Chrysler’s SRT Team Teases…Next Dodge Viper SRT10 on Facebook

In a very…tongue-in-cheek move, Chrysler’s newly formed Street and Racing Technology (SRT) brand responded to fans asking them on various social media sites what future products are in development by posting this…revealing sketch on its dedicated Facebook page. Here is what Chrysler’s SRT team wrote:

“Like many of you, Twitter user @DaveOrrSales asked for a taste of what's to come at SRT. We dodged death to sneak you this top-secret photo. That's all you get, crew.”

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Dodge "Charger SRT8" 2012 Kuat, Cerdas, & Nyaman

Serangan atas produk terbaru terus berlanjut pada brand bernama "Dodge" yang diumumkan di Auto 2011, Chicago. Hal ini menunjukkan, bahwa Dodge "Charger SRT8" akan kembali meramaikan pasar automotive untuk model di tahun 2012.

Dodge Charger SRT8 2012 dibangun dengan icon desain empat pintu coupe Fastback, all-new Charger, dengan menambahkan kekuatan yang jauh lebih besar pada kisaran rpm, bersama dengan atribut cerdas kinerja, dan kenyamanan keselamatan, serta kenyamanan bagi customer yang bersemangat dalam mengemudi.

Dodge Charger SRT8 akan dibangun di pabrik Brampton, Ontario, Kanada, dan akan di pajang pada showroom dealer di akhir tahun 2011 yang akan datang.

Di bawah besutan HEMI® 6.4 liter V-8 baru memberikan daya kuda dan torsi lebih dari HEMI 6.1 liter V-8. Hal ini juga akan menawarkan pasokan bahan bakar pada tingkatan yang ekonomis.

Estimasi peringkat daya untuk Dodge Charger SRT8 adalah 465 hp dan torsi 465 lb.-ft. torsi, termasuk tambahan 80 lb.-ft torsi yang diperkirakan di tingkat 2.900 rpm. Dalam kondisi diam dan melaju ke 100 km/jam, diperkirakan hanya butuh waktu 4 detik, dan mencapai kecepatan maksimum 280 km/jam.

Dibangun lewat teknologi Fuel Saver standar (mode empat-silinder) ditemukan pada HEMI® 6.4 liter V-8 baru untuk 2012, sistem adaptif katup pembuangan memungkinkan teknologi untuk terlibat pada rentang rpm yang lebih luas, yang memberikan peningkatan efisiensi bahan bakar atau menggunakan dari semua delapan silinder, ketika tenaga listrik diperlukan.

Fitur peredaman suspensi adaptif Dodge Charger SRT8, menggunakan berbagai input on-road dan driver, seperti : kecepatan kendaraan, sudut kemudi, kemudi kecepatan, torsi rem, posisi throttle, dan percepatan lateral, untuk mengatur secara otomatis suspensi pada kondisi tertentu.

Kemudi juga dapat dilakukan secara manual dalam memilih antara "Auto" dan "Sport". Pengaturan yang cepat mengubah redaman shock dan karakteristik kekerasan dari kemudahan sehari-hari untuk berangkat ke kondisi yang keras, dengan situasi mengemudi lebih menantang.

Velg aluminium ringan 20-inci ditempa dan dipoles dengan kantong yang di cat hitam memberikan kesan tampak besar. Ban tersedia dalam tiga atau empat musim, membuat Dodge Charger SRT8 begitu mudah untuk dikendalikan dan menyenangkan untuk dikemudi.

Interior Dodge Charger SRT8 lebih menggabungkan akomodasi kelas dunia dengan - terinspirasi teknologi balap yang menjanjikan.

Dibungkus oleh kulit, steer SRT-eksklusif memiliki bagian tepi yang unik dengan permukaan bawah rata yang menampilkan logo SRT. Untuk melihat performa tinggi, serat karbon ditenun pada potongan aluminium pada trim interior yang diintegrasikan ke dalam panel instrumen.

Kursi depan yang unik, memasukkan agresif kain yang kuat dan berlubang suede untuk membantu "pegangan" pengemudi dan penumpang, menjaga mereka di tempat selama mengemudi. Kursi depan dan belakang dipanaskan lewat ventilasi standar demi kenyamanan. Sandaran kepala reaktif pun standar. Logo SRT disulam di punggung kursi.

Modifikasi trim panel pintu mendukung fitur unik material dan aksen jahitan terletak di lengan agar sesuai dengan kursi.

Fitur Dodge Charger SRT8 900 watt, 19-speaker premium, di dukung oleh performa sistem audio surround-sound dari Harmon Kardon. Diatur melalui bagian dari seni UConnect Touch® pada layar touchscreen besar standar (8,4-inci) dalam segmen ini.

Kinerja dapat dilihat dalam layar touchscreen. Tampilan panel instrumen dapat disesuaikan untuk melihat preferensi pengemudi dan diperluas untuk memasukkan umpan balik instan pada pengukuran input kemudi, tenaga kuda, torsi, memperluas informasi mesin, serta pengereman.

Untuk keamanan dan keslamatan sehari-hari saat mengemudi, Dodge Charger SRT8 menggabungkan fitur, seperti Keyless Enter-N-Go, adaptif-cruise control dengan Peringatan Tabrakan Terbaik dan Monitoring Blind-spot dengan Deteksi Path Cross Belakang, untuk menjaga pengemudi dan penumpang aman.

Standar pelindung kepala reaktif, standar penuh di sepanjang sisi tirai kantong udara, kantong untuk lutut pengemudi, dan standar menjaga kursi depan kursi-samping dada kantong udara, akan menawarkan peningkatan perlindungan penghuni mobil, jika terjadi tabrakan.

