Chrysler Corporation LLC

Autoblog.Com - Posted Jun 29th 2008 7:55PM by Alex Nunez

Click above image for the 2009 Dodge Challenger brochure

In the gallery below, you'll find the full brochure for the 2009 Dodge Challenger, and yeah, there's some good stuff to be found in there. We're particularly fond of the R/T Classic package (above), which gets a coat of B5 Blue, 20" torq-thrust lookalikes, T/A-style stripes, and the old-school script Challenger badge on the front fender. Unfortunately, while Chrysler was cooking up the retro badging, they neglected to order up some nouveau Fratzogs to really finish off the look, so the Ram-head shield sits on the hood, instead. Too bad. As for the rest of the car? Badass. There are some pretty cool stripe and wheel options to be had regardless of trim level, plus what's sure to be a bevy of aftermarket parts from Mopar and other third parties. Finally, Chrysler's offering a factory R/T Track Pack that, in its most aggressive form, combines the 6-speed Tremec with 20" wheels and a 3.91 rear axle ratio. Bring money for tires. Ford is the king of leveraging its heritage to keep the Mustang interesting. Chrysler has a shot at doing the same thing here with the Challenger. From the looks of things, it's off to a good start. That R/T Classic? Yeah, we could roll like that. Thanks to Challenger64HEMI for the heads-up!

Gallery: 2009 Dodge Challenger brochure

[Source: Flickr user mnhotrod]

Andrew Grossman
Automotive News
June 27, 2008 - 4:44 pm ET

DETROIT -- J.D. Power and Associates is predicting the June seasonally adjusted annual sales rate will plunge to 12.5 million vehicles, down from 16.3 million last June. That is far below what other analysts have projected for the month's sales.

The Wall Street Journal today cited a leaked report from the firm that says June U.S. sales of light vehicles will plunge 15.4 percent from last year.

J.D. Power expects the Detroit 3's sales numbers to take big hits but doesn't see Toyota Motor Corp. overtaking General Motors in U.S. sales, the Journal reports on its Web site.

The research firm predicts a year-over-year 26.2 percent June sales drop for GM, a 31.4 percent drop for Ford Motor Co. and a 30.1 percent drop for Chrysler LLC, according to the report.

J.D. Power expects a sales decline of 6.6 percent for Toyota. That would give it a market share of 18.7 percent, near GM's predicted 19.2 percent share.

J.D. Power expects Honda Motor Co.'s sales to rise 9.3 percent from June 2007, the Journal reported, adding that the data were derived from the first 17 selling days in June.

Posted Jun 27th 2008 1:02PM by [Autoblog] Sam Abuelsamid

Click above for high-res gallery of Autoblog autocrossing

Yesterday at Chrysler's annual media gathering to show off new products at the its proving grounds in Chelsea, MI, the struggling automaker wanted to demonstrate the performance capabilities of its SRT branded vehicles. SRT staff set up an autocross course on the vehicle dynamics pad and brought out examples of every SRT vehicle from the Caliber SRT-4 to the mighty Dodge Viper ACR. Before we were allowed to hop in the cars, we had listen to a short briefing that described the course and some safety rules. And before being allowed to climb into the big snake, we had to complete at least a couple of laps in one of the five Challenger SRT-8s to get familiarized with the course. For a big 4,140-lb coupe, the Challenger proved surprisingly nimble. We learned that with the electronic stability control enabled, it's almost impossible to get the back end to swing wide. The stability control has two alternative modes. The first is engaged by a momentary stab of ESP button and allows some extra slip before intervening, while pressing and holding the ESP button for five seconds completely disables the stability and traction control leaving only the ABS. Read what happens (and watch the tire-burning videos) after the jump.

Gallery: Chrysler SRT Autocrossing

Dodge Viper ACR goes through the cones at Chrysler Media Event

With the stability control neutered, the Challenger really comes alive and is much more of a handful to maneuver. The 425 lb-ft of torque easily gets the modern muscle car sideways in a hurry when the wheels are allowed to break traction. Aside from the absence of slip, the stability control's intervention is actually quite transparent and never really noticeable. If you go into a corner too hot at the limit, the Challenger will understeer resolutely while scrubbing off speed. In the lower part of the tachometer is a display that shows a friction circle, which displays the lateral and longitudinal acceleration from the stability control sensors.

