Racing Technology (SRT) division rolling out another big-bore, high-horsepower engine at the 2011 New York Auto Show, Dan Reid, the company’s head of media relations, said “there’s a market for it – cars that go fast and sound good.”

Joseph Grace, the vehicle line manager for the SRT division, agreed that “big, naturally-aspirated V8s” can still find enough buyers to support halo cars. The tuning arm is open, however, to less potent options. “There’s a precedent for four-cylinders [with the Dodge Neon SRT4], and a 6 [on the Crossfire SRT6], and when we get the right platform we’ll look at it again.” Added Reid, “The five areas for SRT are powertrain, braking, handling, interior and exterior,” and any potential SRT vehicle has to live up to that first qualification. Grace then told us that the 6.4-liter engine in the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, with its cylinder deactivation and active exhaust system, was “the most efficient way to deliver the kind of performance the customer expects.”

“We had great success with the SRT4 and there’s a trend toward smaller displacement turbo engines, there’s actually a demographic that that appeals to,” Grace said. But when asked whether there could be something like an Dodge Journey SRT, Grace suggested not and said, “That’s why we have the Man Van.”

As for where else Chrysler is looking for special models, Reid said, “Want to expand the 300 model line to a car for every personality, tailor models to different customers. Right now we have a ‘bare-bones’ model, the 300, 300 S, 300C Executive, and SRT8. We’re looking at the non-traditional customer and seeing what they’d like.”

Gallery: 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8: New York 2011

New York 2011: Chrysler’s SRT division open to smaller engines, but there’s still a market for big V8s originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: Chrysler 300S first to get new eight-speed transmission

Filed under: Sedan, Chrysler, Luxury

2012 Chrysler 300S

2012 Chrysler 300S – Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler has officially announced that the company’s 2012 300S model will be the first of its products to carry a new eight-speed ZF transmission. We’ve been waiting to see the gearbox show up in a production vehicle since the smallest of the Big Three first made news about the transmission’s development last year, and it looks like the wait is finally over.

At first, the eight-speed will only be found in the new 300S with the company’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Check the boxes for all-wheel drive or the more impressive 5.7-liter V8 and it’ll be all five-speed, all the time for you.

Chrysler is currently in the midst of retooling its transmission facility in Kokomo, Indiana to build the new gearbox here in the States. Until that happens, each of the new cog-swappers will be purchased directly from ZF in Germany. Hence the limited availability.

In addition to the new transmission, the 300S packs a Beats by Dr. Dre ten-speaker stereo system and unique piano-black interior accents along with the standard goodies found in the Luxury Package. That means Nappa leather, a rear-view camera, rain-sensing wipers and a power tilt and telescoping steering column are all part of the deal. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

Gallery: 2012 Chrysler 300S: New York 2011

Gallery: 2012 Chrysler 300S

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading New York 2011: Chrysler 300S first to get new eight-speed transmission

New York 2011: Chrysler 300S first to get new eight-speed transmission originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: Chrysler’s new 300 SRT8 is a tuxedo-wearing thug

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, Chrysler

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 – Click above for high-res image gallery

We may have fallen all over the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 that debuted this past February at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, but if we’re honest, The Pentastar’s latest LX-platform creation – the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 – is the one we’d want to take home. In its previous generation, this car was one of our favorite guilty pleasures, and with all of the new enhancements made for the 2012 model year, the top-rung Hemi 300 is sure to impress.

Gone is the 6.1-liter V8 of yore, and a new, fire-breathing 6.4-liter Hemi engine has been fitted underhood. With 465 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque on tap, the 300 SRT8 will easily sprint to 60 miles per hour in under five seconds, and all that grunt is managed by a five-speed automatic transmission, now enhanced with paddle shifters. Not the most modern transmission, yes, but we’re sure the 300 SRT8 will still be a total hoot to drive.

The 2012 300 SRT8 has made its debut this week at the 2011 New York Auto Show next to its Grand Cherokee SRT8 cousin, and we invite you to click through a handful of high-res images live from the Javits Center in our gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8: New York 2011

Gallery: 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

Continue reading New York 2011: Chrysler’s new 300 SRT8 is a tuxedo-wearing thug

New York 2011: Chrysler’s new 300 SRT8 is a tuxedo-wearing thug originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 debuts with new 465-horsepower 6.4L V8

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, Chrysler

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 – Click above for high-res image gallery

The redesigned 2011 Chrysler 300 took a leap forward in refinement, but the large sedan’s makeover didn’t come with an SRT8 variant. No worries, though, because the all-new, more powerful and damn sharp-looking 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 is debuting today at the 2011 New York Auto Show.

