February 8th, 2010 by Bill Cawthon
The plant that has been cranking out PT Cruisers for the past decade will soon be producing another iconic automobile.
Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne announced the company will spend $500 million to retool the plant for production of the Fiat 500 beginning in late December of this year.
Unlike other most other vehicles that will spring from the merger of the Chrysler and Fiat lines, the 500 will wear a Fiat badge in the U.S. as part of the brand’s return to the North American market. It will be sold and serviced through Chrysler dealerships.
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February 8th, 2010 by DaveAdmin
Two of the wildest and rarest 2010 Dodge Challenger models will be available for ordering in March: the 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic and Challenger SRT8® Furious Fuchsia editions. With its Furious Fuchsia Pearl Coat exterior paint and new Pearl White leather performance seats, these limited-edition Dodge Challenger cars deliver unmistakable design, world-class handling, and powerful HEMI® V-8 engines in one of the most significant hues.
“The new R/T Classic and SRT8 Furious Fuchsia editions modernize one of the most memorable hues from 1970 to create a modern muscle-car that exudes more performance, passion and even more nostalgia,” said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Car Brand.
The list price for the 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic in Furious Fuchsia Pearl Coat is $35,140, while the high-performance SRT8 model is $45,150 (both prices include $725 destination). Both Hemi-powered cars will be built starting in May 2010, with ordering opening at U.S. and possibly other Dodge dealerships in March 2010.
2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic Furious Fuchsia
Based on the powerful 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T, the Dodge Challenger R/T Classic Furious Fuchsia edition has dual throwback A-line body-side R/T stripes in Matte Black or Bright White. Completing the look are “Challenger” fender badges in classic script, large 20-inch polished-aluminum heritage wheels with all-season performance tires, classic egg-crate grille with heritage “R/T” badge, body-color rear spoiler, functional hood scoop and bright racing style fuel-filler door.
Inspiration from the past continues with exclusive Pearl White performance seats accented with Dark Slate Gray and Furious Fuchsia French-seamed stitching as a factory-installed option. Monotone Dark Slate Gray leather performance seats and center console armrest with Furious Fuchsia accent stitching are standard.
When paired with the Tremec six-speed manual transmission, the 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic Furious Fuchsia edition includes the performance-minded Track Pak with precision-shift “pistol-grip” shifter, anti-spin 3.92 differential and a performance-tuned dual exhaust with two low-restriction bottle resonators for maximum “throatiness.” And when it’s time to deliver, the Furious Fuchsia R/T Classic can accelerate from 0–60 mph in less than six seconds with its powerful 376 horsepower (280 kW) and 410 lb.-ft. of torque (556 N•m) 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine.
2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Furious Fuchsia
If the tire-smoking Furious Fuchsia R/T Classic is not exciting enough, the 400 ultra-exclusive 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 versions delivers even more punch with a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine—with engine block lacquered in original HEMI Orange paint—producing 425 horsepower (317 kW) and 420 lb.-ft. (569 N•m) of torque, performance-tuned ride and handling, benchmark braking and race-inspired interior with unique SRT-designed appointments.
The limited-production Dodge Challenger SRT8 in Furious Fuchsia is based on the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and features several standard equipment upgrades, including all-new Pearl White leather SRT performance seats with Furious Fuchsia accented stripe, unique 20-inch SRT forged-aluminum wheels with Satin Black accents, serialized dash plaque indicating the limited production series of 400 and retro-inspired chromed quad-exhaust tips.
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February 8th, 2010 by DaveAdmin
The Ram Truck Brand today announced that it would renew its monster truck racing partnership with Hall Brothers Racing, bringing back a partnership that began in 2002 with the debut of the Ram-based “Raminator” monster truck. Champaign, Illinois-based Hall Brothers Racing has been competing in monster truck racing since 1987.
“More than a million people attend monster truck events each year, and audience demographics match the consumers who buy pickup trucks,” said Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ram Truck Brand. “We’re launching a brand new Ram Heavy Duty truck and having a monster truck modeled after the 2011 Ram Heavy Duty gets our dealers and customers very excited.”
“We are proud to renew our association with the Ram Truck brand,” said Hall Brothers Racing President and Crew Chief Tim Hall. “The new Ram trucks are simply amazing! The team is excited about getting them on the race track.”
“We intend to give the Ram 1500, which is already the most award-winning new Ram ever, and the new Ram H.D., the Motor Trend Truck of the Year, some more awards . . . some monster truck championships,” added driver Mark Hall.
Hall Brothers Racing has won 14 monster truck championships. Tim Hall is a three-time Monster Truck Racing Association (MTRA) Mechanic of the Year, while brother Mark Hall has earned MTRA Driver of the Year six times in Raminator. Tim Hall also builds the engines and electrical systems for the truck, while Mark Hall serves as the shop foreman, fabricator and welder in addition to his driving duties.
Raminator made its competitive debut Jan. 19, 2002 at the U.S. Hot Rod Association’s Monster Jam at the Pontiac (Mich.) Silverdome and went on to win Truck of the Year six times.
The truck’s “Raminator” name was selected in 2001 from more than 1,500 Chrysler Group employee entries. The contest to name the monster truck drew submissions from all over the world, some including drawings or photographs.
Raminator is powered by a 565 cubic-inch supercharged HEMI® engine that runs on methanol alcohol and produces more than 2,000 horsepower. The 10-foot tall Raminator weighs in at a car-crushing 10,300 lbs., and features crowd-pleasing special effects like smoke-snorting nostrils and strobing red eyes.
The 2011 Dodge Ram 2500 Heavy Duty, by comparison comes standard with a 383 horsepower, 343 cubic-inch fuel-injected HEMI stands 6 feet, one inch tall and weighs 5,769 lbs.
