Thursday, September 27, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Quick Drive: 2013 Ram 1500 Hemi 8A and Dodge Dart Six-Speed Dual-Clutch, Manual
Chrysler recently held a ride-and-drive event near our El Segundo headquarters, and allowed us to sample some of its newest wares. Present were arguably the three biggest vehicle launches for the Pentastar this year: the 2013 Ram 1500, the 2013 Dodge Dart, and the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth — and I got to take each of them for a spin.
The first vehicle I hopped into was the new 2013 Ram 1500 4×2 with the new 305-hp, 269-lb-ft 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, eight-speed automatic transmission, and air suspension. Though it may technically just be a mid-cycle refresh, the 2013 1500 feels like an all-new model – almost everything under the skin has been changed in some way. Out on our short drive loop, made up mostly of surface streets and a quick highway jaunt, the V-6-powered Ram drove well. The new Pentastar and eight-speed auto combo is world’s better than the old 3.7-liter V-6 it replaces. It accelerates well, the transmission shifts smartly, and it’s more economical than before, though if we’re honest it could use a bit more oomph for the full-size truck. But then again, that’s what the Hemi is for.
After my spin in the Hemi- and eight-speed-equipped 1500, I got a chance to poke around the new Rams a bit more. The cabin is much nicer than before with a great mix of higher-quality materials (including real unfinished wood), and thoughtful touches, like turning the column shifter into an easy-to-use knob, putting suspension, tow, and other vehicle settings together, and putting things like the USB and auxiliary input ports into the center console to avoid a spider web of cables over the center stack.
I also got a chance to toy with the air suspension. The Ram’s new air suspension is very similar to that of the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s in that it includes two off-road settings, an entry-and-exit setting, and an aerodynamic setting. It’s also load-leveling; as the Ram representatives demonstrated, once the suspension senses a load in the bed (in this case three dudes sitting on the tailgate) the truck will wait 30 seconds for the load to stabilize before adjusting the rear suspension and leveling it off. It was a pretty cool trick.
After driving the two trucks I hopped into one of the 2013 Dodge Darts that Chrysler brought to the event. Having already experienced the base 2.0-liter I-4 and six-speed auto combination, I went straight for a Dart with the Fiat 500 Abarth-sourced 1.4-liter turbocharged I-4 and six-speed dual-clutch transmission. As it does in the Abarth, the Dart’s turbo-4 makes 160 hp, though it makes a smidgen more torque. While the little turbocharged engine sounds great (think 500 Abarth-lite) it still felt – well — slow. The dual-clutch didn’t shift quickly, seemed to hang revs, and felt more like a CVT than the fast-shifting tranny it’s supposed to be.
The manual, too, was a bit of a disappointment. Having just driven the 500 Abarth to refresh my memory of how fun that powertrain could be, I was hoping a turbocharged Dart with a manual transmission would be just as good. Unfortunately, it just isn’t. The Dart handles well enough, but that engine just doesn’t feel like it’s enough for the car, and the transmission is a letdown – the shifter has a rubbery feel to it, and the pedals are too widely spaced for heel-toeing. While the interior of the new Dart may be fantastic, the driving experience doesn’t yet live up to its sporty looks.
All in all, it was a pretty informative morning. First impressions go a long way, but I won’t pass final judgment on the Ram or Dart until we have them in for our Car of the Year and Truck of the Year programs. While some vehicles may not have been as fun as others, driving things like the Hemi Ram 1500 gave me a glimpse at what we can expect in the coming year from the Pentastar brand — and overall, the future looks promising.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Dodge Brand Launches "Dart Smart Challenge" to Educate Employees about All-new 2013 Dodge Dart
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 19, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ --
- Chrysler Group employees immersed in all things Dodge Dart during three days of Dart test drives and product presentations at Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, Mich.
- Dodge Dart Global Rally Cross Driver Travis Pastrana on hand to support event, sign autographs
- Dodge Dart vehicles on display at Chrysler Group manufacturing facilities and parts distribution centers across North America
- Fun and engaging campaign to create Dodge Dart product ambassadors
The all-new Dodge Dart launch continues to ramp up, and the Dodge Brand is bringing employees along for the ride with the Dart Smart Employee Challenge. The challenge educates and informs employees about the company's all-new compact car, which started arriving in dealerships this summer.
As part of the overall program, Chrysler Group employees have the chance to learn all about the features and benefits of the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart during three days of Dart test drives and product overview presentations taking place Sept. 19-21 at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, Mich. Dodge Dart Global Rally Cross (GRC) driver Travis Pastrana also lent a hand Sept. 19, signing autographs and talking to fans about his season at the wheel of the Dart GRC car.
"The 2013 Dodge Dart is an outstanding new vehicle, and the Dodge Smart Employee Challenge is a great way to get employees to experience its many features and benefits," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO, Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "Our employees have worked with renewed energy, pride and commitment and this event is a celebration of a great team and an all-new world-class car."