There’s a lot to go over on this new 300 SRT8, but we wouldn’t waste a vowel before talking power. Gone is the 425-horsepower 6.1-liter Hemi V8, replaced with the the Pentastar’s new 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine that first appeared in the new Challenger SRT8 392. The new V8 produces 465 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, up 40 ponies and 45 lb-ft versus the outgoing engine. What’s more, that upgraded output is also more usable for 2012, as Chrysler tells us we can expect an additional 80 lb-ft of torque at 2,900 rpm, which translates into more thrust from a standstill. How much? Official estimates are 0-60 “in the high four-second range,” and a quarter-mile time of fewer than 13 seconds. The transmission of choice will be the carryover five-speed automatic, though paddle shifters will join the automatic to give drivers a couple options for gear selection.

Continue reading 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 ready to pounce…

Gallery: 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

Continue reading 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 debuts with new 465-horsepower 6.4L V8

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 debuts with new 465-horsepower 6.4L V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Chrysler 200 S and 200 S Convertible revealed ahead of New York

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Convertible, Sedan, Chrysler

2011 chrysler 200 s sedan and 200 s convertible

2011 Chrysler 200 S sedan and 200 S convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler is jumping the gun, so to speak, choosing to reveal two new family members ahead of the 2011 New York Auto Show. The 2011 Chrysler 200 S sedan and 2011 200 S convertible appear to be edgier than their non-S counterparts, which is because Chrysler has given them a shot in the styling arm, upping the visual appeal by a few degrees.

The 2011 200 S gets an S-specific Chrysler wing badge on the nose, body-colored side mirrors and door handles and a pair of headlamps with black backgrounds. Sitting underneath the fenders are four 18-inch aluminum wheels, which also all wear the S badge. Inside, the 200 S gets embroidered front headrests, heated leather front seats with suede inserts, suede door trim and a 276-watt Boston Acoustic audio system.

Under the hood, the 200 S gets the now-familiar 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, which is good for 283-horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an automatic transmission, the duo is good for 29 miles per gallon on the highway. The fixed-roof 200 S will set you back $26,790 while the drop-top costs $32,490. Both versions are expected to show up on dealer lots sometime this spring.

Be sure to check out the full press release posted after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 200 S sedan and 200 S convertible

2011 Chrysler 200 S sedan and convertible 2011 Chrysler 200 S convertible

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading 2011 Chrysler 200 S and 200 S Convertible revealed ahead of New York

2011 Chrysler 200 S and 200 S Convertible revealed ahead of New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 1963 Chrysler Turbine whirs into Jay Leno’s Garage

Filed under: Videos, Chrysler

Jay Leno’s Chrysler Turbine Car – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Chances are you’ve probably heard about the Chrysler Turbine cars of the 1960s, but we’re betting you don’t know anywhere near as much as Jay Leno. The late night talk show host and car nut picked up his own Turbine, and it is featured in the latest installment of Jay Leno’s Garage.

The post-jump video is nearly 25 minutes long, and after watching it you’ll ascend to Chrysler Turbine expert. We had no idea there were only 55 units ever produced, that it can run on tequila, the bodies were crafted in Italy or that the turbine engine sounds like… well, you’ll have to hear it for yourself. As an added bonus, Jay threw in a 1960s promotional video that illustrates just how the turbine engine works. Terrific history lesson, and you can see it for yourself by hitting the jump.

[Source: Jay Leno’s Garage]

Continue reading Video: 1963 Chrysler Turbine whirs into Jay Leno’s Garage

Video: 1963 Chrysler Turbine whirs into Jay Leno’s Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Fiat to up stake in Chrysler to 30 percent

Filed under: Chrysler, Earnings/Financials, Fiat

Fiat badged Dodge Journey

Fiat currently owns 25 percent of Chrysler, but that stake will reportedly jump to 30 percent in the next couple weeks. Automotive News reports that the Italian automaker is weeks away from satisfying additional requirements needed to bump the ownership stake by another five percent.

Unnamed sources claim that Fiat has already met a requirement that states that Chrysler receives $1.5 billion of its revenue outside of North America. The next step is to offer Chrysler vehicles to 90 percent of Fiat’s Latin American dealers. Fiat will reportedly meet that goal by rebadging Chrysler vehicles as Fiats at Latin American dealerships. One vehicle that will reportedly receive the rebadge treatment is the Dodge Journey, which will be built in Mexico and renamed the Fiat Freemont. Fiat currently holds the largest share of the emerging Brazil market, with a substantial 22.3 percent share.

Fiat will receive another five percent of Chrysler by building a Fiat-based product in the U.S. that hits 40 miles per gallon or better. If Fiat wants to increase its share to an absolute majority of 51 percent, the automaker will need to fork over $1.14 billion by the end of the year. If the automaker waits until 2012, that number will jump to $1.37 billion.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Fiat to up stake in Chrysler to 30 percent originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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