Dodge Dart: $16,000 starting price

Reid Bigland, CEO of Dodge, announced today that the 2013 Dodge Dart will start at $16,000. He also said he expected EPA gas mileage to come in at 40 mpg (whether combined or highway mileage he did not say, but it is likely highway).

Photos, specifications, and details on the Dart are at http://www.dart-mouth.com/

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Chrysler: small price increases

Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep U.S. prices are rising, but by small increments. All vehicles will have a $100 boost in their destination charge, which will now vary from $850 to $950 (Hawaii is an extra $50).

Most Dodge cars are maintaining their current sticker prices, with $200 increases on Challenger R/T Plus and Classic, Charger AWD, and Durango R/T AWD.

Jeep, America’s best selling brand, is not increasing any prices other than the destination charge.

Chrysler is seeing the largest increases, which still remain relatively small. Town & Country Touring L and Limited go up by around $300; 200 Limited and S go up by $420; 200 Convertible goes up by $200. Chrysler 300 goes up $300 on Base, Limited RWD, and S V6 RWD, with Limited AWD and S AWD rising by $500.

All changes take effect with vehicles invoiced on 12/27/2011 for dealer stock; they do not apply to cars ordered for specific customers before that date.

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Super Bee, Yellow Jacket prices revealed

The Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee will be priced well below the usual SRT8 numbers, bringing back memories of the original Super Bee — a copy of the successful Plymouth Road Runner, which provided high performance without any frills.

The 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 starts at $46,660, while the Challenger SRT8 392 starts at $45,025. By comparison, the Charger SRT8 Super Bee will start at $41,495 plus destination — a substantial reduction of more than 10% of the car’s price, reflecting enthusiasts’ demands for “all the performance without all the frills.”

The Dodge Challenger SRT8 Yellow Jacket will only be discounted in terms of features — its price will be $45,490, around $470 more than the base Challenger SRT8. (All prices are subject to change. Thanks, lilreddakota, for the tip.)

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Journey moving downmarket?

Blaine Martinson pointed out that, on the U.S. Dodge website, the high-end Journey Lux has been removed, and the Mainstreet renamed to SXT. New to the Dodge line is the “American Value Package” (AVP), a stripped down Express, similar to the Omni America and Sundance America launched under Lee Iacocca. One noticeable change in the AVP is the use of older-style tail lamps, instead of the higher-end Journeys’ expensive-but-slightly-safer LEDs.

AVP is around $2,000 less than SE (formerly Express), and has the older style tail lamps, clear windows all around, and no roof rails. Crew remains, and it appears that it can be optioned out to equal the old Lux.

Blaine pointed out that this might be due to Dodge CEO Reid Bigland; the package echoes the Canadian Value Package used for several years to keep Caravan and Journey in their top sales spots. The Dodge Journey has been Canada’s best selling crossover, while Caravan has been in Canada’s top three overall.

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Dodge Super Bee: performance value (again)

The Dodge Super Bee will be the least expensive Charger SRT8 by a good margin, according to reliable source oh2o. Pricing has already been set for Canada, at just under C$44,000 — versus C$48,000 for the standard SRT8. There are only 3 options – 245/45ZR20 performance tires, HID headlights, and a 276-watt 6-speaker audio system.

In 2011, the Dodge Charger SRT8 started at US$46,660. Based on Canadian pricing, one could expect the Super Bee to come in at around $43,000, but Auburn Hills is reportedly still working on that.

The original Dodge Super Bee was essentially a copy of the Plymouth Road Runner — a low cost performance car with the “faster goodies” included but the frills left out.

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Chrysler rolls out incentives on some 2012s

Chrysler Group LLC announced new incentives on certain 2012 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram Truck models.

Chrysler Group is offering $500 in Customer Cash to qualified consumers who purchase a 2012 Chrysler Town & Country or a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Charger, or Dodge Challenger.

In lieu of the Customer Cash offer, qualified consumers purchasing the Town & Country, Charger, or Grand Caravan may opt for financing as low as 3.9 percent for 60 months.

Lease customers may be eligible for $500 to $4,000 (depending on model) Lease Cash on the 2012 Chrysler 200 sedan, Town & Country, Jeep Liberty, Jeep Grand Cherokee, or Dodge Challenger, Journey, and Durango.

Chrysler also has sweetened the deals on 2011 Chrysler 300Cs and 2011 Ram Heavy Duty trucks. Qualified consumers who purchase a 300C may be eligible for $2,500 in Customer Cash or 0%/60-month financing. Qualified consumers who purchase the Ram Heavy Duty may be eligible for $2,000 in Customer Cash for the gas version of the Ram Heavy Duty or $3,500 in Customer Cash on the diesel version.

All incentives effective through October 31, 2011.

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