Ahh, the joys of branding and rebranding. Chrysler is no stranger to this. Since its partnership with Fiat it has separated RAM from Dodge (go figure), introduced standalone Fiat stores, and launched a new plan for Street Racing Technology. Chrysler has been pitching SRT as its own brand for the past year. That means separate marketing and the like – despite the fact there will still be SRT Dodges and Chryslers, sold under different brands. Makes perfect sense, right? OK, we’ll get off our soapbox now. We do think it is a great idea for Chrysler to conduct specific owner outreach programs to SRT buyers. SRT buyers make up a unique demographic that is different from the standard iterations of their respective brands. So hey, maybe it will work out brilliantly. The 2013 Viper is one such vehicle under the new SRT umbrella. It isn’t a Dodge Viper anymore, but rather an SRT Viper. Via Autoblog , Ralph Gilles has said that change has led to a reworking of the company’s strategy in selling the vehicles. Instead of sticking the usual salespeople on the job for selling the expensive Viper, a training program will be instituted. A document will be going out to dealers interested in selling the car, he said. “It’s going to be a qualified dealer situation… The ones who do the dealer training in terms of the tech. I want a tech. I want a display car. I want all these things. There’s going to be a list. It’s not going to be impossible, it’s just that someone has to put in the extra effort and say ‘I’m an SRT dealer ” says Gilles. It isn’t clear if this is limited to the Viper only. We assume so, as SRT models are already sold in Dodge dealers around the country. Gilles said reception to the new Viper is strong – there is one dealer that has 90 orders alone. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts See more here:  Dodge Dealer Training Required to Sell 2013 SRT Viper

Chrysler is recalling nearly 120,000 2011-2012 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans in the U.S. The vehicles have electronic stability control (ESC) and anti-lock brake systems (ABS) which may overheat and cause loss of control, warns the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to company reports, Chrysler is unaware of any injuries, deaths or accidents due to the overheating ESC and ABS units in the sedans. The issue also affects about 8,725 Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300s in Canada. NHTSA says Chrysler will notify Dodge Charger and Chrylser 300 owners affected by this recall this month. Owners will be instructed to bring in their recalled Chrysler vehicles to dealerships where mechanics will relocate the systems’ fuse boxes for free. For more information, consumers can contact Chrysler toll-free at 800-853-1403 or visit the NHTSA website at: www.safercar.gov . Source: Recall: 2011-2012 Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger – Anti-lock brakes; Campaign ID #: 12V197000 [NHTSA] Chrysler recalls 127,350 Dodge Chargers, Chrysler 300s [Reuters] Read the original post: Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans recalled due to overheating anti-lock brake systems

Obi-Wan Kenobi seems to have gotten tired of hitching rides in that Skywalker kid’s battered old X-34 landspeeder and got himself a green Toyota, which he crashed while trying to squeeze between two lanes of stopped cars. This occurred in Roseville, CA and not Mos Eisley, Tattooine. More » Read the rest here: Obiwan Kenobi Arrested For Hit-And-Run In California [Car Crime] Originally posted here: Obiwan Kenobi Arrested For Hit-And-Run In California [Car Crime]

General Motors sees a growing need for rear-wheel-drive cars in its product portfolio, and such an influx requires either an unimaginably flexible platform or a series of rear-drive component sets. Since “unimaginably flexible” isn’t something GM does well, the company is in the midst of dropping, reworking, and creating rear-drive architectures. General Motors currently sells rear-drive cars built off of one of three architectures: Y-Car, Sigma, and Zeta. The first underpins only the Corvette—an anomaly in the company’s platform strategy. But the latter two volume platforms grew from a program dating to the early 1990s called Global Rear-Wheel Drive (GRWD in GM-speak). The plan was to use GRWD to build some Cadillacs plus a slew of Holdens for Australia. GRWD was doomed to failure because the Cadillac models required significant cost increases that couldn’t be absorbed by the Holdens, which are sold in vast numbers as razor-margined company cars. The project then splintered and evolved into Sigma and Zeta. Here is the original post: Chevrolet SuperSport Sedan Coming in 2013, Wagon and Ute Body Styles Possible for Next Gen on Zeta II More:  Chevrolet SuperSport Sedan Coming in 2013, Wagon and Ute Body Styles Possible for Next Gen on Zeta II