After four laps in the Challenger, we hopped into the ACR Viper coupe. The sinister looking black snake had a pair of silver stripes running from nose to tail and a big high-mounted wing on the trailing edge of its rear deck. The 600-hp V10 has more than enough torque to make shifting almost unnecessary in any gear. Squeezing the throttle makes this monster leap ahead effortlessly. Maneuvering around the cones is trickier with the Viper than the Challenger because of its long nose and rearward seating position. Nonetheless, there is something viscerally exciting about piloting a Viper whether on the street or through an autocross. Hitting the gas a little too soon or too hard gets the rear axle to snap sideways even with the steamrollers that adorn this car. Check out the video for a better idea of what that looks like.

Dodge Challenger SRT8 runs the cones at Chrysler media event

Gallery: Chrysler SRT Autocrossing

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2009 Dodge Ram sports an unusual safety feature

Posted Today 07:46 AM by Evan.McCausland

I had a chance to look over (but not drive) the 2009 Dodge Ram the other day, and I discovered an interesting quirk by means of the RamBox. It's not that I find the bed-mounted storage boxes odd, but something inside of them caught my eye.

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It was a glow-in-the-dark emergency release.

Over the past few years, I've seen these pulls implemented across numerous vehicles - and I couldn't be happier. These handles allow children and other occupants trapped within trunks an emergency escape; one quick pull of the phosphorescent plastic handle, and pop goes the latch. If an inexpensive part helps to save lives and reduce tragedies, I'm all for it.

But as they carry only 8.6 cubic feet of cargo, why does the RamBox include the pulls? Interesting question, but the answer lies within Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401. Any vehicle that sports a trunk compartment must be equipped with an interior release that allows for trapped occupants to escape.

Sensible, but is the RamBox really a trunk? According to the FMVSS, a cargo area is a trunk if

it is intended to carry luggage or cargo (check)
it sports a closable lid (check)
it is wholly-separated from the passenger compartment (check)
it is large enough to hold a standardized dummy, sized to an average three-year old child (check)

Well, I can't confirm the last point; I'm certainly not going to go stuff a Cabbage Patch doll into the cubby to see if it's feasible.

Although I think customers are more likely to place a set of tools inside the RamBox than their small child, I suppose it's much better to be safe than sorry...

Iacocca, 83, returns to rally employees and dealers

Eric Morath / The Detroit News

AUBURN HILLS — As Lee Iacocca stepped into the atrium of the Chrysler Technical Center for an employee rally Thursday, applause and whistles showered down from the more than 3,000 workers standing in the balconies above.

While introducing the legendary former chairman, Chrysler LLC Chairman and CEO Bob Nardelli referenced Iacocca’s famous "If you can find a better car …" only to be interrupted by an employee in the rafters who shouted, "Buy it."

Iacocca, largely credited for saving Chrysler from financial ruin in the early 1980s, received a hero’s welcome.

"We’re here to welcome home Chrysler’s most dynamic leader," Nardelli told the crowd. "He led one of the most dramatic business turnarounds in American history… thanks to you Lee, we’re here today."

Nardelli invited Iacocca, 83, to the automaker’s headquarters to review Chrysler’s operations and to inspire employees who are battling again to resurrect the struggling automaker amid tanking vehicle sales and rising gas prices.

"You’re now an independent company, run with it," Iacocca told the crowd. "Everyone is despondent because the market is crashing …(but) we’ll come back, remember the sun always comes out."

Recounting his time at Chrysler, Iacocca talked about how soaring gas prices, a failing economy and skyrocketing interest rates nearly doomed the automaker, causing him to seek a controversial federally backed bailout. Chrysler, then based in Highland Park, paid back the loan seven years early. An enlarged copy of that final check, for $813,487,500, stood next to the stage Thursday.

Chrysler performs best in a crisis, Iacocca said, expressing his faith in management’s ability to turn the company around.

During the hourlong rally, Iacocca and Nardelli were seated on the ground floor of the cylindrical atrium.

Iacocca dominated the conversation, taking about a half-hour to answer Nardelli’s inquiry about his experiences when he first arrived at Chrysler in 1978. The rally was the first time the two had met.

"There are a lot good of people here that are committed to making this company sing again. It’s maintained its independence after eight years on a German capper," Iacocca said, referring Chrysler’s former owner, Daimler AG.

