Chrysler launches an even snazzier 300

"Given the strong reviews it has received, it wouldn't seem all that easy for Chrysler to make its current 300 more deluxe.

Reviewers from my colleague James Healey's Test Drive to Consumer Reports have noted what an improvement the 300 became last year over its previous version, and part of the reason was the use of premium materials in the cabin.

Now comes an even fancier version, the 2012 Chrysler 300 Luxury Series. Chrysler says it "combines ultra-premium leather -- once limited to some of the most exotic Italian luxury cars -- with world-class refinement and handling, state-of-the-art safety and connectivity features and eight-speed automatic transmission with a Pentastar V6 engine."  [Continue reading...]

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from everybody here! Wishing you a safe weekend!

2012 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS

"A stiff clutch pedal and a manual shifter that doesn't move through the gears with much fluidity make the Camaro SS a chore to drive around town. The tall cowl, small windows, huge A-pillars, and tall, broad hood are also bummers, because you can easily feel claustrophobic in this car. If you're a Camaro person, you might not much care, but I find the Ford Mustang to be easier to drive and to have a more livable cabin than the Camaro. I suppose I would have liked our test Camaro better had it been equipped with the Hurst short-throw shifter, which seems like it would be $380 well-spent.

 A 45th anniversary package is a stretch, in my opinion. 25, 40, 50, those are anniversaries worth noting, but 45? Not so much."  [Continue reading...]

Mark Phelan: New 2013 Dodge Dart to offer improved engines, transmissions

"Chrysler and Fiat are about to banish one of the worst legacies of the DaimlerChrysler era. The drivetrains that have weighed down the company's compacts since 2006 are hitting the end of the line.

That's the big, but underreported news about the new 2013 Dodge Dart compact sedan that debuts in Detroit Jan. 9 at the North American International Auto Show.

Chrysler has given the 2.0- and 2.4-liter engines it builds in Dundee a thorough re-engineering. The Dart is also expected to ditch the unpopular continuously variable transmission it buys for the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Patriot."  [Continue reading...]

Chevrolet Aveo 1.3-litre diesel review

"The Chevrolet Aveo is a five-door supermini that's meant to steal sales from the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa. We've driven the top-of-the-range diesel Aveo, which comes with a 94bhp 1.3-litre engine and costs £13,615.

What's it like to drive? Turn the key and you could be forgiven for thinking that the engine was firing on three cylinders instead of four; it's noisy at idle and only gets noisier when you set off. Despite the racket, though, the cabin remains relatively free of vibrations."  [Continue reading...]

Chrysler Gains Momentum

"Chrysler Group LLC is on track to generate $3 billion in operating profit in 2012 thanks to rising vehicle sales in a recovering U.S. auto market, the company's chief executive said Tuesday.

The auto maker should see its global sales reach two million cars and trucks this year, and rise 20% to 2.4 million in 2012, Sergio Marchionne said in an interview at the company's headquarters here.

After restructuring in bankruptcy court, Chrysler is able to make money if it sells more than 1.5 million vehicles a year, he said, adding that the break-even point drops to 900,000 cars and trucks in 2012."  [Continue reading...]

The Dart makes a comeback

"The Dodge Dart is coming back.Well, sort of, anyway. Chrysler Group says it will roll out the all-new Dart compact sedan at the Detroit auto show in January, and the car will go on sale later in the year as a 2013 model.

But this one is a lot different from the Darts that Chrysler sold from 1960-76, when they ranged from full-size cars early on to the compacts they became in 1963 and for the rest of their run.

The 2013 Dart actually will be mostly a Fiat underneath, as its design comes from Chrysler’s majority owner, the Italian automaker Fiat. The company says the new Dart is adapted from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Alfa is Fiat’s upscale brand, but the Dart actually is on a chassis that Fiat is using for its new line of compacts that will be sold worldwide."  [Continue reading...]

Chrysler Pentastar V-6 Engine Repeats With "Ten Best Engines" From Ward's Auto

"Chrysler Group'sPentastar 3.6–liter V-6 engine once again has been recognized by the editors of Ward's Automotive as one of the '10 Best Engines'.

'Every year, Ward's Automotive recognizes the industry leaders in engine technology,' said Drew Winter, editor at Ward's Automotive. 'Chrysler has successfully demonstrated the breadth of this engine and how it delivers on all fronts including fuel economy, lower emissions and power.'

