Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger earn 5-star ratings

The 2012 Chrysler 300 and 2012 Dodge Charger have achieved 5-star safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Five stars is the highest rating for safety given by the Administration and measures vehicle safety performance in front and side crashes as well as for rollover.

“We’re very pleased that both the 2012 Chrysler 300 and 2012 Dodge Charger have achieved the highest overall rating,” said Scott Kunselman, Chrysler Group’s Senior Vice President of Engineering. “The results of these tests reflect crashworthiness and performance in different scenarios.”

Both Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger achieved an overall 5-star vehicle safety score. The rating is a combination of frontal, side pole and barrier performance with the static stability factor accounting for the rollover rating.

Both Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger also achieved high marks in rollover testing with a 4-star rating.

“These vehicles are comprehensively equipped with advanced safety features,” added Kunselman. “Both vehicles are robustly designed with a rigid structure to protect occupants and have numerous advanced safety features including, available Adaptive Cruise Control which NHSTA notes as a technology proven to reduce crashes.”

Earlier this year, the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger were named a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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Durango, Grand Cherokee, honored in Chicago

Today, the editors of MotorWeek presented the “Driver’s Choice, Best Large Utility” for the three-row Dodge Durango SUV (shared with Jeep Grand Cherokee) at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

MotorWeek has judged the best new cars and trucks of the year for the past 31 years. Its annual Drivers’ Choice Awards looks at vehicles from a buyer’s point of view, including priorities such as value and reliability, while also taking the latest trends and innovations into consideration. An episode of MotorWeek featuring the Durango and other award winners is scheduled to air Feb. 11 on PBS and on Discovery’s Velocity Network Feb. 21.

“It’s an honor to receive this award from MotorWeek,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Dodge Brand. “Even though it’s still early in 2012, Dodge has already received more than a dozen awards across the line-up, demonstrating the strength of our products.”

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Fiat C-Medium: Dodge Dart for China?

According to PlayersChina.com, which caught a fairly nonrevealing spy shot of a car with the almost exact lines and proportions of the Dodge Dart, Fiat will be selling its own version of the Dart in China, through the Guangzhou-Fiat joint venture. The car is, according to PlayersChina, to be sold with Fiat’s 1.4 liter turbo engine, in two different states of tune, with the six-speed dual clutch transmission. The engine is to be made in China.

The information may not be entirely accurate; the article refers to the Dart has having the same C-EVO platform as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, which is not the case. The camouflaged car did have the same proportions as the Dart, with additional padding to conceal body creases. It appears that the front clip might be somewhat different.

Automotive News reported on January 9, 2012 that Fiat would produce two cars based on the Dart at the Guangzhou plant in Hunan Province, for export to Europe. The first would be a sedan, the second would be a hatchback, replacing the Bravo. While Alfa’s Giulietta is also a hatchback, the Dart-based one would be wider, longer, and possibly less expensive (or comparably priced but larger).

Chrysler’s early and successful foothold in China, Beijing Jeep, was taken over by Mercedes during the DaimlerChrysler years. (Thanks, RVC, for finding this news/rumor.)

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Chrysler production rising quickly (fixed)

Chrysler production has risen dramatically in January 2012, compared with January 2011, despite buildout of the Dodge Caliber, Dodge Dakota, and Dodge Nitro in 2011. Nearly every model saw a hike in production, with the notable exceptions of Chrysler Town & Country (balanced by more Caravans), Volkswagen Routan, and, now that the pipeline has been filled, Dodge Durango.

The greatest gainers were Avenger (from 3,520 to 6,380), 300 (from 57 to 6,734), Charger (6,795 to 8,139), Fiat 500 (908 to 5,478), Ram Heavy Duty (8,134 to 11,896), Journey (7,812 to 10,727), and Ram 1500 (16,411 to 19,946 in the US, and 1,622 to 2,122 in Mexico).

Of the new models, by far the biggest one is Fiat Freemont, with 6,276 produced in January 2012. That compares with 10,727 Dodge Journeys — both are essentially the same design and both are made in Mexico, at the former Neon-then-PT Cruiser plant. Lancia Thema (748) and Fiat 500 convertible (698) are barely on the charts; speaking of rebranded Chryslers, Volkswagen Routan dropped from 1,473 in January 2011 to just 796 in January 2012.

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Chrysler dealers speak on Bowl ad

The national council of Chrysler dealers published this statement today, after some radical politicians slammed the “Halftime in America” ad starring Clint Eastwood as being “politically motivated.” (Active Republican strategist Karl Rove, in particular, claimed it was made using “taxpayer money” and represented corruption by President Obama, though Chrysler has repaid its loans and the government has no equity in the company at this time.)

The Chrysler Group LLC National Dealer Council would like to make a statement in our support of the “Halftime in America” Super Bowl ad run by our manufacturer Chrysler Group on behalf of our over 2300 franchised dealers.

This ad was simply a recount of the achievement of Chrysler Group, and its dealers who sacrificed and drove to take this American icon from depths during the national economic downturn to the success we have accomplished to date. Further, it highlights our collective resolve to continue to drive to make Chrysler Group the greatest car company in the world, going forward in what will be our “second half.”

Moreover, it was designed to relate to those still suffering the effects of the recession, that they may be buoyed by our example and they may find the courage to endure through to similar success going forward.

We stand unified with Chrysler Group in our collaborative drive to continue to create and retail great cars and trucks and to give our clients a world class sales experience on our showroom floor.

We have no doubt that this ad had no political agenda of any kind but rather a statement of fact and hope for the future for all of us and America.

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Video: A.J. Allmendinger ready to race for Penske

A.J. Allmendigner, the newest member of the Penske Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup team, is profiled in this Dodge Motorsports video:

Video courtesy of Chrysler Electronic Communications.

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