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 | Source: Automobile History Day By Day, by Douglas A. Wick |
Friday, October 3, 2008
Chrysler to debut new Charger, 300
Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli told Michael Eisner on CNBC that the automaker has a full product development pipeline.
Michael Eisner
Redesigned versions set for 2010, CEO says
It's official: Chrysler plans to launch redesigned versions of the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 in 2010.
The Auburn Hills automaker's plan to launch redesigned versions of the full-size cars in 2010 was an open secret in Detroit, but it was something that Chrysler officials never talked about in public.
That is until this week when Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli confirmed it.
"In the pipeline for 2010: A brand new 300, a brand new Charger ... a brand new Jeep, the pipeline is full, plus we have these smaller vehicles coming through partnerships and alliances," Nardelli said. "I think the product cadence at Chrysler is coming back strong."
As the Free Press first reported, Chrysler is planning a "product renaissance" for 2010 when it will launch seven -- perhaps eight or nine -- new vehicles.
Nardelli made his comments in an interview on CNBC's "Conversations with Michael Eisner," which aired this week.
Chrysler has said that it plans to offer a new Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Nissan-made small car in 2010. The automaker also has announced plans to begin selling a hybrid version of its Dodge Ram in 2010.
Last week, Chrysler unveiled three electric-drive vehicles, one of which will be ready for market by the end of 2010.
Speaking to journalists after the announcement, Frank Klegon, Chrysler executive vice president for product development, said the newly announced electric vehicles are in addition to the seven vehicles planned for launch in 2010.
Launching in 2010, the new 300 and Charger will probably be sold under the model year 2011.
In an interview with the Free Press earlier this year, Ralph Gilles, Chrysler's vice president for design, said the redesigned Chrysler 
Sales of the 300 are down 43% this year through September and the sales of Charger are down 10%.
Erich Merkle, an industry analyst with Crowe Horwath, foresees good things for these redesigned vehicles if Chrysler is able to replicate its formula of good design with good value as it did last time out, noting the vehicles provided customers with a nice mixture of space and efficiency.
"Make no mistake about it, right now the 300 and Charger have dropped off, but they've been going through their product lifecycle and, granted, gas prices have gotten a little out of hand and that didn't help them, either," Merkle said. "But I think by the time they launch these new vehicles ... there's a great opportunity."
Analysts say 2010 can't come fast enough for Chrysler, which has seen its sales drop 25% so far this year. While Chrysler is out with a new Dodge Ram this year, little new product is expected from Chrysler in 2009.
Speaking to journalists in Paris, Jim Press, a Chrysler president and vice chairman, said he doesn't expect the industry to improve next year.
"I don't see any 'whys' why it's going to be any better," Bloomberg quoted Press saying at the Paris Motor Show. "We're already adjusting to this level pretty well. We're learning how to fight through it. It's hand-to-hand combat. It's tough."
Meanwhile, Chrysler plans to increase the price of its 2009 model-year vehicles by on average $500, according to a person told of the plan.
A Chrysler spokesman declined comment.
Chrysler to debut new Charger, 300
October 3, 2008
Redesigned versions set for 2010, CEO says
It's official: Chrysler plans to launch redesigned versions of the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 in 2010.
The Auburn Hills automaker's plan to launch redesigned versions of the full-size cars in 2010 was an open secret in Detroit, but it was something that Chrysler officials never talked about in public.
That is until this week when Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli confirmed it.
"In the pipeline for 2010: A brand new 300, a brand new Charger ... a brand new Jeep, the pipeline is full, plus we have these smaller vehicles coming through partnerships and alliances," Nardelli said. "I think the product cadence at Chrysler is coming back strong."
As the Free Press first reported, Chrysler is planning a "product renaissance" for 2010 when it will launch seven -- perhaps eight or nine -- new vehicles.
Nardelli made his comments in an interview on CNBC's "Conversations with Michael Eisner," which aired this week.
Chrysler has said that it plans to offer a new Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Nissan-made small car in 2010. The automaker also has announced plans to begin selling a hybrid version of its Dodge Ram in 2010.
Last week, Chrysler unveiled three electric-drive vehicles, one of which will be ready for market by the end of 2010.
Speaking to journalists after the announcement, Frank Klegon, Chrysler executive vice president for product development, said the newly announced electric vehicles are in addition to the seven vehicles planned for launch in 2010.
Launching in 2010, the new 300 and Charger will probably be sold under the model year 2011.
In an interview with the Free Press earlier this year, Ralph Gilles, Chrysler's vice president for design, said the redesigned Chrysler 300 would be a "quantum leap in quality."
Sales of the 300 are down 43% this year through September and the sales of Charger are down 10%.
