The legendary Dodge dealer and tuner Mr. Norm has fully unveiled its pair of bad-to-the-bone Challengers, aptly named the Super Challenger and Super Cuda.
They are based on the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8, and first graced the public at the 2008 SEMA Show. Mr. Norm's Super Challenger gets its stunning looks from the original 1971 Mr. Norm Super Challenger Super Fuel Funny Car, while the Cuda is obviously meant to look like the classic 1970 Plymouth AAR Barracuda.
Only a couple of days after the New New, New Chrysler started building Vipers again, the company has announced that it will restart production at seven of its other North American assembly plants beginning the week of June 29, 2009.
To the relief of customers who demand engines and bodies on their cars, the company also noted that the powertrain and stamping facilities that supply these plants will also resume operations.
Chrysler will shortly thereafter close the plants for for two weeks as part of its previously announced two-week Summer Break (the weeks of July 13 and 20).
Which plants will get their on-switch fingered? Make the jump for the full list.
Now that Chrysler has emerged from bankruptcy, it can finally resume production at the numerous plants it idled weeks ago. And which plant did it decide to fire up first? That would be the Conner Ave. assembly plant that produces the Dodge Viper.
It only employs 115 people, so maybe Chrysler figured it should start small. According to the article in the Wall Street Journal, Chrysler still expects to end production of the high-end sportscar by the end of the year.
Mustangs and Challengers in the Nationwide Series next year? That's what Fox Sports is reporting. According to Lee Spencer, when the Car of Tomorrow debuts in NASCAR's second-tier series next year, it will include the Dodge and Ford pony car designs.
"Ten-fold better than a Cup car," a NASCAR official said of the designs, which must be submitted for approval by June 26 according to the NASCAR Rule Book.
Spencer also noted a conspicuous absence of talk about the Camaro, a possible consequence of GM's financial condition. Toyota is also stuck without a coupe, so it will most likely continue with its Camry sedan.
Clearly, the move is designed to bring back fans who grew bored with the cookie cutter designs of today's Sprint Cup cars, but the "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" mantra may not have the draw even with the new designs.
International forecasting firm IHS Global Insight has released a detailed report on how it thinks the Chrysler/Fiat alliance will shake out over the new few years.
According to a Chrysler representative, only one measly offer of $5.5M was submitted for the Viper business prior to yesterday's sale of Chrysler to Fiat. The low-ball offer didn't sway bankruptcy judge Arthur Gonzales who promptly transferred all of the Viper assets to Fiat along with the rest of Chrysler.
Does this mean the Viper will live on? Don't get your hopes up. Fiat will most likely spruce up the business and sell it at a later date once more investor money starts getting tossed around.
If you have never driven on a race track, you should. If your skills are weak, track time will make them better. And if you think you're an undiscovered Tony Stewart, well then, get out there and prove it. The list that follows after the jump gives some ideas where you might try your luck both on the road and in the dirt.
Ah, the shaker hood scoop. Short of running no hood at all, it's one of the best ways to stay in touch your beloved V8 from behind the wheel. It's a rare factory option these days, but of course, the aftermarket has stepped in to make it happen.
In this case, it's Cervini Auto Designs of Vineland, New Jersey. The company figured the new Dodge Challenger would look good with a shaker scoop and it was right. Available for any V8-powered Challenger, the kit includes an all-new fiberglass hood, shaker scoop and a 9-inch K&N air filter. The starts at $1,600 for an unpainted hood and will be available in mid-July.
Here's your chance to score that Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 you've been dying to see in your garage. Terminated Chrysler dealers are clearing out their remaining inventory and very often taking a bath in the process.
Chances are you're not going to find any SRT8s laying around, but Ram trucks, minivans and Wranglers should be available. Don't bother insulting the dealers with ridiculous low-ball offers though, they're not under that much pressure.
As Chrysler's "quick-rinse" bankruptcy progresses, all sorts of nagging little issues are bound to pop out of the woodwork. For instance, what do you think might happen if Chrysler bought your vehicle back under your state's lemon law and you try to go deposit your payout check?
For several buyers in California, the answer is that check's going to bounce, the Los Angeles Times reported today.
Financial claims made before the automaker sought Chapter 11 protection on April 30 can only be paid out with approval of the bankruptcy judge, and says the Times, "Chrysler has not asked for permission to make payments on lemon law complaints."
So what recourse do you have? File a proof of claim with the bankruptcy court and join the long line of unsecured creditors hoping to collect.
As expected, the 789 rejected Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealerships are not going down without putting up some kind of fight.
Automotive News is reporting that the national dealer group has filed a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court asking that all legal protections (read: state franchise laws) the dealers would have outside of bankruptcy court be honored here.
A judge will hear the case on June 4, just 5 days before Chrysler announce it would end operations at the affected dealers. Notably, says AN, Chrysler would not buy back the remaining vehicle inventory and parts at the rejected dealerships, but would merely steer those owners toward surviving dealers that might wish to purchase it.
Chrysler has released a 40-page document with names and addresses of the 789 dealers who will lose their franchise agreements by June 9. If you want to know who those dealers are, download the pdf file below.
"Subject to Court approval, 2,392 Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge dealers will continue with the new company in a global alliance with Fiat once the sale is complete," Chrysler announced in a press release.
Automotive News is reporting that each dealer on the list will get a UPS letter today and will have 23 days for a "court review" of its case.
Chrysler says it will honor warranty and incentive payments for as long as the rejected dealers remain in business. These 789 dealers represent 14 percent of the Chrysler's sales volume, the company said.
We stumbled upon this Dodge Challenger R/T project car on some sort of advertising microsite for Popular Mechanics. At first the Eco + Muscle Challenger, as it's called, looks like a pretty straightforward albeit incredibly lavish project car. Its creators have swapped out the intake, exhaust, headers, filters and spark plugs, and done an ECU retune. They've put on a shorter final drive, replaced the entire suspension, and fitted Brembo brakes and, shall we say, understated 20-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 rubber. And custom paint. No big deal. Sure.
Oh, and there's a nitrous system, so this Challenger apparently laid down a 4-second 0-60 and a 13.4 quarter-mile at 114 mph. Stock Challenger R/Ts, like our long-termer, run about 5.5 and 13.9 at 103 mph.
And here's where the Eco + Muscle Challenger takes a turn for the are you freaking insane. A separate electric drivetrain has been added to this car. That means a rear-drive, brushless DC electric motor (the kind used on production hybrid cars) that weighs all of 89 pounds. Plus, there's a battery pack -- as in a cache of 28 car batteries (albeit deluxo Exide batteries) residing in the space formerly known as the backseat. Plus, there's a fuel cell! And dual throttle control!
Follow the jump for priceless video footage of the Eco + Muscle Challenger accelerating from a standstill in both gas and electric mode.
Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we present "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.
Nothing like running numbers on the least track-worthy vehicle this side of a John Deere combine. At just over 8 feet high, the Dodge Sprinter looks more like a civilian UPS truck than something you should consider driving on a daily basis. But drive one and you'll be pleasantly surprised at its competence.
You see, the Dodge Sprinter is essentially a rebadged Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle. It has a turbocharged diesel V6 and an interior you might recognize if you've ever been in a late-'80s E-Class. It mixes MacPherson struts up front with a solid axle in back, and the brakes use discs at each corner. None of it is exactly cutting-edge, but it's not a farm implement either.
In fact, the Sprinter was faster through the slalom than the last Mercedes-Benz G550 we tested. It also stops shorter from 60 mph than a Honda Pilot. Its diesel engine doesn't do it any favors when it comes to acceleration, but it does give the Sprinter a 5,000-pound tow rating. Oh, and by the way, it also seats 12. Numbers after the jump.
With news that Chrysler will most likely shutter its Sterling Heights, Michigan assembly plant as part of its bankruptcy proceedings, the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger appeared headed for extinction.
