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New York 2011: Dodge’s new Avenger R/T stiffens up in the Big Apple

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Dodge

2012 dodge avenger r/t

2012 Dodge Avenger R/T – Click above for high-res image gallery

Dodge seems eager to inject a shot of sportiness into any model it can. The redesigned Avenger is a model that could certainly use the help, thus the 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T seen here. While we would love to see an SRT-tuned version of the sedan (or a better sedan entirely), the R/T touches are a good start.

Rather than focusing efforts on the 283-horsepower, 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, the engineers at Dodge have elected to fiddle with the suspension. Roll stiffness, strut damping and spring rates have been increased both front and rear, while the rear stabilizer bar has grown from 19-millimeters out to 21-millimeters.

In order to let you know you’re looking at an Avenger R/T, Dodge has added a signature decal across the front fenders, an R/T badge on the back, a rear spoiler and 18-inch painted-aluminum wheels. You can see the upgrades for yourself by strolling through the gallery below. Pricing has not yet been released, but the car will arrive in the third-quarter. Click past the jump for all the details in the full press release.

Gallery: 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T: New York 2011

Gallery: 2012 Avenger R/T

Continue reading New York 2011: Dodge’s new Avenger R/T stiffens up in the Big Apple

New York 2011: Dodge’s new Avenger R/T stiffens up in the Big Apple originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge Viper ACR breaks Miller Motorsports Park production car lap record [w/video]

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Dodge

Dodge Viper ACR at Miller Motorsports Park

Dodge Viper ACR at Miller Motorsports Park – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Dodge Viper ACR is no longer in production, but it remains one of the most impressive sports cars ever built as evidenced by a recent trip to Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. Dodge Motorsports brought a 2010 Viper ACR to the track along with road racer Kuno Wittmer, and the result was a record-smashing lap time of 1:59.995 – nearly four seconds faster than the previous record of 2:03.86 held by a Corvette ZR1 driven by Jan Magnussen.

This isn’t the first time the Viper ACR has broken a track record for a production car. In 2008, Dutch driver Tom Coronel piloted a Viper ACR to a record 7:22.1 lap time around the Nürburgring, and one year later, an SRT vehicle dynamics engineer broke the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca lap record with a time of 1:33.92.

You can read more about the Dodge Viper ACR’s lap record at Miller Motorsports Park as well as watch video footage of the car on track after the jump.

Gallery: Dodge Viper ACR at Miller Motorsports Park

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Dodge Viper ACR breaks Miller Motorsports Park production car lap record [w/video]

Dodge Viper ACR breaks Miller Motorsports Park production car lap record [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Dodge Challenger torched on assembly line due to unattended heat lamp?

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Dodge

Dodge Challenger assembly line fire

In March, Chrysler served up a smoking-hot 31 percent sales increase in compared to the same month in 2010. Unfortunately for the automaker, the “heat and serve” theme continued this week, as there were two stories about flaming Chrysler products Monday alone. First we told you about a Dodge Durango turned car-b-que in front of hundreds of onlookers at a Washington D.C. parade. Then came news that China has suspended importation of the Jeep Wrangler due to complaints of vehicle fires.

Now we have a photo of a Dodge Challenger (above) posted by Moparts forum poster Mccannix that allegedly went up in flames at the Brampton, Ontario assembly plant. There is no official cause for the fire, though as you can tell from the picture above the Challenger must have been really cooking.

One unsubstantiated report claims that a heat lamp got too close to some paperwork, which started the blaze. Even sadder is the fact that the high-end wheels tell us that we’re likely looking at a burnt SRT8. A moment of silence, please.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392: First Drive

2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392

[Source: Moparts via Jalopnik]

2011 Dodge Challenger torched on assembly line due to unattended heat lamp? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Dodge Charger R/T hits the dyno

Filed under: Sedan, Dodge

2011 dodge charger

2011 Dodge Charger – Click above for high-res image gallery

Lift the hood of a 2011 Dodge Charger R/T and you’ll find a powerful 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine bursting at the seams. It’s a joyous site that gets better when armed with the knowledge of the Hemi’s prodigious power – 370 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque, to be exact.

