Fiat platform to underpin three Jeeps
August 10, 2011 by Dodge Blogger · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Crossover , Jeep , Fiat The Jeep product portfolio will undergo some major changes in the next few years, starting with the addition of a new subcompact crossover and a flagship, seven-passenger Grand Wagoneer. Still, Jeep assures the world that even with these changes, the automaker will still stand true to its off-road heritage. That seven-slat grille has to stand for something, after all. Jeep will debut a new subcompact crossover based on a Fiat platform in late 2013 or early 2014. The B-Jeep will be designed for use in North and Latin America, and will be built alongside the Fiat 500 and Dodge Journey at the automaker’s plant in Toluca, Mexico. Both the Compass and Patriot will be replaced in one fell swoop with a new vehicle based on Fiat’s CUSW compact crossover platform. The new Jeep will debut in 2013, likely as a 2014 model, and will be built for global markets, including North America. In speaking to Automotive News , Jeep brand CEO Michael Manley said that this vehicle would be available with both front- and all-wheel drive. The Liberty – a vehicle left untouched in the 2011 model year product onslaught – will get a replacement in 2013. This crossover will be built on a larger version of the Compass/Patriot platform, called CUSW Plus, and will likely remain an all-wheel-drive-only affair. Lastly, a new Grand Wagoneer is still in the works, stemming from Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne’s confirmation earlier this year . Its platform will be shared with the Dodge Durango and will be the flagship model in the Jeep lineup. Think Commander , only better. Much better. Fiat platform to underpin three Jeeps originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Dodge Durango smacks around Ford Explorer in latest TV ads
August 5, 2011 by Dodge Blogger · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Marketing/Advertising , Videos , Crossover , Chrysler , Dodge We have to imagine that Chrysler is pretty upset with the 2011 Ford Explorer . After all, when it came time to name the 2011 North American Truck of the Year , both of the Pentastar’s latest offerings – the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee – held two of the final three finalist spots, only to be beaten out by Ford’s new seven-passenger crossover. Dodge , for one, isn’t going down without a fight. This latest set of Michael C. Hall-voiced advertisements puts the 2011 Durango head-to-head with the new Explorer, showing off the Dodge’s best-in-class towing and more powerful powertrain options. Be sure to note the fine print in the first ad where it says, “2011 Dodge Durango Citadel and 2011 Ford Explorer Limited equipped with their most powerful engines available.” In defense of the Explorer, it’s perhaps unfair to compare top-end powertrains when you’re putting a 360-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V8 up against a 290-hp 3.5-liter V6, but, hey… Ford doesn’t offer anything more powerful. Follow the jump to watch both ads starring the 2011 Dodge Durango, and watch as it shames the award-winning Explorer with its brute force. Continue reading Dodge Durango smacks around Ford Explorer in latest TV ads Dodge Durango smacks around Ford Explorer in latest TV ads originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Chrysler finally gets a compliment from Consumer Reports
June 22, 2011 by Dodge Blogger · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Car Buying , Sedan , SUV , Truck , Crossover , Chrysler , Dodge 2011 Dodge Durango – Click above for high-res image gallery Hide your kids, hide your wife, hide your husband. One of the four-horsemen of the apocalypse has officially arrived. Consumer Reports has gone and paid Chrysler a compliment by saying that the 2011 Durango and Charger are the company’s most-improved models and, on the whole, the automaker’s cars are getting better. CR even awarded both the V6 and V8-powered Dodge Durango a “Very Good” road test score, putting it in contention with the likes of the 2011 Ford Explorer . The 2011 Dodge Charger Rallye also nabbed a “Very Good” rating, which is comparable to the 2011 Ford Taurus and 2011 Buick Lacrosse . Even the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan walked away with the honor of a “Very Good” designation, but things aren’t all lollipops and rainbows. Consumer Reports says that its testers were unimpressed with models like the 200 , Avenger , Compass , Journey and Patriot , calling the vehicles mediocre. Ouch. The report says that poor reliability hasn’t helped the Chrysler cause. Over the past three years, the organization has only recommended one of the automaker’s vehicles – the Dodge Ram 1500 . Hit the jump to check out the full press release. Continue reading Chrysler finally gets a compliment from Consumer Reports Chrysler finally gets a compliment from Consumer Reports originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Chrysler repays the rest of its federal loans… are SUVs to thank?
May 25, 2011 by Dodge Blogger · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Government/Legal , Chrysler , Earnings/Financials , Fiat It’s Official: Chrysler has announced that it has repaid its multi-billion dollar obligations owed to both the United States and Canadian governments. Adding up both loans plus interest, Chrysler has just shelled out a tidy $7.6 billion. The U.S. receives $5.9 billion and Canada will get $1.7 billion. Chrysler was able to secure new means of financing, which allows the automaker to pay off its government obligations a full six years ahead of the original payment schedule. While this new financing still involves debts, it saves Chrysler an estimated $350 million per year in interest. This move also allows Chrysler to remain liquid, with more than $10 billion in assets ready to roll. Under the direction of the U.S. government, Chrysler partnered up with Fiat , and the goal was to bring smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles to the states. Yet as an opinion piece in The Detroit News sagely reminds us, it wasn’t really the smaller cars that helped Chrysler, but the newly refreshed sport utility vehicles. The all-new Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee models helped push sales up 17 percent in 2010. Regardless of how they got there, this move should serve to instill confidence in the U.S. car-buying public. Chrysler continues to add new or redesigned vehicles to its lineup and has a strong media campaign behind those vehicles. Will high gas prices slow the positive momentum that Chrysler has built up, or is this the chance for the Fiat portion of the relationship to step up and shine? Sound off in Comments, and check out the full press release posted after the jump . Continue reading Chrysler repays the rest of its federal loans… are SUVs to thank? Chrysler repays the rest of its federal loans… are SUVs to thank? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Report: New Jeep Liberty on the way in 2012; Dodge Nitro replacement uncertain
March 7, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: SUV , Chrysler , Dodge , Jeep 2010 Jeep Liberty Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery Chrysler has been mighty busy these past few months. The Auburn Hills, MI-based automaker has launched all-new versions of the Dodge Durango and Charger , the Chrysler 300 and Jeep Grand Cherokee . That’s a very full product onslaught, yet Team Pentastar also found the time to give thorough (if overdue) refreshes to most of the other vehicles in its lineup. One vehicle missing from that long list of re-dos is the Jeep Liberty, but a report from Kicking Tires suggests that may change for 2012. KT cites a Securities and Exchange Commission filing submitted by Chrysler that shows that the Liberty will be remade next year. We’re not sure if the Liberty will be refreshed or if Chrysler is planning a more comprehensive makeover, but we do know that any and all changes are welcome. The second-generation Liberty went on sale in the 2008 model year. The Liberty’s fraternal twin, the Dodge Nitro is in need of some refresh love itself, but interestingly enough, the slow-selling vehicle wasn’t mentioned in the report. Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne mentioned during the Detroit Auto Show that the Nitro “needs to be replaced ,” adding that the midsize SUV is “the most significant hole in our product portfolio.” Gallery: 2010 Jeep Liberty Sport: Review Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL [Sources: Toledo Blade via Kicking Tires ] Report: New Jeep Liberty on the way in 2012; Dodge Nitro replacement uncertain originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read
All-new 2011 Dodge Durango Nominated for “North American Truck of the Year”
December 30, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
The following statement can be attributed to Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC: “The Dodge team is honored that journalists who have driven the all-new Dodge Durango have made it a finalist for the 2011 North American Truck of the Year award. The Durango represents where the Dodge brand is going [...]