According to Chrysler spokesman Rick Deneau, however, there are still plans in place to build both models after the plant closes in 2010.
"We definitely have plans for these vehicles beyond December 2010," Deneau told Inside Line. "That's about all I can tell you, but it's pretty definitive."
Bankruptcy documents submitted in court yesterday don't bode well for vehicles like the Dodge Viper and even the Jeep Wrangler. Problems trying to offload the Viper business have been discussed for months now, but the new documents also point out the difficulty of trying to sell Jeep as a separate brand. One consultant estimates it would take as much as $1B to restart a product as a stand alone brand.
Contrary to what you might see on the nightly news, Americans do not despise pickup trucks these days. In fact, they still buy them in huge numbers, quite possibly because they need them, or maybe just want them.
The ability to tow large things is one of the most often cited reasons for owning a truck, so we gathered four of the best half-ton crew cabs currently available and headed for the desert with trailers in tow. The players consisted of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado, 2009 Dodge Ram, 2009 Ford F-150 and a 2008 Toyota Tundra.
The premise was simple: find out which truck is a true jack of all trades. Dan Edmunds, our Director of Vehicle Testing, not only conducted an array of instrumented tow tests, he also let the trucks loose in the dirt for some off road fun. He also track tested each truck and lived with them for two weeks on his daily 100-mile round trip commute. Care to guess which truck came out on top?
It's been the big dog on the auto show circuit for awhile now, but some behind-the-scenes political fighting threatens to derail the Detroit Auto Show altogether. Daniel Howes details the issues in his latest column for the Detroit News and it's not pretty.
It begs the question: Does anybody still care? With so much bad blood surrounding the Big Three and their respective financial issues, is Detroit still enough of a draw to lure the world's major manufacturers to a show in Michigan in the dead of winter?
We strapped our new Challenger R/T to a local dyno to find out what it's really putting to the rear wheels. Turned out to be a very solid number for a very solid muscle coupe.
It wasn't all bad news, though, as the half-Canadian/half-Italian CEO noted that if the deal does happen, Fiat would likely build its iconic Cinquecento hatchback in a North American plant along with the Alfa Romeo 149 sedan.
More importantly, Marchionne said that Chrysler could build its own small car on the Cinquecento's platform. "Chrysler needs its own Cinquecento, meaning a model that is the remaking of Chrysler," he said.
So what do you think, could Chrysler build an iconic small car for the U.S. market?
The Chrysler/Fiat hookup just got a little more complicated. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne told a Canandian newspaper that without additional concessions from both the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and the United Auto Workers (UAW) there will be no deal between Chrysler and Fiat.
According to Marchionne, without those concessions the deal won't make financial sense for Fiat. Many in Europe think it's already a flawed merger that will fail to add much value to Fiat no matter how the unions renegotiate.
The Obama administration gave Chrysler until the end of April to make a deal with Fiat. So in other words, if the unions don't budge, Chrysler is toast.
The 2009 Formula Drift season opened in Long Beach over the weekend. Ryan Tuerck, 23, took first place in his Gardella Racing Solstice coupe. He was joined on the podium by second-place finisher Samuel Hubinette (Dodge Viper) and third-place Tanner Foust (Scion tC).
We all know that Nissan's next full-size pickup will use a Dodge Ram chassis and Hemi V8, but the name of the truck has been a well-kept secret. Rumors of a name change have run rampant, but today Inside Line has learned that the Titan name will live on.
According to Nissan's Senior VP of Sales and Marketing Brian Carolin, the company's future Dodge-based pickup will be called Titan when it hits dealers in 2011. "It will be called Titan, and our dealers are looking forward to the truck," Carolin told us on the floor of the New York auto show. "Their only concern about the vehicle is the future of Chrysler."-- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
Remember Chrysler's ENVI lineup of electric vehicles? They seemed a little farfetched when they were first introduced, but Chrysler has been cranking away trying to make them a reality. The company is one step closer today as it officially announced a battery contract with supplier A123 Systems.
According to the release, "Chrysler LLC and A123Systems have signed an agreement stating that A123Systems will supply energy storage systems for Chrysler's first-generation ENVI Range-extended Electric Vehicles and battery only Electric Vehicles. A123Systems is an American battery supplier with plans for a Michigan-based production facility.
Note that A123 "plans" to have a Michigan-based plant that will produce the advanced Nanophosphate Lithium ion prismatic battery cells for Chrysler's ENVI vehicles. Like much of Chrysler's future, this whole ENVI thing is a big "if" pending the company's bailout by the federal government.
It's no secret that the Dodge Challenger SE could use a little help in the performance department. With its lowly four-speed transmission, the base Challenger struggles to put its 250-horsepower to the ground with much authority.
The Challenger SE Rallye edition that debuted today at the Spring Festival of LXs marks the introduction of a little help. From now on all Challenger SE models will get the same five-speed automatic transmission used in the V8 models. Chrysler didn't give any acceleration estimates, instead it took the politically correct route and noted that the extra gear helps the new-and-improved SE deliver 25mpg on the highway.
In addition to the new transmission, the SE Rallye also features several cosmetic enhancements. The 18-inch, black-accented wheels are standard along with dual hood and deck lid stripes. There's also a body-color spoiler, chrome fuel door and "Micro Carbon" interior accents. The SE Rallye package will begin production next month with a base price of $26,490 including destination.
Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we're introducing a new feature on Straightline called "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.
So yesterday we showed you how the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro V6 stacks up against the Hyundai Genesis V6. Not exactly your typical foes, but as the numbers showed, a surprisingly even matchup.
Today it's a more traditional fight, Chevy versus Dodge. A classic rivalry maybe, but let's face it, the Dodge is a little overmatched here. What used to be considered adequate power for a V6 has now been rendered, well, just adequate.
The sizes of their engines only vary by a tenth of a liter, but the Camaro's 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 out muscles the Dodge's 3.5-liter V6 by 54 horses. Add in the Challenger's extra 100 pounds of weight and four-speed automatic and it never really had a chance.
Ah yes, the comparison test years in the making is finally here.
The debut of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS was the final piece of the puzzle. Together with the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T and 2010 Ford Mustang GT, these three cars represent American muscle at its finest - and fastest ever.
Of course, in the end, only one could come out on top. Was it Chevrolet, Dodge or Ford? See for yourself in our latest comparison test.
Yes, the muscle car war is in full effect, and now we own a piece of it. Specifically, a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T. We just added it to our long-term fleet after dropping $34,600 at the local Dodge dealer.
So far the big, black Mopar feels pretty solid. It's comfortable, rides nicer than we remember and looks great on the road. We got a six-speed manual, naturally, and that pistol grip shifter feels as good as it looks.
Of course, the big question now is how it stacks up to the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. You can read what we think of that car tomorrow at 3pm. For more on the Challenger, check out our long-term blog.
Spotted this modified Challenger parked on an L.A. street last night. So what do you think, should Dodge offer a widebody version of the Challenger to accommodate bigger rubber in back?
What's a day without a Camaro post? No fun at all, so we present this impromptu weigh-in of the latest crop of muscle car re-creations.
As expected, the Camaro falls right in the middle on the scales just above the Mustang and below the Challegner. Factor in the Camaro's across the board power advantage and it looks like it should lay down the quickest numbers of this trio. Right?
The Hurst/Hemi Challenger was an oasis of taste in a sea of tackiness at last year's SEMA show. Decked out in traditional Hurst livery, the modified white Challenger boasted over 600-horsepower from its supercharged Hemi V8.
Now that the Hurst Performance Center is open in Irvine,CA you can order a similar Challenger for yourself. The company offers five stages of tune for the Challenger in addition to the 50th Anniversary Hurst/Viper, a limited-edition model finished in matte gold paint. You know, to get you noticed.
Will it be much of a fight? On paper it doesn't look like it, but as Scott Oldham, Editor in Chief of Inside Line, points out in our latest road test, this Mustang is already faster than the Dodge and should hold its own against the Camaro.
