Driving Sports

Dodge Launches Challenger - Driving Sports Takes a Hot Lap

Chrysler today celebrated the production launch of one of the industry's most highly anticipated vehicles -- the all-new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. A full line-up of Challengers will follow in the 2009 model-year. Consumer interest in the Dodge Challenger has been some of the highest seen at Chrysler.

Driving Sports had a chance to get behind the wheel of the new Challenger SRT8 at Laguna Seca a couple weeks ago, and we were thrilled with the power and handling - far from creating a brutish, heavy throwback muscle car, Dodge and SRT have delivered a car with fantastic power, light steering feel, and predictable sporty handling. The manual transmission is smooth and fast, and helps make the new Challenger a joy to drive. If you've wanted one of the new generation of muscle cars and you're a Mopar fan, you have got to check out the Challenger SRT8.

Chrysler Takes it to the Streets

Moving on all fronts to re-engage its customers, Chrysler LLC launches a corporate campaign on April 14 with the theme line “If you can dream it, we can build it.” The campaign begins a dialogue with America about the Company’s culture and passion for delivering on customers’ dreams.

“Great companies are driven by a deep sense of who they are and their core values. We realigned our values and put the customer at the core of everything we do,” said Jim Press, Vice Chairman and President, Chrysler LLC. “We are driven to deliver the realization of their dreams through products that they are passionate about owning and driving. And we are poised to do it better, and in a way that no other company can.”

Chrysler Shows Off 2008 Dodge Challenger

The return of the iconic Dodge Challenger brings what pony car fanatics crave: ground shaking performance, unmistakable design cues reminiscent of the original Challenger, world-class ride and handling characteristics and benchmark braking. On top of that it features a wide variety of modern amenities and technology designed to delight a new generation of driving enthusiasts.

“The all-new Dodge Challenger SRT8 is engineered to give customers everything they want in a modern muscle machine,” said Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Brand and SRT Global Marketing, Chrysler LLC. “The new version of Dodge’s American classic boasts tire-smoking performance and head-turning design while offering a wide array of state-of-the-art technology, such as GPS navigation, ‘Keyless Go’ entry, a MyGIG™ infotainment system and UConnect hands-free communication.”

Auto Industry Flashes the Green at Winter Auto Shows

Every year at the various Auto Shows around America, representatives of the big three U.S. automakers give a short presentation to the local media about their new cars.  Two years ago, the talk was all about big - bigger cars and SUVs with bigger engines than the year before. This year, the trend is mostly in the other direction, and you’ll be able to see the difference at this winter's Auto Shows.

Back in November, I went to the Los Angeles Auto Show to get an early look at the 2009 prototypes and concept cars. Every manufacturer at the L.A. Auto Show wanted to talk about green. Not just the color of money, but about alternative fuels, hybrid engines, and clean transportation.

2008 Jeep Patriot Reviewed

The Jeep Patriot is the “boy half” of two models that Jeep introduced in 2007. The girl half is the Compass – same engine, same platform, but less macho in its styling and interior. This may be the first time an automaker ever explicitly said they were making two versions of the same car aimed at men and women.  I mean, you can point to the VW Rabbit GTI and Cabriolet, I suppose, but they never admitted to it.

Cutting to the chase, the Patriot is a nice small crossover SUV. It’s got the same 2.4-liter engine that powers most of the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep economy lineup, but with 172 horses, and 165 lb-ft of torque, it moves the Patriot quite nicely. The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) gets some credit for the car’s gutsy performance – even if the tendency to rev up to redline for all acceleration takes a bit of getting used to.