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2011 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 earn Top Safety Pick awards

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Chrysler, Dodge

2011 Dodge Charger crash test

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

It’s no secret that the 2011 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 are more attractive and are substantially more refined than the models they replace. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the new LX-platform twins are also incredibly safe, too – earning the company’s prestigious Top Safety Pick designation for the first time ever.

To note, the last-generation Charger and 300 earned the second-lowest rating available in side impact protection, even when equipped with side-curtain airbags. Yikes. On the other hand, the 2011 Charger withstood a force equal to 5.37 times the car’s weight during the roof strength test (for rollover protection). The current federal standard for this test is 1.5 times the car’s weight.

Chrysler has now earned seven Top Safety Pick ratings for its latest crop of 2011 vehicles. To read the press release about the Charger and 300’s earnings, follow the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Charger: First Drive

2011 Dodge Charger

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Continue reading 2011 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 earn Top Safety Pick awards

2011 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 earn Top Safety Pick awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gilles: Next Dodge Viper inspired by a “naked woman on the beach.” Aren’t we all?

2010 Dodge Viper Final Edition Roadster, ACR and Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Dodge Viper has always been an impressive looking vehicle, but its muscled lines haven’t ever been what we’d call feminine. That may change with the next-generation version of the Snake. Ralph Gilles, head of Chrysler design and the Dodge brand, says that the look of the next Dodge Viper will be inspired by “a naked woman on the beach.”

Sorry, but we’re having a hard time coming up with a witty quip after that one (well, other than the one in the headline).

Gilles made the announcement while speaking with reporters at the Automotive News World Conference, and while the revelation about the vehicle’s design inspiration was a big highlight, he also announced that the next Viper would take dead aim at stealing buyers away from both the Porsche brand and the Chevrolet Corvette. That’s especially true when it comes to the crowd of younger buyers – guys and girls under 45.

The next-generation Viper is set to debut in 2013, and while that gives Dodge plenty of time to get the car right, we don’t expect either Porsche or Chevrolet to sit back and allow the Viper to play catch up. Suddenly we’re very excited to see what the sports car world looks like in two years.

Gallery: 2010 Dodge Viper Final Edition

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Gilles: Next Dodge Viper inspired by a “naked woman on the beach.” Aren’t we all? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Marchionne admits Dodge Nitro “needs to be replaced”

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Fiat

Dodge Nitro Detonator – Click above for high-res image gallery

Some might argue that the Dodge Nitro was ready for replacement, oh, about the day after it was first released back in 2006. If that’s the case, then Dodge’s midsize sport utility vehicle is certainly well past its sell-by date now that our calendars tell us we’re sitting in 2011.

Apparently, nobody knows that truth better than Chrysler chief Sergio Marchionne, who told reporters at the Detroit Auto Show that the Nitro and its platform mate, the Jeep Liberty, are “the most significant hole in our product portfolio.”

Noting that “it needs to be replaced,” Marchionne suggested that a decision on a replacement for the Pentastar’s uncompetitive midsize ‘ute platform will be made in the next 40 days… though there’s no indication whether that replacement will come from Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler or one of the other brands currently under the Fiat umbrella.

We also can’t yet say whether the new SUV will be built at the Toledo North Assembly Plant like the current Nitro and Liberty, or whether Chrysler will use Fiat’s C-Evo architecture as initially speculated.

Gallery: Dodge Nitro Detonator

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Marchionne admits Dodge Nitro “needs to be replaced” originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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16-Person Dodge VanKat is a blizzard of awesome

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Etc., Dodge, Ford, Off-Road

The Vancat

The Vancat – Click above for high-res image gallery

Traversing snow-covered terrain can be tricky and if you need carry a dozen passengers, your options become quite limited quite quickly. Peak Snow Adventures of Northern Idaho has come up with a solution and it’s called the Vancat.

A hybrid we can get excited about, the Vancat has a whole lot of everything going on. Starting with a full-size Dodge Ram van body mounted on a Thiokol chassis, the Vancat is propelled by a 391 Ford V8 engine and power is routed to a set of German-made Hans Hall aluminum tracks.

The Vancat can seat 16 passengers along with everyone’s snow gear, and if that wasn’t enough, the roof has been chopped up and turned into a canopy so your snowbunny passengers can enjoy the scenery. The Vancat is currently for sale with a reduced (and apparently negotiable) asking price of $30,000.