This of course leads to a bigger question: Does anybody care? Are big muscle coupes like these destined to linger on dealer lots as buyers save their money for more practical purchases?
Or maybe it's the other way around. Maybe these retro-themed muscle cars will remind Americans why the Big Three are worth saving.
Yes, a small glimmer of optimism from the Chrysler camp.
In an interview with AutoObserver, Chrysler CEO Jim Press said that the media should focus on month-to-month sales numbers instead of year-over-year stats. "In February, every day we exceeded our internal targets (of 6,000 vehicles sold a day)," he said.
Press also noted that a little extra government funding and a complete deal with Fiat would help considerably. "If we get funded, we're viable and can continue to invest in future," Press said. "If we get the relationship with Fiat, we'll go from viable to being in really good shape."
Key members of the Presidential Task Force on Autos will be visiting Detroit today. On the agenda: driving the Volt and visiting a Dodge plant that builds Ram trucks.
Why? Because spending 15 minutes behind the wheel of an early prototype and talking to three autoworkers will give you all the insight you need to fix a multi-billion dollar global industry, that's why.
Or maybe the task force members are just trying to give it the old college try before they announce measures that could kill both the Volt and Ram truck production.
We don't envy the task force members one bit. A recent poll says just 32% of Americans have a favorable opinion of General Motors. Chrysler didn't fare much better with a 33% favorability rating.
With such meager support, is there anything the task force can do that won't be met with opposition?
Chrysler is the first automaker that comes to mind as the most likely casualty of the car industry collapse. But the company probably is not first to mind for most as a technology innovator -- and its stalwart but stodgy minivans may not be considered the pinnacle of tech.
Yet the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT we recently tested (sticker $37,880) is loaded with top-shelf in-cabin tech that makes any trip more comfortable, convenient and entertaining whether it's across town or cross-country.
In addition to the amatuerish photoshop manipulations of the upcoming Chrysler 300 and Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler LLC also included the above proposed product plan with its submission to the U.S. Treasury yesterday.
The biggest take-away from the document is how heavily Chrysler anticipates relying on Fiat products to fill out its future lineup. There are at least six new products the company plans to base off of Fiat underpinnings, from a small hatchback to a mid-size sedan and a compact SUV. In fact, the only products designed by what we traditionally think of as Chrysler are full-size pickup trucks and SUVs, full-size sedans and MPVs.
HOG Butcher for the World, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler; Stormy, husky, brawling, City of the Big Shoulders
That's how Carl Sandburg described Chicago in 1916. What ol' Carl didn't know was that Dodge would make it the City of Enormous, Chromey Front Grilles with the introduction of the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty models, which, it may be revealed, are husky and purported to be quite the freight handlers as well.
No talk of extended-range electric anything today at the Dodge stand. No, the Heavy Duty, available in 2500, 3500, 4500 and even 5500 forms, runs (primarily) on diesel fuel and ground-up Fiat 500s.
Dodge says that the 2010 model has a prettier interior, a modified suspension for better ride and a Crew Cab model. And, who could forget, Dodge also constructed some of the biggest grilles and side mirrors in the history of mankind. The big draw for most commercial truckers or those with monstrous things to tow is the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-6, though, that is basically carryover for the new truck and makes 350 horsepower and a whopping 650 lb-ft of torque. Naturally, a Hemi V8 is also available.
We're guessing, based solely on his headwear, that the guy pictured with the truck below is a fan.
With sponsorship money getting tight and manufacturer support looking more questionable by the week, NASCAR needs to do something drastic to maintain its popularity.
Here's one idea: Have the domestics switch to Camaros, Challengers and Mustangs instead of their current crop of "sedans".
Everyone knows that stock cars have drifted away from their production roots, so why not make them a little bit more like real cars?
Happened to be driving by Budget of Beverly Hills, CA, today and spotted this 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T. You can rent it. For $149.99 per day. That gives you an allowance of 150 miles/day (anything beyond that costs 43 cents/mile).
If this sounds like a lot of money, bear in mind that you can also rent a Mercedes-Benz E350 for $179.99 per day, a Porsche Cayman (Tiptronic) for $369.99 per day, a Maserati Quattroporte for $895.00 per day or a Bentley Continental GT for $1,599.99 per day. However, you can get a BMW 128i coupe for just $99.99 per day.
We called Budget and learned that this location only has this one Inferno Red Dodge Challenger R/T. And, yes, it has the five-speed automatic transmission.
In the coming days you will be hearing much -- possibly too much -- about the Fiat Group's lineup of cars. The alliance between Chrysler and Fiat Group should open the American market to a flood of new small cars, both branded as Chryslers and Dodges but also, one would hope, Fiats, Alfa-Romeos and a couple of others.
We'll spare you the dissertation on the global implications of the Punto -- at least for now. No, now is the time where we provide our wish list of Fiat Group products. What follows is based on no particular market reality nor any other form of reality, other than the one projected from our heads.
First a note: The Fiat Group includes Ferrari and Maserati in its holdings. Those brands already have a presence in the American market. You can safely assume the cars from those two rate high on our wish list under any circumstances.
Join us, will you, after the jump for a few more we'd like to see on our highways.
You may have already seen the sales totals for December, and 2008 as a whole. If not, here's a summary: not good. For a more detailed look, check out the industry wide 2008 sales analysis over at AutoObserver.
We assembled something a little different though. Instead of assessing the big picture, we looked at the sales numbers for individual models. Which new models flopped, which old models recovered, that sort of thing. Some of the results we expected, others were a little more eye opening. See for yourself after the jump.
So it's not going to be a banner year for the home team at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors are about as beat down as major industrial giants can get, but this is a chance for each company to convince the public that there's still some life in the Motor City.
Well this seemed almost inevitable. After watching Tesla and Chrysler suck up all the glory for electric cars that are basically Lotuses with batteries, the British sportscar builder has announced that it plans to build an electric car of its own. In a report in yesterday's Financial Times, Lotus CEO Michael Kimberley said, "Don't be surprised to see an electric Lotus shortly."
You know that second coming of the muscle car war we've been talking about for years now? Well, come this spring it's finally on. The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, 2010 Ford Mustang and 2009 Dodge Challenger will all be available on dealer lots, and the three models detailed after the jump represent the most potent versions of each. Looks like Ford will have the edge initially, but if things start looking up for Chevy and Dodge, a more potent SRT8 or Camaro Z28 could arrive later in 2009.
Don't know if anyone else picked up on this F-150 pickup styling cue: Look at the grille. With those horizontal slab bars, I see 1948 Ford F-1 written all over it.
I like that. I've always been big on mining one's own heritage whenever possible, and that's just what Ford did here. Not only did they do that that, but they did a good job of it. The front is--as is the rest of the truck--very handsome indeed.
I also like some of the Super-Duty-inspired options; like the dash-integrated electronic trailer brake controller, and the tailgate step assist and the fold-up rear fender side step. I also like the absolutely flat rear cab floor on the Super Crew model. I like that stuff because they make sense, and make the truck easier to use as a "tool." For me, that far more important than the styling. The fact that it's easy on the eyes, is just frosting on the cake.
Now Ford needs to offer a Dodge Rambox-like rear fender storage compartment. I'd also like to see them offer, at least as on option (or as part of a premium trim package), a beefed up IRS adapted from its Expedition cousin. Then, in my eyes, it would be about perfect.
Anything I don't like about the new F-150? Yep--way too many trim levels being offered; seven, I believe. That's nuts! They need to cut that way back. In doing so, it'll save Ford a bunch of dollars, I'm sure.
Speaking of saving bucks--I think Ford should consider going back to using one cab body for all their full size trucks. That would mean having the Super-Duty trucks use the same cab/body as the F-150. It works for Dodge and GM (up to 3500 models); it can work for Ford too. Having two completely different full size pickups, that share very little in terms of body and interior components, has to be very VERY expensive.