Erich Merkle, an industry analyst with Crowe Horwath, foresees good things for these redesigned vehicles if Chrysler is able to replicate its formula of good design with good value as it did last time out, noting the vehicles provided customers with a nice mixture of space and efficiency.
"Make no mistake about it, right now the 300 and Charger have dropped off, but they've been going through their product lifecycle and, granted, gas prices have gotten a little out of hand and that didn't help them, either," Merkle said. "But I think by the time they launch these new vehicles ... there's a great opportunity."
Analysts say 2010 can't come fast enough for Chrysler, which has seen its sales drop 25% so far this year. While Chrysler is out with a new Dodge Ram this year, little new product is expected from Chrysler in 2009.
Speaking to journalists in Paris, Jim Press, a Chrysler president and vice chairman, said he doesn't expect the industry to improve next year.
"I don't see any 'whys' why it's going to be any better," Bloomberg quoted Press saying at the Paris Motor Show. "We're already adjusting to this level pretty well. We're learning how to fight through it. It's hand-to-hand combat. It's tough."
Meanwhile, Chrysler plans to increase the price of its 2009 model-year vehicles by on average $500, according to a person told of the plan.
A Chrysler spokesman declined comment.
LINK:Chrysler to debut new Charger, 300 | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
Thursday, October 2, 2008
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| Source: Automobile History Day By Day, by Douglas A. Wick |
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Auto Express Car Reviews
By James Foxall
September 2008
Lights, camera, action! With a name like Hollywood, this very special evolution of the Chrysler 300C is aimed squarely at the world’s most glamorous buyers.
The firm wants the kind of customers who will truly appreciate a rear compartment where passengers sit in the sort of opulence that the exposed driver can only dream of. This is a luxury car like no other built in the past 50 years, and we were given the chance to test it, first from the seat up front and then from the comfort of the back!
To make the Hollywood, Chrysler chopped an SRT-8 saloon across the middle, then added half a metre between the wheels. That increase in length doesn’t make life any more bearable for the driver, though. In fact, it does the opposite. The bulkhead that ensures rear passengers sit cocooned means legroom is tight. But it’s in the back where the money has really been spent. As befits a car designed for film premieres, entry has been made more elegant by moving the door hinges to the rear. Behind the privacy glass, the Rolls-Royce-style arrangement boasts only two seats, each covered in tan hide and sumptuously comfortable. There’s also a pair of 21-inch plasma TVs, and with a centre console machined out of solid teak, a feel of discreet lavishness.
Stretch your legs and even a six-footer will struggle to touch the bulkhead in front, so vast is the space. However, it does beg one question: why don’t the seats recline? If Lexus and Mercedes can manage it in their top-of-the-range limos, it’s a strange omission in a car which has been designed solely to pamper.
The Hollywood certainly hasn’t been built with driving pleasure in mind. It is not easy to manoeuvre, and the extra weight dilutes the power of the 6.1-litre V8 engine.
There’s little rattle and bang over bumps, though, and in the back seat, you are cosseted in real style.
There are no plans as yet to put the car into production, but Chrysler might not turn away serious buyers. It could just be that it has a real Hollywood blockbuster on its hands!
Road Test: 2009 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
Awkwardly styled, the Sebring Convertible is the Pat Boone of automobiles - it hits the notes, but there’s no soul in its singing. The convertible does look slicker than the standard Sebring sedan and its hunchy shape, but the hood is still too short and the retractable hardtop’s roofline still doesn’t look quite right. Maybe it’s because of the high trunk out back? The roof looks like it was plopped on, Automoblox-style.
There are some angles where the Sebring looks good. Catch it in the right light, and all those strakes and character lines manipulate the reflections just so. It doesn’t happen often, but the right shading down that strong Chrysler family swage in the body side will have you exclaiming “wow, if you stand here, close one eye, and squint, it actually looks good. If you can ignore the strakes in the hood.”
Middle management pencil pushers will focus on the spec sheet and convince themselves that the Sebring offers much of what you can find in the BMW 3 series for a lot less. It makes its case on paper, initially. Standard four cylinder power can be upgraded to either a 2.7 liter or 3.5 liter V6, big alloy rims conceal four wheel disc brakes bolted to a four wheel independent suspension, an available MyGig system bundling navigation and multimedia together with a LCD in the dash, leather seating, power folding hardtop, it all sounds very nice, though the price can scrape high into the 30s.
Upon first setting eyes on the Sebring, the reaction to the price goes from a shrug to “are they on drugs?” In Chrysler’s defense, the good people at the Sterling Heights plant have solidly screwed all the pieces together, the Sebring Touring we tried was well-assembled. The fine construction job only goes so far when the pieces aren’t very good. While the outside has to deal with being generally ungainly, the interior is molded from plastic so cheap it’d make a milk jug blush. Door and dash panels are large swaths of injection molded cheapness. Surface textures are off-putting, and most everything is rock hard to the touch.