But just how accurate are those numbers? The folks over at Inside Line put the Charger R/T to the test on their dyno, and it appears Chrysler may be underplaying its hand. Tests by Inside Line show that the Charger R/T sends 360 hp to the rear wheels at 5,300 RPM, with torque peaking at 393 lb-ft at 4,260 RPM. When you consider that the average drivetrain accounts for a 10 to 15 percent power reduction before its all sent to the wheels, you’re looking at a powertrain with a lot more bite than the company brochure cares to admit. Head over to Inside Line to see the official horsepower and torque map.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Charger: First Drive

2011 Dodge Charger

[Source: Inside Line]

2011 Dodge Charger R/T hits the dyno originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lingenfelter unleashes supercharger package for the Dodge Challenger

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Dodge

Lingenfelter Dodge Challenger Supercharger Package

Lingenfelter Dodge Challenger Supercharger Package – Click above for high-res image

Do you own a 2008-2010 Dodge Challenger and now regret not waiting for the revamped 2011 models? There’s no need to worry, as Lingenfelter has just the prescription to make you feel better. The performance company normally known for making go-fast Chevys has turned its attention to Mopars, offering a supercharger package for the first-generation V8 Challengers.

The forced induction comes in the form of a Magnuson TVS2300 supercharger complete with a 160 degree thermostat, upgraded fuel injectors and a high-flow intake system. The package can be installed on both the 5.7- and 6.1-liter V8 engines. Lingenfelter says that its 6.1-liter test car put out 500 rear-wheel-horsepower and knocked out the quarter-mile in a hair over 12 seconds at 120 miles per hour – just fast enough to make the owner of a new Challenger SRT8 392 feel disheartened with his new purchase.

You can read more details about Lingenfelter’s supercharger package for the Dodge Challenger in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Lingenfelter]

Continue reading Lingenfelter unleashes supercharger package for the Dodge Challenger

Lingenfelter unleashes supercharger package for the Dodge Challenger originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ralph Gilles teaches Jay Leno about burnouts in 2011 Dodge Charger R/T

Filed under: Classics, Sedan, Performance, Videos, Dodge

Ralph Gilles does a burnout in a 2011 Dodge Charger R/T

Ralph Gilles does a burnout in a 2011 Dodge Charger R/T – Click above to watch video after the jump

Jay Leno recently got the chance to spend a little time with the 2011 Dodge Charger R/T and Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles stopped by to answer the funny man’s questions. If ever there was a guy who could accurately compare the Charger to its predecessors, Leno would be it. The man knows a thing or two about Mopar history and exactly what has made the original models so sought after to begin with. He’s also an unabashed Chrysler fan through and through, so it’s interesting to see his take on the newest iteration of the Charger legacy.

While we always enjoy the chance to listen to Gilles talk shop and Leno crack jokes, the best part of the clip is watching the Dodge CEO himself educate the comedian on how to properly execute a burnout with Hemi power at one’s command. Is there anything more enjoyable than a CEO behaving badly?

Probably not.

If you listen closely, you might even hear Gilles say that Chrysler is investigating whether or not to bolt a manual transmission into the Charger due to high interest. We like the sound of that action. Hit the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Jay Leno’s Garage]

Continue reading Video: Ralph Gilles teaches Jay Leno about burnouts in 2011 Dodge Charger R/T

Video: Ralph Gilles teaches Jay Leno about burnouts in 2011 Dodge Charger R/T originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World’s fastest Dodge Caravan for sale

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Minivan/Van, Dodge, Specialty

1989 Dodge Caravan

World’s fastest Dodge Caravan – Click above to watch the video after the jump

That’s right, the world’s fastest Dodge Caravan is being hawked to focus on other projects, and the seller has set a reasonable $6,500 selling price for the rolling novelty. The van started life in 1989, hauling the Joneses to soccer practice and Walmart. When current owner Ryan got ahold of it, though, its m.o. changed dramatically.

The minivan’s engine and transmission were treated to thorough performance rebuilds, and the Chrysler four-pot got some much-needed oomph via a turbo. All that work yielded a stock-looking Dodge Caravan that’s good for 11.5 seconds at 115 mph in the quarter mile, if you’re brave enough.

