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Dodge Recall For 2010 Trucks and SUVs Under Way, 22k Affected!

Andy Panait — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:02:44 +0000

The NHTSA announced a recall for some trucks and SUVs from Chrysler. If you own any of the following cars, you may need to have the car checked: Dodge Nitro, Dodge Ram 1500, Jeep Liberty and Jeep Wrangler. We’re talking about 2010 models, so at least the recall was quick to take place, but there’s no need to panic yet as investigations are still under way by Chrysler.

Dodge 2010 Nitro

These recalls of Dodge and Jeep models start in August, and the problem is not yet very clear or certain but could pose a serious threat to road safety. IT seems that an improper flare on a brake tube that connects the master cylinder to the hydraulic control unit is to blamed for the problem. The HCU is part of the anti-lock braking system, and the faulty flare may leak and lead to a loss of brake fluid, which could result in poor braking capabilities of the vehicle. Couple that with a careless driver and… you get the picture.

The bright part of this recall ordeal is that the faulty tube can be replaced, and that would solve the issue for good. What should you do if you own one of the possibly affected cars? You can:

phone at 800-853-1403 and explain you’re worried about your car
visit The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s safercar.gov website
visit a local Dodge / Chrysler dealer

Dodge Challenger SRT8 Said To Come At 480 HP

Andy Panait — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:10:05 +0000

The people from Allpar claim they have inside sources that say the new Challanger SRT8 2011 will have it’s engine enhanced… quite a lot. Already a powerful (hence the muscle car moniker, don’t you think?) ride, the new Dodge Challanger SRT8 may get more from it’s 6.4-liter Hemi than previous generations. More with 55 horsepower and 40 pound-feet of torque, up to 480 ponies and 460 lb-ft.

2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 looking bad in Fuschia, what will the next-gen one be like?

All this, according to the same Allpar people, matched to a powerful ight-speed automatic transmission developed by Chrysler and ZF.

Most of the other supposed changes are more of less speculative, and are mainly aimed at making the car more appealing to the modern buyer, Chrysler fan Dodge fan or both. Or neither, hopefully. The floorpan is being reworked so the car fits more easily into Charger and 300 production, an electric power steering pump is coming onboard and an upgraded interior is in the offing. Cosmetically, the muscle car picks up the Charger’s door handles, the Magnum (click for actual Spy Shots of the 2012 model!) wagon’s hatch release button for its trunk, and the lower front grille gets turned upside down.

Dodge Durango/Magnum 2012: Actual Spy-Shots!

Andy Panait — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:51:39 +0000

Chrysler is rather busy finishing their awaited 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but it seems they’re not focusing entirely on that. Near the near the company’s Auburn Hills, Michigan headquarters, photographers have been able to catch the 2012 Durango / Magnum on camera. The crossover is still in camouflage but some more close-to-final prototypes may be seen in then near future, considering that this mule is parked so close to the Dodge HQ.

Dodge Durango/Magnum 2012 actual Spy Shots

It seems an official name it’s yet decided. We would prefer the Magnum moniker, but we’ll let you know either way once a decision has been taken per Chrysler. When the new Durango/Magnum officially launches next year, it will be available with Chrysler’s new 3.6-liter V6 and possibly a 5.7-liter Hemi V8. Yes, a lot like the new Jeeps. The front end looks similar to that of the Ram pickup, and since the Ram brand has been spun off to house Dodge’s truck offerings, don’t be shocked if the new Durango falls under that umbrella.

Depending on how fast they move with the final phases of development, we may see (and, most surely, provide you with extensive coverage) of the new Dodge crossover Durango/Magnum 2012 at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.

[ PHOTO GALLERY: Dodge Durango/Magnum 2012 actual Spy Shots ]:

Chrysler Town&Country And Dodge Caravan Recall Affects 285,000 Cars In US

Liviu Anca — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:55:50 +0000

Chrysler Town&Country and Dodge Caravan minivans will be recalled for the second time this year, this time over a problem that might lead to fire.