The Touring wore seats that were generally comfortable and attractive with two shades of leather and contrasting stitching. The dashboard’s design appears more disjointed in pictures than it comes off in practice, though the attempt to dress things up with featureless expanses of silver colored plastic again screams cheap. A redesign isn’t really what’s needed, just new molds that will impart some high quality surface finishes so the HVAC controls don’t have to float in limbo. It’s easy to sit back and call for millions of dollars in molds and materials upgrades, but that’s what this car needs.
Actually, the Sebring needs one last thing: new engines. We’re astounded you can even get a four cylinder in the Sebring, even the 2.7 liter V6 feels inadequate. Chrysler’s Phoenix engines are slated to hit the production stream for the 2010 model year, and we hope they’re as good as promised so the wheezing, braying sixes Chrysler now has can go to the grave.
It’s good at what it does; normal adults fit in all the seats, front and rear, and the trunk is nice and big, useful even when the top is down. Given the exterior size, the interior feels a little more intimate than you’d first expect, though, and the trunklid rises on very stiff struts yet has no grab handle, making closing difficult. The Touring comes well equipped and is solid on the road, but the price is unforgivable. Chrysler wants BMW money for the Sebring, but there’s a big difference between the two. The BMW drives with aplomb, while the Sebring drives like a bomb. Not entirely, but its limits are low, easily pushing the Turanzas into abuse territory and there’s not much feedback from the helm.
For a car that doesn’t purport to be sporty (never mind what Touring badging implies), the Sebring hits all the right notes to satisfy the likes of Michael Scott, and it will please the audience that’s always bought Chrysler convertibles. It is nice to have a convertible with a useable trunk, and the retractable hardtop makes it possible to have a no compromises closed car when the weather doesn’t support top-down motoring. It’s not a cracking good bargain, but choices are limited when it comes to commodious domestic-branded droptops, and for that, we can hope that the Sebring goes to finishing school and sticks around.
Click to view our original 2009 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Road Test photo gallery
Chrysler LLC Reports September 2008 U.S. Sales; Announces October Incentive Strategy
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct 01, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --
-- Chrysler LLC celebrates 25th anniversary of minivan leadership
-- Sales increase for Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan
-- Chrysler Sebring Convertible posts strong sales for the month
-- Sales of the fuel-efficient Dodge Caliber continue at a steady pace
-- All-new Dodge Journey continues as a hit in the crossover segment
-- 2008 model-year Dodge Ram light-duty truck sales make way for new
2009 model
-- October incentives offer best deals of the year on remaining
2008 models
Chrysler LLC today reported total September 2008 U.S. sales of 107,349 units, down 33 percent from the same period last year. Total September sales reflect a highly volatile economic environment, ongoing segment shifts and reduced fleet and lease volume. Sales for the month were supported by models such as the Dodge Journey, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Chrysler Town & Country, as well as competitive pricing and aggressive monthly payment offers.
"The economy is going through a difficult restructuring, resulting in great uncertainty among consumers," Jim Press, Chrysler LLC Vice Chairman and President, said. "We are committed to supporting our customers with significant savings and innovative financing, and our dealers with new business solutions. Longer term, we all need to be investing in building a healthier automobile industry and be ready to compete when the economy strengthens."
October Incentives
This month's incentives provide consumers an opportunity to take advantage of the remaining 2008 model-year inventory at the best deals of the year. The incentive plan will focus on aggressive cash positions and discounted APR financing that drive lower monthly payments. For example on the remaining inventory of the 2008 model-year Dodge Ram, there are total manufacturer discounts up to $6,000 or 0 percent APR financing for 72 months with $1,000 cash back.
For returning lease customers, Chrysler will offer Lease Loyalty allowance of up to $750 toward a new retail purchase. For consumers interested in leasing through independent financial institutions, Chrysler offers Bonus Cash of up to $2,000 on select 2008 model-year vehicles.
September Sales Highlights
Chrysler LLC's minivan sales continued to thrive in September based on their strong appeal as fuel efficient, multi-passenger vehicles. Compared with September sales in 2007, the Chrysler Town & Country achieved a 6 percent increase with sales of 9,229 units, and the Dodge Grand Caravan increased 6 percent with sales of 11,056 units. With more than 12 million minivans sold worldwide in their 25-year history, Chrysler and Dodge minivans still command 40 percent of the U.S. minivan market.
The mid-size Chrysler Sebring Convertible continues to resonate well in the market, achieving an 11 percent increase with 1,813 units in September.