A 33-year-old Utah woman crashed her 2009 Shelby GT500 with such force last month that the roof disintegrated, the front suspension detached, and the engine flew out of the car . The big V8 was then struck by an Acura causing another accident. Everyone survived. More » Here is the original: This Shelby GT500 Crashed So Hard Its Engine Detached And Hit Another Car [Car Crashes] Here is the original post:  This Shelby GT500 Crashed So Hard Its Engine Detached And Hit Another Car [Car Crashes]

Today at High Gear Media, Norway loves the Nissan Leaf and Bosch speaks up regarding the future of diesels. A rare Aston Martin is heading to auction and the 2014 Jaguar F-Type will have a V-8 engine option. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on The Car Connection. Disney showed off renderings of a refurbished test track feature at… Original post: 2013 Dodge Dart Reviewed, 2013 Mercedes SL63 AMG Driven, Disney: Car News headlines

Ok enough with the jokes The Dodge Caravan has been a popular vehicle for growing families since its debut in 1984. The grocery hauler has been popular for its class-leading interior conveniences and its ability to transport kids and cargo. While most guys poke fun at the minivan, it continues to be a great family vehicle. This week we’ll check out what makes the 2012 Grand Caravan a good choice for families. Last year, the Grand Caravan was lowered one inch; it got a sportier front facia, a new Dodge crosshair grille, and a slightly reshaped hood and quad headlights. The rear received new Dodge lettering on the liftgate, new LED taillights, and a body colored roof spoiler. You don’t buy it for its looks The 2012 Grand Caravan receives a few minor changes in trim levels and a new, lower-cost base model called the American Value Package. This week we’ll be testing the 2012 Caravan SXT. We’ll start with the interior since that is why so many families buy them. There is only so much you can do with a box, so we’ll just concentrate on the inside. Up front, the Grand Caravan has all-new fabric on the seats, extra soft touch materials throughout adding more luxury even though the dash is still hard plastic which is characteristic in the minivan segment, but not a bad idea since kids touch things with their dirty hands. This SXT tester came with a telescoping steering wheel with trip computer, phone, audio, cruise control, and, when ordered, navigation controls. Moms will love the convex conversation mirror that allows for seeing the kids in the rear without having to turn around. The 2012 Grand Caravan also offers lots of storage up front, two cupholders, and a covered shallow tray. The rear passenger area is equipped to handle just about any need that a growing family will have. Now the only thing needed is a restroom in back. Stow n’ Go is the advantage The Dodge Caravan still holds the advantage among the competition with seats that with the pull of a lever, can be stowed in the floor bins below. This system called Super Stow ‘n Go allows for both second and third-row seats to be folded flat into the floor. The system works flawlessly and in just a couple of minutes the kid’s hauler is transformed into a cargo carrying work vehicle for dad. The...

Chrysler dusted off the “Dodge Dart” nameplate for a small sedan based on an elongated and stretched platform shared with the Alfa Romeo Guilietta, a premium compact sold in Europe and elsewhere. This is the first new Dodge car to emerge from the Chrysler-Fiat alliance, and others are expected to soon follow. Based on our first impressions, it is a significant improvement over the long-retired, chintzy Neon. For a first drive, we borrowed a Dart from Chrysler. Our loaner was powered by a 160-hp, 1.4-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder Fiat engine linked to a six-speed manual transmission. The most popular version is expected to be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder (also rated at 160 hp) matched with an automatic. There will also be a sporty R/T with a 184-hp, 2.4-liter four. The latter two are updated versions of Chrysler engines that have common hardware with Hyundai and Mitsubishi units. With the 1.4-turbo, the Dart starts up with a distinctive Italian exhaust bark. The engine also pulls well and feels flexible enough at low- to mid-range revs. The manual shifter is low effort though a bit rubbery and with rather long throws. Handling is quite agile. The body stays flat in corners and the steering is quick and well weighted. The ride is fairly composed, but not as restrained and compliant as in a Ford Focus or Subaru Impreza . The cabin is relatively quiet. Overall, the car instills a feeling of solidity and substance. The interior is tidy enough but not a breakthrough. We liked the padded dash, but most other surfaces are hard plastic. Our version had Chrysler’s big, attractive, 8.4-inch color touch screen that provides the interface for the audio, climate, and other functions. We found it to be quite straightforward to use. In addition, the Dart will offer a host of options that are uncommon in this class, such as heated steering wheel and a backup camera. The seats drew mixed reviews. Some thought their support wasn’t even. One nice surprise is a storage bin under the passenger seat. Given the generous dimensions for the class, with an overall length of 184 inches, you’d expect a roomy rear seat but it turns out to be merely acceptable. Overall, the Dart comes across as a frisky compact that’s entertaining to drive. It...

