Tag: dodge

Report: Chrysler extending production of current Dodge Avenger, Jeep Wrangler, Grand Caravan

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Sedan, SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Dodge, Jeep

2013 Dodge Avenger - front three-quarter view

Are you hesitant to pull the trigger on a brand new Dodge Avenger in hopes that a new one will be coming? Well, don’t hold your breath. According to The Detroit News, Chrysler will be extending production of the current Avenger sedan through the end of 2015.

Originally, we heard that the company would kill the Avenger to better focus its midsize sedan efforts on the Chrysler 200 replacement. But then new reports stated there would indeed be an Avenger successor, and that we could see it as early as next January. This Detroit News report cites supplier sources confirming the extension of Avenger production, though Chrysler has not released an official statement on the matter.

These same suppliers say that the current Jeep Wrangler will live on through mid-2018 – that’s right, another five years. The Detroit News reports that a replacement for the iconic, go-anywhere Jeep was due in mid-2016.

Lastly, the report mentions that the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan will remain in production through late 2017, though its Chrysler Town & Country counterpart will be replaced by an all-new vehicle for the 2016 model year. This only further backs reports that the Grand Caravan will be killed from the Chrysler Group portfolio, with the T&C remaining the only minivan in production at the company’s Windsor facility.

Chrysler extending production of current Dodge Avenger, Jeep Wrangler, Grand Caravan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jul 2013 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ralph Gilles responds to Dodge rumors, says brand is ‘here to stay’

Filed under: Dodge

This is why we love Ralph Gilles. While in Italy hanging out with a group of Viper Club members in Europe, the SRT boss took the time to respond to a question directed at him on Instagram in regards to the future of Dodge.

Recent reports have painted a bleak picture for Dodge, but Gilles defended Chrysler’s full-line brand by stating that the rumors are, “all rumors, Dodge is here to stay! It may get more focused going forward but not killed!” The idea of a “more focused” Dodge brand could lend some credibility to reports that the Grand Caravan and Durango are on their way out, which would leave Dodge solely as a car, or car-based, automaker.

Ralph Gilles responds to Dodge rumors, says brand is ‘here to stay’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next Chrysler minivan to be Town & Country only, fueling Dodge closure rumors

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Dodge

​2013 Chrysler Town & Country S - front three-quarter view

Recent reports have suggested that Chrysler may soon phase out its long-running Dodge brand, and while the company remains mum on the subject, you can’t blame analysts for thinking that’s the direction the Pentastar’s everyday brand is heading. After all, Chrysler has shown a willingness to shutter brands, having killed off Plymouth back in 2001, and it’s putting big dollars behind its bid to build Fiat into a North American force. Chrysler also recently took the step of spinning off its trucks into the stand-alone Ram brand and relocated its halo Viper supercar under the SRT banner.

Couple that with long-held gossip that the full-size Dodge Durango utility vehicle and the Avenger sedan are both living on borrowed time, and you’ve got a dwindling product portfolio. That would leave Dodge with the Dart compact (a model that isn’t selling particularly well), the Charger (which has a mechanical twin in the Chrysler 300) and the Challenger, which could be supplanted by a rumored Chrysler/SRT Cuda. On the people-mover front, Dodge offers the aging Journey and the Grand Caravan, which is the twin to the bigger-margin Chrysler Town & Country.

Stories for some time have pegged Chrysler as only moving forward with one minivan, though there has been some waffling as to whether the next-generation MPV would wear the Town & Country badge or that of the Grand Caravan. A new report out of Canada – where the vehicles are built – says that the winner in the sippy-cup derby is the next Chrysler Town & Country, which will carry a 2016 model year designation. In addition, sources report that T&C production at the Windsor Assembly Plant will be joined by an as-yet-unnamed large near-luxury crossover for 2017, another long-rumored model that could be similar in concept to the long-defunct Pacifica. The brand for this new model? You guessed it – Chrysler.

Next Chrysler minivan to be Town & Country only, fueling Dodge closure rumors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chrysler replaces Dodge Charger police car after ‘suspicious’ fire

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Chrysler, Dodge, Police/Emergency

Dodge Charger Patrol on Fire

Chrysler has agreed to replace a Dodge Charger Pursuit and all of the police gear inside for free after the vehicle mysteriously burnt to the ground. As you may recall, a Curry County, Oregon sheriff’s deputy saw his new cruiser (which had 6,000 miles on it) go crispy after stopping to assist in a search and rescue operation.