Offering the versatility of a sport-utility vehicle (SUV) and the affordability and fuel efficiency of a compact car, the Dodge Caliber posted sales of 6,129 units, down 3 percent over last year's total of 6,348 units. However, when compared with August 2008 sales, the Caliber's sales increased by 52 percent.
The all-new Dodge Journey continues to make its mark in the crossover segment offering best-in-class fuel economy (19 mpg city/25 mpg highway) and award-winning seven-passenger interior utility. The Dodge Journey reached 4,860 units, up 6 percent when compared with August 2008 sales.
The sell-down of 2008 Dodge Ram pickups has progressed and made way for the all-new 2009 model arriving at dealers in October. The 2009 model-year Dodge Ram offers a best-in-class combination of power and fuel efficiency with a base starting price of $22,170 (regular cab, includes destination).
The Company finished the month with 381,365 units of inventory, or a 85- day supply. As part of a planned reduction in manufacturing capacity, inventory is down 15 percent compared with September 2007 when it totaled 450,733 units.
About Chrysler LLC
Chrysler LLC, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., produces Chrysler, Jeep(R), Dodge and Mopar(R) brand vehicles and products. Total sales worldwide in 2007 were 2.7 million vehicles, including an increase of 15 percent outside of North America. Its product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee and Dodge Challenger and Ram. The Chrysler Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm, annually supports hundreds of charitable organizations in the United States and throughout the world. In 2007, the Foundation gave approximately $21 million in charitable donations.
Chrysler LLC U.S. Sales Summary Thru September 2008
Month Sales Vol %
Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change
Sebring 5,450 6,057 -10%
300 4,287 9,231 -54%
Crossfire 113 501 -77%
PT Cruiser 2,410 6,140 -61%
Aspen 1,313 3,875 -66%
Pacifica 544 4,183 -87%
Town & Country 9,229 8,681 6%
CHRYSLER BRAND 23,346 38,668 -40%
Compass 993 2,852 -65%
Patriot 3,190 4,245 -25%
Wrangler 6,130 8,605 -29%
Liberty 4,963 6,830 -27%
Grand Cherokee 4,565 10,419 -56%
Commander 1,590 4,509 -65%
JEEP BRAND 21,431 37,460 -43%
Caliber 6,129 6,348 -3%
Avenger 4,500 8,318 -46%
Charger 8,118 9,265 -12%
Challenger 2,376 0 0%
Viper 86 24 258%
Magnum 35 3,628 -99%
Dakota 622 4,188 -85%
Ram P/U 20,812 30,100 -31%
Journey 4,860 0 0%
Caravan 11,056 10,417 6%
Durango 616 2,850 -78%
Nitro 2,531 7,044 -64%
Sprinter 831 1,489 -44%
DODGE BRAND 62,572 83,671 -25%
TOTAL CHRYSLER LLC 107,349 159,799 -33%
TOTAL CAR 31,099 43,681 -29%
TOTAL TRUCK 76,250 116,118 -34%
Selling Days 24 25
Sales CYTD Vol %
Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change
Sebring 61,428 68,277 -10%
300 51,807 90,251 -43%
Crossfire 1,566 8,290 -81%
PT Cruiser 42,345 77,383 -45%
Aspen 17,681 22,468 -21%
Pacifica 5,621 42,874 -87%
Town & Country 95,287 99,134 -4%
CHRYSLER BRAND 275,735 408,677 -33%
Compass 22,389 31,273 -28%
Patriot 47,344 27,612 71%
Wrangler 65,135 92,549 -30%
Liberty 54,293 68,865 -21%
Grand Cherokee 57,333 93,246 -39%
Commander 22,654 50,124 -55%
JEEP BRAND 269,148 363,669 -26%
Caliber 74,069 80,352 -8%
Avenger 53,828 59,148 -9%
Charger 80,220 89,490 -10%
Challenger 8,443 0 0%
Viper 872 348 151%
Magnum 6,777 22,342 -70%
Dakota 21,626 41,376 -48%
Ram P/U 196,058 276,978 -29%
Journey 35,627 0 0%
Caravan 102,398 130,472 -22%
Durango 17,339 37,511 -54%
Nitro 30,071 55,789 -46%
Sprinter 11,308 11,193 1%
DODGE BRAND 638,636 806,477 -21%
TOTAL CHRYSLER LLC 1,183,519 1,578,823 -25%
TOTAL CAR 340,101 429,876 -21%
TOTAL TRUCK 843,418 1,148,947 -27%
Selling Days 230 230
SOURCE Chrysler LLC
SMS releases new images, price range for 570 and 570X Challenger
Click above for a high resolution image
Steve Saleen's fledgling new company, SMS Supercars, is getting ready to officially debut its first production car and has released a few more photos and information regarding the 570 and 570X Challenger. According to the new press release, the two models are targeted to start at $60,000 and $70,000, respectively. Yes, that's quite a chunk of change, but SMS is making it worthwhile with an extensive list of upgrades. Starting with the powertrain, the SMS 296 supercharger pushes massive amounts of air to the 5.7L HEMI, and true enthusiasts will be glad to know that a proper 6-speed manual transmission will be doing the shifting. Both models also get a high performance suspension, exhaust, 20-inch wheels, and 14-inch front and 12-inch rear brakes. For the exterior, SMS replaces the front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and hood, and adds a rear spoiler. The 570X model also receives carbon fiber front and rear splitters, a carbon fiber diffuser, and a rear wing that replaces the spoiler. The interior receives upgrades as well, including two-tone leather sport seats, leather door inserts, a leather grip shifter, 200-mph gauge cluster, and auxiliary gauges for the supercharger. Each vehicle will also be personally signed by Steve Saleen. Follow the jump for the press release and check out the gallery below.