In bringing the Chrysler icon back to headquarters, Nardelli showed that he’s embracing Iacocca and his all-American mantra. Previous corporate regimes had tumultuous relationships with the former executive, who retired in 1992.

In 1995, Iacocca supported mogul Kirk Kerkorian’s failed bid to take over the automaker, causing strained relations with Chrysler for a decade.

He has returned as a pitchman in recent years, appearing with rapper Snoop Dogg in a TV commercial — a stunt that Iacocca joked made him more recognizable than his tenure as an auto executive. Iacocca, though, gained fame in the mid-1980s with his autobiography, "Iacocca," a national bestseller.

Iacocca likes new models

Earlier in the day, Iacocca walked through Chrysler’s headquarters with a half-dozen top executives.

He said he liked what he saw, especially the next generation of the Chrysler 300 sedan, which Nardelli confirmed would be released, along with the Dodge Charger, for the 2010 or 2011 model year.

Iacocca’s return to the site for the first time since a 1991 dedication will help crystallize a positive legacy for the retired executive, said David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.

Although his words may inspire workers, Chrysler may face an even more difficult challenge today than when Iacocca arrived because the auto industry is now global and Chrysler remains a North American company.

There is one major advantage today, however, said John Schenden, a Colorado Chrysler-Jeep dealer who worked under Iacocca as national dealer relations manager. Chrysler has a lot more cash today with its private equity owner, Cerberus Capital Management LP.

"A lot of workers might not know who (Iacocca) was … but he rallied the dealers in Washington to get Congress’ backing," he said. "I don’t know if there would be Chrysler today without Lee."

Click Image Below to View Gallery

Chrysler Chairman and CEO Bob Nardelli, left, welcomes former chairman Lee Iacocca to the Chrysler Technical Center.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/dodge-ram-heavy-duty-future.html

After Steve Saleen sold and then eventually left the company that bears his name, he went into the Chinese car business for a short time.

Now Saleen has popped up again with a new company called SMS producing aftermarket versions of the new Dodge Challenger.

The company’s first project is to build a limited number of SMS 570 and SMS 570X Challengers by the fourth quarter of 2008.

In addition to engine modifications, the cars will get a reworked drivetrain and chassis along with wheel and interior upgrades. Prices are expected to start in the mid-to-high $50,000 range for the 570.

ENLARGE

The 2009 Dodge Ram will get a 4 percent fuel economy improvement over the 2008 model.

Richard Truett
Automotive News
June 26, 2008 - 10:08 am ET

The 2009 Dodge Ram pickup truck, arriving at dealerships this fall, will go a little easier on the wallet at the fuel pump.

And two new models coming in 2010 could thrust Dodge to the head of the pack in the fuel economy race.

The Hemi engine remains, but it has been rebuilt and given the fuel-saving feature of variable valve timing, which changes the time the valves open and close to let the engine run at peak efficiency. Engineers also tweaked the cylinder cutoff system so it operates in a wider rpm range. Compression is up, and the efficiency of air and fuel flowing through the engine has been improved.

Dodge designers also improved the aerodynamics of the truck, which saves fuel. The automaker previewed Chrysler's 2009 lineup this morning for reporters at its Chelsea, Mich., proving ground west of Detroit.

Bob Lee, Chrysler's vice president of powertrain product engineering, said the Ram truck will get a 4 percent fuel economy improvement over the 2008 model. The automaker didn't release mpg estimates.

That might not sound like much, but horsepower is up 13 percent to 390, which Chrysler says is best-in-class, and some models can reach 60 mph in less than six seconds.

"The all-new 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine will offer our customers better fuel economy, improved idle quality and overall refinement, along with more horsepower and torque," Lee said.

Dodge also said the new light-duty, diesel-powered Ram pickup that will be launched after the 2009 model year will deliver a 25 percent fuel economy gain compared with a similar-sized gasoline engine. That new Cummins diesel engine is a V-6 that Chrysler says is clean enough to be sold in all 50 states.

Chrysler also confirmed today that it will launch a hybrid version of the Ram using the Two Mode gasoline-electric powertrain developed with General Motors, BMW and Daimler. The Ram Hybrid, also due after 2009, will come with a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with a cylinder cutoff system.

