Chrysler

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History of the LA Auto Show: Chrysler to Concepts

The LA Auto Show in 2012 attracted slightly more than 1 million visitors. They viewed 42 car brands, American mainstays General Motors, Ford and Chrysler to international heavyweights Honda, Toyota, Audi and Hyundai. Organizers have announced more than 50 global and North American debuts from nearly a dozen manufacturers for the 2013 edition and with a promise to “Blow Your Doors Off.” The multiple concourse convention center showcase is in the hub of the Southern California entertainment scene. Concerts and major sporting events are held nearby during the show at LA Live entertainment monolith and nearby Staples Center. For the past several years, the Moroccan-styled Figueroa Hotel, a few blocks away, has hosted the show’s kickoff party. Last year, while

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CAR REVIEW: 2014 Dodge Durango, roomy, sporty

The sporty, practical 2014 Dodge Durango is an SUV/crossover based on a stretched version of the unit-body platform of the award-winning Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is a really good start. The new Durango looks better with a different, rather sinister-looking front end and revised rear styling with Dodge’s race-style LED taillight design. It has a new responsive eight-speed automatic transmission with a segment-first rotary shifter and efficient paddle shifters for manual operation. The automatic replaces one offered with either five or six speeds. The updated interior has a new instrument panel. A third row 50/50 split seat that’s suitable for adults, at least on short trips, accompanies supportive front bucket seats and second-row seats, which fold and tumble for more

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CAR REVIEW: 2013 Chrysler 300 a bargain Bentley

Can’t afford a $200,000-plus Bentley? Then you might want to check out the latest Chrysler 300. The Chrysler 300 is aging, but the 2013 model is reminiscent of a $206,225 Bentley Flying Spur, if only because they have the same subdued elegant styling, an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. As with the British Bentley, the 300 has a great heritage—the 1955 C-300 was America’s first mass-produced 300-horsepower car. Of course, the latest 300 is far less costly than the exquisite Bentley. Prices range from $29,845 to $48,250. The 300 comes with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) or, like the Bentley, with all-wheel drive (AWD). Both also have an eight-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode. The 300 is filled

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Chrysler relents, recalls 2.7 million Jeep Grand Cherokee, Liberty models

Chrysler has long promoted the Jeep Grand Cherokee as a rugged off-road vehicle with a practical side as a family people mover. But the influence of the NHTSA and public pressure have provided obstacles tougher than the enduring SUV. More than a week after refusing to comply with an NHTSA request to recall 2.7 million vehicles, Chrysler has relented. The carmaker announced a campaign to inspect and repair Jeep Grand Cherokee models from 1993-2004 and Jeep Liberty models from 2002-07. Chrysler Jeep recall dates to 1993 models The recall was prompted following an independent report fuel tanks in the Grand Cherokee can explode in rear-end collisions. The NHTSA requested a recall, but Chrysler refused. Chrysler believes the cars do not

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Chrysler strange, powerful bedfellows, Eminem, Clint Eastwood, Iggy Popp

Saad Chehab, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chrysler Brand and Chrysler Group LLC, recently spoke to a group of automotive journalists at The Candy Store auto museum in Burlingame, California. Chebab’s talk and question and answer follow-up concluded a late afternoon, early evening test-drive opportunity of the 2013 Chrysler 200 and Chrysler 300, including the John Varvatos special edition, the limited production editon bearing the signature of the menswear designer from Detroit. Chebab covered a lot of topics in his presentation, not the least of which was Chrysler‘s vision and choice of unique spokesmen for the brand. The three most prominent choices couldn’t be more diverse, Eminem, Clint Eastwood and, most recently, Iggy Popp. Eminem and Iggy Popp,

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Chrysler felled by faulty airbags, recalls nearly 920,000 Grand Cherokee, Liberty models

Chrysler is globally recalling three model years and more than 900,000 vehicles from its popular sport utility vehicle lineup, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty, for faulty airbags. According to documents filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Chrysler, 919,545 total vehicles are affected from 2002 to 2004 and will require fixing a faulty module that could cause the airbags to inadvertently deploy. If the module fails, front airbags or side curtain airbags could deploy inadvertently while the SUVs are being operated, Of the vehicles recalled, 744,822 are in the United States; 49,430 in Canada; 21,828 in Mexico; and 103,465 outside North America, according to Chrysler. The recall total  approximately involves about 50 percent Grand

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Chrysler 200, 2012: Quiet, comfortable cruiser built for moderate speed

Chrysler significantly redid its aged Sebring model for 2011 and renamed it the “200.” The 2012 version with the optional hardtop and strong V-6 make it a pleasant cruising convertible, and it’s virtually unchanged for 2013. The front-drive, two-door Chrysler 200 convertible with its cloth power top starts at $26,995, but you get far more than open-air driving with it. Standard items include a six-speed automatic transmission instead of the dated entry level 200’s four-speed automatic, power driver seat, climate and cruise controls, adjustable wheel with audio controls, keyless entry and power windows and mirrors. The 200 convertible is offered with a marginal 2.4-liter, 173-horsepower four-cylinder or a smooth 3.6-liter, 283-horsepower V-6, which provides fast merging and passing. The four-cylinder

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Dodge Dart, 2013: Fiat, Chrysler collaborate for rekindled iconic sedan