[Source: SMS Supercars]
PRESS RELEASE:
Steve Saleen and his company SMS are well on the way to production with the first vehicle in the line of Signature Series ultra-high performance vehicles. The SMS 570 Challenger will be the first vehicle with a host of aesthetic and functional innovations including the patented SMS Red Butterfly Induction™ hood and a full compliment of SMS ultra-high performance components including: drivetrain, suspension, aerodynamics, tires, wheels and interior.
The fully certified and street legal SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger will be based off the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T platform and will feature a SMS designed and engineered SMS 296 Supercharger atop the 5.7L Hemi, with power ratings from 500 to over 700 horsepower respectively.
The MSRP's for the 2009 SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger are targeted to start at $60,000 to $70,000 respectively with production commencing in 2008. Both models will carry a bumper-to-bumper factory warranty.
This is an exciting opportunity for the Mopar community to finally take part in the ultra-high performance niche production vehicle market! So act now to reserve yours.
Each of these limited edition vehicles will be personally signed by Steve Saleen as part of the Signature Series product line, complete with unique badges and graphics. Production numbers will be limited per year depending on the model, so the opportunity to be one of the few owners is limited to a first come first served basis. So act now, by placing your pre-production orders though any Dodge dealer in the US. Or call us directly for more details.
About SMS
We are a niche manufacturer of lifestyle ultra-high performance vehicles, technical performance parts, lifestyle accessories and apparel. We design, engineer, test, certify, manufacture and assemble all our own products and vehicles.
Chrysler minivans celebrate 25 years
Chrysler celebrates 25th anniversary of minivan The year was 1983. Ronald Reagan was President of the United States of America. Lech Walesa was the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The Internet was created, and the first mobile phones were introduced to the public. U.S. astronauts completed the first space shuttle spacewalk; Michael Jackson performed the “moonwalk.” The Baltimore Orioles won the World Series…and Chrysler hit a home run with the introduction of the first minivan. The Chrysler Corporation (as it was known then) was first to market with the minivan in 1983. However, the development of the minivan began even earlier than that, in 1977, as a response to new customer needs identified in the marketplace. Chrysler pinpointed a potential vehicle market that needed to deliver a few simple premises: fuel-efficient, easy to step into, family friendly and smaller than the Dodge Ram Van.
On November 2, 1983, the first minivan rolled down the assembly line in Windsor. These 1984 model-year Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager models quickly appeared in dealerships throughout the U.S. alongside the Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant K-cars. The launch of the minivan in 1983 created an all-new product segment.
The newest fifth-generation minivans—Chrysler Town & Country, Chrysler Grand Voyager and Dodge Grand Caravan—encapsulate more than 65 minivan-first features and more than 25 years of development in minivan leadership. As the leader in family transportation, Chrysler and Dodge minivans take the “family room on wheels” concept to a new level.
With more than 12 million minivans sold worldwide and over 260 awards—including 2008 “Minivan of the Year” and “International Truck of the Year” by the International Car of the Year organization—Chrysler and Dodge minivans are continuing to make history.
Jeep product team readies Quality month display
Posted Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 at 8:52 am in Company News
This month, the Chrysler Product teams are bringing employees in the Auburn Hills Complex up to date on the many quality improvements that have been implemented over the last several months. Each week a different product team will sponsor vehicle quality exhibits. You’re invited to come see the many improvements made to all “Six Types of Quality.” The following vehicles are on display this week:
The 2009 Dodge Challenger—2nd floor Tech Plaza Main Cafeteria.
The 2009 Town & Country Swivel-N-Go minivan—2nd floor Tower Cafeteria hallway.
The 2009 Chrysler Sebring—2nd floor Process Court satellite Dining Room.