Raminator competes primarily in MTRA and U.S. Hot Rod Association Monster Jam events. The vehicles typically race over a 350-foot dirt track that includes climbing over piles of junked cars. When not racing, Raminator appears at trade shows, farm shows and other events. Dealers also use Raminator at their dealerships for sales and other promotions. Raminator makes more than 100 dealer appearances every year.
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February 8th, 2010 by Bill Cawthon
Automotive News Europe is reporting that Chrysler and Lancia will share a stand at the Geneva Auto Show in March. The two brands, destined for integration under CEO Sergio Marchionne’s master plan, will also do a joint presentation for the motoring press.
While neither brand has any new vehicles to display, there’s been no decision announced as to whether the Chrysler-badged Lancia Delta unveiled for the Detroit Auto Show will be on the stage. That vehicle was prepared to get an idea of how American consumers might respond to a larger hatchback instead of the traditional sedan.
Marchionne’s plans call for four Chrysler vehicles the 300, Town & Country and the Sebring sedan and convertible, to be merged with the Lancia line with new vehicles appearing in 2011. Cars to be sold in Italy would wear the Lancia badge while those sold outside Italy would carry Chrysler colors.
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February 7th, 2010 by DaveAdmin
A new thread on DealershipForum has shed more light on this story; the thread includes an official notice from Fred Diaz, CEO of Ram.
As part of the continuing effort in our company’s transformation, the following appointments are effective immediately reporting to me:
• John Plecha [45 years old, hired from Ford] is appointed Director – Great Lakes Business Center [taking over from Brian Schnurr]. Reporting to John are:
o Eric Craft – Sales Manager
o Greg Martin – Marketing Manger
• Al Gardner is appointed Director – Southeast Business Center. [Replacing John Plecha] Reporting to Al are:
o Dave Englen – Sales Manager
o Craig Bowers – Marketing Manager
• Jeff Hines is appointed Director – Denver Business Center. Reporting to Jeff are:
o Bill Potter – Sales Manager
o Cheryl Ansel – Marketing Manager
• Steve Zanlunghi is appointed Director – Mid Atlantic Business Center. [Replacing Hal Wurster who will run Regional Advertising Centers] Reporting to Steve are:
o John Powrie – Sales Manager [replacing Steve Zanlunghi]
o Charlie Glymph – Marketing Manager
• Jeff Kommor is appointed Director – Midwest Business Center. [Replacing Lewis Scott] Reporting to Jeff are:
o Carlos Jimenez – Sales Manager
o Matt Thompson – Marketing Manager
• Todd Stewart continues as the Director – Southwest Business Center. Reporting to Todd are:
o Mike Oliver – Sales Manager
o Erika Boss – Marketing Manager
• Phil Scroggin continues as Director – Northeast Business Center. Reporting to Phil are:
o TBD – Sales Manager [replacing Jeff Kommar]
o Scott Tallon – Marketing Manager [replacing Ed Del Otero]
• Chris Chandler continues as Director – West Business Center. Reporting to Chris are:
o Shannon Carr – Sales Manager
o Jay Weaver – Marketing Manager
• Jamie Noll is appointed Dodge/Ram Brands Marketing Mix & Product Optimization having a dual
reporting relationship to myself and Ralph Gilles President & CEO Dodge Car Brand and Design
AOA Ram_Sales Feb 2010
In conjunction with the above appointments the following appointments are also announced reporting to
Steve Beahm – VP Sales Operations
• Tod Hartje is appointed Director – Sales Planning & Incentives
• Lewis Scott is appointed Director – Dealer Relations. Realigned and reporting to Lewis is:
o Geoffrey Edmonds – Sr. Manager Dealer Relations
• Freda Bane is appointed Head of Market Center Operations
The rumored Chrysler shakeup appears, not surprisingly, to have occurred in the area of dealer relations, where it seems that at least one key, long-serving executive, Brian Schnurr, has been replaced. One poster referred to Brian as “Very bad manager, hot temper, and a ton of very questionable terminations.”
One of the problems with Chrysler’s dealer-dropping system, other than not telling dealerships the exact standards and where they fell short (in numeric form), has been that in some cases, dealerships have seen their nearby rivals claiming their franchises. In some cases, these are rivals who had not sold a Chrysler Group brand before.
(This is NOT the dealership that was involved.)
This appears to have been the case with the dropping of Birmingham C-D-J near Detroit. One large, highly regarded dealership with a dedicated owner, selling all three brands, was closed down, and a rival across the street was awarded new franchises for the brands.
There appears to be a new setup for the CPOV Field Reps, where there is now an Eastern Region and a Western Region with two Regional Managers added; each region has four business centers. Other business center managers appear to have been fired or demoted.
More changes may be in store, as the dealer-trimming effort is now being followed by arbitration in many cases, and where franchises have already been awarded in the same geography, Chrysler may need to pay restitution.
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February 6th, 2010 by DaveAdmin
The Dodge Super Bowl ad, reputed to have the first images of the new Dodge Charger, will be 60 seconds, themed “Man’s Last Stand,” and air just before the 2-minute warning in the first half of the game. The Super Bowl airs at 6:25 EST on Sunday on CBS.
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February 6th, 2010 by DaveAdmin
Drawings of the 2012 Dodge Durango / Dodge Magnum / 7-passenger Dodge CUV (depending on what name is finally chosen) were registered with the U.S. Copyright Office in April 2009. These drawings recently came to light as the patent was made public; talented artist Stephen Weigel brought them to life for Allpar. One of his two drawings is shown here; for the other, see our 2012 Dodge Durango / 7 Passenger CUV page.
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