You can call this a good news/bad news sort of thing. The bad news is that Chrysler’s two-mode hybrid joint development program has been disbanded, and the good news is that the hybrid Ram pickup is coming in 2010.

The joint development program, which was a very big deal for a while, was created several years ago between Chrysler, General Motors, Daimler, and BMW to work out a two-mode hybrid system for light duty vehicles, is now effectively over. The four automakers involved have either launched or are about to introduce versions of the two-mode hybrid system, so the program is being wound down and the engineering office will be closed by the end of this year.

But the Ram pickup hybrid should be in dealerships by 2010.

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, also known as the IIHS has just given its highest safety rating to three new model rides: The Dodge Journey, Lincoln MKT and Mazda Mazda3. All three of the cars got top marks in the front, side and rear impact tests and all three featured standard stability control.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said in a statement that “Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements.”

Only the Dodge received the IIHS’ top marks in every single category whereas the Lincoln and Mazda received “Acceptable” ratings in other categories. The Insurance Institute said that the Lincoln and Mazda’s overall evaluations were robust enough to receive the “Top Safety Pick” award.

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By Danny Chang

Pros

• Bad-a$s looks
• Bad-a$s power
• Uncontrollable urge to drive fast

Cons

• Bad MPG
• Failure to impress young ladies
• Uncontrollable urge to drive fast

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Well that was quick. Chrysler, restructuring everything down to the last nut, bolt and pencil during their bankruptcy has announced that the first of their idled plants to be reopened will be the factory that builds the Viper.

It’s an interesting move, and one that is sure to please performance car enthusiasts the world over, and seems to run counter to the rumors that Dodge is looking to sell off the Viper brand the way General Motors sold off Saturn and Hummer. The other part of that rumor was if Chrysler couldn’t unload the Viper marque, it would go the way of Pontiac (and AMC and DeSoto, et al).

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By Gary Chan

Pros

• HEMI power and acceleration
• Navigation system accuracy and ease of use
• Autostick® 5-speed transmission that matches perfectly with the engine

Cons

• Thirst for gasoline
• “Am I speaking English?” voice command system
• Uncomfortable front seats

As one of most powerful cars I’ve ever tested, I was eager to see what an American car could do compared to the high-ticket, high-powered imports I’ve driven. Not nearly as refined as the hi-po imports, the fun-factor of the SRT8 kept me grinning while accelerating effortlessly mile after mile.

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Not to be outdone by Toyota, who unveiled their 2010 Tundra last week, Chrysler LLC unveiled a new line of commercial versions of its Dodge Ram truck–the 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty trucks and the 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs–at the Chicago Auto Show.

The most notable thing about these new trucks is that for the first time, Chrysler is making them available with large crew cabs. Now you can take the whole crew out to a job, because the trucks can carry 5-6 passengers without cramming them in there.

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Hey, remember the Dodge Hornet? It was this smallish, hot-hatch design that Chrysler said was going to be a serious player in the small car/fun to drive category?

Yeah, that guy. Anyway, when the financial stuff hit the fan a few months back, and Chrysler went from looking shaky to bad to worse, the Dodge Hornet was mentioned as being one of the programs destined for the “never-was” file.

Well, turns out that all is not lost, and the Hornet might be back on the production schedule.

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By Kurt Gensheimer

Horsepower. Raw, tire-melting horsepower. Every man worth his chest hair can’t deny it’s one of the first criteria for buying a car powered by a V8. Typically, the more the horsepower and the lower the MSRP, the more attractive it looks. It was the formula that made the muscle car era a piece of American history. But nowadays, American automakers aren’t the only ones making rear-wheel-drive radial roasters; Japan and Germany have also gotten in on the unmitigated horsepower wars, albeit with a little more luxury and refinement.

We recently had a Bridgestone bar-b-que with three fire-breathing, rear/all-wheel-drive V8s representing each of the three respective automaking countries. Japan arrived respectfully in the Lexus IS-F, Germany showed up to the cookout well dressed in the Audi S5, and the United States arrived rockin’ a mullet and Miller Lite in the Dodge Challenger SRT8. Three different V8s, three different countries, and three very different cars.

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Time to get outta Dodge and head to Las Vegas for the 2008 SEMA show. Three new Challenger concept vehicles will be under the spotlights at the Dodge booth this year. The new 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT10 with a smokin’ 600 hp Viper V10 engine laying power to the wheels. A Dodge Challenger Blacktop, built by the Mopar Underground design team, improved breathing by adding a cat-back dual exhaust, cold air intake to the already hefty 5.7L HEMI® V8. Visual cues are set by the 22 inch Viper wheels, custom spoilers, front brow, and black-on-black racing stripe paint scheme.

Also in the corral this year is the Dodge Challenger Targa which is a all-out competition car that completed the Targa Newfoundlands race this year. The Mopar hood is equipped with a scoop to make room for the 540-horsepower, 490 lb. ft. of torque, 392 HEMI® V-8 Mopar crate motor. Mated to a Tremec six-speed manual gearbox, the engine blasts power to the rear wheels through a production 2009 modified gear ratio in the rear end. Looking svelte, sleek, and downright ornery is the Challenger Blacktop. Details of the Challenger Blacktop, conceived by the Mopar Undergroud team, follows below the jump.

(photos of the SRT10 Concept, Challenger Blacktop, and Challenger Targa cars below the jump)

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Dodge’s remake of the classic 1970s muscle coupe, the Challenger, will start below $22,000 when the 2009 model arrives in showrooms this fall.