Beginning Monday for the entire week, visit the following Jeep® vehicle displays:
The 2009 Jeep Wrangler—2nd floor Main Cafeteria.
The 2008/2009 Jeep Patriots—2nd floor Tower Cafeteria hallway.
The 2009 Jeep Liberty—2nd floor Process Court Satellite Dining Room.
Check back with The Scoop throughout October for more information on other Quality Month exhibits and events.
Dodge Viper For Sale 2008 ACR Very Viper Orange
| Dodge Vipers for Sale, BJ Motors is offering a new 2008 Very Viper Orange with Black Dome Package, 6 Miles, everything is still in the wrapper. Seats are still covered, steering wheel still covered, this is a brand new ACR 1 of 15 built for the 2008 Dodge Viper ACR. This color will not be available in Orange in the ACR for 2009. Production colors will be White, Graphite and Red. For more information visit our web site. Or call 1-800-270-1608 ext.2.
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| BJ Motors is one of the area's largest performance and exotic sports car wholesalers, and specializes in the Dodge Viper. We buy and sell the best of the best automobiles. Each and every car is hand picked for extremely high quality and low mileage. Our cars are as important to us as they are to you. Every vehicle is rigorously inspected to ensure the highest quality. We take extra care to research the history and service of each of our cars, as well as conduct a complete and thorough detail process. We offer a variety of financing options, and extended warranties through our business partners, enclosed nationwide shipping, and friendly knowledgeable expertise. Give us a call or schedule an appointment to come and see our line of fine vehicles just waiting for you! We would like to be your source for Dodge Vipers or any exotic vehicles in the market place today. Check out our inventory as it changes daily. If there is something you are looking for specifically and you do not see it here, please send us an e-mail and we will try and help you locate your vehicle. Thanks for visiting and check back often. |
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2009 Dodge Challenger SE Fuel-Economy Marathon Test Drive: Can V6 Thrift and Retro Design Hit 25 MPG?
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PETOSKEY, Mich. – Okay, we've had a whole year to bask in the warm glow of the limited-production, $39,000 Dodge Challenger SRT8, with its 21st-century muscle updating the classic hemi models in a run of retro Detroit updates. Now it's time to talk about the car that most of us will end up buying, the fuel-sipping 2009 Dodge Challenger SE. After driving it for a day this summer, we just finished putting a whopping 669 miles on a Challenger SE over the weekend, driving from our base near Detroit up to the Bay Harbor resort community that lies between Petoskey and Charlevoix on Michigan's Little Traverse Bay, an arm of Lake Michigan.
On the open road, we found this basic Challenger model to be a surprisingly pleasant car that delivers good acceleration, fuel economy and, of course, that classic clean look. Granted, the SE won't run with its fellow Challenger models at the drag strip, nor will it shame the new Toyota Prius or Volkswagen Jetta TDi when it comes to fuel economy. We just proved that the current Prius and new VW diesel are kings of the road in one of these beastly miles-per-gallon runs, but as a comfy, cool, $25,000 ride that won't sting at the pump, the Challenger sure makes a compelling case. Read on for just how much sting we saved.... —Jim McCraw
The Drive
Our model of the Challenger SE, in a stealthy dark titanium metallic finish with a dark slate gray cloth interior, starts at $21,320. But with a full load of standard power and convenience equipment, including 18-in. alloy wheels, it totaled $25,240. Dodge's 250-hp 3.5-liter V-6 makes 250 lb-ft of torque and is paired to a 4-speed automatic and a 3.64:1 rear-end ratio.The SE is rated to deliver 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, and throughout our trip, we found it quiet, responsive and relatively smooth. We were attempting to drive for max mileage on this trip, so we used cruise control as much as possible, and kept a light foot on the go pedal at all times.
Instead of taking Interstate 75—the commercial and industrial spine of Michigan—the entire trip, we chose U.S. 127, an agricultural high road. This great route starts in Miami as U.S. 27, changes to 127 outside Chattanooga and ends at the intersection of I-75 in Grayling, Mich. With our favorite copilot, eats and drinks, a Valentine One radar detector and a Cobra NavOne portable navigation system on board, we left in the rain at 8 am on Saturday and arrived at home in the rain at 7 pm Sunday evening.
We were pleasantly surprised as how tight and quiet the Challenger SE rode, with very little tire and wind noise intruding. The suspension was smooth and supple, soaking up the big bumps and deep potholes with ease. Steering feel was solid, too, and the big brakes worked well, albeit with a bit too much empty pedal travel. The standard cloth bucket seats were amazingly comfortable and supportive, and we arrived refreshed and relaxed, even after fighting the weather for five hours. The trunk is the largest in its small class of competitors, according to Dodge, and the rear seat is a 60/40 fold-down that adds huge storage potential if and when you need it.
