Friday, 12 of March of 2010
Love cars? Love travel? Then you're in the right place
Submit your cruise and car show calendar information to laviolette.autoscribe
E-mail a couple of pictures of your car along with some information about it to laviolette.autoscribe
Twitter: michiganwllzAuto reviewers are a tempermental bunch. And we’re also human. Every car made has its supporters; if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be on the market. But somehow, there are certain cars that simply miss the mark for certain members of this motley crew. Here are mine.
An American Expedition Vehicles Jeep Wrangler Unlimited outfitted like this one would cost $66,400, $34,900 more than stock. It has a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, a 3 1/2" suspension lift and new special styling elements.
WALLED LAKE — Don’t try this at home: Greg Henderson wheels this special Jeep through the parking lots behind American Expedition Vehicles’ building on West Maple Road.
He pitches the jacked-up Jeep Wrangler Unlimited from side to side and vehicle does a reasonable impersonation of a low-slung sports car, seemingly defying the laws of physics. A tall vehicle, made even taller with a 3 1/2″ lift kit from AEV and bigger tires, should not be able to handle high-speed turns like this.
FLINT — Doc Watson says he has the remedy for a helping the nation get out of the economic doldrums.
With that, the Hurst Performance legend Doc Watson introduced the company’s latest creation, the Hurst Dodge Challenger. Officials with the Flint Visitors and Convention Bureau said they believe it is the first time a Dodge vehicle has been unveiled in Flint.
“I’m old enough that I’ve been through slumps before,” Watson said. He said some people have asked why Hurst would introduce a new car at a time when others are cutting back.
Date: August 19, 2009
Categories: Back to the Bricks, Car shows, Chrysler, Classics, Detroit Three
by Scott Atkinson
The Flint Journal
FLINT, Michigan — Back to the Bricks Chairman Al Hatch said today that Hurst’s performance-enhanced edition of the 2010 Dodge Challenger will make its public debut Saturday during the car show in downtown Flint.
“It just came about today,” Hatch said. “So we got rolling with it.”
Hatch said the Dodge will be on display in its own tent. It will be painted black and gold.
Look for more details later this week.
Source: mlive
Chrysler will continue building the PT Cruiser.
But Chrysler recently reported that it will continue building the PT. In fact, it appears the company will actually breath some new life into the car with some much-needed updates.
“With more than 1.3 million PT Cruisers sold in more than 60 countries since 2000, we’re excited to announce we’re re-energizing the iconic and award-winning PT Cruiser,” said Peter Fong, president and chief executive officer of the Chrysler brand.
Good, because the PT, which hasn’t had a major update since it was introduced in 2001, needs the help. Not sure what “re-energizing” consists of, but any improvements would be welcome.
Looks like fast cars have been given a reprieve, at least for a while.
Chrysler Group LLC announced today that production will continue for the legendary Dodge Viper SRT10.
Originally slated to cease production in December 2009, the Chrysler Group Connor Avenue Assembly Plant — the exclusive home of Dodge Viper production since 1995 — will continue to build the V-10-powered sports car. Chrysler Group is no longer pursuing a sale of the Viper business assets.
“The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe,” said Mike Accavitti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Brand. “We’re extremely proud that the ultimate American-built sports car with its world-class performance will live on as the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand. “
Introduced as a concept car in 1989 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Dodge Viper was designed and engineered to test public reaction to the concept of a back-to-basics, high-performance, limited production sports car.
The reaction was so overwhelming that customer orders began to flow in even before the auto show was over. Chrysler Corp. immediately decided to determine the production feasibility on transforming the crowd-pleasing Dodge Viper show car into a limited-production sports car in no more than three years.
In May 1990, after months of intensive study and testing, Chrysler Corp. announced that the Dodge Viper, powered by an aluminum V-10 was a “go.”
Dodge Viper production began in May 1992 at the New Mack Assembly Plant and was moved to Conner Avenue in October 1995. Viper V-10 engine production transferred from Mound Road Engine to Conner Avenue Assembly in May 2001. In 2008, Dodge introduced the all-new, fourth generation Dodge Viper SRT10. With more horsepower, more torque and more than 30 exterior and interior color combinations, the latest Viper gives enthusiasts the performance they expect on the track and off, with more factory customization options than before.
For 2009, the Dodge Viper SRT10 offers outrageous power, with an 8.4-liter, 600-horsepower V-10 engine contributing to blistering acceleration (0-60 mph in less than four seconds, 0-100-0 mph in the low 12-second range), setting an American sports car benchmark.
To date, more than 25,000 Dodge Vipers have been built.
Chrysler recently showed off four all-electric Town & Country minivan concept vehicles to the U.S. Postal Service, hoping to help make mail delivery service across the country cleaner and quieter.
Mail delivery vehicles across the United States drive millions of miles each year, regardless of rain, sleet, gloom of night or yappy dogs. If all those vehicles ran on electricity rather than gasoline, there would be a huge reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gases.
Chrysler is seeking to establish a demonstration fleet of zero-emission electric minivans that could be used by the U.S. Postal Service for mail delivery. Where would all those minivans recharge their batteries? Chrysler has signed letters of intent with utility partners Duke, ConEd and DTE to equip post offices within select U.S. regions with recharging stations.
Since Dodge introduced the Ram’s in-your-face design for 1994, the big truck has easily been the most stylish pickup on the road. It’s the truck for extroverts, those people who want to stand out from the crowd.
Besides the Ram’s newly pointed schnoz, the big difference for 2009 is the Ram’s new-found sophistication, especially in the interior.
Here’s the bottom line: If the rest of Chrysler’s cars were designed and executed as well as this Dodge Ram, company executives wouldn’t have had to go to Washington begging for money. It’s an outstanding effort, but frustrating at the same time. If this Ram is so good, why is the Dodge Avenger so horrid?
Fiat 500
Race fans who attended the MotoGP Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix races in Laguna Seca, Calif., over the July Fourth weekend got a chance to see the future of Chrysler.
Fiat showed off its popular 500 model that is likely to be sold as a Chrysler or Dodge model in the States, possibly as early as 2011.
http://www.thefirehouse.biz/blog.do?p=home
Well, it’s ok to dream a little bit?
Plymouth may be gone and Chrysler is completely focused on reworking small Fiats for the American market, but … wouldn’t it be fun to see the Road Runner make a comeback?
http://blog.cardomain.com/2009/03/16/2011-plymouth-road-runner/