Gallery: The Vancat

The Vancat

[Source: Peak Snow Cats via Bring-A-Trailer]

16-Person Dodge VanKat is a blizzard of awesome originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler to let you build your own Dodge Ram Runner

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Truck, Dodge, Specialty, Off-Road

Ram Runner

2011 Ram Runner – Click above for high-res image gallery

Attention Mopar fans: If you are tired of your Blue Oval counterparts flaunting the desert-crushing ability of their new F-150 SVT Raptor, Chrysler has something to share with you. The company is now offering a Ram Runner conversion kit for the Ram Trucks 1500.

If you’ve got the cash lying around, you can bolt enough pieces to your pickup to embarrass the FoMoCo bird of prey over open sand. In order to go full-out, you’ll need $13,270 for the Stage 2 suspension kit that includes the same three-inch diameter internal-bypass Fox Racing shocks used in the Raptor, aluminum A-arms and a mighty lift. The whole shebang is good for around 14 inches of suspension travel.

Don’t put away that checkbook just yet. Chrysler is offering up everything from a slick tube bumper, fiberglass fenders front and rear, a unique hood, cold-air intake system and a special exhaust. Each of those pieces carries a price tag of around $1,000 or more with the exception of the cold-air intake. That little guy goes for a more manageable $466.

All told, if you wrap in the $29,075 it would take to bring home a Ram 1500 ST Quad Cab four-wheel drive, you’re looking at a final price tag of $49,554. A figure like that might just be enough to convert a few Dodge fans to the way of the Raptor. Hit the jump for the press release.

Gallery: SEMA 2010: Ram Runner

Ram Runner

Gallery: 2011 Ram Runner

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler to let you build your own Dodge Ram Runner

Chrysler to let you build your own Dodge Ram Runner originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2011 Dodge Charger R/T and Challenger SRT8 392 make more power than expected

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Chrysler, Dodge

2011 Dodge Charger R/T and Challenger SRT8 392

2011 Dodge Charger R/T and Challenger SRT8 392 – Click above to watch the video after the break

As part of its Hemi Highway Tour, a country-wide tour that started in November of 2010 and just recently came to its end, Dodge decided to stop and spend some quality time with the boys and girls from National Speed in Wilmington, NC. Though that company’s main purpose is modifying high-performance machinery to make even more power, Dodge decided to put a couple of its brand new 2011 models on their dyno to see what kind of power could be had right off the showroom floor.

As a preface to the actual dyno results, you should know that Ralph Gilles, Dodge Car Brand President and CEO, claims that a bone-stock 2011 Challenger SRT8 392 ran the quarter-mile at Infineon Dragway in just 12.44 seconds at 110 miles per hour. That, boys and girls, is seriously fast. And those figures are backed up by the data spat out by the computers hooked to National Speed’s dyno.

Without further ado, the numbers: The 2011 Dodge Charger R/T put down 327 horsepower at the rear wheels and 349 pound-feet of torque. For a car rated at 368 horses and 395 lb-ft, that’s quite good. Remember, the dyno measures power after it’s already gone through the transmission and through the wheels to the ground, which saps around 15 percent of total power.

And now on to the big guns. The 2011 Challenger SRT8 392 was measured at 420 rear-wheel horsepower and 419 lb-ft of torque. Also impressive when stacked up against its factory ratings of 470 ponies and pound-feet. Even more interesting, these same machines put down ever more power just a few days later on a different dyno, though still below the 452 horses obtained by the scribes at Inside Line. Enough talking already. Check out the video after the break. Thanks for the tip, Norm!

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392: First Drive

2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392

[Source: Red Letter Dodge]

Continue reading Video: 2011 Dodge Charger R/T and Challenger SRT8 392 make more power than expected

Video: 2011 Dodge Charger R/T and Challenger SRT8 392 make more power than expected originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge recalls 2008-2011 Ram 4500, 5500 pickups over potential steering loss

Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Safety, Work, Chrysler, Dodge

Dodge Ram 4500

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Chrysler is recalling model year 2008-2011 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 Heavy Duty trucks. The culprit is apparently the left ball stud on the tie rod that could weaken and potentially fracture, which could result in a loss of steering control.