The Bottom Line
We ran two tanks of fuel nearly dry on our 669-mile jaunt and ended up with a calculated overall fuel mileage for the trip of 23.4 mpg. At this rate, with its 18.5-gallon tank, a Challenger SE could potentially travel close to 430 miles per tankful. With a switch to a more modern six-speed automatic, acceleration, driving fun and fuel mileage would certainly improve.Dodge's aftermarket performance arm, Mopar, already offers a Pro Stock-style hood, a spoiler, a bright fuel filler door like the one on the SRT8 and even replacement shifter, and 20-in. forged aluminum wheels. So you could create a one-of-a-kind SE for far less than the price of an R/T and get V-6 gas mileage every day. Not a bad deal.
Pickup truck runs on 'gasifier'
By Nita Birmingham (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
A pickup truck that runs on scrap wood chips and switchgrass briquettes began a coast-to-coast tour Monday in Mount Pleasant to raise awareness of bio energy.
Wayne Keith, a cattle farmer and partner in Renewable Energy Systems LLC in Springville, Ala., developed technology that enables vehicles to be powered with material such as wood, switch grass, crop residues and chicken litter.
"It's been 3 1/2 years since I've driven anywhere on gas," Keith said Monday.
Auburn University is partnering with Renewable Energy Systems in the cross-country tour.
The lime green 1987 Dodge Dakota truck with Auburn University car flags would have been hard to miss Monday in the parking lot of the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. "Go Green" is printed across the tailgate.
Going green is an especially timely subject now, with gas prices that recently reached record highs and still remain in the $3.70 range in many areas of the Lowcountry.
Fuel for the Bio-Truck is cheaper and turning material like wood into gas is a carbon-neutral process, which makes it environmentally clean, Auburn University professor of agronomy and soils David Bransby said.
Keith uses scrap wood, but said even if he had to buy chips, the cost would be less than one cent a mile to fuel the truck.
In very simple terms, here's how the process works:
Wood or other material goes into a container on the bed of the truck. When the material burns, it produces hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The mixture flows into a gas radiator, which looks like black rails on the truck. The gas runs through a filter, then directly through the carburetor to the engine.
Keith said the system requires cleaning.
"You're going to get your hands dirty," he said, but he figures he's saving $4,000 to $5,000 a year. "I discovered that buys a lot of soap," he said with a smile.
Bransby and Keith left Mount Pleasant bound for Georgia. They'll work their way to the west coast and Keith will drive a 1991 Dodge Dakota Bio-Truck in a road race for vehicles powered by non-commercially available fuels. The race runs from Oct. 11 through 13 and goes from Berkeley, Calif., to Las Vegas.
This Day in Auto History:
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| Source: Automobile History Day By Day, by Douglas A. Wick |
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Porsche accuses GT-R of cheating the 'Ring
[Noted: we feel the same as you look at the gearing and amount claimed power output]
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Article: Porsche accuses Nissan GT-R of cheating the 'Ring
Porsche has accused Nissan of cheating in the GT-R's record bid at the Nurburgring racetrack.
Porsche has just run its own back-to-back tests with the Japanese company's GT-R supercar and says it could not get within 25 seconds of Nissan's claimed record time of seven minutes 29 seconds in April.
It also found its 911 Turbo and GT2 were both quicker than the GT-R.
"This wonder car with 7:29 could not have been a regular series production car," says August Achleitner, the 911 product chief for Porsche, speaking to the CARSguide at the Australian press preview of the latest 911 Cabrio.
"For us, it's not clear how this time is possible. What we can imagine with this Nissan is they used other tyres."
He believes the time achieved by Nissan with ex-Formula One driver Toshio Suzuki would only be possible with a semi-slick race-style tyre.
Achleitner says Porsche took a standard GT-R, running on regular road tyres, and ran it around the Nurburgring within two hours of its own cars, on the same day with exactly the same weather conditions.
He says there was no tweaking of any kind and the GT2 and Turbo both ran on regular Porsche road tyres, the Michelin Sport Cup.
"We bought the car in the US. We drove a GT-R with new tyres," he says.
Achleitner was initially protective of the exact lap times, which were run during a program when Porsche also compared its upcoming four-door Panamera with a range of potential rivals.
But he eventually revealed his team clocked the GT-R at 7 minutes 54 seconds, with the 911 Turbo managing 7:38 and the GT2 getting down to 7:34.
The laps were not run by Porsche's usual hot-lap specialist, former world rally champion and race winner Walter Rohrl, but one of the company's chassis development engineers who is an expert on the Nurburgring.
