It’s official, folks. Motor Village LA, the posh dealership in downtown Los Angeles that Chrysler opened in California to serve as a showcase buying experience and test bed for innovative new Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Fiat stores, has been sold.

New Century Automotive Group reportedly purchased the dealership from Chrysler in late October, 2011. Automotive News reports that two new dealer franchises licenses were awarded in the process, one for Motor Village LA and one for Fiat of LA.

Apparently, despite the fact that the 189,000-square foot building and showcase glass tower is now in the hands of a separate entity, Chrysler still has to negotiate a settlement with the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the California New Car Dealers Association for opening a store within 10 miles of three other Chrysler dealerships, which is in violation of franchise laws.

Original Source: Automotive News

Hunters, fishermen, campers and boaters can now rejoice because there is a new pickup model designed just for them. Meet the new Ram Outdoorsman –  available as a package, the model that features standard trailer-towing upgrades, interior and exterior lighting enhancements, all-terrain tires, and rugged exterior appearance.

“We asked Ram truck customers — boaters, campers, fishing enthusiasts and hunters — what features would they like to see in a truck,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “They answered ‘more capability, more room for my gear and ready to hit the trail. And make it affordable.”

Ram said that Ram Heavy Duty owner demographics show a passion for the outdoors, 47 percent hunt, 57 percent fresh water fish, 33 percent salt water fish, 37 percent own power boats and 37 percent tow camping trailers. Overall 62 percent of full-size pickups truck owners hunt, fish or camp, Chrysler said in a statement.

Ram Outdoorsman is available in 1500, 2500 HD and 3500 HD single rear wheel, Regular Cab; Quad Cab, Crew Cab and Mega Cab; four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive; and short- and long-wheelbase models. The package will replace the TRX4 trim level in the 2011 Ram Truck lineup. Prices for the Ram Outdoorsman model start at $28,350 with sales to begin in the third quarter of 2010.

Source: egmCarTech

You can always count on the Internet for leaked information and photos. Today, a real picture of the 2012 Dodge Durango has popped up on Twitter. Sources say powertrain choices are likely to consist of the 280-hp 3.6L Pentastar V6 and the 360-hp 5.7L V8 HEMI. Chrysler will offer rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive as an option.

In terms of being called the Durango or the Magnum – Ralph Gilles, the head of the Dodge Car for Chrysler Group LLC, recently said that “We’re actually debating the name.”

Source: EGMCarTech

Before production of the Viper ended earlier this month, Dodge made sure to send out the current generation of the V10 supercar with numerous limited-editions. Versions such as the 1:33, Voodoo Viper, ACR-X and dealer-exclusive models all trickled out of Chrysler’s Conner Avenue assembly plant.

Arguably, the track-only ACR-X is the most extreme iteration, but hidden within the group of dealer-exclusive models is another noteworthy special model: the SRT10 Convertible ACR built specifically for Woodhouse Dodge in Blair, Neb. Located in a town of approximately 7,500 people, Woodhouse Dodge has sold more Vipers than any other dealer since 1999. Its in-house tuning arm, Woodhouse Motorsports, also modifies roughly 75 percent of the Vipers the dealer sells.

Being the highest volume Viper dealer, a limited-edition with nothing more than an exclusive paint job and badges wouldn’t do like most of the other special models. Instead, Woodhouse proposed the idea of combining all the go-fast parts from the ACR with a convertible body–and Dodge obliged.

However, doing an ACR roadster correctly took a bit of work by the SRT engineering staff. Parts like the adjustable KW suspension, Stoptech rotors, lighter wheels, short shifter and new fifth and sixth gears were easy, but the aerodynamic improvements required attention. With the aero differences between the coupe and convertible, a new, lower wing and light revisions to the front splitter had to be developed and undergo many hours of wind tunnel testing.

