Nik J Miles

Posts Tagged ‘Chrysler’

“All-new Chrysler SRT8®: World-class luxury and performance”

A modern American muscle sedan on steroids

When American muscle cars were in their heyday, the major focus was primarily on how quickly a vehicle was able to cover the quarter mile, with straight-line performance as the key factor rather than all-around performance attributes – that’s no longer the case dear readers. In today’s muscle scenario, performance machines are measured by their overall capability in every aspect. According to the Street and Racing Technology, Chrysler Group, (SRT), the 2012 Chrysler SRT8 serves up more than simply a big-bore SRT powerplant under its bonnet. It is representative of an all-around performance package with astounding acceleration, positive handling characteristics, tremendous braking ability and other no-nonsense performance enhancements for both the interior and exterior.

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With the announcement that the new 2012 Chrysler 300 sedan will be outfitted with ZF eight-speed automatic transmissions, the company takes the lead in transmission technology for domestic sedans.

“With its state-of-the-art eight-speed automatic transmission, the new 2012 Chrysler 300 represents the pride and determination of our engineers to give our customers the quality and technological excellence of the world’s best sedans – and this is what our ‘Imported from Detroit’ spirit is all about,” said Olivier Francois, President and CEO — Chrysler Brand and Lead Executive for Marketing, Chrysler Group LLC. Read the rest of this entry »

The Dodge Caliber is the current basic hatchback offering from Chrysler. The whole brand is getting a facelift through 2011 and 2012 as the result of the recent merger with Fiat, and the Caliber is likely to be the last of the “Old Dodge” products to be revamped. If the great products coming out of Chrysler this year are any indication, the successor to the Caliber is going to be fantastic.

But let’s look at the car in front of us today – the Caliber offers you a 2.0-liter 4 cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine at 158 horsepower, yielding a very respectable 32 MPG on the highway and 23 MPG on city streets.  That’s good news combined with the Caliber’s $18,085 base price – the economics are right for this year. Read the rest of this entry »

The one man who has probably had more impact and insight into the American auto industry is Bob Lutz.  A legend in his own time, the 47-year veteran of the auto industry,has a  resume that includes stints with BMW, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors..

Car Guys vs Bean Counters –“ The Battle for the Soul of the American Business” is Lutz telling it like it is, just as he did throughout his career and especially during his last nine years at General Motors. Read the rest of this entry »

I didn’t expect to like the new Dodge Grand Caravan as much as I do. I am just simply not a minivan driver, but the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan has all the bells and whistles of any car or SUV, and I thoroughly enjoyed driving it.

The smooth ride in this van makes you feel like you’re in a car. The brakes are not too sensitive, so there’s no jerkiness – you just stop when you need to stop, without having to step hard on the brakes.

Dodge made a good decision to put the shifter up on the dashboard so it’s out of the way. This allows for more storage space, which is great for a family van. The Grand Caravan also has lots of cup holders, which is also great for family use– and that’s why most people buy vans. Going on with the family idea, the auto-opening side slider doors are a great feature when your hands are full of groceries or a baby. Read the rest of this entry »

Recreating the Iconic 300 Sedan

Messing with the design of the car that has been the brand icon for the last six years could be very dangerous to the company’s future.  So when it was past time for the company to update the Chrysler 300 by putting on a new face after the disastrous bankruptcy, changes were made very, very carefully.  The result is an all new Chrysler 300 that looks like the world’s best cosmetic surgeon had his or her way with it.  The car is gorgeous with a new more sophisticated look while maintaining the character of the original.

Since the beginning, the 300 grille has been a focal point of the model, with many of owners putting their own stamp on the car with the installation of a variety of custom grilles.  To take advantage of the trend, Chrysler’s Mopar aftermarket parts division is offering the unique “Bentley” style mesh design replacement grill that was so popular in previous years. Read the rest of this entry »

“Chrysler’s 200 Convertible: Redesigned and reengineered for 2011”

The sky is literally the limit with the new 2011 Chrysler 200 Convertible – just drop the top and go. Not a fan of ragtops? No problemo fresh air fans, there’s also a retractable hardtop version available in place of the soft cloth top for added security. The 2011 Chrysler 200 Convertible joins the Chrysler 200 sedan in the lineup as an all-new vehicle. The 200 models represent a replacement for the Sebring of old.

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Hydraulic Hybrids Currently Power Delivery and Refuse Trucks

Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler Group CEO and Lisa P. Jackson, Agency Administrator for the EPA

In a joint announcement at the EPA laboratories in Ann Arbor, Mich., in mid-January, Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler Group CEO, and Lisa P. Jackson, Agency Administrator for the EPA announced a partnership to explore the feasibility of a hydraulic hybrid system for large passenger cars and light-duty vehicles.

“In addition to creating the jobs of the future, clean energy benefits the U.S. economy by ultimately making energy costs more affordable for consumers – especially if their dollars stay in America,” Marchionne said. “Hydraulic hybrid vehicle technology is one more promising path worth pursuing in the effort to reduce our carbon footprint, and we are excited to partner with the EPA to push forward on this track.”
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300 Will Feature Chrysler’s New 8-Speed Automatic Transmission

Chrysler is ready to get back into the game with an all new version of the popular 300 Luxury sedan.  Due at dealers in the first quarter of 2011, the rear-drive sedan displays a new level of refinement, innovation and value.

The fresh, contemporary styling starts with an all-new grille with seven deeply sculpted horizontal blades.  Illuminating the road ahead are signature “key slot” headlamps with a scalloped lower edge.  Inside, bi-functional projector headlamps are nestled next to LED-illuminated daytime running lamps, which together form a distinctive “C” shape. Read the rest of this entry »

Pricing starts at $15,500

After months of talk about bringing the Fiat 500 to the United States, Chrysler finally pulled the cover off the little car at the 2010 LA Auto Show.

The 500 (Cinquecento), is cute, with its Italian styling, efficient design and innovative technology.

“The Fiat 500 has always been the right car at the right time,” said Laura Soave, Head of Fiat Brand North America. “The new Fiat 500 now brings something truly unique to one of the fastest growing segments in North America, delivering Italian-by-design function, value and efficiency intelligently tailored for our market.” Read the rest of this entry »