Strange--and not a good sign. The all-new Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram 1500 pickups actually tested a bit worse than last year's models, in terms of NHTSA rollover testing; at least that was true for 4WD models.
Speaking of rollovers... Weak roof pillars have also long been an issue of severe criticism with pickups and SUVs. Have these new trucks improved in that area? Don't know.
Despite the fact that Dodge may not be around (as we currently know it) this time next year, Chrysler LLC has affirmed that there will be a Dodge that the Ram 1500 diesel and hybrid. That's good news. The question is will Dodge still be part of Chrysler LLC? Many auto pundants are saying that, even with a bridge rescue loan, Chrysler won't survive. It just doesn't have the global presence that both GM and Ford have, and the feeling that worldwide support will be necessary to survive these tough times. So, while it's expected that the Dodge truck division will survive, who will own it? Nissan? The next-gen Titan is known to be essentionally a rebadged Ram; so if I were a betting man, that would be my guess.
As to the Ram 1500 diesel, it will be an all-new V-type engine, designed more for fuel economy than for heavy-duty towing. It's ecpected to be about 5.0L in size.
The hybrid version's powertrain will likely come from the recently discontinued Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen hybrids, and is expected to arrive before the new diesel.
Ford and GM may have paired up down in the nation's capitol, but in the showrooms they're going at it as if there's no tomorrow--hey, maybe there won't be a tomorrow for one or both! At any rate, the new Mustang base model starts at $21,845, whereas the base Camaro starts at $22,995.
It also just undercuts the new Dodge Challenger, which starts at $21,995. Winner Ford.
One can on only assume, based on the model name of NV2500, that it stands for Nissan Van, and that it's a 3/4-ton vehicle. Anyone following this blog knows that Nissan will be entering the light commercial truck market, and one vehicle is expected to be a van.
Frankly I'm a bit puzzled by what I see here. To me this looks too much like the old-school Detroit-styled vans (low roof and big snout), rather than like the far more modern Euro-school vans, such as the Mercedes/Dodge/Freightliner Sprinter.
Mike Levine over at PickupTrucks.com (here) dug a little deeper, and discovered that Nissan has trademarked a few other names, further supporting the thinking that "NV" likely indicates "Nissan Van." There's a "NV1500" and "NV3500" suggesting that there will also be 1/2-ton and 1-ton versions. In addition Nissan has trademarked "NP" models, indicating "Nissan Pickup." In fact they trademarked names running from NP1500 to NP5500.
In what is the first of many expected product discontinuations, Chrysler has announced that the just-introduced Chrysler Aspen hybrid and Dodge Durango hybrid will join the ranks of the just-axed. It's a result of the news of the Delaware plant closing, where these models are made.
While not a huge surprise, this plant closing comes a full year ahead of the planned closing of this factory. And again, you can thank the horrid financial and auto market for this.
Michelle Krebs, the Grand Godess of AutoObserver. has really outdone herself here, with a really excellent report on what might happen if this GM-Chrysler deal comes to pass.
Also rather revealing, is the listing of the various Chrysler products and the vehicles that are cross-shopped against them. Good stuff!
Some in the industry are saying that this could happen, and if so, could be a good thing. We're talking about the Dodge Ram 1500, Durango and Dakota here. Interesting, however, the Dodge Ram HD models may not be part of this deal should it occur. That leaves you with the obvious question: what happens to these trucks?
We already know the Next Nissan Titan will be Ram 1500-based. The Detroit News report here suggests that the next Armada might be Durango-based, but there's no mention of what might happen with the Dakota. Will the next Nissan Frontier be Dakota-based? Don't know. Also being reported, if this comes to pass, is that the next Infiniti QX56 might be based off the (not imported) Nissan Patrol.
As to the fate of HD Rams, this is another question mark. A future HD Nissan Titan will likely come from the new commercial-duty Nissan platform, which Nissan already has plans for.
Are truckmakers having second thoughts about 1/2-ton diesels? We heard recently that Toyota will not introduce their long-anticipated Tundra diesel (No diesel for Tundra? A-BAT hybrid?). Now word is out that Ford is taking a wait-and-see approach as to whether they will introduce an F-150 diesel.
So far there's been no word here as to whether Dodge will also be putting the brakes on their 1/2-ton Ram diesel. My guess, knowing Dodge, that they will go forward with their plans, but that's just a gut feeling on my part, with nothing to back it up.
So what's going on here? Is it that the truck market is so uncertain these days, that offering a diesel in this segment just too risky?
If you live in France and want to drive some serious American muscle, I've found your candy store. It's called American Car City and I stumbled upon its booth about an hour ago. How could anybody miss it? Mustangs. Challengers. Hummers. American Car City has them all. According to their catalog, they can also sell you any Chevy, Ford or Dodge truck, any Cadillac or new Corvette you desire. Even a Ford GT is ready for purchase, and it looks like they're taking orders on Camaros.
See, the French aren't so bad. At least the ones who are into le muscle. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
Not sure what Carmen Electra brings to this, but the other folks have some credibility with gearheads.
From the press release:"Speed Channel is celebrating the rebirth of this legend as it features the All-new Dodge Challenger in the ultimate episode of Test Drive. Not only is Challenger the star of the show, but it shares the stage with fellow stars including Tonight Show host and world-renowned car collector Jay Leno, NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, four time NHRA World Champion driver Gary Scelzi, and Hollywood actress and American muscle enthusiast Carmen Electra. These famous personalities accompany host Tommy Kendall as they travel to striking locations such as the El Mirage Dry Lake Bed in the Mojave Desert, Jay Leno's Garage and Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, CA, and on the track at Virginia International Raceway. This is a show you don't want to miss!Tune-in to Speed Channel on Saturday, September 27 at 6:30pm Eastern to catch the premiere!Check it out here for upcoming show times and a sneak peak preview!"
The Detroit Free Press is reporting that a German magazine stated that Daimler would like to unload the remaining shares of Chrysler LLC that it now owns. When Cerberus took over the automaker, Daimler held on to almost 20% of the company.
It was also reported that Daimler would likely not lose money on this transaction, and that it could be completed within a few weeks. So far there's been no comment from either company on this deal.
Chrysler LLC has pulled a fast one here folks. They've just announced that they will enter the electric car race with three new EVs. And it appears they may be the first to the starting line.
Dodge EV
Quite likely the coolest of the bunch, as this all-electric sports car is based on a Lotus chassis. Yep, you read that right. In doing so Chrysler announced a new partnership with Lotus. The 200-kilowater motor produces 268 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, shooting the lightweight sports car from zero to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds. Chrysler claims its top speed is 120 mph plus. Equipped with an advanced lithium-ion battery, its range is 150-200 miles.
Chrysler Town & Country EV and Jeep Wrangler EV
Both of these are an extended-range electric vehicles.
All of the vehicles are being developed by a relatively new group at Chrysler known as ENVI (for environmental), an in-house organization charged with advancing electric drive and related advanced propulsion technologies. Chrysler has just launched a new Web site here promoting them.
One of these three will go into production in 2010. As to which one that will be? Chrysler is not saying just yet. In any event, it looks like the Tesla sports car and the Chevy Volt will have some competition, either directly or indirectly. Even if they don't compete head-to-head, they certainly will compete for headlines.
It's no secret that round two of the diesel wars is about to begin. Round two you ask?
Yep, that's the one in which the full-size 1/2-ton trucks will be the combatants. It's believed that GM and Toyota will be offering 4.5L V8 diesels, and Ford will have a 4.4L V8 diesel. It is also assumed that Dodge would offer a new smaller Cummins diesel for their new Ram 1500.
Now it is revealed, via an under-the-hood sticker found on the new Ram, that the new small diesel will displace 5.0 liters, making it a half liter bigger than the competition. Hey, it's all about braggin' rights when it comes to trucks, right?
