Among the many sporty offerings on its stand at the Chicago auto show, Dodge has issued full details on the Heat and R/T trims for the new 2011 Durango . Both models are designed to introduce a modicum of sportiness to the big crossover, thanks to both added visual presence and mild chassis tweaks. They go on sale this spring, joining the Express, Crew, and Citadel trims. Dodge Durango Heat Positioned price-wise between the entry-level Durango Express and the mid-grade Crew configuration, the Heat is the only Durango model that comes from the factory with just two rows of seats. It’s powered by the same 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine as most other grades of Durango, but dual exhausts and a new air intake offer a smidge more grunt. Horsepower is up five, to 295 total, while the unchanged peak torque of 260 lb-ft arrives 300 rpm earlier, at 4500 rpm. To offer a sportier driving experience, the Heat gets sharper steering and a firmer suspension, riding 0.8 inch lower than other models. Its unique 20-inch wheels wear all-season tires as standard but can be optioned with summer-performance rubber. The Durango’s exterior has been given a once-over to reflect the performance intent, with new front and rear fascias and side skirts, darkened headlight housings, painted grille trim, and those dual exhaust tips. The Heat also includes a 506-watt, 10-speaker Alpine sound system connected to Dodge’s Uconnect voice-recognition infotainment system. The Heat starts at $31,145 with rear-wheel drive, and runs $33,145 with all-wheel drive. Dodge Durango R/T (pictured above) The R/T is essentially the Heat model equipped with the optional 360-hp, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and a third row of seats. It also wears a new body kit and grille, as well as the dual exhaust tips and 20-inch wheels, while swapping the headlights for HID units. Likewise, it rides on firmer suspension that has been lowered 0.8 inch, with sharper steering, and load-leveling rear dampers. A “Redline Red” paint color is exclusive to the R/T. The three rows of seating feature red “digital suede” inserts, with red stitching for the front-row buckets. As for equipment, the R/T builds on the Crew trim, bundling niceties like a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever, remote start, a...

We’ve learned that the 550-hp 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 , introduced today at the Chicago auto show , will wear a base price of around $47,000 when it goes on sale next February. With the top-spec Camaro boasting an estimated 0-to-60-mph time of four seconds and hardware essentially swiped from the $64,340 Cadillac CTS-V, including its supercharged V-8 and adaptive magnetorheological shocks, a base price of under $50,000 seems like a pretty damn good deal. It’s unknown at this point whether the ZL1 price will include a gas-guzzler tax—it’s possible, since the CTS-V sticker includes a $1300 penalty—so you might want to budget for $48,500 or so when it’s time to sign on the dotted line. For comparison, the car’s natural arch rival, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, costs $49,495, and it doesn’t get hit with a thirst tariff. For a detailed rundown on this new Camaro’s bad-assitude and to see more photos, check out the full story here . Related posts: $16,000 Base Price and 130 Dealers Announced for 2012 Fiat 500 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Official Photos and Info – Auto Shows Chevrolet: 10,000 Volts in 2011, 30,000 in 2012; Launch Regions Expanded View original post here: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Base Price: Around $47,000 See the original post:  2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Base Price: Around $47,000