Named to the exclusive group of engines last year after its introduction in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Pentastar V-6 engine is now standard or available on Chrysler 200, 300 and Town & Country; Dodge Avenger, Challenger, Charger, Durango, Journey and Caravan. For 2012, the Pentastar 3.6-liter engine also is now standard on the new Jeep Wrangler."  [Continue reading...]

Chrysler to unveil new Dart

"Chrysler Group will unveil its first vehicle conceived from the Fiat-Chrysler partnership at next month's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the automaker announced Tuesday.

The 2013 Dodge Dart will mark Chrysler's return to the compact sedan segment in seven years, said Kathy Graham, spokeswoman for Chrysler Group. It is also reviving the Dart nameplate, which began as a full-sized Dodge in the 1960s.

The four-door sedan will be built off the architecture of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform, but it has been lengthened and widened, said Graham. 'The bones of the vehicle come from the Giulietta. It's been modified for North American consumer expectations. It will have cup holders.'"  [Continue reading...]

Chrysler's 2013 Dodge Viper to be seen at New York Auto Show

"The American automobile multinational company, Chrysler Group LLC, recently revealed plans to showcase its 2013 Dodge Viper at the New York International Auto Show. The company has decided to dodge its previous plan of revealing its next generation sports car at the Detroit Motor Show and is gearing up for the New York Auto Show in April next year.    

Ralph Gilles, Chief Executive Officer of Street & Racing Technology, Chrysler Group, confirmed the reports in an interview with Viper magazine. Street & Racing Technology, commonly known as the SRT, is the high-performance automobile division of Chrysler Group."  [Continue reding...]

Chrysler sales up 45% in November

"Number of the day: 45%

 That's how much Chrysler's U.S. sales grew in November - the biggest increase among the major automakers. Though Chrysler's rivals had less dramatic gains, it was a solid month for the industry. 'That will probably carry into December because we will see a sales push at the end of the year,' said analyst Alan Baum. 'The auto recovery is doing better than the economic recovery.' One laggard: Honda, which reported a 6.4 percent drop. The company cited reduced production because of flooding in Thailand."  [Continue reading...]

Chrysler 300 is powerful, full of poise

"A couple weeks ago, I stumbled upon an issue of Time magazine from 1939 at a flea market in Syracuse.

On the cover was K.T. Keller, the man who took over Chrysler Corp. from Walter P. Chrysler Sr.

As unusual as it was to read about Hitler as breaking news, the magazine's cover story was a remarkable coincidence; the vehicle I had chosen to make the excursion north from Virginia was the redesigned 2011 Chrysler 300C."  [Continue reading...]

Chevrolet's 10 Most Important Trucks from Past and Present

"Chevrolet has given the buying public a ton of trucks since it first started offering them in 1918. And now, with the 2013 Colorado midsize pickup due in the United States in mid-2012, Chevy has provided its own list of important trucks from the last 93 years. In our eyes, there are some obvious picks and some surprising ones. As the title states, the Colorado is already on there.

1. 1918 Chevrolet 490 Half-Ton Light Delivery 'Cowl Chassis.'

If pedigree is important to you, this was a repurposed Chevy 490 car with stronger leaf springs out back and stripped of most of its body. They were called 'cowl chassis' units because there weren't any doors or sides, but the engine and front end came covered. This wasn't unusual for the prewar period, when commissioning coachbuilders for bodywork was considered normal. The pictured 1920 Light Delivery truck here has a 'depot hack' wooden body installed for passenger-carrying duty."  [Continue reading...]

Dodge Charger's Garmin Navigation System the Best of Factory-Installed Systems, Owners

"Despite the fact that GPS systems, both factory-installed and after-market, have been around for a number of years, consumers continue to report a large number of issues with them. The thirteenth annual study on U.S. Navigation Usage and Satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates was released this past Tuesday, and detailed several of these problems. The study also showed rankings of owner satisfaction for factory-installed systems on 2011 vehicles.

Satisfaction was determined by looking at ease of use, routing, display screen, speed, voice directions and voice recognition, with ease of use being the most important factor. Quality was determined by looking at the number of problems reported per 100 navigation systems (PP100) with a higher score indicating more complaints."  [Continue reading...]