The result is a true, bona fide ACR model right down to the 21B Chrysler build code given to all Viper ACR coupes. And with only 20 produced, the Viper SRT10 Convertible ACR Woodhouse limited edition could be a one of the more sought-after Viper models down the road.

Available colors include white, yellow, red and black and all are available with dual or driver’s striping. Pricing begins at $107,310 and, of course, it’s only available at Woodhouse Dodge.

Sources: Autoweek

The last time I brought up the fallacy of purchasing a car (or even being a fan one one) based off a “lap record,” I was called a pimp and much worse. Luckily, my skin is rhino-thick – so here’s me doing it again. But first, let’s talk about the car claiming to be the new King of the Corkscrew, the Devon GTX. Well, we know very little. It’s been speculated that the GTX is powered by Viper, meaning there’s an 8.4-liter V10 beating under its presumably carbon fiber skin. Word overheard on the street is that the serpent heart has been reworked to spit out 650 horsepower, 50 more venomous ponies than stock. And that’s all anyone knows. Maybe.

What we do know is that Southern California-based industrial design Devon Motorworks is claiming that its new car – the “next American Supercar” – just set a “production car” one-lap record around the fabled Lagauna Seca race track. Time? 1:35.075. Having driven Laguna Seca once or twice my own self – came very close to setting the all time slowest lap, thank you – that’s quite a fast time. But… to quote (once more) Jack Baruth, “Lap times set on different days, under different conditions, simply aren’t comparable. It’s that simple. Some days are hot, some days are cool, some days there’s rubber on the track, some days there’s oil. The same competent driver, in the same car, might have a fifteen-second variation from one ‘Ring session to the next.”

Obviously, the Nurburgring is much longer than Laguna Seca – 14 miles versus two. Even still, if you divide Jack’s fifteen-second variation by seven you get a bit more than two seconds, i.e. a lifetime on a racetrack. Cut that time differential in half and you’re still talking over a second per lap, just based on environmental factors. For comparison’s sake, a 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR lapped Laguna in 1.35.117. Is the more powerful Devon GTX only one tenth of a second quicker than the big Dodge around a two-mile track? Couldn’t the wind account for that much time? Or a few birds flapping their wings? A larger point (also brought up by Jack) is that this particular lap attempt was closed to the public and (presumably) conducted by Devon. Without calling the results meaningless, we would like to point out that the brand new Autoblog Track-a-Tack-a-Kuh GTR3X just lapped Laguna in 1:35:065. What, you won’t take our word for it?

Regardless of your feelings (or ours) regarding the Devon GTX, it will be making its debut next weekend at Pebble Beach. Cars should be available for public consumption come quarter one of 2010. Full press release after the jump.

Source Autoblog

We can’t help but think what could have been with the Dodge Challenger. Had Chrysler developed the car before rising gas prices and the economic downturn, we might have seen all sorts of variants. Perhaps a top-of-the-line model with a 426ci Hemi V8 could have challenged the Shelby GT500 as the king of the road. Those in warmer climates surely would have loved a droptop version, and since we’re day dreaming, we could even imagine a Hemi Cuda version if Plymouth was still around.

Enter Norm Kraus. The legendary owner of Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago known as “Mr. Norm” has filled in the gaps by Chrysler and unveiled a 426 Hemi Challenger and Cuda Convertible this past weekend at the Chryslers at Carlisle event in Carlisle, PA. Mr. Norm’s Garage, now based in Hudson, FL, will be producing a limited run of these convertibles.

Like their coupe siblings unveiled at SEMA show last year, the droptop Challenger and Cuda share styling cues from E-Body ancestors from the early 1970s. The Cuda version is modified with a new grille inspired by the 1971 model year, a shaker hood system, Hemi billboard graphics, straightened rear quarter panels, and ‘71 Hemi Cuda taillight assemblies. The interior gets custom leather and suede seating, a pistol grip shifter, and custom mats.