Mike Levine, of PickupTruck.com, and who posted this story, thinks this new diesel will also be a V8 and not a straight six like the larger 6.7L unit found in Dodge HD pickups. Expect this new small diesel to show up for the 2010 model year.
You've heard it before. The vehicles we drive are a reflection of who we are, and what we stand for for. In short: we are what we drive.
Newsweek, in keeping with the political climate, has ascribed various vehicles to the presidential candidates. They are:
McCain = Old F-150 Obama = Prius
No call on the veep vehicular choices, but the obvious selection for Palin is a (Plymouth) Barracuda. Biden? Not sure. Maybe a new pick-em-up, like a Ram perhaps (since Chrysler has a large presence in DE)?
For me it's a no-brainer: Jeep Liberty all the way.
I never understood the Nitro. Oh, it's kinda cool looking, but it clearly steps on the Liberty's toes in the marketplace. Besides, it doesn't even offer a low-range 4WD! What kind of "Ruf-N'-Ready" SUV is that? It's got all of the traditional SUV disadvantages, yet it's is missing the most essential of all traditional SUV advantages--that being good off-road ability. It should never have been made in the first place. Ax it--and the sooner the better!
Depending on which side of the fence you're on, this is either good news or lousy news. Me? I'm on the "lousy" side of the fence.
Okay, I guess I was wearing my "naive" cap on this one, as I was really hoping that--some how--some way--that Nissan and Dodge would find a way to keep the excellent 5.6L Nissan V8; but it ain't gonna happen. Way too expensive, so I've been told, to retro-fit the Nissan engine into the Dodge half-ton.
So the next Titan (are they even going to keep that name?) will follow the long-established pattern of being a 100-percent badge-engineered product. I don't know about anyone else, but I see this as having FAILURE being written all over it.
Why you may ask? Because I have yet to find a badge-engineered vehicle that I would want to own. Nope, not a one--and I don't expect this next Nissan truck to be any different. Nor have I seen any badge-engineered vehicles be really kick-ass successful. Granted, GMC has done pretty well, but it's always played second fiddle to the Chevy counterpart--and its future is very much up in the air. Nissan will get some sales. I don't, however, see this truck as ever being anything more than a bit player.
And if by chance I do find myself liking it--I'd buy the Dodge version instead, assuming I was in the market for a truck. I'd simply rather reward the guys who did all the real work here, and not reward the truck maker that bailed and took the easy way out. I suspect I'm not alone in feeling this way.
This actually could be good news, as originally there had been rumors that Chrysler would ax the Viper. So now we have this news that the Viper could survive--if some other company would be interested in buying it; and of course, if the price is right to both parties. Let's hope that's the case.
In a perfect world, the Viper would remain a Chrysler product. In a slightly less perfect world, it would be bought by an American company (perhaps Shelby?). If push-comes-to-shove, I think most gearheads would prefer to see the Viper continue--even if
it's owned by some huge Mid-East, Indian or other foreign
conglomerate--than to have it go down the tubes.
As most of you know by now, the all-new Dodge Ram has a coil rear suspension, which replaces the traditional leaf rear suspension found on most tucks. As such, this new Ram will be studied very closely by truck buyers, many of whom think this is a bad idea. This thinking is best summed up by Scott Burgess of The Detroit News, who states:
New suspension a slam dunk But the ride may make a bigger difference. Compared to the competition, the ride is smoother. Instead of sticking with leaf springs in the back, Dodge gambled with a multilink coil spring rear suspension.
You need to understand that pickup owners are much like the vending machines at The News: They don't handle change very well. Switching the truck's rear suspension is a monumental shift. Richter scales in India may have picked up the move by Dodge.
I couldn't have said it better.
Mike Levine of PickupTruck.com has also driven the new truck, and he too is quite impressed with the new Dodge and its new rear suspension.
As to how does it compare with other 1/2-tons? While not quite class-leading, it matches or exceeds the outgoing '08 Ram in terms of work capability, meaning payload and towing. The big question is: Will truck buyers agree? My guess--after the expected initial grumbling--yes.
No doubt we can add Ford, Toyota and Nissan to this list too; but for now we have news on what GM and Dodge are up to.
GM
First off, beside offering hybrid pickups, GM will offering a high-mileage versions of the 2WD 1/2-tons. Known as "XFE" models (as in eXtra Fuel Economy), these are vehicles using well proven technology, as they employ lots of gears (6) and a tall 3.08 rear axle ratio. The 5.3L V8 as also been tweaked somewhat.
On the hybrid front, word has it that these models have been pushed back to the first half of next year for release.
For Dodge it's a good-news-bad-news situation. The good news is that they have priced the '09 Ram lower than the '08 model, and have given it more standard features than a comparable '08 model.
The bad news is that they have priced the '09 Ram lower than the '08
model, and have given it more standard features than a comparable '08
model. That mean any remaining '08s on dealer lots are going to be hard to move once the '09 models start arriving.
Edmunds Strategies for Smart Car Buyers has a really useful bit of info here. Did you know that dealers are still making money selling those full-size trucks at half price? It's probably true, or close to true, for other former high-profit vehicles as well.
Every now and then I stop by Hemming Auto Blogs to see what's going on with old cars. Today I saw an entry on vintage Canadian cars, more specifically on Canadian Fords and Mercurys.
For those too young to remember, beginning back in 1946 and running through the 1960s Fords and Mercurys sold in Canada were badged differently than those here in the USA. I believe Lincolns were the same on both sides of the border, however.
A Canadian Ford was called a Meteor. Canadian Mercurys were called Monarchs and Canadian Ford trucks were sold as Mercury trucks. Not only was the badging different but so too was the styling. Ford was not alone here as GM and Chrysler also had their own Canadian-specific models.
For those who can afford it, it looks like 2009 could be a great year to buy a truck. Truckmakers are cutting prices on these former cash cows to the core, and financing deals are sure to abound. ...And speaking of financing deals, Dodge will be offering the all-new 2009 Ram 1500 with 6-year, 0-percent financing.
Now the only catch here is: Can you afford it--or more apt, can you afford to drive such a vehicle? If you can, then great. If you can't, well then, too bad...
With the super-high diesel prices, customers of diesel pickups are turning their backs on them. Instead they are going back to gas-powered versions.
Diesel's have consistently run at 70 percent or better, for General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC. It was even better at Chrysler, as they sold close to 90 percent diesels for the Ram Heavy Duty.
Not so any more, as in May, the percent of Ford Super Duty Pickups diesels dropped to 51 percent. That time last year, the Super Duty diesels were selling at 71 percent.
From January-to-May Chrysler's Ram, diesel-engine share reached a high point of 88 percent in 2006, and was 87 percent in 2007. Now for the same period this year, diesel-engine sales for Ram Heavy Duty are down to 82 percent, while overall Ram Heavy Duty sales are off by 38 percent.
Test mules in the auto industry are an every day affair. It's the way business gets done. Now using a vehicle from another brand as a test mule, well, that's another thing all together.
Motor Authority is reporting that Tesla may be using Dodge Magnums as test mules for their upcoming hybrid Model S sedan (Tesla electric sedan to be built in California). Now if you're wondering why, consider that Tesla doesn't have a sedan of their own to use as a test mule. So using a Magnum, or a vehicle from any other car maker, is the only way for them to go.
How's a unibody replacement for the Dakota grab you? Or a BOF Jeep pickup? There's even a smaller pickup than the Dakota being studied. Yep, there's also a Ram hybrid in the works too, as well as a 1/2-ton diesel. Those are just some of the plans Chrysler LLC has in store down the road.
Also expect to see an integrated trailer brake controller for the new Ram 1500 next spring. This will also go into the completely redesigned 2010 HD Rams.
If you're left scratching you head as to why the Dakota replacement is going unibody, consider that the Honda Ridgeline, with similar construction, is outselling the current Dakota so far this year.
