Good news has been in abundant supply for the domestic automakers the last twelve months, and nowhere is that more evident than in the headline to this press release: “Chrysler Group Reports Full Year 2011 Net Income of $183 Million.” Now, $183 million isn’t exactly a king’s ransom in the auto industry (or elsewhere – Apple made $25.92 billion last year). But if Chrysler is making money again for the first time since emerging from bankruptcy, well, perhaps the U.S. auto industry has finally recovered from 2009.
The smallest of the Big Three automakers reported sales of 1,369,114 vehicles in 2011, up 26 percent from 2010. Chrysler led all automakers in percentage sales gains last year, and finished fourth in U.S. sales, behind General Motors, Ford and Toyota. To read the full press release, click past the jump. Read More »
The numbers are officially in for 2011, and once again, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler sold more pickup trucks than any other model. The Ford F-Series was the top-selling vehicle through November of last year with 516,639 units rolling off of dealer lots. That number handily trounces the Chevrolet Silverado in second place with 367,343 units sold. The Ford Escape and Ford Fusion fell into third and fourth places, respectively, leaving Ram Trucks to fill out the top five domestic automaker-built vehicles, with 218,750 units. Read More »
The 2013 Dodge Dart is a big deal for Chrysler, so it makes sense that the majority of the company’s attention at the Detroit Auto Show will be focused around the new C-segment sedan. But since the automaker doesn’t want to blow its whole show presence on just one vehicle, its Mopar tuning arm has stepped in to create two new vehicles for show-goers to ogle – the Chrysler 200 Super S and Dodge Charger Redline.
In its stock form, the Chrysler 200 certainly isn’t going to win any design awards, but we’ll admit it: Based on these pics, the Super S looks good, at least from the front. The Super S Stage One kit adds visual flare in the form of a front chin spoiler, satin chrome fog light trim, satin chrome grille surround and a new mesh grille design. What’s more, there are new side sills, black chrome badges and bespoke 18-inch “S” alloy wheels, a trunk lid spoiler, satin chrome rear light bar and a matte black lower diffuser with integrated exhaust openings.
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Despite major improvements, public perception still lingers that most American luxury sedans don’t quite approach the level of refinement and equipment offered by their imported competitors. And so it follows that Chrysler models fall shy of Lincoln and Cadillac, especially because their pricing is less dear. But the latest announcement from Auburn Hills aims to close that perception – and pricing – gap ever so gently.
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We’re just a few weeks away from the 2012 Detroit Auto Show where, among other things, we’ll see the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart for the first time. Parent company Chrysler has already released a few teasers of the compact sedan’s exterior, and now, we’re getting our first look inside the new C-segment offering.
Dodge says that the 2013 Dart’s interior is all about customization, and that’s immediately noticeable with the gauge cluster. As you can see above, the Dart will have offer seven-inch color TFT display in the middle of the instrument panel, allowing the driver to switch between different display modes with a standard analog tachometer and fuel gauge/PRNDL flanking either side. That red glow you see around the IP? That’s an available ambient “racetrack” lighting system that not only outlines the cluster, but works its way over to the center stack, as well. Ambient lighting can also be had in the foot wells, door handles, map pockets, glove box, center console storage and cup holders.
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The Detroit News reports that while Chrysler is only expected to offer one minivan going forward, the vehicle will carry two different names depending on where it’s sold. The Dodge Grand Caravan is expected to carry on in Canada while American buyers are likely to continue to be able to buy the Chrysler Town and Country. Reid Brigland, the head of the Dodge brand, said that the Town and Country resonates better with American buyers. Read More »
I once rented a 2001 Mustang Convertible from Hertz in Nebraska. When placing the rental paperwork in the glove box I found a crisp $5 bill, which I promptly exchanged for a Big Mac and fries. That was lucky, but the following story is not.
Mercury News reports that Charles Preston, a doctor in Santa Clara, California, purchased a used 2008 Chrysler Town & Country from a Thrifty rental car office and got much more than his $14,000 paid for.
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