Backing up the look is a 426ci Hemi V8 underneath the hood complete with a forged rotating assembly and a Kenne Bell supercharger that produces 725 horsepower. To compensate for the extra thrust, Mr. Norm has fitted each car with a Viper-spec Dana 44 differential, a fortified driveshaft, frame connectors, and a fully adjustable coilover suspension system.

We don’t have any live photos quite yet, but you can read all about them in the press release after the jump.

Source Autoblog

Ron Flint, president of Hurst Performance, is quick to let you know that founder George Hurst’s original intent was to make hot rods for gentlemen.

It is ironic, then, that for the revived company’s 50th anniversary, it has thrown its energies into a car that isn’t a hot rod, and certainly isn’t for gentlemen: a Dodge Viper. Leaving the heart of the beast well enough alone, Hurst merely tinkered with some oily bits, stuffed the thing with leather, and then slathered it in a hue something like a monochrome sunset. Autoblog was invited to be the first to drive the Hurst 50th Anniversary Dodge Viper, and you know what we discovered? There’s (matte) gold in them thar hills. Follow the jump for the story and video of our drive, and be sure to check out the gallery of gorgeous high-res images below.

Another admission before we begin: this is the second time we’ve been to Hurst and not been able to properly drive the chosen car. Last time, with the Hurst Hemi Challenger, it was because of the prototype wheels that weren’t ready for prime time G-forces. This time it was because of a wrong turn that put us in some stupendous Friday afternoon LA traffic, and because the car is 1-of-a-kind. Surrounded by an innumerable school of SUVs and jalopies (compared to what we were driving, at least), all of them menacing to bend our fenders – or maybe worse – we chose heedful over horsepower. Autoblog did not want to send Hurst to Jackson, where this car will be auctioned on Saturday, with a picture of what the car is supposed to look like.

So it was another babying session. Nevertheless, the beautiful thing about the brutally-fanged Viper is that even when treated with a baby’s care, its performance is convincing.

Exercising a restraint that lives in opposition to the car itself, Hurst hasn’t made many performance modifications. An adjustable Moton Sport Suspension with Eibach springs gives the car a ride that is firm, taut, and while not exactly hot-butter smooth, does not often jar. The Corsa exhaust livens up the exhaust note and gives it a lasting finish as the V10 up front takes its time returning to idle revs. And the rolling bullion package rides on wheels bigger by an inch – 19-inch up front, 20-inch in back – with Michelin Sport PS2 tires on traction duty.

On the subject of wheels, those you see are the same ones from the Hemi Challenger, substitutig a coat of black chrome for polish and gold inserts. Along with the paint job, they make the Viper sing like MIMS, repeating endlessly: “This is why I’m hot.” The difference is this time you don’t get tired of it.

The result is that the car pretty much goes and stops like a Viper with a richer hiss.

What the car doesn’t do, however, is look like a Viper. That’s all about color. Hurst gave this car a matte gold job, and most of the time it mops up the light like it’s gathering energy. Even in the shade, the car seems to have an aura, a corona, that is simply waiting for some runic incantation or astral alignment before it erupts into some blinding, halcyon blast. And just like so many other secrets even back to pre-history, the source of unlocking that potential lies in the sun. Drive this car right into the eye of Apollo, or cruise through a coastal sunrise and sunset, and it is alive, aflame, glowing like an ember. It really is like something from Indiana Jones: far superior to any crystal skull, it’s like the gold skull from the very first movie, dangerous, beautiful, sure to bring you adventure. And on top of that, it hums, and it has a V10, which has got to make it even better than some cursed cranium.

Another detail on the paint job: notice that the striping stops at the end of the hood and trunk – it doesn’t full wrap to the bottom of the car like it usually does on striped Vipers. That’s because Hurst didn’t want to break up and minimize the horizontal aspect of the car. The effect is to make the car seem even wider than it normally does (and actually is).