Mopar purists might cry foul, but Dodge continues to apply its famous R/T badge to lesser vehicles; the company just released information on the R/T versions of the Journey crossover and Grand Caravan minivan. The initials date back to the muscle-car era, of course, where they originally denoted high-performance machines from the house of Dodge. Both the Journey and Grand Caravan debuted today at the Chicago auto show and arrive in dealerships this spring. Dodge Journey R/T (pictured above) The R/T is based on the Journey Crew and comes with that trim level’s 283-hp, 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6. This version of the crossover receives a retuned suspension and different tires that Dodge says make it more nimble than its brethren, which sounds to us like slapping Nikes on one koala bear and calling it more athletic than the rest. Visual punch comes from the addition of 19-inch aluminum wheels, fog lights, and body-colored grille crosshairs. Inside, the treatment entails red-and-black cloth upholstery with power front seats, remote start, three-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever with red stitching, and Dodge’s Uconnect navigation system with satellite radio. Starting at $28,995 in front-wheel-drive configuration or $30,695 with all-wheel drive, the Journey R/T is priced identically to the Crew model, making it the second-costliest version save for the high-zoot Journey Lux. Dodge Grand Caravan R/T When Dodge first introduced its refreshed Grand Caravan , we were promised a sporty trim that was jokingly referred to as the “man van.” The official R/T moniker is more politically correct, but we still wish Man Van had been approved for production. Machismo comes courtesy of sportier suspension tuning, body-color exterior trim, and unique 17-inch wheels, and there’s an all-black interior with a nine-speaker, 506-watt sound system. Oh, and a subwoofer. Power is delivered by the 283-hp Pentastar V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic. The black seats are upholstered in red-stitched and perforated leather, and the steering wheel and shift lever are wrapped in hide, too. The changes are kind of cool, but anyone hoping for more performance upgrades—like, dare we mention it, a manual gearbox—will be disappointed. The Man Van starts...

While the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 has gotten most of the attention lately, that doesn’t mean that the R/T trim has been forgotten. Slotted as the mid-level trim between the V-6 powered SE and the top-line SRT8 392, the R/T doesn’t change much from 2010, but there are subtle differences. The engine still makes 376 horsepower with the 6-speed… Original post:  2011 Dodge Challenger R/T Revealed At 2011 Chicago Auto Show

There’s a Challenger with a Richard Petty/NASCAR paint theme on the loose, created by the King himself as the first in his signature series, and it even made it to Jay Leno’s garage. It sports a supercharged engine that pumps out 610 horsepower over the 425 that came standard in pre-2011 cars. Check out the video below: (Hat tip to reader Greg at… View original post here:  Richard Petty Signature Challenger

Fiat has unveiled its new large MPV called the Freemont. The Freemont is essentially a European version of the Dodge Journey and is the first Fiat model from the brand’s alliance with Chrysler LLC. The Freemont will be built at Chrysler’s Toluca factory in Mexico, alongside the Journey and imported for the European market. Minor revisions include LED tail-lights, new bumpers, and a new radiator grille sporting the Fiat emblem. Fiat claim the Freemont is a “factotum vehicle” which has been “designed to meet the diverse needs of families and those seeking a spacious, comfortable and versatile vehicle to cater for the frenetic pace of everyday life or weekend leisure time”. The entrance of the Freemont means that the compact Multipla MPV will be replaced; a plan that has been delayed due to Fiat’s lack of spending. The Freemont will sit alongside the sub-compact Qubo, and the compact Doblo MPV. The new vehicle has had its chassis extensively reworked for “greater accuracy and directness” to make them more appropriate for European tastes. Two engines will be offered; two tunes of the 2.0 MultiJet and a 3.6 litre Pentastar V6. The diesels arrive with 138bhp and 168bhp, both linked to a 6 speed manual, while the V6 produces 272bhp. In the pipeline, a 4×4 variant will be offered, using the more powerful diesel engine and the V6 petrol engine. Both will be hooked to a 6 speed automatic. Inside, the Freemont uses more soft-touch materials and sports a reworked instrument panel and centre console. The 7 seat Freemont measures at 4,890 long, 1,880mm wide, and 1,720 high, so with all the seats flipped down, luggage space is calculated at 1,461 litres. Two trim-levels will be available as part of the ‘Fiat Fair Price’ strategy. Entry-level models will come with tri-zone climate control, keyless entry, advance trip computer, tyre pressure monitoring system, front fog lights, ESP, x7 airbags, hill-start assist, touch-screen radio, cruise control, and steering wheel audio controls. The range-topping trim will arrive with 17” alloy wheels, privacy rear glass, Bluetooth w/satellite navigation system, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rear parking sensors, roof rails, electrically folding door mirrors, and automatic headlights and wipers. A world debut...