Patrick Combs, the rescuee, was found and taken to a local hospital by ambulance, but deputy Jared Gray’s new Charger Patrol didn’t survive the scene. The fire seemed to take hold in the passenger-side front wheel well and continued to reignite after fire crews extinguished the blaze.

There was one small caveat to the vehicle’s generous replacement, however. In exchange for the new set of wheels, the sheriff’s department had to agree to sign a non-disclosure, which means we may never know exactly what set the car ablaze.

As our friends at The J point out, no reports of toasty civilian Chargers have been made to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Chrysler replaces Dodge Charger police car after ‘suspicious’ fire originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 May 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge updates Attitude for Mexico with latest Hyundai Accent, forgets badges *UPDATE

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Dodge, Hyundai

2012 Dodge Attitude

What you’re looking at is not the 2012 Hyundai Accent, it’s the 2012 Dodge Attitude. Yes, we see the Hyundai badge. No, we aren’t kidding.

Dodge has, for quite some time now, sold a rebadged version of the Hyundai Accent in Mexico under the Attitude moniker. (Hyundai, as an automaker, is otherwise absent from the Mexican market). And while the previous-generation Attitude was simply a rebadged version of the old Accent sedan, it appears that the 2012 model doesn’t even go that far.

We got our first glimpse at the U.S.-spec Accent at the 2011 New York Auto Show earlier this year, and while our market will benefit from the functionality of the five-door hatchback configuration, the Dodge Attitude will only be available as a sedan. A 1.4-liter gasoline engine is standard, with a 1.6-liter powerplant available as an option.

Dodge N100UPDATE: Looks like the Accent isn’t the only Hyundai vehicle being given the Pentastar treatment in Mexico. The Korean automaker’s Starex van (known as the iLoad and iMax – seriously – in Australia) also wears a Dodge nameplate in Mexico, though like the Attitude, the Hyundai badges have remained intact. The Dodge H100 is available in both cargo van and passenger van configurations. (Hat tip to owenrec!)

Dodge updates Attitude for Mexico with latest Hyundai Accent, forgets badges *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 May 2011 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Africa gets Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition. Lucky them.

Filed under: Hatchback, Chrysler, Dodge

Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition for South Africa

Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

South African Chrysler fans has a new special edition vehicle coming their way. Described by Chrysler as a way to “satisfy the boy racer in all of us,” the Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition is a blacked-out hatchback rolling on 18-inch powdercoated alloy wheels.

Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s been juiced up courtesy of a cold-air induction kit and an upgraded manifold and exhaust system, and the mill is paired with a manual transmission. The Caliber Mopar Edition is dropped two inches, wears Mopar decals and gets a unique hood as well.

Priced at 259,990.00 Rand, the Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition will set you back a bit over $37,000 at current exchange rates. We understand that car cost is a hard thing to directly translate, and if you ditch the stripes it’s not half bad looking, but that’s still a ton of money for a tarted up Caliber… and it’s a far cry from the long-lost turbocharged SRT4. Check out the South African press release after the break.

Continue reading South Africa gets Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition. Lucky them.

South Africa gets Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition. Lucky them. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Bodyless Dodge Viper is the ultimate burnout machine

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Videos, Dodge

Dodge Viper doing a burnout

Bodyless Dodge Viper does perfect burnouts – Click above to watch video after the jump

Chrysler really should have sold the Dodge Viper without its body. We don’t really have anything against the slinking lines of the big snake, but there’s something about the vision of the V10 monster frolicking around with its skirt off that simply flips all the right switches. It’s like a post-pubescent Ariel Atom. If you recall seeing the awesome Viper-powered Saab 9-3 SportCombi built by Zatzy forum member mrspringer, you probably spent at least half a second wondering what fate befell the engine’s donor.

Well, wonder no more.

Mrspringer seemingly got a hold of the whole vehicle in running condition with one notable exception – it had no skin. Like any mad scientist worth his salt, the guy immediately set the rear tires spinning and the naked guts of the Viper pirouetting in a remarkably tight parking area. We applaud both his car control skills and his commitment to safety. Remember, kids, always wear your seatbelt. Hit the jump to check out the action for yourself.