The only disappointing thing about the inside of the car is that you can’t see more of the outside of the car. The cabin is almost all Viper, with just two tweaks. One is the Katzkin-leather-wrapped seats, which are so grippy you could call them cocoonish. The other is the Hurst pistol-grip shifter with the shift pattern engraved on the thumb depression. Add a Hurst plaque on the dash, which will soon be engraved with the winning bidder’s name, and you’ve still got… a slow news day.

Which is why it is fitting that this car is going up for auction at Barrett-Jackson – it really does belong as part of a collection. Even Archangel Gabriel, tooling sedately around some quiet corner of heaven, would have a hard time caring for the matte paint job, worried it would be marred by a malevolent cloud. And again, since the outside of the car is so devine, that’s where you want to be when you’re around it. The only way to drive it properly would be to rig some extra controls so you could pilot the car from the roof, or a rumble seat in the trunk.

Or…

You could buy the only other matte gold car that will be built, and allot one for your collection and one for the road. That second matte gold car will be a roadster, and it’s not going up for auction – it will be available to some regular (kind of) Joe with money. Hurst, though, hasn’t figured out how they’re going to choose that recipient, so our recommendation is to be really nice to… Autoblog… and we’ll put in a great word for you.

There will be 48 other builds of the 50th Anniversary Hurst Viper, and they will all come in Hurst’s trademark white/gold stripes and black/gold stripes packages. Woodhouse Dodge in Nebraska is the only place to buy them. As for this one, it will be on the plinth and under the gavel for this weekend’s Barrett-Jackson auction, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. And after that, it will be shedding its light on the life and collection of some fortunate owner.

Source Autoblog

Now you can go an order your own Dodge Challenger R/T Classic package from the Detroit Auto Show.

In addition to the model-specific wheels and spiffy retro badging and stripes, Challengers with the R/T Classic package also feature functional hood scoops to help out with engine cooling. We recommend opting for the 6-speed manual, which also nets you the Track Pack, a few extra horses, and a 3.92 rear.

Only Six colors are available, including HEMI Orange, TorRed, and the killer-looking B5 Blue (which, until now, had only been offered on that special Richard Petty auction car. Get that and you have yourself one extremely bitchin’ muscle cruiser. Don’t believe us? Look here. Oh, when you go to the dealer, prepare to part with something in the neighborhood of $34,005 before options.

We’d hoped to add some sweet new PR shots of the R/T Classic to our existing gallery, but Chrysler simply faked it this time, shooting the orange car on the floor of the Detroit show and then adding a pair of Photoshopped backgrounds. Photo shoots are expensive, you know.

Source Autoblog

Chrysler put their electric prototype on the streets only a couple months after the buzz started on the Dodge EV. The car’s production is slated to compete with the Chevrolet Volt.

While a lot of the legwork was done for them by Lotus, we still have to give Chrysler a little credit for getting an electric vehicle prototype on the road so quickly. When we first saw the Dodge EV a couple of months ago, it looked like it was ready to roll, with a Tesla-like blend of Lotus platform and electric powerpack.

Soon after we heard that the car was likely to make it to production, with a delivery date that would challenge the Chevrolet Volt. While it had appeared that Chrysler was way behind its domestic rivals in developing an electric car, we know that through their subsidiary, Chrysler has actually accumulated a lot of EV expertise and become the nation’s leading electric car seller in the process.

The Dodge EV is essentially a Lotus Europa, but uses lithium batteries and a 268 hp electric motor in place of the standard 2.0L four cylinder engine and transmission. It promises a range of 150-200 miles and a 0-60 time of under 5 seconds. It’s a full-blown, plug-in EV, just like the Tesla Roadster, and should require a 4-hour recharge from a 220V outlet or 8 hours on a 110. To help launch Chrysler’s new ENVI electric car division, the Dodge EV has been traveling the show circuit, but today we spotted it at one of our favorite local cruise-ins.

