In addition to the 2011 Dodge Charger we showed you earlier today, there's another major refresh headed our way later this year. The 2011 Dodge Durango is also scheduled to return later this year and this prototype hints at the final design.
It's worth noting that this vehicle may emerge as the 2011 Dodge Magnum according to some internal documents. Not sure why Dodge would bother with the switch, it's not like the Magnum helped the previous vehicle much. This time around it won't be a wagon though, think more like a three-row crossover SUV. Pretty sure it will get V6 engines and possibly even a Hemi depending on how much leeway Chrysler has in terms of CAFE.
We already showed you a glimpse of the 2011 Dodge Charger today. Now take a look at a current Charger that has been modified by Speedfactory Cars. It used to run 10s with a full interior, but in order to get the car into the 9s they had to gut the interior and put the car on a diet. Oh, and it runs a supercharged 426 Hemi in place of the stock 5.7, so yeah, other than the body there isn't much stock about this Charger.
Late last year Dodge revealed much of its future product plan to journalists in an effort to prove it had a future. Part of that plan was a revamped version of the Dodge Charger due in late 2010.
Although it's not slated to be a complete redesign, the 2011 Dodge Charger will be a heavy reskin along with the introduction of Chrysler's new V6 family. This prototype was spotted recently testing in Michigan and the changes are noticeable.
This car looks much closer to the Charger concept shown a decade ago at the Detroit auto show. Expect an updated interior as well as Dodge attempts to generate a little interest in the brand while the rest of Chrysler tries to hold on until the Fiat vehicles start arriving in 2012.
Yep, that wold be one Mr. Michael C. Hall narrating this Dodge Charger commercial. To those not familiar with the name, Michael Hall plays Dexter, the TV vigilante/serial killer. Cool commercial.
The Dodge Viper ACR-X has hit the track in preparation for its small production run that will commence soon. Engineers took the track-only Viper to Sebring International Raceway in Florida for a shake-down test and the car "kicked butt" according to one eloquent onlooker.
The ACR-X is designed for SCCA and NASA competition events as well as the new Viper Cup, a 10-race spec series that begins on July 9 at Virginia International Raceway and ends on October 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Dodge says it will pay out more than $200,000 in contingency prize money.
#NAIAS Apparently, getting dumped by a German company, gutted by a private equity firm and being given away to a foreign concern has a way of making strange bedfellows. Pictured here is the Ferrari 599XX/Dodge Challenger section of the Chrysler stand at Detroit.
Incidentally, that 599XX is the only Ferrari at Detroit, where the company insists it has no presence. What you can't see is that behind this black Challenger is a Plum Crazy one with white stripes.
We saw our friendly local Ferrari PR guy relaxing in the nearby lounge. "Hey, how are you?" He said, "I am not really here."
We've been hearing that Chrysler will adopt Fiat's Multiair family of engines, and last night the alliance release specs on some of the engines. Multiair is to Fiat what VTEC is to Honda, so all the engines should have variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust side.
First up are the two 1.4-liter engines, which are slated for use in the too-adorable-for-words Fiat 500 that we've been promised. The normally aspirated version will be rated at 100 horsepower at 6,750 rpm and 95 pound-feet of torque at 4,250 -- a typical subcompact meal ticket.
However, the turbocharged version veers into Mini Cooper S territory with its projected 170 hp at 6,750 and 170 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm.
Multiair technology has also been added to Chrysler's existing 2.4-liter engine (the one whose architecture was originally developed with Hyundai and Mitsubishi). In today's Dodge Avenger, the 2.4-liter is rated at 173 hp and 166 lb-ft. But with the addition of Multiair, Chrysler says it will develop 190 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque.
Chrysler also announced that Fiat's dual-clutch automated manual transmission will make its debut in the next generation of D-segment cars.
There's a report on the Automobile blog today that the Devon GTX supercar project has been scrapped. Makes sense, given that the GTX is based on the Dodge Viper, which is on its way to the grave. Devon had planned to start production in the first quarter of this year.
Inside Line spoke to officials at Irvine, California-based Devon Motorworks and learned that although the situation is grim, Devon is still hoping to purchase enough parts and tooling from Chrysler-Fiat to build its supercar in limited numbers. The company is currently testing prototypes.
Devon, of course, never intended on building vast quanties of GTXs. The supercar uses a massaged, 650-horsepower version of the Viper's 8.4-liter V10 and combines a steel frame with carbon-fiber body panels. Devon plans to offer adaptive dampers as well.
The price tag for all this is $500,000. You can view the spec sheet here. -- Reporting by Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
We're not sure we dig the idea of a contrasting T/A hood scoop or a "Go-Wing" deck spoiler, but getting a Dodge Challenger with a T-grip shifter cap for the automatic transmission does strike as kind of cool. All these items are part of a couple new appearance groups for 2010 Challenger SE and R/T models.
The exterior touches also include strobe stripes down the side of the Challenger, plus the 20-inch "heritage" wheels shown here. All together, these items cost $1,995. More reasonable is the interior package ($945), which also bundles metal-trimmed pedals and door sill guards, along with a full car cover.
Here's a new TV commercial for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and uh, Ram that starts airing today. Rose Bowl viewers will be the first to see it. There are some cool old vehicles in this ad, but just one new one, the 2010 Chrysler 300.
The 300 is definitely one of the better-looking, better-driving models in the current line, but this commercial lacks specificity and focus. It's part of a new "Coming Home" ad campaign borne out of corporate, and dealers', concern that "consumers do not realize that Chrysler Group has emerged from bankruptcy and is now a different company with a new alliance partner and a healthy product plan."
The ad agency, Fallon, is obviously trying to appeal to the emotions here, but we contend that what "consumers" would really like to see from Chrysler-Fiat are some of those healthy new products that have been promised.
This might be our favorite unintended consequence of Fiat's "mentorship" of Chrysler: Instead of occupying its usual spot in luxury row, Ferrari will have its booth smack between Dodge and Jeep at this month's Detroit Auto Show. Oh, yes, and Maserati will be there, too.
That's just how it goes when you're part of the Fiat Group. Evidently, it's hoped you'll come for the Italian sports cars and stay for the, um, Plum Crazy Challenger and whatever the latest going-away-special Viper is. And if you're aching to see another electric car, well, get yourself over to the Fiat 500 EV exhibit.
Toyota recalled nearly 4.9 million vehicles in 2009 -- the most of any automaker in the U.S., the Detroit Free Press reports. This is the first time Toyota has ever led in annual recalls, and of course this milestone is the result of the floor mat debacle during which 4.3 million vehicles were recalled.
Free Press writers crunched the numbers on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Web site. Ford came up second with 4.5 million recalled vehicles -- most of them covered by recalls for cruise control switches that can catch fire, a chronic defect in older Fords.
Next up was GM was 2.2 million recalled vehicles, followed by Hyundai with just over 1 million and Nissan with 700,000+. Chrysler rounded out the top five with 590,000.
Seeing as how it's December 25, we feel comfortable talking about toys, specifically model cars. Master modeller Robert Downie likes certain styling elements on the current Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang, but isn't happy with the overall design of any one muscle car.
So he started with AMT's 1/25-scale Camaro and applied the Challenger's front end and the Mustang's rear end. Then, he fitted Maisto Mustang GT wheels and painted the body Testors Grabber Orange, later adding satin black accents. In all, the conversion took 4 months.