Chrysler must have a death wish, an inferiority complex, or a burning desire to stay third among the domestic Big Three. Thirty-odd years ago, Lee Iacocca begged Congress for loan guarantees to keep the Chrysler ship afloat. This company had another encounter with the Grim Reaper in the Nineties followed by a full Chapter 11 reorganization three years ago. Ownership stints by Daimler-Benz, Cerberus, the U.S. and Canadian governments, and Fiat have left the Pentastar brand feeling like a toxic orphan. (more…) See more here: 2013 Dodge Dart First Drive: Fiat and Chrysler’s First Kid is a Good One Originally posted here: 2013 Dodge Dart First Drive: Fiat and Chrysler’s First Kid is a Good One

The 2013 Dodge Dart gets Chrysler back into the compact sedan game, and it does so with more than a little attitude and rakish design. Instantly distinctive on the road, the new Dart is one of the roomiest entries among compact four-door sedans. Dodge will offer three engines, three gearboxes, several trim levels, and a host of… See the original post: 2013 Dodge Dart

The $54,995 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will have 662 hp and 631 lb-ft of torque according to SAE ratings released by Ford today—eclipsing the 650 hp and 600 lb-ft the company originally estimated. We’d love to make an analogy to demonstrate what an obscene amount of power and torque this is, but the GT500 is the analogy. Should you ever find yourself swatting flies with rocket-propelled grenades, you might say, introspectively, “Gee, I really did a GT500 on that one.” Let’s just stick to other cars for context, then. Ford says that the GT500′s supercharged 5.8-liter V-8 is now the most powerful production V-8 in the world. We’ll leave it to you to decide if you want to stretch the definition of “production” to include some of the European tuning houses that work over and rebadge German sedans. But there’s this: The GT500 tops the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG by 99 hp. It beats the mighty Cadillac CTS-V by 106. For heaven’s sake, the GT500 has 232 more horsepower than does the base Corvette . Even the gladiatorial Vette ZR1 falls shy, at 638 hp and 604 lb-ft. Besides the ZR1, these cars aren’t really the GT500′s intended competition, but the extent to which the GT500 tops these cars, rightly thought of as extremely powerful, is shocking. The most direct competitor to the GT500 is the Chevy Camaro ZL1 , which has a supercharged V-8 good for 580 hp and 556 lb-ft. We’ve said it before and it bears repeating: Horsepower numbers are impressive, but ultimately not as important to a performance car as braking, steering, suspension tuning, and the myriad other chassis settings that separate the good from the great. This is a large part of the motivation behind our annual Lightning Lap track showdown. But right now, we’ve got numbers and only numbers for the GT500. And in the manhood-measuring contest that is muscle-car building, the Ford has the crown. First Ride: 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Prototype Instrumented Test: 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Instrumented Test: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Of probably nominal importance to GT500 shoppers, Ford also announced that its monster Mustang will get an EPA rating of 15 city mpg and 24 on the highway. A run-of-the-mill Mustang GT , with a 420-hp...

Just months after filing trademarks for Urus (the eventual name for its SUV concept ) and Deimos (still unassigned), Lamborghini has added Huracán to its portfolio of pending applications. Huracán , as you can probably guess, is Spanish for “hurricane.” Not only does English essentially borrow the word intact from Spanish, but the Spanish people adopted it from ancient Mayan mythology, in which Huracan was the god of fire, wind, and storms. That squares quite well with Lambo’s recent filing for Deimos, which is the ancient Greek god of terror and dread. (It’s also an incredibly bad-ass name for a car.) We’re aware of no readily made connection to bullfighting for either name, but this hasn’t stopped Lamborghini’s Matador Research Bureau from digging up a historically significant bull or matador in the past. Unlike some automakers, Lamborghini doesn’t play around with trademark applications or file paperwork every time a potential badge does well in focus groups. What the company’s lawyers apply to use, the company almost always puts to work, even if only on a concept car. You might, at this point, be wondering what Lamborghini plans to do with both the Huracán and Deimos names. Our guess? The Urus badge will stay consigned to the concept version of the SUV, with Deimos and Huracán going to the production SUV and Gallardo replacement . (Which name is for which vehicle, we won’t yet speculate.) Instrumented Test: 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 First Drive: Lamborghini Gallardo Bicolore and Gallardo Spyder Performante Comparison Test: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 vs. Porsche 911 Turbo We are sure, however, that Lamborghini is planning to keep its lineup at just three vehicles once the SUV arrives. Even if that means Deimos or Huracán—or both—gets trashed, this isn’t a sign of an imminent fourth model line. Lamborghini Urus SUV concept Go here to see the original: Lamborghini’s Latest Trademark Application: “Huracán” Read the original post: Lamborghini’s Latest Trademark Application: “Huracán”