It attracted quite a crowd. Not surprisingly, many folks at the show mistook it for a Lotus until they saw the Dodge badges. Even then a lot of people figured it was some type of joint venture between the two firms. Most were amazed to learn the car might be in Dodge showrooms by 2010. Try as we might we couldn’t wrestle the keys from the Chrysler reps. Hopefully the car and the company make it through our current economic crisis so we can sample one when they hit the streets.

In order to fit in with the cool kids, Chrysler decided to unveil three electric drive technology prototypes and they aren’t only for car shows. Chrysler intends to produce at least one of them in late 2010 with a small number of EVs going out to testing fleets in 2009.

The three prototypes are a sports car, a minivan and a SUV. Read on for more details on each.

Chrysler’s Electric Vehicle Technology
Chrysler’s EV technology has been designed for two different usages:

100% electric cars, with only an electric motor, a lithium-ion battery pack and a power controller. “The electric-drive system is being developed for front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive vehicle applications.”

“Range-extended” vehicles, which are basically series plug-in hybrids like the GM Volt. These would have all the elements mentioned above, but also a small gasoline engine to act as generator when the batteries run out of power. This engine would not drive the wheels directly, it would only generate electricity.

Dodge EV

Based on the Lotus Europa S, the Dodge EV prototype is an electric rear-wheel-drive sports car. The electric-drive system consists of a 200 kW (268 hp) electric motor that can generate a huge 480 lb-ft of torque pretty much from 0 RPM, a 26 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and an integrated power controller.

0 to 60 performance is under 5 second. Quarter-mile is 13 seconds. Top speed is 120+ mph.

Driving range is 150-200 miles. It takes 8 hours to recharge the battery pack from a 110v outlet, but you can cut that to 4 hours with 220v.

Jeep EV

Unlike the all-electric Dodge EV (above), the Jeep EV is a Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV), or a plug-in series hybrid.

Showing that weight and aerodynamics matter, the Jeep EV has a 27 kWh lithium-ion battery pack – more than the Dodge EV – but its all electric range is only 40 miles. After that, a gasoline engine kicks in and extends the range to about 400 miles (with 8 gallons of gas).

The electric motor generated 200 kW (268 hp) and 295 lb-ft of torque. No details yet on the gasoline engine. “Chrysler says that it is also exploring four-wheel-drive, in-wheel electric motors to demonstrate the full reach of ENVI’s advanced electric-drive technologies.”

The Jeep EV does 0 to 60 mph in 9.0 seconds, and has a top speed of 90+ mph.

Chrysler EV

An electric minivan. Now that’s interesting! A nice change from sports cars. The Chrysler EV minivan is another Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV), like the Jeep EV.

It has a 22 kWh lithium-ion battery, can drive 40 miles in all-electric mode and about 400 miles with 8 gallons of gasoline. The electric motor generates 190 kW (255 hp) and 258 lb-ft of torque.

0 to 60 mph acceleration takes approximately 9 seconds and top speed is 100+ mph.

Final Thoughts on Chrysler Electric Cars Prototypes
It’s nice to see Chrysler finally come out with some electric cars and plug-in hybrids. They had some interesting fuel cell projects, but we know that hydrogen won’t make a difference for a long time. Plug-in hybrids are probably the next step, leading to a transition to vehicles with longer and longer electric ranges as batteries improve until we can abandon internal combustion engines all together.

Source: treehugger

Some lucky few bought 6.400 units of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and it is selling out. To fulfill demand, 1,000 more were built. Dodge began shipping the vehicles today and is planning to keep pumping out Challengers.

According to Red Letter Dodge, production is expected to be completed by the first half of July. Keep a look out for yours. Oh and if you’re one of the lucky 6,400 and want to share the delivery of your Challenger SRT8, drop us a line at our contact page. We’d love to post pictures and make the rest of us envy you in every way possible.

For those of you that don’t remember under the hood sits a 6.1L HEMI V8 engine that produces 425-hp and 420 lb-ft of torque.