Achleitner says the back-to-back comparison was run because Porsche was concerned by Nissan's claims for the GT-R, which is heavier than the 911 with similar power.
"The Nissan is a good car. I don't want to make anything bad with my words," he says.
"It's a very consistent car. But this car is about 20 kilos heavier than the Turbo . . ."
In the end, Porsche believes its testing has achieved the right lap times for the Skyline GT-R and benchmarked it against its own 911 heroes in the right context.
"For us it has been clearly the result. This technical puzzle now fits together. With the other numbers we had problems to understand it," he says.
- Herald Sun
This Day in Auto History:
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| Source: Automobile History Day By Day, by Douglas A. Wick |
Stolen Car Found, Auctioned Off For Charity
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Dodge Challenger SRT8 Donated to Royals Charity Fund
POSTED: 9:15 pm CDT September 29, 2008
UPDATED: 9:32 pm CDT September 29, 2008
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A car that was stolen from a Raytown dealership was recovered and auctioned off to charity. The 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 was stolen from Raytown Dodge earlier this month. Police found the car and arrested one man. Several area Dodge dealers donated the car to the Royals charity fund. The Challengers was auctioned off for $51,000 Saturday night.
September auto sales won't be healthy
Consumers holding out; dismal data likely
With the distracting collapse of powerful Wall Street institutions this month -- the latest crisis in a growing economic calamity that has ensnared the housing, credit and energy markets -- it's safe to say that consumers weren't much in the mood to buy a new car or truck in September.
Automakers report their monthly sales results on Wednesday, and dismal results are expected.
The consumer Web site Edmunds.com is predicting a 20% decline in auto sales during the month, compared with the same month a year ago, as many consumers continue holding back on purchases and others find it increasingly difficult to get credit as troubled banks tighten their lending standards.
"Our volume is probably being impacted by a good 20% on credit availability issues," Mike Jackson, the CEO of AutoNation, the nation's largest chain of car dealerships, told the Free Press in an interview mid-month. "The standards are simply being raised to a level that they're being told 'No' when in normal times they would have been told 'Yes.' "
General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC are expected to bear the brunt of the declines. Edmunds expects sales to be off 24% at GM, 25% at Ford and 37% at Chrysler.
The major foreign automakers are expecting to post declines, too.
Edmunds is forecasting a decline of 18% for Toyota Motor Corp., 12% at Nissan Motor Co. and 6% at Honda Motor Co. But because those declines are better than the industry performance, that would leave all three foreign automakers picking up critical U.S. market share at the expense of Detroit's automakers.
In all, the brokerage Goldman Sachs is forecasting a seasonally adjusted annual selling rate of just 13 million cars and trucks in September "in the midst of market turmoil."
The seasonally adjusted annual selling rate, or SAAR, indicates what sales would total for the whole year if demand remained constant over 12 months, adjusting for seasonal factors. It's an easy reference to compare how the market is performing month to month.
For the past decade or so, the SAAR usually has ranged between 14 million and 17 million vehicles. Since December, the SAAR has been in a free-fall -- until August, when it seemed to have finally bottomed out, hitting 13.72 million vehicles.
If September's SAAR hits 13, however, it could be a sign that the market hasn't quite hit the bottom yet.
Worse yet, Sachs analyst Patrick Archambault noted that automakers have been ramping up incentives to deliver those meager sales results, a sign that natural demand for cars and trucks remains extraordinarily weak.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sweepstakes
Check out the All new 2009 Dodge Ram Crew 1500 at Dodge.com
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All-New Interior The refinements to Ram 1500 include interiors that have been completely redesigned, featuring innovative in-floor storage, available heated and ventilated seats and uconnect studios with SIRIUS Backseat TV™. -
All-New Ram Crew 1500 Meet the first true Crew for Ram light duty. The larger interior, with four more cubic feet of interior volume when compared to Ram Quad Cab,® offers spacious seating for up to six adults, while still being conveniently "garageable." -
Chrysler Exposes GEM Peapod Neighborhood Electric Car For 2009
By Preeti |
The Peapod will have a built-in interface in the dash for iPod or iPhone and will interface with the iPhone for hands-free calling. As can be expected from a NEV, GEM estimates the PeaPod’s top speed to be no more than 25 mph, allowing it to travel 30 miles on a single charge.
Look for the PeaPod to arrive in early 2009, and possibly spawn a new generation of GEM utility vehicles. The seats will be made of a mesh material to allow better air circulation and will be made of ecofriendly and recycled materials. GEM hopes to have the Peapod into production in 2009 and will follow it with more new models. For now, future plans include an electric light-duty commercial truck and a large city electric car with more range and performance, both of which GEM hopes to get into production next year along with the Peapod.
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by Dan Roth