Chrysler will make a recall for 285,000 units for the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town&Country. The recall affects the cars produced between February and September 2007, which might have electrical issues that would lead to flames. Until now, the Chrysler officials have received no information regarding any incidents caused by this problem. The Americans will check the locking mechanism and the wiring of the sliding doors. This is the second recall for the Chrysler minivans this year.

The Americans from Chrysler made another recall last month, but then 25.000 Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass units were involved. The problem were some faulty gas pedals, which came from the same provider that built the gas pedals of the Toyota models that were involved in the huge recall at the end of the last year. Other 10,000 cars on other markets were recalled over the same problem.

Dodge Caravan, Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town&Country were recalled at the start of this year, but due to an air-bags issue. The mentioned models were having problems with the crash sensors in to front side of the car, issues that could have lead to serious injuries if the air-bags didn’t came of in a crash. The recall affected 300,000 owners of cars build between 2004 and 2005.

The Dodge Road Models Will Receive A New Logo

Dragos Ionescu — Tue, 25 May 2010 10:34:48 +0000

Dodge changes the logo of the road models, which are grouped in SRT brand. The new logo draws some more dynamism and sportiness.

After Chrysler has officially decided to separate the off-road division by the Dodge street cars, the Americans presented the new logo that will appear on all Dodge road models division overseas. If the off-road vehicles, grouped in Ram brand will carry the same logo with a stylized ram, the road cars, grouped in SRT brand will display the new logo, which aims to highlight those cars which are destinate to a group of models with youth or sports target.

“It signifies our sporty character.” said Ralph Gilles, president of Dodge. The logo is a plain standing out by the two red diagonal lines parallel to be drawn to the right of a logotype created with a new point font.

According to preliminary information, the two red stripes will now be “stamped” of the American brand, will be displayed in all promotional materials of the SRT brand. The first model that will receive the new logo image is the next generation of Dodge Charger. The slashes won’t appear on Dodge vehicles, however – only on signage and print materials. As it is rolled out in dealer showrooms.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Official Pictures and Video

Andy Panait — Thu, 20 May 2010 13:16:45 +0000

After all sorts of rumours and questions came out prior and subsequent to the mysterious apparition of the new Grand Cherokee at the Nürburgring, we finally have a real and guaranteed treat for you guys!
Chrysler has released a lot of new photos of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee! We can now see the fantastic car, in official high-quality shots, in all sorts of environments, like the desert or in muddy waters, from rocky slopes to snow-topped mountains. Well maybe the mud isn’t all that obvious as it wouldn’t be good for the Grand Cherokee’s visage, but anyhow…

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee water splash photo

The company also turned out a satisfying press release, complete with a few details on the newest version of Jeep’s luxury utility. To view it scroll all the way down after the (many) photo gallery thumbnails. Blue button for the win. Chances are Chrysler was attempting to see just how big of a difference the truck’s reworked fully independent suspension and stiffer chassis would handle a serious flogging.

Prices? Well the two-wheel drive models is going to carry an MSRP of $30,995, with the four-wheel drive variant setting you back another $2,000. Not too bad, not too good. But prices don’t mean everything… we tend to forget that in these troubled times.

The core, or soul if you’re more the poetic type, of the 2011 Grand Cherokee is the the new Chrysler Pentastar V6 platform and powerplant, that translates into some 11 percent better fuel economy, Chrysler estimate. That means that the new 7,200 pounds SUV from Jeep can boast with a highway figure of 23 mph. Pretty good.

[ PHOTO GALLERY: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee ]:

Chrysler Sebring Successor Gets A New Name: Chrysler Nassau

Liviu Anca — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:45:08 +0000

According to some sources close to Chrysler, the official name of the Sebring’s succesor will be Nassau.

If we take for granted what the American journalists at Free Press say, the name that the new generation of Chrysler Sebring will bear will be Nassau. Although we new for some time that the American automaker wants to change the name of its model, the informations about the future name of the care were limited until today.

Free Press quotes Chrysler internal sources, saying that the name of the new mid-size car has appeared in some internal documents of the US automaker. It seems Nassau is not a new-entry in the Chrysler’s portfolio, this name being used for the first time in 2007, on a concept presented at the Detroit Auto Show.

