Chrysler

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 23, 2012 If you have been dreaming about seeing the new Viper at your local Chrysler dealer, you'll probably be disappointed by this news. Automotive News had a chance to speak with SRT CEO Ralph Gilles. Gilles said that one out of every five Chrysler dealers will be selling the Viper. "We're going to open it up to any dealer who can put the money forward and the training, but it's going to be pretty difficult to hit all of those things.

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 17, 2012 Chrysler announced today that they will idle their Mack II engine plant in Detroit in September as production of the 3.7L V6 comes to an end. The 3.7L V6 powered the Dodge Nitro, Dodge Ram, and Jeep Liberty. The Dodge Nitro has already been shown the door. The current Jeep Liberty will end its run next month as the Toledo, Ohio plant where it’s built undergoes a $500 million upgrade. The Ram drops the 3.7L V6 for the 3.6L Pentast

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 11, 2012 Earlier this week, we reported on a filing from the U.S. Patent and Trademark office about a possible branding for the new diesel engine in the 2014 Grand Cherokee. Apparently this wasn't the only filing Chrysler did. Car & Driver found a trademark application filled by the company to register “HFE High Fuel Efficiency”. The possible descriptor would most likely come on models that have small-displacement engines, and come wit

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 9, 2012 The U.S. Patent and Trademark office strikes once again. Motor Authority found a filling from Chrysler for a badge that reads EcoDiesel and has "3.0L" nomenclature as part of it. The report says Chrysler filled this last month. Earlier this year, Chrysler announced they would be selling a diesel version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. We've been reporting for the past few months that the engine for the Grand Cherokee will be a 3.0L die

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 3, 2012 Chrysler’s SRT group has been on a bit of roll as late. Their lineup, which includes the Chrysler 300 SRT8, Dodge Challenger SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8, and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 has been praised widely. But, all of those models mentioned come from other divisions in Chrysler. That appears to be changing with the new SRT Viper due out later this year, and SRT is hungry for more models of their own. Motor Trend reports that SRT cou

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 4, 2012 Chrysler design chief Ralph Gilles says design changes are coming for future Chrysler products. The current lineup is known for their boxy design aesthetic, but Gilles says that's not in line with the industry. Speaking at the annual Mackinac Policy Conference, a gathering of Michigan political and business leaders, Gilles says aerodynamics are becoming an important design aspect. He uses the Audi A7 and the new Toyota Avalon as

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 29, 2012 Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is on a mission to end to product overlapping among the divisions of Chrysler. At a media event last week and interview with Automobile Magazine, Marchionne said two vehicles will be gone. First will be the Chrysler Town & Country, leaving the lineup sometime after 2013. That will leave the Dodge Grand Caravan as the sole minivan. Marchionne said an upscale crossover will take the Town & Co

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 29, 2012 Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said on the sidelines of an industry event in Brussels that the company is looking for a partner to help share production and development costs. "We're on the move. We can be an active partner everywhere around the world," said Marchionne. When asked about possibly partnering up with a European automaker, Marchionne said he’s looking them, but there isn’t a lot of options open. When aske

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 27, 2012 There seems to be an endless stream of teasers, leaked Hot Wheel shots, and rumors about the new Viper. Now, some new spy shots are joining in the Viper stream. The shots reveal the new Viper will have an easier time breathing thanks to pair of large vents on either side of the Viper's trademark triangular air intake. Inside, the new Viper will ditch analog gauges for a full digital dashboard (complete with 220 MPH speedo)

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 6, 2012 Back in January, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed to USA Today that the company was considering a small premium hatchback for Chrysler to possibly be called the 100. Well, Inside Line has gotten their hands on some spy shots of what could be the 100. Hidden underneath a mishmash of Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Chrysler parts lies the same platform that underpins the Giulietta and upcoming Dodge Dart. The mule wears a Chry

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com Feburary 1, 2012 Mopar is celebrating their 75th Anniversary of providing parts and performance to Chrysler by introducing four special models that will make their debut at next month’s Chicago Auto Show. The four models are the Mopar '12 Chrysler 300, Dodge Dart GTS 210 Tribute, Fiat 500 Stinger, and Jeep Compass True North. The Mopar ‘12 Chrysler 300 uses a Chrysler 300S as a base and adds blue A-line body stripes and interior accents, bla

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 24, 2012 Chrysler/Fiat has some big plans coming up within the next few years. Starting in 2013, Chrysler will introduce new midsize sedans to replace the 200 and Dodge Avenger. The new sedans will be based on the Dodge Dart's platform. Following along will be the replacements for the Jeep Compass and Liberty, which will also be based on the Dart's platform. Despite using a compact car architecture, Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionn

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 13, 2012 Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne on comfirmed on Wednesday that a new Ram Dakota is being worked on. Sergio also said that there was a "better than 50 percent chance" the truck will be a unibody. Now if that seems like bad news, there is some good news. Marchionne said that diesel power in the new Dakota is a likely option. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is set to get a 3.0L turbodiesel V6 in the U.S. next year, so spreading the cost

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 3, 2011 2011 saw Chrysler rise up and build momentum and profits with models like the new Chrysler 300 and revised Jeep Wrangler. However, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is being cautious. In an email obtained by The Detroit News, Marchionne says 2012 will be another pivotal year. "Over the past 12 months, we successfully changed the conversation from Chrysler's survival to products and service that consumers expect and want from a

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 2, 2012 At next weeks Detroit Auto Show, Mopar will introduce two performance packages for the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 200. First up is the 2012 Dodge Charger Redline which will be offered in the three stages. Stage 1 brings forth many dress-up items, including a carbon fiber front splitter, a three-piece carbon fiber decklid spoiler, a black vinyl roof graphic, a two-piece grille insert that blends a body-colored surround with a

Chrysler is moving on up with their new 300 by offering a new Luxury Series trim level that brings forth more plushness and luxury. The outside of the 300 Luxury Series differs from other 300s with a unique platinum-chrome finish applied to the mesh grille in addition to the door handles, mirror caps and other various trim pieces. Nineteen or twenty-inch wheels complete the look. Inside, the seats, dashboard, door panels and center console are wrapped in Poltrona Frau “Foligno” leather upholst

For their next generation minivan, Chrysler is going down a different route with how they will sell them. Chrysler will drop the Dodge Grand Caravan in the next generation leaving the Chrysler Town & Country to be sold in the US. In Canada, the opposite will happen. Why? It would certainly be the Dodge Grand Caravan in Canada, but the Town & Country resonates more strongly here in the U.S., so that’s going to be the van in the U.S,” said Reid Bigland, head of Dodge. Bigland says in the

Last year, Chrysler announced that the 2012 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger would be equipped with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission from parent company Fiat. One year later, Chrysler has dropped the idea to put a dual-clutch transmission for now. "We were concerned about the refinement and how the American customers might perceive the transmission," said Chrysler Spokesperson, Vince Muniga. Muniga also said the decision was made in the summer and will "look for other future produc