As NHTSA plainly states, “loss of steering control of the vehicle could increase the risk of a crash.” And that’s a bad thing. Directions on contacting Chrysler or NHTSA can be found after the break, and, of course, the automaker will be fixing affected models free of charge.

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Continue reading Dodge recalls 2008-2011 Ram 4500, 5500 pickups over potential steering loss

Dodge recalls 2008-2011 Ram 4500, 5500 pickups over potential steering loss originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Dodge Journey to be rebadged a Fiat in Europe

Filed under: Crossover, Dodge, Fiat

2011 Dodge Journey

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

The Dodge Journey has been given a much-needed makeover for 2011, with a new V6 and a significantly improved interior. That’s good news for Dodge dealers here in the States, but according to Autoweek it isn’t such a great deal for Dodge dealerships overseas.

That’s because the Journey will no longer be sold with the Ram badge, as Sergio Marchionne and company have reportedly decided it would fare better as a Fiat-branded crossover. The CUV will reportedly be given the Freemont moniker, and it will be the first Chrysler-based vehicle to be given a Fiat engine – a diesel in this case. The 2.0-liter oilburner is capable of 170 horsepower – 30 more than the VW-sourced diesel currently employed in the Journey overseas.

The move to sell the Journey as a Fiat may also make sense given Fiat’s massive 5,000 store retail network. If Fiat dealers can surpass the meager sales of the Journey, it could help Chrysler increase output at the Toluca, Mexico plant where the CUV is built along side the Fiat 500. AW claims the Freemont will be unveiled in Geneva, with sales beginning in June 2011.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Journey: Quick Spin

2011 Dodge Journey

[Source: Auto Week]

Report: Dodge Journey to be rebadged a Fiat in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Dodge planning Super Bowl commercial, major ad blitz

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Dodge

2011 Dodge Magnum

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

After years of nearly zero new products, Dodge dealers finally have something to crow about. The 2011 Dodge Journey, Charger, Durango, Avenger and Caravan are all hitting showrooms within a month or two of one another, giving dealers new products just as the auto industry is showing signs of recovery. But how does Dodge get the message across?

Automotive News reports that the marque is prepping a major ad push during the first quarter of 2011, including a return to the Super Bowl. Dodge brand CEO Ralph Gilles reportedly notified dealers that the automaker plans to flood tier one with promotions, with heavy local ads dependent upon sales volume. Gilles is telling dealers about the company’s marketing plans in part because he hopes dealers will order more vehicles. The CEO points out that early Durango and Charger orders are very strong, but other new products are lagging behind.

A flood of ads is just part of Dodge’s plan to increase showroom traffic. The automaker is also working with Automotive Lease Guide to help maximize residual values. Higher residuals means more affordable lease prices and an improved brand reputation, but Dodge will need to resist the urge to dump its new products into fleets for the plan to work. Dodge is currently leasing only five percent of its vehicles; well below the industry average.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango

2011 Dodge Durango

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Dodge planning Super Bowl commercial, major ad blitz originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 18:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge announces 3/36 no-cost maintenance on select Durango and Journey models

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Chrysler, Dodge

Dodge Durango Citadel

Dodge Durango Citadel at SEMA 2010 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler has unveiled a new no-cost maintenance program for certain Dodge Journey and Durango models. Buyers who opt for the Durango Citadel or the Journey Lux will be treated to free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles that includes oil and oil filter changes every three months or 3,000 miles as well as scheduled and recommended maintenance at 6,000 mile intervals. The program also throws in $1,000 worth of trip-interruption coverage, towing and roadside assistance up to $100 and $35/per day car rental should you get into an accident. All told, Chrysler says that the program has a retail value of around $1,100.

We’re guessing that no-cost maintenance is an effort to lure buyers to deeper ends of the Durango and Journey option pools. Of course, knowing that you won’t have to shell out a dime for routine work on your vehicle is likely to be a big selling point when either the newly reworked crossovers are lined up against their competitors. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: SEMA 2010: Dodge Durango Citadel “Black and Tan”

Dodge Durango Citadel

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Dodge announces 3/36 no-cost maintenance on select Durango and Journey models

Dodge announces 3/36 no-cost maintenance on select Durango and Journey models originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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