Hybrids have been a mixed bag at Chrylser (remember the short-lived Durango and Aspen hybrids or the on-again-off-again Ram hybrid?), but a new report from Automotive News indicates that a gasoline-electric drivetrain is back on the table for the Pentastar automaker. Read More »

Some might argue that the Dodge Nitro was ready for replacement, oh, about the day after it was first released back in 2006. If that’s the case, then Dodge’s midsize sport utility vehicle is certainly well past its sell-by date now that our calendars tell us we’re sitting in 2011.

Apparently, nobody knows that truth better than Chrysler chief Sergio Marchionne, who told reporters at the Detroit Auto Show that the Nitro and its platform mate, the Jeep Liberty, are “the most significant hole in our product portfolio.”

Noting that “it needs to be replaced,” Marchionne suggested that a decision on a replacement for the Pentastar’s uncompetitive midsize ‘ute platform will be made in the next 40 days… though there’s no indication whether that replacement will come from Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler or one of the other brands currently under the Fiat umbrella.

We also can’t yet say whether the new SUV will be built at the Toledo North Assembly Plant like the current Nitro and Liberty, or whether Chrysler will use Fiat’s C-Evo architecture as initially speculated.

[Source:Autoblog]

With the calendar year changing from 2010 to 2011, insurance adjusters have recompiled their actuarial tables and that means a new list of the cheapest and most expensive vehicles to insure for the new year. In this case, Insure.com recently conducted a survey of the nations six top insurance carriers and complied a list of 40 vehicles that take top honors in each category.

The study goes past the specific model and narrows down vehicles by trim. Somewhat unsurprisingly, the least expensive vehicles are dominated by minivans, while the most expensive list is filled with high-powered German machines. We cut down the list of 40 to show you the top 10 from each side of the fence and included the average annual premium for each vehicle after the jump.

Top 10 Least Expensive to Insure:
10. Toyota Highlander ($1,154.02)
9. Ford Escape ($1,150.26)
8. Toyota Sienna ($1,142.94)
7. Honda Odyssey EX ($1,138.16)
6. Jeep Wrangler ($1,131.27)
5. Nissan Murano ($1,127.84)
4. Honda Odyssey LX ($1,114.62)
3. Toyota Sienna LE ($1,107.70)
2. Toyota Sienna ($1,100.66)
1. Chrysler Town & Country LX ($1,091.80)

Top 10 Most Expensive to Insure:
10. Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG ($3,086.49)
9. Aston Martin DB9 Volante ($3,088.96
8. Porsche 911 Carrera S ($3,092.31)
7. Mercedes-Benz CL600 ($3,114.28)
6. Aston Martin DB9 ($3,120.45)
5. Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG ($3,220.86)
4. Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG ($3,263.46)
3. BMW 750Li ($3,280.70)
2. BMW 750i ($3,280.70)
1. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG ($3,543.81)

[Source:Autoblog]

Nestled into a well-hidden crevice on the outskirts of the Chrysler booth at the Detroit Auto Show is a Mopar-accessorized 200 Super S. That’s right: a pimped 200. It would appear that Mopar noticed the 200 looks a bit… tall, so Team Pentastar’s aftermarket arm dropped the 200′s suspension a full three inches and outfitted it with a reworked lower chin and rear decklid spoilers. The 200 is further tweaked with a sublime quartet of glossy black 19-inch wheels, a pair of awkward hood vents, a mesh grille and foglamp bezels with light bar applique.

So… your neighbors still haven’t noticed that you dropped thousands of dollars on aftermarket parts for your Chrysler 200? Mopar’s design department has also re-sprayed the Super S with two-tone tungsten on matte black paint. Unfortunately the thin pinstriping on the showcar appears less than production ready. Click below for our high-res gallery of the 200 Super S.

[Source:Autoblog]

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler, has reportedly just announced his plans to bring an old American nameplate back to life. According to Automotive News, in two years time, Jeep will roll out a seven-seat SUV and its badge will read: Grand Wagoneer. According to Marchionne, it will be an upscale, seven-seat sport utility vehicle built on the same platform as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango.

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is slated to make its first appearance in January 2013, though whether that will be in conceptual or production form, we’re not yet sure.

[Source:Autoblog]

Chrysler loves to show off its Mopar-accessorized vehicles, and the 2011 Detroit Auto Show provides the perfect stage to reveal some new ones. Two vehicles slated to make an appearance are the 2011 Chrysler 200 Super S and 2012 Fiat 500.

The Chrysler 200 Super S is dropped three inches and sports a black and tungsten paint scheme. The bodywork gets updated with a slew of parts including lower chin and rear decklid spoilers. Riding on a set of 19-inch wheels, the 200 Super S gets a major shot in the style department… for better of for worse.

Mopar is also turning to its new Italian cousin, the 2012 Fiat 500, and offering styling treatments in the same vein as the 200 Super S. Chrome trim sets off the blacked-out exterior while the black and blue leather interior features various carbon fiber accents. Underneath the skin sits a Mopar strut tower brace to add a bit of stiffness.

Be sure to hop the jump and read the full press release for even more Mopar goodies making an appearance in Detroit. Read More »

Chrysler continues to successfully trade on its history with the introduction of the new 426 cubic-inch Generation III Hemi crate engine. When your past is filled with some of the most illustrious engines to ever roar down a drag strip, around an oval or under the hood of a muscle car, it’s smart to capitalize on it. So with that in mind, production of the 426 crate engine has swung into action.

The new Mopar 426 Hemi Crate Engine is all-aluminum and carries ratings of 540 horsepower and 530 pound-feet of torque for a $13,675 price tag. The engine made its debut at the Performance Racing Industry show in Florida, and was joined by other performance enhancing Mopar goodies. Pieces big and small, from valvetrain tie bars and cylinder head stud kits to aluminum engine blocks, W2 cylinder heads and rear strut tower braces for the Challenger/Charger/300, were all shown off at the show which ran from December 9-11. What it means for the leadfoot-at-large is that Chrysler loves its enthusiastic fan base as much as they love its products. For more details, check out the press release after the jump and the gallery below. Read More »