Cooking a Perfect Turkey

"Preparing and serving a centerpiece turkey can create anxiety for even the most seasoned cook. Each year, turkey hotlines receive thousands of calls from desperate cooks looking for answers on everything from cooking to carving. We’ve put together the following cooking tips and recipes to help guide your once-a-year turkey preparations and assure success.

Choosing the Turkey

Working with the highest quality ingredients makes it easier for any cook to produce a great meal. When ordering your whole turkey, allow at least 1 pound per person, plus 1/2 pound per person for leftovers. (Remember to take into account the size of your fridge and oven!) For turkey breast, plan on 3/4 pound per person. If it is a boneless breast, allow 1/2 pound per person."  [Continue reading...]

Chrysler 300S 426 Concept Speaks Softly, Carries A Big Hemi

"Chrysler brought a concept to this year’s L.A. Auto Show, but it seemed to fly under the radar. The so-called 300S 426 looks rather pedestrian — well, except for that 426-cubic-inch Hemi crate engine placed underneath a transparent hood, of course.

A joint project between the Chrysler and Mopar brands, the 300S 426 concept takes a regular 300S and adds the requisite V-8 powerplant. One of the big things Mopar did with the concept was tune the exhaust note to give it that muscle car sound, but with a more refined tone. In addition to the engine upgrade, Chrysler brand CEO Saad Chehab says the car features a 'tight and sporty' suspension that’s unique to the 426S. A unique interior is also used, which includes waterfall-type stitching."  [Continue reading...]

Dodge: Journey well worth taking

"Dodge's Journey has been on the local market for some time, but until now hasn't been much of a trip. Its exterior styling was clunky, the interior verging on industrial.

 Maybe it's Fiat's influence in the form of an injection of Italian flair from Chrysler's new European masters, but the latest Journey that goes on sale in a couple of weeks is a car fit for an upmarket forecourt, not a back-street truck stop.

Not only is the - roadkill - ram's head emblem missing from the grille, the bodylines have been smoothed and reshaped to reflect the latest design trends at Chrysler, so it sort of looks like a smaller Grand Cherokee."  [Continue reading...]

Briggs Chrysler Announces that the Dodge Charger is Named Automobile Magazine’s ‘All Star’ for 2012

"The Chrysler Group LLC couldn’t have asked for a better 2011. The group has earned many awards including the latest that Briggs Chrysler- one of the leading Chrysler dealerships in Lawrence, Kansas would like to announce. The Dodge Charger is now an Automobile Magazine ‘All Star’ for 2012. The
 Dodge brand has earned many awards this year and the Charger has now helped add to that list.

The 2012 Dodge Charger is now the first domestic sport sedan that features an eight speed automatic transmission. This car delivers up to 31 miles per gallon, which is the best in its class. The 2012 Charger is more refined than the all-new 2011 model and aims to give buyers a better sport sedan."  [Continue reading...]

Chrysler profits soar as Jeep Compass sales rise 566%

“'In what is turning out to be a strong new vehicle sales industry, we continued to outperform,' Reid Bigland, president and CEO / Dodge brand and head of U.S. sales, told reporters today.

'For October, our retail sales increased 40% year-over-year with sales of the Chrysler 300 more than doubling and Jeep Compass sales increasing fivefold. The month of October also marked our 19th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains.'

In total, Chrysler Group LLC reports U.S. sales of 114,512 for October, up from 90,137 vehicles sold in October 2010.

Models that fueled the sales blitz included the Chrysler 200, a mid-size sedan; the Compass compact SUV and Jeep Liberty mid-size SUV, Dodge Journey crossover, Dodge Avenger mid-size sedan, and Ram pickup truck."  [Continue reading...]

2012 Jeep® Grand Cherokee Named "SUV of Texas" by Texas Auto Writers Association

"Already the most-awarded sport-utility vehicle in history, Jeep Grand Cherokee has been named "SUV of Texas" - for the second consecutive year - by nearly 60 journalists representing the opinion-leading Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA). The award was one of three captured by Jeep vehicles during the annual TAWA Rodeo - a two-day test of the industry's newest SUV and truck lineup over a variety of on-road and rugged off-road terrain - held last Friday and Saturday at the Knibbe Ranch in Spring Branch, Texas, near San Antonio.