Once again rumors of a Chrysler LLC sale have surfaced. An annual study of the U.S. automotive product pipeline says Chrysler's lack of future product plans is an indication of a near-future breakup or sale by the automaker's majority-owner, Cerberus Capital Management.
"Chrysler's product pipeline severely lags the industry on a number of key metrics, which is an ominous sign for its market share," Merrill Lynch's recently issued Car Wars report said. "We believe that this is an active decision by new owners to rationalize the product portfolio in advance of a breakup/sale."
The above image that was taken at a recent Chrysler press event at the Chelsea Proving Grounds displaying 2009 models...
Mike Levine of PickupTruck.com and the the folks at Autoblog had some fun recently at a Dodge Ram press event, with Mike trying to stuff himself into a Dodge Ram's RamBox. The oh-so-skinny Mr. Levine was probably just a-bit-too-tall to pull this off, but let's give Mike an "A" for effort. Hmmm...
Well, it was going to happen sooner or later. The question was who was going to be first to offer wireless Internet, and it looks like that will be Chrysler.
The first question that will come to many is how can this be safe? I mean surfing the Net while driving?..
Chrysler's Red Letter Dodge blog is reporting that comedian Jay Leno's own 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 will be making a guest appearance on TheTonight Showwith Jay Leno today, Monday, June 16.
What are the chances he'll be laying down a little gratuitous rubber in the studio parking lot?
There's nothing much that can be done, as these vehicles were designed and planned for when truck sales were booming. Now the truck market is tanking and both Ford and Dodge have all-new 1/2-ton models that are about debut in one of the toughest truck markets ever seen. What's their chances of success? Is there anything that Ford and Dodge can do to, short of giving them away, to help these models succeed this fall when they arrive at dealers?
Well, at least some Chrysler executives "get it," as a memo on just how bad their Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Nitro somehow found their way outside the hallowed halls of Chrysler's executive offices.
Bob Lee, who heads Chrysler's Powertrain Engineering for Dodge and Chrysler noted that we “missed where the market was to end up versus our projections.” Lee went on to say that Chrysler underestimated what their competitors would be offering and missed the mark in terms of interior quality, ride, fuel efficiency and NVH. These are items many Chrysler enthusiasts have also criticized in both the Sebring and Nitro.
“As a result of these embarrassing ‘misses,’ there are extremely aggressive actions being taken on many of the existing products—and also the yet to be introduced products to get us at least to the middle of the competitive pack in very short order,” Lee wrote...
A new Dodge Challenger SRT8 was examined by U.S. border patrol agents, causing an hour backup at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. It seems the border patrol could care less about the driver, Canada CEO Reid Bigland, but was solely interested in the cool new car.
In the latest incentive to move vehicles off dealer lots, Chrysler has introduced their "Let's Refuel America" plan, in which Chrysler will pay for part of your fuels for the next three years.
They will lock in a price of $2.99 for that time span. That's what you the customer will pay. Anything over that Chrysler picks up the tab...
Recently Straightline confirmed that the next Titan and Dodge Ram are going to be kiss'n cousins. Now we have some more info on that model, as well as some new info on the yet-to-be-seen HD Nissan pickup.
As to the Titan, the doors and roof panels will be shared by the Titan. Other exterior body panels will be unique...
While Honda and others are reaping the benefits from selling loads of smaller cars, the makers of big trucks an SUVs are taking it it on the chin. In it's latest move GM will cutting one shift in all four of their factories that make full-size pickups and SUVs. The cuts will occur at Pontiac, Flint, MI; Janesville, Wis; and Oshawa, Ontario.
States GM North America President Troy Clarke: “With rising fuel prices, a softening economy and a downward trend on current and future market demand for full-sized trucks, a significant adjustment was needed to align our production with market realities.”
PickupTruck.com has a story up on how the upcoming 2009 Dodge Ram came to be. I find these kinds of stories fascinating because of my interest in both vehicles and design. As you would expect it shows many preliminary design studies and goes into the thinking behind what they did and why they did it.
Looks like the rumors have proved true. The next Nissan Titan will be built by Dodge in their Saltillo, Mexico plant.
No word yet on the specifics, but it's safe to assume it will be merely a Dodge Ram with Nissan styling cues. Think Nissan Frontier/ Suzuki Equador, and you pretty much have the picture...
We found ourselves minivanless, so we added a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan to our long-term fleet.
We opted for the SXT version with the 251-horsepower 4.0 SOHC V6.
It's loaded with goodies like Swivel 'n Go seating, second/third-row removable/stowable table, three-zone A/C, and much, much more including Inferno Red paint.
"We're creating a new global American car company that does one thing well," said Chrysler Vice Chairman and President Jim Press to the gathering at the Dodge stand. "It puts customers first."
Statements like that always sound good, but the company's effort to drive the point home during the unveiling of the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T and SE felt a bit forced.
GM had to shut their Pontiac, MI truck assembly plant due to the strike at American Axle. The plant builds full-size SUVs and pickup for Chevy and GMC.
Not only is the strike hurting GM, but it could soon affect Chrysler as well, as they also supply parts for Dodge trucks.
“It is unfortunate that a market-competitive labor agreement for American Axle’s original U.S...
In somewhat of a surprise, Dodge pilot Ryan Newman wins this year's 500, with his Penske Racing teammate Kurt Busch coming in second. For quite a while it looked like Joe Gibbs Racing driver (and Toyota driver no less!) Kyle Busch was going to take the honors, as he lead for much of the race.
“It was special for me. We’ve tried for many years, but never actually executed...
"This could be the last hurrah for the Challenger," states Chrysler's Trevor Creed, the man responsible for the Challenger's resurrection, told Scott Burgess, of The Detroit News, during the Detroit auto show.
"The definition of muscle car changes," says GM's Troy Clarke at the Chicago Auto Show. "I think that the most popular version of the Camaro will in fact be the V-6 version and that the concept of the muscle car will probably evolve into a really fun-to-drive, stylish vehicle as opposed to something that just breathes fire and has more cubic inches than the next guy."
Creed, Troy and others in the industry think the day of the muscle car is about to end. What we see now on the roads, and what's coming out shortly, may be the last of the breed, as government fuel regulations, high fuel prices, changing consumer tastes and political pressure may spell the end for these much loved vehicles...
Some of the possible Chrysler product cuts are easy to understand. Who would miss the Jeep Compass, Dodge Nitro, or any number of others potentially on the chopping block?
But what about the Dodge Viper? According to Jalopnik (here), a decision has been made, and if that's true, its days may well be numbered. Now why on earth would they do that, you ask?..
Chrysler's latest corrective action, called "Project Genesis" is in a nutshell, a plan to cut even more models and to consolidate even more dealers.
The details have yet to emerge, but it's safe to say that badge-engineered vehicles, slow sellers, and vehicles that don't fit the brand image are at risk of being dropped. The word is they want to cut the products offered in half, from 30 models to 15 models, and each with a clearly defined market slot and with no model overlaps.
Also, they want more (if not all) dealers to be selling all three Chrysler LLC brands, that being Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler...
Eco-truck fans can rejoice as AutoObserver is reporting that the newly redesigned Dodge Ram will be getting a Cummins diesel in 2009 and a hybrid version in 2010. The hybrid will be the 2-mode hybrid technology that was co-developed with GM, BMW, Chrysler and Daimler.
It's still a bit unclear at this point, but I'm assuming that Dodge is referring to the Ram 1500 here, as 1/2-ton diesels (and hybrids) are the "Next Big Thing" on the horizon.
We have a new image of the soon-to-be-released Dodge Challenger, and as you can see, it doesn't stray far from the show concept car. The taillights and exhaust tips have been tweaked slightly. There's also a new small rear lip spoiler with an SRT8 badge. Other than that, at least from this angle, it seems to remain true to the original concept...