“Chrysler bought the Nassau name when they came out with the concept, so it makes sense they would use it,” say Jim Hall, an American consultant of the 2953 Analytics company.

Anyway it is certain that changing the name of the Sebring mid-size car is a marketing move, and by doing that Chrysler hopes to make its successor popular. So, will it be a good move or Chrysler should have stuck to the Sebring name? We’ll see.

Chrysler Will Produce A Police Car Based On Dodge Charger

Dragos Ionescu — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:42:25 +0000

Chrysler announced that the next Dodge Charger generation will be a developed car, specially for USA police, able to fight with the already proposed GM and Ford competitors.

After General Motors unveiled the Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle as an alternative to USA police cars, and Ford responded quickly with Taurus Police Interceptor, an other overseas automaker show the interest by the niche segment.

It could be just about Chrysler, the third giant of Detroit, which threaten their rivals with next-generation Dodge Charger, ready to debut on the market in November 2010. The American model would have to fight with the competitors listed above, for a slice of USA fleet of police intervention.

Peter Grady, the Chrysler president of development department and fleet, said it aims to interest the police vehicle market and plans to propose a competitive alternative.

Chrysler currently owns 18% of USA police vehicle market, up four percent compared with 2007.

The market share is small compared with that owned Ford, which delivers Crown Victoria Police Interceptor for 70% of American police. Moreover, in the near future, Ford will plus with a Ford Police Interceptor based also on Explorer version.

Prototypes of the new Dodge Charger will be tested by the Michigan State Police Precision Driving Unit, which tests all automakers police cars and issues an annual report that serves as a buyers’ guide. It is usually published in November.

Chrysler Announced A Three Years Collaboration With NASA

Dragos Ionescu — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:46:50 +0000

Chrysler will work for the second time in its history with those from NASA. This time, researchers of the two companies will lead many existing technologies to a new level.

Just a few months out of bankruptcy and signing an alliance with Fiat Group, the American consortium named Chrysler announced a collaboration with NASA. The collaboration between the two sides aimed the materials development, robotics, radar systems, batteries and energy storage technologies. The two companies have collaborated in the past, like Mercury and Apollo projects, but also to develop a navigation system. Each of the two sides will work on these technologies and Chrysler and NASA engineers will work to reduce costs and improve existing technology. Both the Dodge brand, and Ram and Chrysler would benefit from the new collaboration with NASA.

The winner of this business is the Chrysler Corporation, at least in image terms, and NASA will benefit in terms of cost. Chrysler wins also useful technology in the near future – respectively in the energy storage and developing batteries, which could be used by the Italian partners from Fiat to build electric vehicles. Chrysler dropped recently to ENVI program, a development program of electrical cars, the guys from Fiat will develop this project in near future.

Each project of the two partners will have a technical specialist from NASA and a technical specialist from Chrysler Group. In 1961, Chrysler built Redstone rockets for Mercury Project, which sent the first American in space. Subsequently, the first two Apollo crews were sent into space by two Chrysler rockets. The guys from NASA have not said exactly what will make this time with the Chrysler Corporation.

Possible Fiat-Chrysler-PSA Alliance – Age Of Giants

Liviu Anca — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:55:29 +0000

Sergio Marchionne, Fiat-Chrysler Group chief said recently that the next large group involved in a merger/collaboration will come from France.

Who is this group, it is easy to figure out. PSA Peugeot Citroen previously attempted a collaboration with Mitsubishi, now trying one with BMW, but soon, the French must take a clear decision on a long term collaboration. Sergio Marchionne believes that to survive in current conditions, each group must produce at least 5 million models a year.

Therefore, SAP will be one of the groups will soon get its eyes on a close collaboration. But Marchionne said that an alliance with those from PSA would be an auspicious opportunity. And if you add the 3.2 million cars produced by Peugeot and Citroen to the 2 million cars of the Fiat Group and the Chrysler group’s 1.3 million, we get to a number of over 5 million units, more that Marchione talked about.

Anyway the rumors might come true one day, as this collaboration between the three giants of the cars industry would bring advantages to all three groups.

Still, will PSA Peugeot Citroen go with Fiat and Chrysler, or will stick the current BMW option? Remains to be seen.