In the recently-released film The Dilemma, Vince Vaughn’s character, Ronny Valentine, and his best friend Nick (played by Kevin James), run an automotive supplier business that has to create a “sound-alike” system for hybrid-powered muscle cars. Using a 2011 Dodge Charger as the guinea pig, the duo tries to give the fictional hybrid-electric sedan… View original here: Hey, Vince, A Dodge Charger or Challenger Hybrid Is Simple!

Welcome to the year 2011! As we make new resolutions on bettering our lives, some of us will be venturing into a new car dealership to refresh your transportation choice. While we attempt to change for the new year, 2011 vehicles have also resolved themselves to a new level of safety and security. Whether calling it prudent public life-saving measures or some government-driven nanny-state, enhanced automobiles safety equipment was increased accident survivability and even the complete accident avoidance. For the 4th year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has strictly evaluated the latest automotive designs in a battery of tests. Facing off again frontal, bumper, side and rear collision crash tests, the IIHS also devotes attention to accident avoidance system in determining which popular vehicles are worthy of their most coveted Top Safety Pick honour. When purchasing a 2011 model year vehicle, new car buyers will find the most exceptional class of safe vehicles. For the 2011 model year vehicles, 66 products represent the safest bunch ever evaluated all earning the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick award. Consisting of a selection of 40 cars, 25 crossover vehicles and a single minivan (the Toyota Sienna), 10 of the total vehicles were also brand new designs for 2011. Presented as the largest list of Top Safety Pick vehicles compiled by the IIHS, the proliferation of top-rated automobiles is attributed to greater engineering as well as the continuing use of electronic stability control. In 2007, the IIHS Top Safety Pick criteria added to requirement of electronic stability control to be equipped on a vehicle. Since then, the United States government has mandated electronic stability control system on all vehicles by 2012. The 2011 Volkswagen Touareg was a particular interesting inclusion as a Top Safety Pick. Rated as a large sport utility vehicle according the IIHS, it was not normal for such a vehicle to be evaluated. However, so optimistic on their Touareg’s construction, Volkswagen requested the the IIHS place the vehicle through the safety institutes’s paces. Though the IIHS testing has resulted in some Top Safety Picks for a sizable selection of cars and Sport utility vehicles, a few automobiles categories continue to leave something...

Here’s the top ten reasons to buy a Dodge Challenger in the coming year. 1. It’s updated for 2011. 2. The SRT8 has a bigger engine. 3. So does the V-6. 4. Prices didn’t rise all that much. 5. It can attack a track. 6. There’s a version for drag racers. 7. The Challenger makes retro continue to look good. 8. It’s just as fast, if not faster, than… Read the original post: Top Ten Reasons To Buy A Dodge Challenger In 2011

Chrysler has filed a trademark for the name “Cuda.” Of course, it could just be for a toy or scale model, or to protect the name from being used by another brand, but Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles has said that company might bring the name back. If so, could the moniker be slapped on a baby Challenger or something similar? Only Chrysler knows for sure… Read the original here:  Chrysler Trademarks "Cuda" Name