Chrysler executives said the Ram Hybrid will offer a 40 percent gain in fuel economy in the city over a nonhybrid and a 25 percent gain on the highway. The mpg estimates were not released.

The 2008 Ram pickup with a 5.7-liter engine and automatic transmission is EPA-rated at 13 mpg city and 19 highway.

ebay item just thought i share....eBay Motors: Dodge : Challenger (item 110263067333 end time Jun-27-08 15:04:38 PDT)2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 - Hennessey SRT700 Turbo - 426 CID Engine Upgrade

THE ACTUAL VEHICLE IS BLACK WITH SILVER STRIPES. IT IS NOW AT HENNESSEY PERFORMANCE UNDERGOING THE FOLLOWING UPGRADES WHICH ARE SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED AROUND JULY 25, 2008.

Power:
# 725 hp @ 5,200 rpm
# 750 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm

Estimated Performance:
# 0 - 60 mph: 3.4 sec. *
# 1/4 mile: 11.3 sec. @ 124 mph *
# Top Speed: 201 mph
* with Drag Radial Tire Upgrade

Includes:
# 426 Cubic Inch Displacement Stroker Motor
# 9.0:1 Compression Forged Aluminum Pistons
# Forged Steel Connecting Rods
# 426 Stroker Crankshaft
# Balanced Rotating Assembly
# High Flow Cylinder Heads
# Polished Intake Manifold
# Single 67 mm Turbocharger
# Stainless Steel Turbo Y-Pipe
# Single 44 mm Wastegate
# Stainless Steel Dual 3 in. Exhaust System with Polished Stainless Steel Exhaust Tips
# Front Mounted Air-to-Air Intercooler
# 3.5 in. Polished Inlet Tube with Blow-Off Valve
# Upgraded Fuel Injectors
# Upgraded Engine Management System
# 180 degree thermostat upgrade
# All necessary gaskets and fluids
# Professional Installation
# Chassis Dyno Testing
# Road Testing (up to 100 miles)
# One year limited warranty
# Hennessey & SRT700 Turbo Exterior Badges
# Serial Numbered Dash Plaque & Engine Plaque (Only 25 are being built for the 2008 model year)
# Hennessey Embroidered Floor Mats

Other Options Included:
# Automatic Transmission Upgrade
# KW Variant 2 Adjustable Coilover Suspension Upgrade
# Half Day Driving Instruction at the Lonestar Motorsports Park 1/4 mile dragstrip adjacent to the Hennessey Performance factory near Houston, Texas

For more information, please visit HennesseyPerformance.com or call 979.885.1300.

      New Ram Will Also Offer Best-in-class Aerodynamics (.419 Cd) and
                Performance (0-60 in less than 6 seconds)

   CHELSEA, Mich., June 26 /PRNewswire/ --

   -- All-new 5.7-liter HEMI(R) with fuel-saving Multiple Displacement
System (MDS) technology offers 4 percent improved fuel economy, 13 percent
more horsepower, 8 percent more torque over 2008 engine

   -- Best-in-class performance: R/T regular cab 4x2 model (0-60 in less
than 6 seconds)

   -- Best-in-class aerodynamics -- .419 coefficient of drag (Cd) for
crew- size 4x4 models - to help fuel economy

   -- Flexible-fuel-capable 4.7-liter V-8 offers 6 percent increased fuel
efficiency, more performance and refinement over previous-generation
4.7-liter engine

   -- 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine in Dodge Ram Heavy Duty
achieves 2010 NOx emission standards in all 50 states right now, making it
the cleanest and best-performing diesel available on the market

   -- All-new light-duty diesel to be introduced after 2009 -- up to a 25-
percent improvement in fuel efficiency and a 20-percent reduction in carbon
dioxide emissions over a gasoline engine with equivalent horsepower and
torque

   -- All-new Ram 1500 Hybrid model to be introduced in 2010 model year --
up to 40 percent fuel economy improvement in the city and 25 percent
overall

   This morning, Dodge will showcase its new 2009 Dodge Ram powertrain
lineup at the company's proving grounds. Powertrain choices in all-new 2009
Dodge Ram models will offer improved fuel economy plus more power, torque
and refinement than ever before.