2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8:

Source: Red Letter Dodge

Inconspicuously placed at the New York Auto Show, the $180,000 limited addition Hennessy Venom 700 NM Viper was placed under a staircase.

As reported by Matt Hardigree:

The Javits Center, home of the New York Auto Show, isn’t exactly a well laid-out place (take that I.M Pei). As opposed to one or two large halls, the Javits has a lot of smaller spaces where the non-major or custom automakers are forced to put their displays. This explains why there was a Hennessey Venom 700 NM Viper just sitting underneath a staircase in a far corner of the auto show.

There weren’t even any signs to indicate that this was a limited edition, $180K beast. Shiny black paint and 700 horsepower may get you into the Neiman Marcus catalog, but at the NY Auto Show it also gets you relegated to the Team Polizei corner.

Originally by Matt Hardigree from Jalopnik on March 21, 2008, 7:30am

At the New York Auto Show, Jim Press of Chrysler formally announced the 2009 Dodge Challenger range, including the re-introduction of the Challenger SRT8, the Challenger R/T and economical Challenger SE. SRT and R/T are equipped with 6-speed manual transmission and R/T manuals have an extra 5 horsepower totaling 375.

As reported by Autoblog:

Chrysler has formally unveiled the full 2009 Dodge Challenger range here at the New York Auto Show. Jim Press gamely handled a few technical snafus that plagued one of the skits going on behind him as he re-introduced the the Challenger SRT8, pulled the wraps off the Challenger R/T and showed us the budget-minded Challenger SE for the first time. Enthusiasts get their wish in 2009, with Chrysler offering a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission in both the SRT and R/T cars. R/T buyers who opt for the stick get an extra five horsepower — for a total of 375 — over the R/T auto’s 370. Aside from its wheels and badging, the R/T is the spitting image of its fire-breathing SRT brother and should be just as adept at sending tires to the afterlife.

We were also interested to see the entry-level Challenger SE in person, and from the looks of things, it’s a nice value package. Pricing in the low-20s puts it in the range of a a wide variety of buyers, and its 245-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 is paired with a 4-speed auto to deliver around 25 mpg highway. It may be the base car, but it’s good-looking, with spoiler-free decklid, polished alloys and the same hot retro profile as the V8 cars. Inside, the big difference is the SE’s fabric upholstery, otherwise, the layout is what you’ll find in other Challengers. The SRT is killer, the SE’s better than we expected it to be, and the R/T is the one a lot of us could see ourselves rolling in. Take your pick. The Challenger’s just cool.

Gallery: 2009 Dodge Challenger SE – Live Reveal

Gallery: 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T – Live Reveal

Originally by Alex Nunez from Autoblog on March 19, 2008, 6:44am

In only less than a month since Dodge unveiled the Challenger SRT8, John Hennessey developed a performance package that adds extra cubes to the 6.1-liter V8 and an additional turbocharger system.

As reported by Autoblog:

It’s been less than a month since Dodge officially took the wraps off the Challenger SRT8, and horsepower fanatic John Hennessey already has a performance package available called the SRT700 that will have muscle car fans tingling with excitement. Since there’s no replacement for displacement, Hennessey adds extra cubes to the 6.1-liter V8 with a stroker crankshaft, pushing it out to 426ci. For good measure, a 67mm turbocharger system is added as well, complete with an air-to-air intercooler. Forged aluminum pistons, forged steel connecting rods, high-flow cylinder heads, and a 3-inch exhaust system are also added, among other upgrades. The result is a tire-shredding horsepower increase of nearly 75% – 725 bhp @ 5200 rpm and 750 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm. Hennessey claims it’s good enough for the Challenger SRT8 to hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds (with the optional drag radial tire upgrade) and top out at 190 mph.

Gallery: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

[Source: Hennessey Performance via Motor Authority]

Originally by Drew Phillips from Autoblog on March 18, 2008, 7:56am