Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Commercial Trucks, Chrysler, Dodge
Click above to view more high-res sketches of rejected Rams
Chrysler is in the battle of its life to regain its competitiveness here in North America, and there is perhaps no vehicle more important to becoming profitable again than the 2009 Dodge Ram. The Pentastar put in a lot of elbow grease to get this truck just right, and the end result is improved power and efficiency, more storage, and a more refined look than the current truck. We like the design of the new Ram, but the production truck unveiled in Detroit was just one of many designs sketched by Chrysler artists.
Friend of Autoblog Mike Levine at Pickuptruck.com got his hands on many of the designs that led to the Ram we’ll see in showrooms this fall, and the sketches range from interesting to bizarre. If you take the photo above, for instance, you can see where Dodge was trying to conceptualize nifty storage solutions. The forward-leaning cross-hair grille and integrated bumper had already taken shape, too. Check out our gallery below that includes some exclusive pictures of rejected Rams, and visit PIckuptruck.com to see even more.
[Source: Pickuptruck]
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Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Videos, Dodge
View video after jump
We’re not exactly sure why this Dodge Challenger is drifting around this empty parking lot, but we don’t really care. Any time someone has no regard for the longevity of rear tire tread in the name of smokey fun is fine with us. Follow the jump to watch the Challenger amuse onlookers and join its fellow Viper and Charger SRT counterparts for even more tire shredding entertainment.
[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading VIDEO: Dodge Challenger gets its drift on
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Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Crossovers/CUVs, Chrysler, Dodge
click above image to view high-res gallery of the Dodge Journey
According to the sprawling press release pasted after the break, Dodge is planning their largest ever digital marketing push to accompany the launch of its new Journey CUV. “The campaign ties consumers to the new Dodge Journey emotionally by helping them realize their dreams, then drives them to action,” according to Dodge’s Senior manager of Communications, Mark Spencer. While we recognize the Journey as a credible entry into the crowded CUV segment, we don’t feel any special emotional attachment to it, nor are we sure that it’ll be making people’s dreams come true — unless they were dreaming for a price break on their next vehicle purchase. Still, for those who sit at the I’ll-never-own-a-minivan table, the Journey offers a nice option, with lots of clever storage solutions, save the poorly placed sat nav.
Dodge’s dreamy Journey strategy is closely related to Chrysler’s new “If you can dream it, we can build it” campaign, which will debut on April 14.
[Source: Chrysler]
Continue reading Dodge’s Journey will make all your dreams come true
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Recalls/TSBs, Safety, Chrysler, Dodge
Anyone who’s rolling in a 2007-2008 Chrysler Sebring or Dodge Avenger, take note. Chryslerberus is recalling all 181,000 of those vehicles sold during that time to fix an electrical defect that affects unused connectors on the tire pressure monitoring system. Apparently, corrosion can cause a short, and owners could experience their vehicles failing to start, stalling once underway, or some other affectations of the electrical components, including the cruise control. Formal notices are going to be sent out later this month, and dealers have been instructed to locate the problem and seal the affected circuits. Check your mailboxes, folks.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]
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Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Dodge
Click above for a gallery of Viper carnage
Imagine making the purchase of your dreams - a brand new 2008 Dodge Viper with only five miles on the odometer. It’s sitting safely in the showroom without a scratch just waiting for you to drive it off the lot. The only thing it needs is a tank of gas, which of course the dealership offers to pay for. Here’s where the story goes terribly wrong. A member of SRTForums.com and employee of a Southern California Dodge dealership says that the Viper was headed back from the gas station and only about 1/8 of a mile from the dealership (!) when the driver lost control of the 600-horsepower beast and crashed into four parked cars. The result is one severely smashed up snake. We’ll be watching eBay Motors for a low miles, slightly scratched 2008 Dodge Viper with a full tank of gas. Thanks for the tip, Ian!
[Source: SRTForums.com]
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Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Dodge
Click above for a gallery of Viper carnage
Imagine making the purchase of your dreams - a brand new 2008 Dodge Viper with only five miles on the odometer. It’s sitting safely in the showroom without a scratch just waiting for you to drive it off the lot. The only thing it needs is a tank of gas, which of course the dealership offers to pay for. Here’s where the story goes terribly wrong. A member of SRTForums.com and employee of a Southern California Dodge dealership says that the Viper was headed back from the gas station and only about 1/8 of a mile from the dealership (!) when the driver lost control of the 600-horsepower beast and crashed into four parked cars. The result is one severely smashed up snake. We’ll be watching eBay Motors for a low miles, slightly scratched 2008 Dodge Viper with a full tank of gas. Thanks for the tip, Ian!
[Source: SRTForums.com]
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