   Engines available in all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 models include the
all- new best-in-class 390-horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI(R), flex-fuel
4.7-liter and 3.7-liter gasoline engines. 2009 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty models
(with current 2008 design) are available with either the 5.7-liter HEMI or
the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine -- which already achieves 2010 NOx
emission standards, making it the cleanest and best-performing heavy-duty
pickup truck in the market.

   "While the all-new HEMI engine maintains the key characteristics that
make HEMI a household name in powertrains, we added new technologies --
including Variable Valve Timing -- that substantially improve fuel economy
and refinement and maximize performance," said Bob Lee, Vice President -
Powertrain Product Engineering Team, Chrysler LLC.

   "Our all-new Dodge Ram also offers best-in-class aerodynamics to go
hand- in-hand with Chrysler's fuel-saving technologies," said Mike
Accavitti, Director -- Dodge Brand and SRT Global Marketing and
Communications, Chrysler LLC. "And, with Dodge Ram's first-ever crew cab,
first-in-segment coil-spring rear suspension, industry-first RamBox cargo
management system and more than 35 new or improved features, we're changing
the game in the truck market."

   All-new 5.7-liter HEMI to offer best-in-class horsepower and torque

   For 2009, Dodge offers a new generation of the famous 5.7-liter HEMI
V-8 in its Ram trucks, with best-in-class horsepower and torque. The new
HEMI powers the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram to best-in-class performance: the
R/T regular-cab 4x2 model equipped with a short bed and 4:10 gears can
accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds.

   While the all-new engine maintains many of the basic features that make
"HEMI" synonymous with "power," several technologies were added or
improved:

   -- Variable Valve Timing (VVT)

   -- Expanded operating range of the fuel-saving Multiple Displacement
System (MDS)

   -- Increased compression ratio

   -- Active intake manifold with long runners for low-end torque and
short runners for high-rpm power



   -- Improved cylinder head port flow efficiency

   -- Reduced-restriction exhaust and induction systems

   The result is improved idle quality and overall refinement, more
horsepower (13 percent), more torque (8 percent) and better fuel economy (4
percent).

   "The all-new 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine will offer our customers better
fuel economy, improved idle quality and overall refinement, along with more
horsepower and torque," said Lee. "HEMI has always been synonymous with
power, and now -- thanks to VVT, expanded four-cylinder mode in our MDS
system, and a host of other technologies -- Chrysler's new HEMI delivers
more fuel efficiency and refinement, along with even more power."

   The new 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 delivers best-in-class 390 hp (291 kW), a 13
percent improvement, and 407 lb.-ft. (552 N.m) of torque, an 8 percent
improvement, while providing an estimated improvement of 4 percent in fuel
economy.

   The HEMI's new VVT improves fuel economy under some conditions in two
ways. First, it reduces the engine's pumping work by closing the intake
valve later. Second, it increases the expansion process of the combustion
event. This allows more work to be transferred to the crankshaft instead of
being rejected out of the exhaust port as heat. Essentially, VVT optimizes
engine breathing, which improves engine efficiency and power.

   Dodge's fuel-saving MDS system seamlessly alternates between smooth,
high- fuel-economy four-cylinder mode when less power is needed, and V-8
mode when more power from the new 5.7-liter HEMI engine is in demand. An
expanded MDS operating range in the new-for-2009 HEMI -- aided in part by
the Ram's best- in-class aerodynamics -- will allow customers to realize an
even-greater fuel economy benefit. When MDS is operating, it is indicated
by the fuel-economy- mode readout in the 2009 Dodge Ram's Electronic
Vehicle Information Center.

   Chrysler estimates that since its inception of MDS in 2005, nearly 100
million gallons of gasoline have been saved, along with reduced carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions of close to a million metric tons.

   4.7-liter V-8

   An available 4.7-liter V-8 delivers 310 horsepower (231 kW) and 330
lb.- ft. (447 N.m) of torque.

   The 4.7-liter V-8 shares some of the HEMI engine's combustion
technology with its twin spark plugs per cylinder. It also makes use of
increased compression ratio, improved cylinder head port flow and a new
slant/squish combustion system designed to optimize fuel economy, power and
torque.

   This engine is also compatible with E85 fuel, earning the Flexible Fuel
Vehicle (FFV) designation that provides customers the option of operating
their vehicle on mixtures of gasoline and ethanol.