With the economy recovering, sales of full-size trucks and SUVs are on the upswing. The American manufacturers have been a big beneficiary of this, with Ford in particular garnering a lot of attention with its redesigned F-150 and the addition of EcoBoost V-6 power. The Ford truck we have our eyes on though is no doubt the F-150 Raptor. It has brought up the performance truck game a whole level, leaving models like GM’s Z71 and Dodge’s Ram Power Wagon in the dust. Is General Motors interested in getting in the game? Say hello to the first introduction of next year’s North American International Auto Show, which is under a month away. General Motors’ GMT-900 lineup of trucks was introduced in 2006 as 2007 models, pulled forward during dark days for GM. Since then, a lot has happened. Yes, that’s an understatement. The GMC Sierra All Terrain HD gives a hint of what is to come for GM’s highly-important truck lineup. While clearly based on the current Sierra, there are some significant differences. There is a new front end with redesigned LED headlights and GMC’s new grille. The look offers a preview of the next-generation Sierra. Other key details have been modernized as well – for instance, look closely at the taillights and you can see they have been worked over, as well as the rear cargo bed. For All Terrain duty, ground clearance has been increased by about three inches and width is up by 4 inches, to 73 inches. There are new 20-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 35-inch BF Goodrich KM2 mud terrain rubber. The verdict? It looks good, despite being awkward from a few angles. It doesn’t come across quite like the Raptor’s arch rival though – it still seems more fit for duty as a tow sled with serious off-road credentials. Regardless, it gives us a lot of hope for the next-generation truck. The Sierra All Terrain HD is powered by GM’s 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V-8. It is mated to a six-speed automatic and makes 397 horsepower and 765 pound-feet of torque. Changes under the skin include Fox off-road shocks, the same as the Ford Raptor. There are no pictures of the interior out yet, but GM says the All Terrain concept has been fitted with a Denali interior, gaining additional satin metal accents and...

There’s no doubt who was the star of the Paris Auto Show. Lotus introduced five new models that showed a totally different direction for the brand. Prior to the show, Lotus Chief Executive Officer Danny Bahar hinted at a grand new plan for the automaker and to most that signaled the reintroduction of the Esprit supercar. That did come, but so did a whole host of other models. Clearly Lotus pursuing a far different plan then it did with the Elise over the past decade. Bob Lutz, who is serving in an advisory capacity to the Lotus board, recently pegged the company’s chances of success with its ambitious new lineup at 60 percent. The chances of continuing under the former strategy were even less he said. Now, CEO Danny Behar is speculating about the possibility of the brand developing its own engines. The Elise is powered by Toyota engines, and the partnership with Toyota was expected to continue with the company’s new models. This time around however, the engines would be sourced from Lexus. The Esprit was expected to be powered by the LF-A’s V-10 engine with other models in the pipeline possibly getting power from the IS-F’s V-8. Talking to Autocar , Bahar says it is important to have a Lotus-developed powerplant: “We have done three engines for other manufacturers; why not do it ourselves?” he said. “The engine is the heart of a sports car; we should do our own product.” The question to do it or not comes down to cost. He says the final decision to develop the engines will be made in January and that the reasoning will be “purely financial.” There are benefits to be had from Lotus producing its own engines though, with future cost savings from parts commonality and economies of scale spread across the lineup. Also in the report is news from Lotus engineering chief Wolf Zimmerman that there will be a lot of parts sharing between the three mid-size Lotuses. The cars will share a platform and key components like brakes, suspension and electrical systems. If the numbers work out, we’re looking forward to seeing what Lotus comes up with in developing its own powertrains. The previous Esprit, which went out of production in 2004, was powered by a Lotus-built V-8. Related posts: Lotus & Cosworth Together Again...

There weren’t many Challengers at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, but I snapped a few shots of the two Challengers–one a 2010, one a 2011–that were on the floor. I know there are only four pics there, but they offer an early glimpse at the SE and one last look at the outgoing 2010 Challenger. Take a peek at the gallery above for a view of the… Go here to see the original:  Photo Gallery: Dodge Challenger At The 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show

I had the chance to drive a few laps at California’s Infineon Raceway in the new 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 last week, and while this report will be short (My drive was limited to just a few hot laps), I’ll do my best to make it informative. We’ve already published the details on the 470-horsepower Challenger, so I won’t spend too much time… View original post here:  First Drive: 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392

We’ve already brought you news about the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 and the 2011 Dodge Challenger V-6, and now we know how much each model will set you back. If you want the Challenger looks but don’t need the honkin’ V-8, you can pick up a 305-horsepower V-6 SE for a base price of $24,670, and an available Rallye Package adds $2,000 to that… See more here:  2011 Dodge Challenger Pricing Released