Standar tiga modus stabilitas kontrol elektronik dengan segmen-eksklusif, Siap Siaga Pengereman, dan fitur Dukungan keselamatan Rain Brake, menawarkan perbaikan kendaraan dalam penanganan dan kinerja secara keseluruhan, baik di jalan maupun di trek.

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Japanese Students craft a Dodge Ram Truck out of a Mazda MPV

We received some e-mails asking us if the green-colored Ram truck hiding behind the Chrysler-ized Prius 300C we showed you earlier today was a tricked out Dodge, or if, like many other project cars shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon, this too was a replica. The answer is it's a Ram Truck clone based on the Mazda Bongo Friendee, which is a Japanese domestic market MPV with seating for eight, offered between 1995 and 2005. Like the Prius 300C, the Ram Truck Friendee was built by a team of students from the Saitama Institute of Automotive Technology.

Photos: Phil Alex / Carscoop

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Dodge Says Next Viper's Looks to be Inspired by “a Naked Woman on the Beach”

Speaking at the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, the head of Chrysler design boss and head of the Dodge brand, Ralph Gilles, told reporters today that the next generation of the Dodge Viper is going to be “drop-dead beautiful” sporting a look inspired by “a naked woman on the beach”.

With sales of the previous generation steadily declining over the years (only 392 were sold in 2010, when production ceased), a totally redesigned Viper could be just what the doctor ordered for Dodge.

As previously reported, the new model won’t be based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, as some sources suggested, while Gilles also clarified that it’s not going to have Ferrari powerplants either. The Dodge boss was also confident regarding the cost-effectiveness of the Viper, stating that it will be profitable.

The 2013MY Dodge Viper is scheduled to make world premiere next year.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Automotive News

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America's Top 10 Selling Vehicles in 2010

The U.S. auto sales numbers for 2010 are out and once again, Ford's F-Series pickup truck has been crowned the best-selling vehicle of the year, a title which it has held for 34 years in a row. According to Autodata Corp., the Dearborn-based brand moved 528,349 units of its F-150 light-duty and F-250, F-350 and F-450 heavy-duty trucks in 2010, recording an impressive increase of 27,7 per cent over 2009.

The Chevrolet Silverado took second place with 370,135 units, or some 158,000 less than the F-Series. Sales of GM's pickup truck were up 16,9 per cent from the previous year.

Despite Toyota's recall debacle, the Camry finished third overall earning the title of the best-selling passenger car in the States with 327,804 units, posting an 8.1 per cent drop from 2009. The Honda Accord and Toyota Corolla followed in fourth and fifth positions respectively.

Overall, U.S. automakers had four vehicles on the Top 10 list, while Japanese carmakers took six spots. For more details check out the complete list below that includes percentage changes from 2009.

1. Ford F-Series------------- 528,349 (+27.7%)
2. Chevrolet Silverado ------370,135 (+16.9 %
3. Toyota Camry ------------327,804 (-8.1 %)
4. Honda Accord-------------282,530 (-1.7 %)
5. Toyota Corolla------------ 266,082 (-10.4 %)
6. Honda Civic---------------260,218 (+0.2 %)
7. Nissan Altima-------------229,263 (+12.6 %)
8. Ford Fusion---------------219,219 (+21.3 %)
9. Honda CR-V-------------- 203,714 (+6.5 %)
10. Dodge Ram-------------- 199,652 (+12.6 %)

1964 Dodge Hemi Charger Concept Car Hits the Auction Block, Again

You are looking at the first Dodge ever to use the Charger nameplate, the 1964 Dodge Hemi Charger Concept Car. Developed in late 1963 on Polara underpinnings, it was used by Chrysler to showcase its newest engine at the time, the now iconic 426-cubic inch (7.0-liter) Hemi V8.

Owned by several collectors over its 47-year existence, this rare piece of automotive heritage is going to be auctioned off at this year’s Automobiles of Arizona event held at Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, on January 20. RM Auctions hasn’t released an official estimate yet, but last time it changed hands in 2007, it fetched US $1.1 million.

Currently found on the late John M. O’Quinn’s estate, the 1964 concept car has been completely restored by multiple award-winner Fran Roxas and it has one of the original 15 race Hemi engines, rated at 600+ horsepower.

According to the spec sheet, the first Charger also comes with a 3-speed automatic transmission, independent torsion bar front and rear semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension, 4.56:1 “Sure Grip” rear axle and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

Looking at the photos it’s clear that the car is in pristine condition – it has been kept in climate-controlled storage – and I, for one, would definitely prefer to buy this gem over a modern vehicle costing the same amount of money.

By Csaba Daradics

Source / Photos: RM Auctions

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Triple Recall for Dodge Affects Over 144,000 Journey and Ram Vehicles

The Chrysler Group is recalling certain Dodge Journey crossovers and Ram trucks in three separate actions to repair defective steering wheels, airbags and noisy rear axles.

The largest of Chrysler's recalls involves 65,180 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured from November 1, 2007, through September 7, 2008. According to a posting on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], the wires within the front door wire harnesses may fatigue and break. If this happens, the side-impact sensors may not work resulting in inoperative side airbags. Chrysler said it will replace the left and right door wiring harnesses free of charge.

The second recall affects a total of 22,274 Model Year 2008-2011 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 trucks to address a problem with the steering system. NHSTA said these vehicles may experience a weakening and fracture of the left ball stud on the tie rod resulting in the potential loss of steering. The Detroit automaker will fix the aforementioned issue by replacing the left outer tie rod free of charge.

Finally, the Chrysler Group is recalling 56,611 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured from September 2009 through December 2010 to fix components within the rear axle. "Some vehicles may experience a noise (growl, grind) coming from the rear axle bearing which could eventually seize," said the NHTSA posting.

All three recalls are expected to begin in February 2011.

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