   3.7-liter V-6

   Unlike some others in the marketplace, Dodge will continue to offer
customers a V-6 engine.

   Standard on all-new 2009 Dodge Ram two-wheel-drive regular cab and Quad
Cab(R) models is a 3.7-liter Magnum V-6 engine, generating 215 horsepower
(160 kW) and 235 lb.-ft. (319 N.m) of torque.

   Similar to the 4.7-liter and 5.7-liter V-8s, the 3.7-liter V-6 is
equipped with Electronic Throttle Control, which provides engine torque
control while compensating for changes in engine load caused by the air
conditioning compressor, alternator and power steering pump.

   The 3.7-liter V-6 also offers fuel-economy and performance benefits
from technologies including exhaust gas recirculation, compacted
graphite-iron bedplate and internal balance shaft.

   6.7-liter Cummins Turbodiesel: Cleanest on the Market

   The Dodge Ram Heavy Duty's 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine already
meets 2010 truck emissions standards in all 50 states, making the 2009
Dodge Ram Heavy Duty the cleanest diesel truck available on the market
today.

   The inline six-cylinder turbodiesel engine uses a diesel particulate
filter (DPF) to virtually eliminate particulate matter emissions and an
adsorber catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by as much as 90
percent.

   In addition to the NOx adsorber and the DPF, the 6.7-liter turbodiesel
engine includes other technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce
unburned hydrocarbons:

   -- A cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system combines with a
uniquely designed piston combustion bowl and a high-flow, electronically-
controlled Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT(TM)), matching boost
pressure with the engine's performance needs to reduce emissions and
improve drivability

   -- Within the exhaust system, a self-cleaning DPF and an oxidation
catalyst reduces particulate matter by a factor of 10. The emissions system
is designed for a government-certified 120,000 miles

   -- A closed crankcase ventilation system eliminates crankcase fumes and
oil carry-over, a common process with past diesels

   As durable as it is powerful, the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel has
life- to-major overhaul intervals of 350,000 miles, providing more than a
100,000- mile advantage over the competition.

   All-new light-duty Cummins Turbodiesel

   Dodge will introduce an all-new Cummins turbodiesel engine in its
light- duty pickup trucks after 2009.

   The new engine will provide a dramatic increase in low-end torque, up
to a 25-percent improvement in fuel efficiency and a 20-percent reduction
in carbon dioxide (C02) emissions when compared to an equivalent gasoline
engine.

   With new, clean, quiet diesel technology, the new diesel engine will
meet 50-state emissions standards for 2010.

   All-new Dodge Ram 1500 Hybrid

   The Dodge Ram 1500 Hybrid, available after 2009, will be the latest
addition to Chrysler LLC's fuel-efficient lineup, joining clean diesel,
HEMI and flex-fuel vehicles.

   Combining Chrysler's Multi-displacement System (MDS) and two-mode
hybrid technology to greatly improve fuel economy, the 5.7-liter HEMI
Hybrid V-8 offers performance and efficiency with up to 40 percent fuel
economy improvement in the city and 25 percent overall. The two-mode hybrid
system is currently being introduced in the company's 2009 Dodge Durango
HEMI Hybrid and 2009 Chrysler Aspen HEMI Hybrid.

   The two-mode hybrid system uses electric motors to allow the HEMI V-8
to remain in four-cylinder mode more often, improving fuel economy.

   In the first mode -- at low speeds and with light loads -- the vehicle
may operate on electric power only, on engine power only, or any
combination of the two. The Dodge Ram 1500 Hybrid may operate in
electric-only mode during slow starts (city driving) up to 25 mph, further
conserving fuel and reducing emissions. In addition, the HEMI V-8 can shut
down when the vehicle comes to a stop or during deceleration, to conserve
fuel and then seamlessly restart when power is necessary.

   The second mode, used primarily at highway speeds, augments electric
assist with full power from the 5.7-liter HEMI when conditions demand it.

   The Dodge Ram 1500 Hybrid also features regenerative braking, which
recycles electric energy that would normally be lost during braking or
deceleration. This energy is reused to power the vehicle.

   The Dodge Ram 1500 Hybrid will also benefit from Dodge Ram's
best-in-class aerodynamics, which allows a greater operating range of MDS.

