2011 Dodge Avenger
The 2011 Dodge Avenger came back with his new release is a new suspension, powertrain lineup and a very well equipped interior. Under the hood is a new 2.4-liter petrol engine in the world, with a new 6-speed with the new Chrysler Pentastar V6 engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission to 283 – hp and 260 Nm, in particular, there is an increase of 20 hp. We have the press release after the break, turn it. Read more…
2011 Dodge Grand Caravan gets new $23,995 base MSRP, now least expensive minivan in U.S.
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. Read more…
Categories: Daily Car, Dodge Tags: $23995, 2011, base, Caravan, Dodge, expensive, gets, Grand, least, minivan, MSRP, U.S.
2011 Dodge Durango
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. Read more…
Dodge brand to ditch cross-hair grille?
Now that Dodge and Ram are seperate groups under the Chrysler umbrella, Dodge plans to phase its trademark cross-hair grille out of its product lineup. The cross-hair nose will remain a part of the Ram truck lineup for the foreseeable future, but Dodge vehicles will get a new identity that has not yet been revealed.
Ralph Gilles, Dodge CEO and Chief Designer for the Chrysler Group, recently spoke to Automotive Newsabout this decision. Gilles stated that this move will take time but the products will evolve and go in a different direction. In other words, no matter what direction Dodge takes its styling, don’t expect to see any wholesale changes until well after the 2011 model year. Read more…
First Look: 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 in 2011 Chicago Auto Show
The all-new Charger will once again receive a slight makeover later this fall, although this time it’ll get musclecar mascara from Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team. Not only is the new 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 more powerful than the last go-fast rendition, but according to preliminary test data, it’s more efficient, too.
The new SRT8 Charger’s improved efficiency is achieved in part by the addition of Chrysler’s adaptive valve exhaust system and Fuel Saver technology. The latter switches the all-new 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 into a four-cylinder mode that’s activated over a wider rpm range, thus minimizing consumption. By exactly how much has yet to be announced, but for a reference point, the last Challenger SRT8 powered by the 6.1-liter V-8 was rated 13/19 mpg city/highway. An active intake manifold and high-lift camshaft on the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 optimize low-end grunt for even more speed when you want it.
Each of the SRT8′s 465 horses and 465 pound-feet of torque are routed to sticky 20-inch rear rubber through the brand’s well worn W5A580 AutoStick five-speed automatic. Yes, we know, it’s no pistol-grip six-speed manual (say, from the Challenger SRT8 392), or even a six-speed slushbox, but SRT has included a first-ever paddle shifting function to make the aging tranny more entertaining.
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Categories: Auto Show, Chicago Auto Show, Chicago Motor Show, Dodge Tags:
Chicago 2011: 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8
Dodge has dropped the Street and Racing Technology motherlode on the eve of the Chicago Auto Show and first out of the gate is the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 – what Eminem should’ve rolled in during the Super Bowl.
As with anything birthed from Chrysler’s in-house tuning division, the Charger SRT8 is all about the engine, so the transformation begins with the new 6.4-liter HEMI V8 putting out 465 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque – a boost of some 80 lb-ft over the old 6.1-liter mill. That torquey wave comes on at 2,900 rpm and Dodge claims that with the fitment of its Fuel Saver tech, allowing the engine to run on four cylinders when its not under load, fuel economy will improve, although Dodge isn’t saying how much.
Chrysler’s W5A580 five-speed automatic transmission backs up the HEMI, and you can select your own gears by either slapping the AutoStick or thumbing the steering wheel-mounted paddle-shifters.
All that adds up to an estimated top speed of 175 mph, a 0-60 mph time in the high fours and a quarter-mile run deep into the 12s.
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Categories: Auto Show, Chicago Auto Show, Chicago Motor Show, Dodge, Sedans/Saloons Tags: Chicago Auto Show, Dodge
Chicago Auto Show 2011: Dodge gives Grand Caravan, Journey the R/T treatment for 2011
As part of Chrysler’s giant product onslaught for the 2011 model year, The Pentastar has released new R/T trim levels of both the Dodge Grand Caravan and Journey crossover. Both models make their debut at the Chicago Auto Show this week, and while there aren’t any big power boosts, the spruced up exterior and interior designs speak of sportiness.
Both the Grand Caravan and Journey R/T use Chrysler’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, pumping out 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission. The minivan is only available with front-wheel drive, though an all-wheel-drive variant of the Journey R/T is available.
Outside, the Grand Caravan R/T gets new appearance tweaks like a “dipped” body-colored grille, body-colored side moldings and a new set of 17-inch alloy wheels. Likewise, the Journey R/T features the same sort of exterior treatment, but rides on larger 19-inch aluminum wheels with a satin carbon finish. Inside, both vehicles benefit from upgrades like black seats with red contrast stitching throughout, as well as the latest in Chrysler connectivity and infotainment.
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Categories: Auto Show, Chicago Auto Show, Crossovers/CUVs, Dodge Tags:
Chicago 2011: Dodge Challenger goes Green With Envy
Dodge is spicing up the Challenger line with a new eye-searing paint color. The hue is called Green With Envy, and it’s supposed to pay homage to some of the wilder colors from the company’s past, including Sublime and Green Go. Buyers will be able to grab their new green Challenger in one of two configurations, including a new R/T Classic that serves up the company’s 372-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine with two A-line body stripes. The accents are available in either matte black or white.
For those who need a little more bite with their bark, Chrysler is also serving up the Challenger SRT8 in the new paint. In that trim, owners can enjoy the same 470-horsepower 6.4-liter V8 engine found in the Challenger SRT8 392, and the muscle bruisers will be differentiated by full-body black stripes. Likewise, the interior will enjoy Green With Envy accented seats.
Look to pony up around $35,785 for the Challenger R/T Classic Green With Envy and $44,875 for the SRT8 iteration. Both prices include destination. Hit the jump for the full press blast.
Categories: Chicago Auto Show, Chrysler, coupe, Dodge Tags: Chicago Auto Show, Dodge
2010 Dodge Viper ACR-X ready to fill your track-rat, spec-racing needs
Dodge has unveiled their new turn-key racer, the Viper SRT10 ACR-X.
Based on the Dodge Viper ACR, the ACR-X is a track-only race car designed to compete in the Viper Racing League, the Sports Car Club of America, and the National Auto Sport Association.
Power comes from an 8.4-liter V10 engine that produces 640 horsepower (40 hp more than the standard model). Other performance tweaks include a specially-tuned sports suspension, a 160 pound weight reduction (compared to the standard production Viper), improved aerodynamics (for increased downforce), and a complete safety package (with a roll cage, fuel cell and race seat).