You can see the original listing for the van here. Click past the jump to see a video of this family hauler turned dragstrip nightmare.

[Source: 1A Auto via Jalopnik]

Continue reading World’s fastest Dodge Caravan for sale

World’s fastest Dodge Caravan for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Dodge Grand Caravan gets new $23,995 base MSRP, now least expensive minivan in U.S.

Filed under: Car Buying, Minivan/Van, Dodge

2011 Dodge Grand Caravan

2011 Dodge Grand Caravan – Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler has announced that the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan will get lob $1,000 off of its base MSRP, making it the least expensive minivan in the United States. This savings applies to the base Express model, which is now priced at $23,995, not including the $835 destination charge.

The slightly higher-grade Mainstreet model (no, the naming structure doesn’t make sense to us, either) also benefits from a bit of cost savings, taking $250 off of its base price. The mid-range minivan now wears a $25,745 sticker price.

Both the Dodge Grand Caravan and its Chrysler Town & Country twin were substantially refreshed for the 2011 model year. In addition to the higher-quality, more comfortable interior, both minivans now use the automaker’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, which produces 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. We still aren’t sure if either of the Chrysler vans are the best-in-segment players, but with a new ultra-low MSRP, the Grand Caravan should now be a bit more attractive to prospective buyers.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan

2011 Dodge Grand Caravan

[Source: Chrysler]

2011 Dodge Grand Caravan gets new $23,995 base MSRP, now least expensive minivan in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Dodge does walk around of new performance models, including Charger SRT8

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Sedan, Performance, Videos, Crossover, Dodge

Dodge Charger SRT8 Walk Around

Dodge Charger SRT8 Walk Around – Click above to watch video after the jump

Itching for a closer look at the new line of performance-oriented vehicles from Dodge but don’t want to brave the polyester-clad wolves at your local dealership? We have good news for you.

Dodge has been so kind as to turn out a handful of videos that focus on each and every one of the new muscle-bound pieces of hardware. The clips feature plenty of insight from Fred Deperez, head of Dodge marketing and David McDonald, the engineer responsible for crafting the luscious new Charger SRT8. The videos are rife with performance figures and long looks into the engine bay, and you even get to spend some time gawking at the vehicles’ interiors as well.

Dodge has dusted off videos for the Charger SRT8, Durango R/T and even the Grand Caravan R/T for your viewing pleasure. Hit the jump to check out the footage for yourself.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Dodge does walk around of new performance models, including Charger SRT8

Video: Dodge does walk around of new performance models, including Charger SRT8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Dodge Durango

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Dodge, Reviews

Finding Redemption Through Repetition, Groundhog Day Style

2012 Dodge Durango

2011 Dodge Durango – Click above for high-res image gallery

Two years ago, on a lark, my girlfriend and I clambered aboard a new Dodge Durango Hybrid and motored from Detroit to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to take in the kitschy phenomenon known as Groundhog Day. The idea was to do a combined road trip story and vehicle review, but Chrysler didn’t even wait for us to return home before it killed off production of the gas-electric SUV. In fact, it wasn’t much more than two months after its initial announcement that production was cancelled at the truck’s Delaware plant.

Blame Chrysler’s then-dire financial condition, but the hybrid Durango barely made a dent on the Pentastar’s production charts, lasting one model year and moving just 224 copies. Hold your belated “Who Killed the Electric SUV?” shrieks, though. Despite a nearly 25-percent increase in claimed fuel efficiency, the Durango Hybrid wasn’t a particularly good vehicle. This wasn’t wasn’t really its fault, of course, as the already aging second-generation Durango upon which it was based wasn’t a terribly refined piece to begin with.

Fast-forward to 2011, and we’ve commandeered an example of Dodge’s all-new third-generation Durango to make our second-ever pilgrimage to see Punxy Phil. More importantly, we’re using the trip as an opportunity to see if Chrysler has finally gotten around to building a better Durango.

Continue reading Review: 2011 Dodge Durango…

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango: Review

2011 Dodge Durango

Continue reading Review: 2011 Dodge Durango

Review: 2011 Dodge Durango originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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