In addition to the test drives and displays, U.S. employees can compete in an on-line educational game to learn about everything Dart, including its interior and exterior design, high-tech features, class-leading safety features, mid-size levels of interior roominess and fuel-efficient powertrains.
To spark employee enthusiasm outside the Auburn Hills area, Dodge Dart vehicles are displayed at facilities in North America during the month of September.
DODGE DART: A groundbreaking car with the ultimate blend of power, fuel efficiency, handling and style. Starting at $15,995 U.S. MSRP and offering up to 41 mpg
Delivering features and benefits never before offered in a compact car, the all-new Dodge Dart sets itself apart from the rest of the class with breakthrough passionate styling, class-leading safety features, class-leading technology and the roominess of a mid-size car with the price and fuel-efficiency of a compact.
The all-new 2013 Dodge Dart hits the mark with a modern, unmistakable Dodge design, which features great exterior proportions, world-class aerodynamics and unmistakable Dodge cues, such as the available class-exclusive 152 LED "racetrack" taillamps and integrated dual exhaust and signature split crosshair front grille.
With its Alfa Romeo DNA, agile fun-to-drive experience, sophisticated suspension and the most diverse powertrain lineup in the class, the Dart is a car drivers can't wait to drive. It also delivers up to 41 miles per gallon (mpg) with the Dart Aero model. Standard on SE, SXT, Rallye and Limited is a new 2.0-liter 160 horsepower Tigershark four-cylinder engine. Standard on the Dart Aero, and available on the SXT, Rallye and Limited is the 1.4-liter MultiAir® Intercooled Turbo, which delivers 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. Standard on the R/T is the 2.4L Tigershark with MultiAir II, which produces an impressive 184 horsepower. Three transmission choices are available, including a six-speed manual, six-speed automatic and six-speed Dual Dry Clutch Transmission (DDCT).
The interior sets a new benchmark for compact cars with premium soft-touch surfaces and a modern blend of precision craftsmanship, exciting bursts of color and more interior room than some mid-size sedans. Dart also offers class-leading technology, including the class-exclusive 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, 7-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) reconfigurable display and Floating Island Bezel.
The all-new Dodge Dart offers drivers thousands of ways to personalize their cars with 12 exterior colors, 14 interior color and trim combinations, three fuel-efficient engines, three transmissions, seven wheel choices and six trim levels. Dart customers can choose a vehicle that fits their personality without sacrificing comfort or value.
The all-new 2013 Dodge Dart, with its unmistakable style, mid-size interior roominess, class-leading safety and state-of-the-art technology offering up to 41 mpg, starts at just $15,995 U.S. MSRP (all prices exclude destination).
SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC 
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Chrysler Compact Car Gets Critical 41-mpg EPA Rating
U.S. regulators rated a new Chrysler Group LLC compact car with highway fuel-economy of 41 miles a gallon, a move that fulfills a key element of the company’s 2009 federal bailout and cleared the way earlier this year for majority owner Fiat SpA to increase its stake in the Detroit auto maker.
In a posting on the fueleconomy.gov web site, the Environmental Protection Agency said the new 2013 Dodge Dart Aero model is rated to travel 41 miles on a gallon of gasoline on the highway when equipped with a manual transmission, and 40 miles on a gallon with an automatic transmission.
Italy’s Fiat took control of Chrysler in 2009 after agreeing with the U.S. government to help the U.S. auto maker produce a line of new fuel-efficient on cars based on Fiat designs. Fiat was originally given a 20% stake in Chrysler, and was allowed to increase its holding for achieving certain goals, one of which was helping Chrysler produce a car that goes at least 40 miles on a gallon of gasoline.
The EPA issued a preliminary rating on a pre-production version of the Dart last December, and Fiat was awarded an additional 5% stake in Chrysler in January. That lifted its holding in Chrysler to 58.5%.
Courtesy of the Wall Street Journal
Monday, September 17, 2012
DIY Car Maintenance Moves for Fall: Check Your Spare Tire
"Autumn is also a good time to check your spare tire to ensure that it is properly inflated," says Jim Travers, associate editor for autos at Consumer Reports and familiar with car maintenance. The typical space-saver spare tire found in most cars must be inflated to the inflation pressure listed on the side of the tire. A tire pressure gauge costs $7 to $20.
"Spare tires on pickup trucks and sport utilities are suspended underneath the vehicle on a cable, and that mechanism requires regular attention," says Pat Goss, master technician of PBS's "MotorWeek." Lower and raise that under-car spare to check if the cable mechanism works freely. In fall, spray it with a rust penetrant like WD-40 and then lube with white lithium grease. If the mechanism has seized, repair it immediately.
Tire pressure drops one PSI, or pound per square inch, for every 10-degree drop in temperature, according to the AAA, so check your tires on a weekly basis. The proper inflation pressure will generally be listed in your vehicle's owner manual and/or noted on a sticker located on the driver's doorjamb.