Chrysler's Jim Press is absolutely right. In fact I'll go one step further: I think there's an emerging market for "real" trucks that are "very small." To date, or at least within the last couple of decades, most of the small trucks we've seen here have been basically "play things," with very little emphasis on the "work" aspect.
What I'm talking about, for lack of a better term, are Euro-style small trucks. These are vehicles that are small in size, yet big in work capability...
Not long after the government announced the upcoming and much tougher corporate fuel standards, GM announced that their Northstar V8 was terminal. Now the latest casualty is the Chrysler Hemi engine, as it too will have its life cut short thanks to these new government-mandated fuel regulations.
Why wait for the Chicago auto show when you can see the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 now? Caught outside Chrysler’s Auburn Hills technical center, this production spec Challenger shows off all the details we’ve seen in the teaser shots. It’s also the first time we’ve seen the stock Challenger in anything but orange. Who would have thought it would look so good in silver?
Chrysler apparently used up its full allotment of fun yesterday when it herded a bunch of longhorns in front of Cobo Hall. And so we were greeted today by possibly the most lifeless press conference we've seen from Chrysler in a good long time. Even Chrysler didn't seem excited about the three concept cars it showed today. None of them have even the remotest shot at production...
Everyone showed up at the Dodge press conference this morning. Several boisterous Tesla employees sat behind us. Even Dieter Zetsche made an appearance.
Yes, when grown adults show up to watch four dozen steers wander down Detroit's Washington Boulevard, intermittently sniffing each other and relieving themselves, something is right with the world. Herding the livestock were several authentic-looking cowhands and, of course, a red 2009 Dodge Ram.
"The Ram is one of our most important products," Bob Nardelli, Chrysler CEO, told the crowd. "The 2009 Dodge Ram portrays the bold new attitude of our strong and durable company."
Two of the great things about Detroit are that a) the traffic's not bad and b) rarely if ever does it smell like a barnyard. Except on the eve of the 2008 Detroit Auto Show I was stuck in traffic caused by a string of police-escorted trailer trucks packed with steer, heading downtown in preparation for their appearance at the reveal of Dodge's new Ram. We're serious here. But more on that tomorrow...
The competition for OnStar type services is really heating up. Ford's Sync system has already added features like accident notificaiton and remote diagnostics. Now, Hughes Telematics is confirming details of their system which will be included on many 2009 Mercedes Benz vehicles.
The Hughes system is by far the most comprehensive and includes these features: emergency crash notification, hands free calling, maintenance reminders, recall notification, red light camera alerts, roadside assistance, real time traffic, remote emissions reporting, stolen vehicle locator, turn by turn directions, vehicle tracking, plus news, weather, gas and streaming media...
Saturday I did blog entry about the next Nissan Titan being possibly Dodge-sourced (Will the next Nissan Titan get "Rammed?"). There is now important new information on that story. Rather than just update the previous blog, I felt this news was worthy enough to warrant its own entry.
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PickupTruck.com (here), via Newsweek (here), is now reporting that Carlos Ghosn is hinting at possibly dropping the Nissan Titan because of slowing sales!
"Ghosn stresses Nissan's recent success with small cars, and hints he may kill the slow-selling Titan pickup (though Nissan officials say there are no such plans yet)...
Latest word on the street is that Nissan and Chrysler might be doing some "collaborative" projects together. First and foremost being that Nissan might be looking to Dodge for some help with the next-generation Titan pickup. Now we know that Nissan just inked a deal with Suzuki that will give the "Zook" brand a Frontier pickup (Nissan Will Build Suzuki's New Midsize Pickup and Chicago Auto Show preview: Suzuki Equator pickup), but with a big "S" logo on the grille, so I guess a deal with Chrysler shouldn't be that great of a surprise.
Now as much as I like the all-new Ram (at least from what I've seen so far), I'd be quite wary about this, if true...
Found this image first over at Chrysler Weblog and shortly thereafter over at PickupTruck.comhere, and it's now up on other sites as well. It originally made its way on to the Net via DodgeTalk.com. Since nothing is known about the image, there has been some question as to whether it is real or Photoshopped.
My gut says it's real—in fact I'm willing to bet my first-born on it, as it pretty much agrees with everything that I've read to date about the new Ram...
No, the picture above is not it, but rather a Suzuki Grand Vitara-based concept that Suzuki showed in Tokyo a few years ago.
Anyway, Suzuki is going to show a new pickup at the Chicago Auto Show, and it's expected to wear the Equator name tag.
It had been long rumored that Suzuki partnered with Nissan to do a pickup, and it was to be spun off the Frontier. Now as many folks here know I'm no fan of badge-engineered vehicles; never have been, never will be...
Latest word on the all-new '09 Dodge Ram is that the 1500 Ram will be getting a coil spring rear suspension in place of the traditional truck-like leaf spring rear suspension. It's believed the HD Ram models will stay with the tried-and-true leaf suspension.
The benefits of a rear coil suspension are a better ride, better handling, and it will virtually eliminate rear axle hop. Dodge is reporting that payloads and towing will not suffer with this transition...
Here's a couple of items to keep you thinking motor vehicles in between the feasting and football games:
It seems a Flex-fuel Ford F-150 delivered a couple of very lucky turkeys to the White House, to be pardoned by the Prez.
And...
Five Chrysler products topped Forbes 2007 Automotive Turkeys list (here). They are: The Chrysler Sebring, the Dodge Nitro, the Jeep Liberty, the Dodge Caliber and Dodge Magnum...
Chrysler LLC will roll out three green concepts at the Detroit auto show in January: The Jeep Renegade, Dodge ZEO and the Chrysler ecoVoyager.
The Jeep Renegade is powered by a small diesel-hybrid. Chrysler claims it could run for 40 mile just on the lithium-ion battery, and in diesel-hybrid mode, could achieve 110 mpg.
The Dodge ZEO is a 2+2, and is solely powered by a lithium-ion battery pack...
We've heard for some time now that big changes will be coming at Chrysler LLC. Rounds one and two involved in cutting large chunks of workers and underperforming models. Next up is round three—which, if these rumors prove to be true, could be a real deusy.
As such, the entire product line of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep would be radically streamlined by making the following changes:
• Chrysler would be the only brand to sell cars...
With the green theme adopted in most automakers' press conferences, it was no shocker that the decidedly antisocial 2008 Dodge Viper ACR got the shaft. Not a word was mentioned about it during Chrysler's SUV festival. Instead, the 600-hp Viper ACR sat awkwardly on stage left, looking like a guy who accidentally showed up at an Amish village wearing only banana sling underwear and a ski mask.
Some time ago I had posted news that Sterling trucks, which is a subsidiary of Freightliner, which is a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler, er... make that Daimler AG, had announced a new entry in the Class 4/5 medium-duty truck range: the Bullet (Sterling Bullet debuts).
This new Sterling Bullet, which is now in production, is really nothing more than a Dodge Ram 4500/5500, with a new grille. So if you like this F-450/F-550-fighter, but don't like the Ram grille, buy the Bullet...
Now that Chrysler has announced massive product and employee cuts, AutoObserver takes a hard look at what's left, and what the future looks like. Surprisingly (or not) the only plant that rates an "A" is the Toledo plant where the Wrangler is made. Oh, and the plant that makes the Viper gets an "F."
This gem was sitting quite unnoticed in the Mopar booth of the SEMA Show. The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T isn't a production model, but it should be.
Hardware includes a 260-hp 4.0-liter V6 with ram induction and dual exhaust, a lowered sport tuned suspension and 20-inch alloy wheels and Goodyear tires. Inside we touched the suede headliner and the performance seats with suede inserts and red stitching. Exterior mods include custom front and rear fascias, a custom rear spoiler, a new hood with a functional hood scoop and LED driving lights...
