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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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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1800 jobs for Belvidere

Chrysler Group LLC announced today that it will add about 1,800 jobs at its Belvidere Assembly Plant. The hiring includes workers for a third crew and hundreds of jobs the company needs to fill by the third quarter of 2012 for production of the Dodge Dart.

With these new jobs, the Company will have added nearly 4,000 hourly position in the U.S. since the formation of the new company in June 2009. In total, Chrysler has grown by nearly 10,000 employees since emerging from bankruptcy.

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed the plans this morning during a ceremony at the plant with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Belvidere Mayor Frederic Brereton, UAW Region 4 Director Ron McInroy and hundreds of current employees. The last time Belvidere ran three shifts was in March 2008 when there were about 3,600 employees. When all hiring is complete, the employee population will be more than 4,500.

In addition to the jobs announcement, Marchionne acknowledged that the previously announced $600 million investment in a new 638,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art body shop had grown to nearly $700 million. The investment also included the installation of new machinery, tooling and material handling equipment exclusively for the production of the Dart.

“It was not by chance that we chose Belvidere to make this investment and build the new Dodge Dart,” Marchionne told employees. “Our decision is evidence of the faith we have in your level of commitment and your passion to deliver great products for our customers. You have been essential in our ability to author a remarkable story of recovery.

“I want to thank Governor Quinn, Mayor Brereton and the UAW for working with us to bring jobs, investment and a new product to this area,” said Marchionne. “With their help and this dedicated workforce, we are creating a work environment here in Belvidere that is dedicated to quality, and with the flexibility to compete with the best plants anywhere in the world.”

“This announcement is proof that America’s auto industry is indeed back,” said General Holiefield, Vice President, UAW Chrysler Department. “With the continued commitment and hard work of its UAW-represented workers, Chrysler will continue to add more good manufacturing jobs and introduce more industry-leading vehicles, securing the future for the Company and its entire workforce.”

The new jobs will be added as part of an innovative operating pattern that allows the plant to run an additional 49 days per year. The 3-2-120 schedule, as the operating pattern is called, utilizes three crews, working four 10-hour straight-time days per week for a total of 120 hours of production time. A typical two shift production schedule provides 80 hours per week of production time. Compared to a traditional plant schedule, individual employees on a 3-2-120 schedule work 49 fewer days per year, but the plant operates 49 more days.

Interested in being part of the new crew at Belvidere? You can apply online at www.hourlychryslerjobs.com. For salaried and skilled trades positions, visit www.chryslercareers.com.

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Viper teaser drawing

SRT has posted the official teaser drawing of the upcoming SRT Viper, née Dodge Viper. It appears to be drawing on the original Viper form, though not much is visible. The drawing above was modified somewhat by suzq044 to show both sides — the official drawing only covered around 2/3 of the front.

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Foose Challenger raises $115,000 for charity

The WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Challenger not only raised eyebrows at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, it raised $115,000 for Childhelp and The Victory Junction Gang Camps charities.

The unique 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 features custom BASF paint mixed by Chip Foose, a Street Scene/Foose Design body kit, one-off MHT/Foose wheels and WD-40-branded Katkzin upholstery, among other upgrades.

Legendary hot rod designer and TV star Chip Foose, who designed the custom Dodge, was on hand to see the vehicle cross the auction block. Foose dropped the hammer to close the auction as the vehicle received the winning bid from Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“I’ve always loved Chip Foose designed cars, but when I learned about the cause of the charities it would support, I simply had to participate,” said Alsaud. “I’m very thankful to WD-40 Company, Chip Foose and Barrett-Jackson for partnering with these children’s charities and creating such a thoughtful gift.”

This is the third consecutive year WD-40 Company has partnered with SEMA Cares, the charity arm of the Specialty Equipment Market Association, to build a custom vehicle for a good cause. Childhelp provides services to abused and neglected children, and The Victory Junction Gang Camp provides life-changing camping experiences to special needs and chronically ill children. The earlier vehicles were a custom Camaro and a custom Mustang. the three vehicles have raised a combined total of more than $400,000 for the two charities.

“Working with Chip Foose, who has used WD-40 Multi-Use Product his entire life, is an honor,” said Tim Lesmeister, vice president of marketing for WD-40 Company. “We’re thrilled his hard work, along with that of our generous build partners, was recognized and that we were able to support such a worthwhile cause.”

For more information about the vehicle build, visit WD40.com/Foose.

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