Continue reading Bodyless Dodge Viper is the ultimate burnout machine

Bodyless Dodge Viper is the ultimate burnout machine originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 May 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jalen Rose offers up his 1969 Dodge Charger General Lee for charity

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Dodge, Celebrities, Specialty

jalen rose and his 1969 dodge charger general lee

Jalen Rose to auction of ’69 Dodge Charger General Lee – Click above for image gallery

Jalen Rose, former NBA player and member of Michigan’s Fab Five, is looking to help out a charitable organization founded in his name. It’s called the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, and it’s a preparatory school for students in grades 9-12, located in Detroit. The JRLA is slated to open in September of 2011, and 120 students will enter the halls as ninth graders. Rose has chosen to offer up his 1969 Dodge Charger General Lee at auction, and all of the proceeds will be put towards the new school.

Rose took the liberty of making a few changes to this particular car. The Confederate flag has been removed from the roof and the numbers on the doors have been changed to show “05” in honor of Rose’s playing number.

This is not simply a Dukes of Hazzard replica, however, as this Charger is one of the few surviving cars used during filming of the television show. Jalen Rose’s signature can be found under the hood, along with the John Hancock of Bo Duke himself, John Schneider.

The auction will get underway on May 23rd, and the car will be listed with an opening bid of $45,000. This is a no-reserve auction with the proceeds going to a good cause, so pegging the final hammer price is rather tricky. Head over to the eBay Motors listing for more information on both the car and Jalen Rose Leadership Academy.

Jalen Rose offers up his 1969 Dodge Charger General Lee for charity originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pennsylvania dealer loves Vanishing Point, creates Kowalski Edition Dodge Challenger

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Chrysler, Dodge

kowalski edition dodge challenger

As if you needed any reminder, in the 1971 film Vanishing Point, a character by the name of Kowalski is tasked with making it from Colorado to San Francisco in a 1970 Dodge Challenger. Kowalski bets a friend that he can make the run in just 15 hours, but – Spoiler Alert – he doesn’t make it… and neither does the muscle-bound coupe. The flick has been a cult favorite for years, and one of its fans, Bob Frederick of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, got some help from Chrysler to create 10 2011 Kowalski Edition Dodge Challengers.

Starting life as a traditional 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392, these white coupes have had their stripes removed and a handful of options added on. Inside, a pistol-grip shifter sits at attention and a numbered dash plaque is mounted nearby. On the outside, the Kowalski Edition Challengers sport Mopar quad exhaust tips, Scat Pack Bee decals in the rear quarter windows and a tasteful Kowalski Edition decal on the rear spoiler.

All 10 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Kowalski Edition cars have been spoken for, so if any owners are reading this and want their car delivered quickly, we can help set that up. We promise to avoid bulldozers and the fuzz.

[Source: Hemmings]

Pennsylvania dealer loves Vanishing Point, creates Kowalski Edition Dodge Challenger originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Dodge Charger leads the crusade against the robots

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chrysler, Dodge

dodge charger commercials screen shot

Time to take our cars back from the robots – Click above to watch video after the jump

Computers are constantly gaining a foothold on the everyday tasks that occur in our lives, but there are some tasks we simply hold too dear to let go. Or are there?

Jeopardy has gone the way of the robot and Google has shown that cars can be controlled without a human taking the wheel. Continuing down this path could lead to a future where the vehicles on the road are being piloted by robots or computers. Dodge doesn’t want to see that day come, and it sends a shot right across the bow of SkyNet’s patrolling warships.

In a new commercial for the 2011 Dodge Charger, we’re given a glimpse into a world where technology is done creeping. It’s everywhere, and it affects all portions of our daily routine. One man has had enough, and decides to take back control of his vehicle (the fascia of which bears an eerie resemblance to the latest Charger). Cut to a shot of present day, and Dodge proclaims that robots “will never take our cars.”

That’s right, Dodge. Fight the evil robot overlords. Click past the jump to check out the clip.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Dodge Charger leads the crusade against the robots

Video: Dodge Charger leads the crusade against the robots originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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