Since you've probably had it with all those Dodge Challenger concepts, we present the 2008 Concept ‘Cuda. That’s right, no brand needed, just a really bright orange paint job and some 22-inch wheels. It’s pretty much the same as the Challenger underneath the skin, but in this case the skin is carbon fiber instead of that old rusty steel stuff. There’s a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 underneath the hood of course and a pistol grip shifter too...
Chrysler is about to drop the sledge hammer on three slow selling models: First to go will be the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Pacifica, and the Dodge Magnum.
Sales of these models have fallen sharply this year: Pacifica sales have fallen by 30 percent, Magnum by 32 percent, and the PT Cruiser by 27 percent; so these are the first—but not the last—to go.
Till now, the only way to get Sirius Backseat TV was to buy one of several new Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep vehicles. Debuting here at SEMA, Sirius is offering an aftermarket kit that brings the same flexible options to your non-Chrysler vehicle's entertainment system. Now your backseat passengers can watch Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network or Disney Channel on your existing rear-seat DVD screen no matter what kind of vehicle you have. A second, kid friendly remote with big buttons is also included...
Dodge says "BFT" stands for "Built For Towing." Others have hinted at "Big Fine Truck;" but as Motive states, it's not hard to figure out what "BFT" really means...
Whatever. Dodge has taken a 6.7L Cummins-powered LWB Ram 3500 Quad Cab pickup, and replaced the Quad Cab with a Regular Cab; and then to fill in the 2' chassis gap, replaced the 8' bed with a 10' bed. Add in some Ram 4500/5500 features like 19.5" wheels, tires and fender flares, and an assortment of chassis upgrades and you end up with this "BFT."
Getting beyond the silly semantics here, the big question is does Dodge plan to do battle with the just-introduced Ford F-450 pickup?
We may know within the next month as to which Chrysler products will be getting the ax. While there's been no official word yet, those in the know seem pretty certain that the Jeep Compass and Commander, the Chrysler Pacifica and Sebring, as well as the Dodge Dakota are likely candidates.
"We have models that overlap, where we have two or three vehicles that serve the same market segment and maybe the same customer and actually compete with each other to some extent," Chrysler President and Vice Chairman Jim Press told reporters last week. "We also have markets where we have insufficient coverage...
Dodge beefs up the Caliber with the SRT-4. It has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that can produce 285 horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission.
But is it enough to compete in the tough sport compact crowd?
It seems like the Texas State Fair is fast becoming a major stop on the auto show circuit, as more and more vehicle manufacturers (make that truck and SUV manufacturers) are using this venue to introduce new models to the public. Hey, it makes a lot of sense, as they have exactly the audience—and a huge one at that—corralled.
So along with Ford (The iconic Ford F-Series turns 60) and Dodge (2008 Ram Resistrol here), GM is using this state fair as a stage to unveil their new GMC Yukon Hybrid and Chevy Tahoe Hybrid.
From this link you can find other links to all the vehicles on display at this year's Texas State Fair...
True to the spirit of New Chrysler, Executive Vice President Mike Manley was careful to emphasize that the 2009 Dodge Journey is the product of rational thinking at today's press conference: "We focused on meeting customers' needs -- and our customers had some very practical needs." Children and cargo were apparently foremost on buyers' minds.
Somehow words like "sporty," "sexy" and "functionally cool" also entered the speech. So did quick-change artists, "David" and "Dania," who transitioned between day and evening wear on stage to re-create the fast-paced lifestyle of a prospective Dodge Journey owner...
We've just returned from an evening out at Frankfurt's Restaurant Remise, sipping German beer, chatting with acquaintances about nothing in particular, listening to a DJ spin progressive rock -- doing all the things that the future owners of this red 2009 Dodge Journey will never get to do. Because they're in the having-kids phase of life's journey. And with enough children to necessitate a 7-passenger SUV, they can't be drinking 5 euro heffenweisen. As consolation, they'll enjoy third-row seats that are easy to fold and the ability to chill juiceboxes on demand.
Last time we ran a minivan comparison test, the Honda Odyssey took top honors. Now, Dodge has put out a new and improved Grand Caravan packed with useful features.
Dodge is once again offering a cargo van version of their new Grand Caravan. As with past versions, the vehicle comes without any second- or third-row passenger seating.
It's powered by Chrysler's 175-horsepower 3.3L flex-fuel V6, the Grand Caravan Cargo Van sports a 17/24 city/highway EPA rating. and has a heavy-duty suspension...
Dodge will debut its new Journey CUV at the Frankfurt auto show next month. Based on a lengthened Avenger platform, the seven-passenger Journey will be a world vehicle.
It has some clever features, one of which is the way the sliding middle-row seat base folds up to allow better access into the third-row seat.
These are the latest and greatest shots of the 2009 Dodge Challenger. Caught roaming the streets of suburban Detroit, this prototype wears the usual front and rear camouflage along with a set of blacked out, five spoke wheels. A small peek through the front end cover shows a set of headlights that look very similar to those used on the concept. It also looks as though the B-pillars shown in previous shots of the Challenger's body shell are in fact headed for production...
Good news for minivan shoppers, as Chrysler is dropping the price of their all-new '08 minivans—a lot!
The Dodge Caravan SE will start at $22,470, while the upmarket SXT model will cost $27,535. Those prices are down $1,950 and $970 from current comparable models. The Chrysler Town & Country LX will be $23,190, which is $3,585 lower, or 13 percent. The Touring version will cost $28,430, and the Limited will be priced at $36,400, or $850 and $935 less than their predecessors...
The long-rumored linking of Dodge and Chinese automaker Chery is now a done deal. Chery will supply the tiny A1 to Dodge, to be sold here in the USA in roughly two and half years.
This could turn out to be a good thing for those looking to buy a Chrysler in the near term. As you probably already know, Chrysler, through some inept production planning, has a bunch of new, unsold 2006 Chrysler models sitting on storage lots all over the place.
Because of this huge unsold backlog, Chrysler is now going to sell them as used cars. All they have to do is to drive each one for a day or so, and then they can be labeled as "used," and put on dealer used car lots...
It seems the world has no shortage of religious nuts. The poor Russian owner of this Dodge Viper had either the audacity or stupidity to put the numbers "666" (a satanic symbol for the Antichrist) on his license plate. Some locals from Kostroma took this to heart, and decided to set the satanic-looking car, with the satanic license plate, ablaze.
These are the first spy shots of the 2009 Dodge Ram. Caught during some hot weather testing, these Ram truck prototypes reveal a few of the changes in store for the next-generation truck that will go on sale late next year. Even with all the camouflage over the new front clip, it's easy to make out the more aerodynamic look of this Ram's design. The big crosshair grille remains, but the "shoulders" of the current truck are gone in favor of a broad, flat hood which extends all the way across...
What's this? The other day news broke that the Dukes of Hazzard Dodge Charger known as The General Lee was auctioned off for almost $10 Million. Now Autoblog has posted that the winning bidder has withdrawn his bid!
Apparently this was due to a negative comment made by Bo Duke (John Schneider), himself, about the winning bidder...
I don't know about you, but I've been seeing more and more Dodge Chargers being used as police cars. It seems that many police departments around the country are phasing them in, and phasing out the old Crown Vics.
The Idaho State Police is one of those switching to the Charger. Lieutenant Eric Dayley states that the Charger has a "muscle-car engine," and that it's better able to deal with speeders going 100+ mph...
The other day I put up a posting about "The General Lee" Dodge Charger, of Dukes of Hazzard fame (The General Lee is up on eBay), being auctioned off on eBay Motors. At that time the bidding was at $2 million or so. Now it up to almost $10 million!
Certainly one of the most memorable TV cars ever, the '69 Dodge Charger known as "The General Lee" is up on eBay Motors. This is for pre-approved bidders only, and as of this posting, the bid stands at $2,302,100. The car belongs to "Bo Duke," John Schneider.
A few tidbits: The plate says a 426 Hemi, but the car actually has a 511 crate motor from 1998 that produces approx 725hp...
Dodge EV