DIY Car Maintenance Moves for Fall: Check Your Spare Tire
"Spare tires on pickup trucks and sport utilities are suspended underneath the vehicle on a cable, and that mechanism requires regular attention," says Pat Goss, master technician of PBS's "MotorWeek." Lower and raise that under-car spare to check if the cable mechanism works freely. In fall, spray it with a rust penetrant like WD-40 and then lube with white lithium grease. If the mechanism has seized, repair it immediately.
Tire pressure drops one PSI, or pound per square inch, for every 10-degree drop in temperature, according to the AAA, so check your tires on a weekly basis. The proper inflation pressure will generally be listed in your vehicle's owner manual and/or noted on a sticker located on the driver's doorjamb.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Dodge adds AWD to Charger Pursuit for 2014
Dodge is beefing up its Charger Pursuit police model for the new model year. Dodge's announcement follows closely on the heels of Ford's announcement that its police vehicle, the Interceptor sedan, will now be available with a new 3.7L V6.
Dodge announced on Thursday that its 2014 Charger Pursuit will be available with an optional all-wheel drive system. Up to this point the Charger Pursuit has been available exclusively as a rear-wheel drive vehicle.
Like the standard V8-powered Charger Pursuit, the AWD Charger Pursuit will make use of Dodge's 370 horsepower, 390 lb-ft of torque 5.7L HEMI V8. However, the AWD system should give the new model an added advantage in slippery conditions.
“Adding available all-wheel-drive capability to the already popular Dodge Charger Pursuit will broaden the Charger’s appeal to police departments that are accustomed to dealing with rough winters and adverse weather conditions,” said Peter Grady, Vice President - Network Development & Fleet, Chrysler Group LLC. “With the Charger Pursuit now offering dual capability of both rear- and all-wheel-drive, we’ll be able to meet the needs of our police fleet customers across the country.”
Dodge has yet to release performance figures for the new Charger Pursuit with all-wheel drive, but the rear-wheel driver version of the car is capable of accelerating from 0-60 in under 6 seconds while delivering up to 25mpg on the highway.
Courtesy of leftlanenews.com
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Return of the Jeep Cherokee?
And the oldies keep on coming.
Jeep may bring back the Cherokee according to the Automotive News
When the off-road automaker introduces its all-new replacement for its compact Liberty in January it could switch to the fabled Cherokee name, which was used on a number of popular Jeep vehicles from 1974 to 2001 that help spark the SUV craze.
The new one will be a crossover based on the same platform as the Dodge Dart, another heritage name recently resurrected by Chrysler that helped garner a lot of attention for the model launch.
The 2014 Cherokee is expected to be available in a trail rated all-wheel-drive model, but in base form will be front-wheel-drive and powered by a 3.2-liter V6 connected to a 9-speed automatic transmission according to Automotive News.
Along with the Cherokee, a three-row stretch version of the Grand Cherokee called the Grand Wagoneer will replace the Dodge Durango next year.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Hey Jeep fans! Check out the latest manufacturer’s incentive for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara. Deals have never looked this good!
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Total due at signing: $2,499. Security deposit included. See dealer for details 
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and Jeep Wrangler Moab on sale next month
It’s been nearly two months since Jeep announced a special edition, and we were getting a bit worried. Luckily, on Tuesday morning, we were greeted by two new models—the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and the Jeep Wrangler Moab.
The Trailhawk, which was introduced during the 2012 Easter Jeep Safari, will be offered with either a V8 or V6 engine and 18-inch all-terrain tires with Kevlar reinforcement. Jeep’s Quadralift suspension will give the SUV up to 11 inches of ground clearance, while the electronic limited-slip differential can bring all the engine’s torque to one wheel if necessary. The ELSD will be helped by the available two-speed transfer case.
Visually, Trailhawk badges, tow hooks, black surround headlights and unique gray accents will set the car apart from standard Grand Cherokees. A black hood decal will diminish reflections from the sun, which Jeep says can help the driver in some off-road situations. Paint options include white, black, gray, “steel” and a deep cherry red.
The interior will have black leather and suede seats with red accent stitching and Mopar floor mats.
The Jeep Wrangler Moab is based on the Wrangler Sahara and is offered with 17-inch Rubicon wheels and the same Kevlar reinforced tires as those offered on the Trailhawk. A Trac-Loc anti-spin rear differential is standard with an electronic rear locking differential being optional. Rock rails and winch-grade bumpers are also available.
The Moab gets a power dome hood, black fuel-filler door and taillight guards. Other black accents include the wheel arches, grille badge and Moab decals on the hood. The soft-top is standard while a three-piece removable hardtop is optional.
Interior upgrades include leather seats with black stitching, a Moab-embossed instrument panel, Mopar mats and some gray accent trim. The Moab Jeep comes in two- and four-door models.
Both Jeeps will be in showrooms in October.
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