The automaker announced pricing for the three-car 2009 Challenger lineup on Monday. The base SE starts at $21,995, the R/T is $29,995, and the SRT8 is $39,995. Prices include a $675 destination charge.

The Challenger SE comes with a 3.5-liter V6, which makes 250 hp and is paired with a four-speed automatic. Other standard equipment includes 17-inch aluminum wheels, four-wheel-disc brakes and keyless entry.

The R/T upgrades to the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, which makes 370 hp–30 more than it makes in the Dodge Charger and the Chrysler 300, which ride on a similar chassis. The Challenger R/T also comes with dual chrome exhaust, P225/60HR-18 all-season touring tires and a rear spoiler.

Hotrodder’s who have no apprehensions of getting speeding tickets will want to pay another $995 for the “track pak,” which includes the Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual with a pistol-grip shifter. The stick-and-Hemi combination boosts output to 375 hp.

The SRT8 comes with the 6.1-liter Hemi V8 that pumps out 425 hp. Five-speed automatic and six-speed manual transmissions are available. Standard equipment includes 20-inch forged aluminum wheels and functional hood scoops. The race-inspired interior has reconfigurable displays that show 0-to-60-mph and lap times.

Dodge launched the Challenger this year as an ‘08 with limited availability–only 6400 were available, outfitted as SRT8s. High gas prices won’t sway the muscle car enthusiasts and we expect the SRT8 to leave the showroom faster than Speedy Gonzalez with a caffeine overdose. Would you believe Dodge got more than 11,000 requests to buy the car? (Editor)

Official press announcement from Dodge is below the jump.

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	“Let’s Refuel America” available throughout the U.S. exclusively at Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge dealerships through June 2, 2008 Three-year price protection from volatile gas prices available on compact, mid-size and full-size models, minivans, crossovers and pickup truck models Seventy-six percent of customers cite rising gas prices as “top concern”

Auburn Hills, Mich., May 5, 2008 - In response to direct customer feedback citing the prospect of rising gas prices as a top concern, Chrysler LLC today announces its own economic stimulus package: an exclusive gas price protection policy that eliminates the risk of further spikes in fuel prices. With the U.S. purchase of eligible Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles, customers can enroll in the “Let’s Refuel America” program and receive a gas card that immediately lowers their gas price to $2.99 a gallon, and keeps it there for three years. The offer is available at 3,511 U.S. Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealerships through June 2, 2008, and is available on vehicles ranging from popular new compacts, crossovers and minivans to full-size diesel-powered pickup trucks.“Today we are proud to introduce an unprecedented program to help put customers’ minds at ease and do something to help working people who are worried about the volatility of fuel prices and vehicle cost of ownership,” said Jim Press, Vice-Chairman and President, Chrysler LLC. “The Let’s Refuel America Price Guarantee puts money in your pocket today, and allows our customers to better manage their fuel expenses. And you can’t get it anywhere else besides a Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge dealership.”

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Dodge Challenger SRT8 available for $37,995

• The American muscle coupe is back, packed with modern technology and innovation
• Demand for contemporary version of iconic pony car drives Dodge to accept orders for the 2008 Challenger SRT8® beginning Dec. 3, 2007
• Introduction begins with limited-edition Dodge Challenger SRT8 models – each with numbered dash plaque
• Complete, broader Challenger lineup details and pricing still to come
• 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 models feature 6.1-liter HEMI® V-8 and are available in Black, Silver or HEMI Orange

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Chrysler LLC’s First Production Hybrid Vehicles

• Hybrid fuel efficiency combined with full-size SUV performance, capability and utility
• HEMI® Hybrid delivers more than 25 percent overall fuel economy improvement
• Full-size SUVs boast nearly 40 percent fuel economy improvement in the city
• HEMI Hybrid features Chrysler’s Multi-displacement System (MDS)

Auburn Hills, Mich., Nov 14, 2007 - With the introduction of the new 2009 Chrysler Aspen HEMI® Hybrid and 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid, Chrysler LLC delivers two hybrid-electric vehicles that combine fuel-efficient advanced-hybrid technology with full-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) performance and capability.

“The new 2009 Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid vehicles will offer our customers the sought-after blend of performance, utility, capability and vastly improved fuel economy — all in one package,” said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President – Product Development, Chrysler LLC. “Combined with Chrysler’s Multi-displacement System (MDS), our advanced, two-mode hybrid technology immediately delivers a more than 25 percent fuel economy improvement to our full-size SUVs — and up to a 40 percent improvement in the city.”

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Even More Viper Venom!

Dodge Introduces Street-legal 2008 Viper SRT10® ACR

• Dodge delivers ultimate purpose-built, street-legal track car
• 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10® ACR offers reduced weight, race-ready hardware and competition tuning for optimal on-track performance
• Aerodynamic improvements, racing suspension and weight savings equal unmatched performance for under $100,000

Auburn Hills, Mich., Nov 9, 2007 - Dodge announced today that the all-new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10® ACR — short for American Club Racer — will make its public debut at next week’s Los Angeles Auto Show.

The latest addition to Chrysler LLC’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) family of performance vehicles, the all-new, 600 horsepower 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is a street-legal Viper engineered to dominate on the race track. Because it is street legal, die-hard Viper and track enthusiasts can drive their car to the race track, run it at top speed on the track and then drive it home.

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by Natasha M.

Pros
Driveability
Safety features
Storage

Cons
Engine power
Expect to pay more for added upgrades & amenities

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