By Bruce Aldrich The 2013 Dodge Dart is interesting because it uses parts and a platform from Fiat, but the design is pure Chrysler. Fiat acquired a five percent stake in 2009 and this allowed the Italian manufacturer to share its technology with Chrysler. Dodge was given approval to build a compact car on the Alfa-Romeo Giulietta platform. This platform was lengthened and widened for the Dart — to suit American buyers. The car and motors are assembled in Belvidere, Ill. The name Dart was selected late in the development phase. The product marketing people said the name was familiar, comfortable and positive for the older crowd. For younger people who never knew the original Dart, the name gave them

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Dodge Viper, 2013: V10, 640 horsepower and new interior technology (video)

The 2013 Dodge Viper, the third generation of the elusive supercar, is debuting in the New York Auto Show and will be welcomed by power hungy fans of the iconic massive machine. The new Viper, anticipated since the new beast's pending arrival months ago, features its signature long hood, short deck and double-bouble roof as well as twin air extractors, fender vents and side exhausts. The 8.4-liter V10 produces 640 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via its only transmission option, a six-speed manual. The body is made lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum. Chrysler detailed that the Viper's interior features improved materials, an LCD performance monitor, infotainment system and a grab handle. The Viper is returning

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Chrysler, Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne interviewed on 60 Minutes

Sergio Marchionne, the Italian-American CEO of Chrysler and Fiat, was the focus of one of the three weekly segments March 25 on 60 Minutes, the long-running Sunday night CBS news magzine. Marchionne discussed, with questions by Steve Kroft, the return from certain demise of the two historic carmakers in the three-plus years since Marchionne took control. Last year, Chrysler earned $183-million, its first profit since 2005. Fiat re-introduced last October, the Fiat 500cc, the iconic sub-compact. Marchionne's companies were also responsible for the hiring of celebrities to tout Chrysler and Fiat — Eminem to Clint Eastwood, Jennifer Lopez to Charlie Sheen. The entire interview is below: James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has

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Chrysler, Clint East Super Bowl commercial parody: Bailouts, Madonna, Polar Bears

It's halftime. Both teams are listening to a Madonna performance that sounds eerily similar to a Lady Gaga song they'll hear 10 years from now. It's halftime in America, too. People are out of work and they're hurting. And they're wondering where all their money went. Well, $12.5 billion of it went to Chrysler. In the form of a bailout. But it's okay, because Chrysler is all-American. Though technically 58.5% of Chrysler is owned by an Italian corporation. And Chrysler manufactures many of its vehicles in Canada. And Mexico. But I guess that doesn't make for a great commercial. Unlike polar bears. Or dogs. Or that digestive yogurt. Yeah, Americans are hurting. And their dollars are being used to bail

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Chrylser, Clint Eastwood Super Bowl commercial parody: It's halftime in Grand Rapids

In this parody of the Clint Eastwood's commercial for Chrysler, the voiceover isn't as strong as it could be. Nonetheless, it's about Grand Rapids, Mich., and it's halftime. Public art, graffiti, odd road signs and locals walking the streets are teased, and the parody works well. The video ends on a positive note, with its maker professing his love for Grand Rapids. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness

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Clint Eastwood gets down and dirty for Chrysler, America in Super Bowl ad

With Clint Eastwood and his still powerful but raspy voice as the audio and images of Detroit and its people draped in shadows and often in darkness, Chrysler for the second straight year presented the only two-minute commercial in Super Bowl XLVI. Like Eminem last year, Eastwood was hired to star in a two-minute movie. Eastwood's role was in “It’s Halftime in America.” Unlike most carmakers, Chrysler didn't release the video or a tease to it prior to the same. Its absence only added to the suspense of its pending broadcast. And when Eastwood emerged from the shadows just before the start of the second half, he was captivating. With some overt and some subtle references to both his movies

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President Obama's former Chrysler 300 back on eBay — $1 million

The 2005 Chrysler 300C leased by President Barack Obama in July 2004 with two miles on the odometer, is back for up for auction again on eBay for $1 million. The vehicle, which features a host of options — leather seats to CD player — did not sell for the same $1 million during its recent first eBay auction. In the comments, the seller writes: "We have the original Illinois title showing this vehicle was actually used by Barack. 19,000 miles driven when this vehicle was Obama's – I'm sure many of them were highway miles back & forth from Chicago to Springfield since Barack was an Illinois State Senator during 2004. "He won election to the U.S. Senate in

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Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2012: Baby Bentley Goes Pimpin'

First a disclaimer: I have always been a big fan of the baby Bentley Chrysler 300 styling from 2005. And I am still a fan with this second-generation 300 design. Ralph Gilles and team have taken an evolutionary approach to the new design, largely retaining the baby Bentley proportions and shape while adding to the aggressive stance of the original. The updated grille is tasteful and adds panache missing from the previous generation, and the headlight units with integrated LED daytime running lights add sophistication. The annoying gap at the intersection of the hood, grille and headlight on the previous generation is thankfully gone The result is a nicely updated version, although the car is slightly longer than the original

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Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2012: Dyno Test Video

On a chilly December morning in Northern California, I brought a 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 to TPS Motorsports in Campbell, California for a couple of dyno runs on their Dynojet chassis dynometer. Truth was in the numbers as we dyno tested the Chrysler 300 SRT8 that claims 470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque from Chrysler’s 6.4L HEMI powerplant. Power was measured at the wheels and the numbers were SAE corrected. Video and power output charts below document the results of our dyno test. After two test runs, maximum horsepower measured at the wheels was 411 horsepower. Maximum torque was 400 lb.-ft. with 80 percent of max torque being available at 55 mph. Generally, there is an 18 – 20

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