The new 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - with more fuel efficiency, power and torque for 2012 - was named "Mid-size SUV of Texas," and the ultra-premium Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit was named "Luxury SUV of Texas."   [Continue reading...]

Ohio tax incentives to help Chrysler hire, retain workers in Toledo

"Chrysler plans to announce that it will hire 1,105 workers in Toledo, just three weeks after hourly workers narrowly approved a new labor contract with the UAW.

The Auburn Hills automaker will receive tax incentives from Ohio that pave the way for a $365-million investment to create the jobs and retain 900 others at its Toledo Assembly Complex, where workers build the Dodge Nitro, Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Liberty.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat from Toledo, will attend Chrysler's event in Toledo next Wednesday, a spokesman said. Ohio Gov. John Kasich is expected to be in Toledo the same day.
Chrysler pledged to invest $4.5 billion and add 2,100 jobs in U.S. factories as part of a four-year labor agreement ratified Oct. 26. That is fewer new jobs than either General Motors or Ford promised. But the UAW didn't provide details of the Toledo jobs before workers voted on the contract."  [Continue reading...]

Driving on Snow and Ice: 10 Safety Tips

"The best tip for winter driving: Sometimes it's best to stay home, or at least remain where you are until snow plows and sanding crews have done their work. If you crash on a snowy or icy road, you'll certainly be late — or worse. But since you can't always call in to work claiming a "snow day," it's better to learn how to correctly deal with driving in the snow.

I've battled snow- and ice-covered highways in two-dozen states behind the wheel of both passenger vehicles and 18-wheelers. I've performed hundreds of tire tests on snow-covered roads, attended snow-driving schools and done precision (translation: "barely in control") driving in the snow for videos and still photos. From this experience, here are some snow driving tips the average driver can follow to reduce the chances of a crash."  [Continue reading...]

Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan Named Top Safety Picks by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

"The newest Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivan models have been named Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2012. In addition to receiving top scores in rollover tests, both minivans achieved Good ratings in the areas of frontal, side and rear crash protection.

Additionally, to be considered, vehicles must have standard electronic stability control systems.
For 2012, both minivans offer more than 40 standard or available safety features. Front seat mounted airbags, three-row side curtain air bags, driver-side knee blocker air bag and all-speed traction control are among the standard safety features.

Both models also include an available SafetyTec group with features including ParkSense rear park assist, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection."

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/31/4020810/chrysler-town-country-and-dodge.html#ixzz1ckyc8pUg

Chrysler sets the pace as industry sales climb 8 percent

"U.S. light vehicle sales--led by Chrysler--rose 8 percent in October to an estimated 1.02 million units, matching forecasts and enough to keep the industry's rebound on track despite ongoing economic uncertainties."

"It was the eighth consecutive month in which U.S. car and light truck sales surpassed 1 million units.
Chrysler produced a 27 percent gain in October U.S. sales and led all major automakers amid expectations that the month would be among the year's strongest."

"Chrysler's advance marked the fifth consecutive increase of 20 percent or more and its 19th straight monthly advance. General Motors was up 2 percent, well below its gains of recent months. Ford Motor Co. advanced 6 percent."

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111101/CARNEWS/111109986#ixzz1cZzWJ0Mp

How Often Should You Replace Your Air Filter?

"It's hard to give a specific time or mileage figure because the life of the filter depends on how much crud it ingests. A filter that lasts 20,000 or even 30,000 miles on a vehicle that's driven mostly on expressways may last only a month or two in a rural setting where the vehicle is driven frequently on gravel roads. Changing it annually or every 15,000 miles for preventative maintenance may be a good recommendation for the city driver, but not its country cousin.

Regardless of the mileage or time, a filter should be replaced before it reaches the point where it creates a significant restriction to airflow. But when exactly that point is reached is subject to opinion.

A slightly dirty filter actually cleans more efficiently than a brand new filter. That's because the debris trapped by the filter element helps screen out smaller particles that try to get through. But eventually every filter reaches the point where it causes enough of a pressure drop to restrict airflow. Fuel economy, performance and emissions begin to deteriorate and get progressively worse until the dirty filter is replaced.

Many heavy-duty trucks have a "restriction" meter on the air filter housing that signals when the filter is dirty enough to need replacing. But lacking such a device, the best you can do is guess." [Continue reading...]