The journey that Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta compact has taken from sporty, Euro-only Italian hatchback to global sedan staple reads like a biblical epic. At first, there was only the Alfa Giulietta. Chrysler then swoopeth down and taketh the Giulietta, stretching it and widening it into the 2013 Dodge Dart . Now, Chrysler giveth the Dart-ifed Giulietta to Fiat, which is pressing it into service in the Chinese market as the Viaggio. (more…) Excerpt from: Fiat Viaggio: A Re-Re-Gifted Dodge Dart for China [Beijing Auto Show] View original here: Fiat Viaggio: A Re-Re-Gifted Dodge Dart for China [Beijing Auto Show]

Among the 2012 Beijing auto show ’s debutantes is a large new sedan called the 950, offered up by China’s homegrown Roewe brand. It has lovely proportions, a big back seat, a strong front end with bold headlamps that sort of look like—hey, wait a minute—that’s a Buick LaCrosse ! After a little digging in the concrete soil of the Chinese corporate PR world, we found that the “new” 950 does appear to be basically a LaCrosse that has been repackaged by Roewe, a brand that has been repackaging Rover models for years and that’s also a subsidiary of GM’s Chinese partner, SAIC. So the 950 is no mere Chinese copycat but is actually another version of the eminently popular Buick LaCrosse—a brand which, incidentally, is one of the most esteemed of any in China. Comparison Test: Buick LaCrosse vs. Ford Taurus, Hyundai Genesis, Lexus ES350 Instrumented Test: 2012 Buick Regal GS Instrumented Test: 2012 Cadillac CTS 3.6 Sedan We will have to get back to you regarding what LaCrosse parts—powertrain, chassis, or otherwise—reside beneath that sheetmetal, but we have to admit, it certainly is nice sheetmetal. With a C-pillar recalling the Maserati Quattroporte and surfacing that would make Audi (or at least a Passat) proud, the Roewe is a looker. We know that the LaCrosse’s interior was actually designed in GM’s China studio facilities, and now we wonder if the manufacturer ought to do a little copycatting of its own for the LaCrosse. Read more: Roewe 950: China Builds a Better (Looking) Buick [Beijing Auto Show] Here is the original: Roewe 950: China Builds a Better (Looking) Buick [Beijing Auto Show]

The cold, foggy Lake Michigan spring weather at GingerMan Raceway did not stay the LeMons Supreme Court from its appointed rounds, and we were rewarded with a fine assortment of (rusty) Midwestern iron. When you see a fully caged Ford Aspire at a race track, you can’t help but wonder what the team could have been thinking. When you see the Mazda engine out of an Escort GT under the Aspire’s hood… well, this swap probably seemed like a good idea at the time. The LeMons Supreme Court felt so sure that this car will be an ill-handling nightmare on the track that we assigned it to Class C, where it will be racing against the likes of Ford Tempos and Fiat X1/9s. This is the first time we’ve ever seen two X1/9s at the same LeMons race. Will the Aspire’s psychotic power-to-weight ratio give it the edge over the sweet-handling but weak Fiats? We’ll see tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Simca 1204 campaigned by Legend of LeMons Spank in West Coast events has resurfaced in the Midwest. We really need a Plymouth Cricket and early Dodge Colt to complete the early-70s Chrysler Badge-Engineering Trifecta. Team Euro Trash, veterans of multiple engine swaps in previous races, decided that adding an absurdly complex turbocharging setup, complete with roof-mounted exhaust, would enhance their Jetta’s engine reliability. Sound reasoning here! The Dos Limons team took a similar approach to one of their pair of early Fiestas by installing a foursome of motorcycle carburetors on their ancient pushrod engine. What could possibly go wrong? The team themes and costumes weren’t quite as extreme as the ones we see in California, but a few really stood out. The Skid Marks Racing Neon team, winners of two past Midwest Region races and the favorite starting this event, decided to take my advice and honor Midwestern culture by showing up with a Juggalo theme. Pourin’ out some Faygo for the homies! Another race-winning team, Clueless Racing, showed up with a well-executed Yellow Submarine theme. When you have a rolled ’06 Civic that was LeMons cheap because it got rolled, your best approach is to convert it to Charlie Sheen’s Fiat 500 “Abarf.” This car raced last year with third-gen Camaro body parts grafted on. We’ve...