   Dodge Brand

   With a U.S. market share of 6.2 percent, Dodge is Chrysler LLC's best-
selling brand and the sixth largest nameplate in the U.S. automotive
market. In 2007, Dodge sold more than 1.3 million vehicles in the global
market.

   The Dodge brand's first crossover vehicle -- the all-new 2009 Dodge
Journey -- arrived in dealer showrooms in the first quarter of 2008, and is
now available outside North America in petrol and diesel powertrains in
both left- and right-hand drive. The limited-edition 2008 Dodge Challenger
SRT8 with a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine that boasts 425 horsepower and 420
lb.-ft. of torque started hitting the streets this past spring. Later in
2008, Dodge will add three more vehicles to its product lineup -- the
all-new 2009 Dodge Ram with game-changing exterior and interior design,
innovations, best-in-class features and craftsmanship; the all-new 2009
Dodge Challenger, a modern interpretation of the American muscle car; and
the 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid, a hybrid electric vehicle that combines
fuel-efficient advanced hybrid technology with full-size SUV performance
and capability.

   Last fall, America's best-selling minivan, the all-new 2008 Dodge Grand
Caravan, was introduced with 35 new or improved features including the
newest innovation, the Swivel 'n Go(TM) seating system. In 2007, Dodge sold
33,500 commercial vehicles, a 285 percent increase over 2003 when the
company returned to the commercial vehicle market and is now the sixth
largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles sold in the U.S. Also in 2007,
the Dodge Avenger and Nitro entered key volume segments outside North
America, joining the Dodge Caliber, the highest sales volume vehicle for
the company outside of North America.

SOURCE Chrysler LLC

Automotive News Europe
June 26, 2008 09:48 CET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -- California today took a major step forward on its global warming fight by unveiling an ambitious plan for clean cars, renewable energy and stringent caps on big polluting industries.

The plan, which aims to reduce pollutants by 10 percent from current levels by 2020 while driving investment in new energy technologies that will benefit the state's economy, is the most comprehensive yet by any U.S. state.

It could serve as a blueprint not only for the rest of the United States, but also for other big polluting nations like China and India, planners and environmental groups said.

"This is of tremendous importance, not only for California," Mary Nichols, chairman of the influential California Air Resources Board (CARB), said on a conference call with reporters on Wednesday. "By taking action here ... we will be able to help motivate other states in our nation."

At a meeting in Sacramento on Thursday, CARB staff will present a series of proposals that would become law in 2012, with some measures going into effect two years earlier.

The initiatives include implementing a cap-and-trade program on carbon dioxide emissions that will require buildings and appliances to use less energy, oil companies to make cleaner fuels, and utilities to provide a third of their energy from renewable sources like wind and solar power.

The program will also encourage development of walkable cities with shorter commutes, high-speed rail as an alternative to air travel, and will require more hybrid and hydrogen-fueled vehicles both to move goods and people, CARB said.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose landmark 2006 law aimed at reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions prompted CARB's plan, supports the program, Nichols said.

'Ambitious, far-reaching'

CARB said the measures will benefit residents of the most populous U.S. state by reducing pollution-related illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis, and by stimulating investments in new energy technologies that will create jobs.

Nichols declined to speculate on what the program will cost for individual business sectors such as the utility industry, but said the initiatives overall should benefit the state's economy by about 1 percent starting in 2020.

"Since most of the measures in this plan are designed to make our state more energy-efficient, we believe we can predict with confidence that this is a plan that works to the benefit of the California economy," Nichols said.

CARB estimated that more efficient appliances and homes would save households, on average, about $200 a year. Meanwhile cleaner cars, while more expensive to buy, are expected to save drivers about $30 a month in fuel.

Environmental advocates, most of whom work closely with CARB, applauded the plan.

Erin Rogers, a California coordinator for environmental group the Union of Concerned Scientists, called the program "ambitious, visionary and far-reaching."

"Unless we can lead the way and show not only the nation but the world how this can be done, we face some very serious global warming impacts in California," Rogers added.

California has long been a leader in the United States on matters of climate change, and CARB said its plan will reduce annual emissions per capita to 10 tons of carbon dioxide per person by 2020 from 14 tons per person currently.

That means the state's emissions will be about 30 percent below what they would have been without the plan, Nichols said.