Dodge Chief Talks 40-MPG Darts, Reliability

The 40-mpg figure is all the rage these days, but it's not as clear-cut as it may sound.

Marketing last year from Hyundai takes on some of the new compacts from Ford and GM, whose 40-mpg EPA highway ratings apply only to certain drivetrain variations. For example, only about 1% of Ford Focus or Fiesta listings on Cars.com's national inventory carry the 40-mpg SFE designation. Could the 2013 Dodge Dart, whose 40-mpg variant comes with Fiat's 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder and a dual-clutch automatic, have the same problem?

Reid Bigland says no. Bigland, head of Chrysler's U.S. sales and president of the Dodge division, says the 40-mpg Dart will be "findable" at dealerships. The first Darts arrive this spring. Dodge will offer three engines and three transmissions, but Bigland says he doesn't expect shoppers to have a problem finding 40-mpg versions of the Dart once production ramps up.

Other versions of the Focus — and the Honda Civic — hit close to the 40-mpg EPA highway mark, and Bigland expects "very competitive" figures for the other Dart drivetrains.

Through Ian's Lens: 2009 Muscle Car FaceOff

If your ear is to the ground concerning all things automotive, you’ll already know Detroit now offers up three V-8 muscle cars. Per my wishes and dreams, the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, the 2010 Ford Mustang GT and the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS showed up at the office last week. As my colleagues at Cars.com decided to put these three to the test on the road, I decided it was time for a proper photo showdown. After two years of gawking at them individually, I finally put them all in the same pasture just to see how they looked together. And, oh man, did they look pretty.

As an homage to the era that spawned the original muscle cars (the 1970s) — and a tip of the cap to the newly departed late, great film, Kodachrome — these photos were color-corrected to match the bright cyans and saturated oranges that made Kodachrome ISO 64 film and its prints so spectacular. Enjoy.

Let me know what you think in the comments section below. As always, feel free to use the full-screen mode on the photo browser.

2009 Dodge Challenger Video

In its second year as Chrysler’s spot-on-styled retro muscle car, the Challenger finally adds a manual transmission to complete the true muscle car experience. Cars.com’s David Thomas takes you through the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 in this video review and shows you this hot rod isn’t just fast – it has some practicality as well.

Deal or No Deal: Cars That Impressed at Road America

Last week, Cars.com’s editors took part in a rally at the Road America racetrack in Elkhart Lake, Wis. There were dozens of new cars on hand to take on the track or local roads. More so than in past years, we were surprised by many new models, and not always in good ways. Here’s what resonated most.

Secret to Saving Chrysler Found

This morning, I discovered the secret to saving much-maligned automaker Chrysler. It’s very simple, and it’s staring the company right in the face. What is this magic bullet, you may ask?

Why, the six-speed manual transmission with a pistol-grip shifter that’s found in the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8, of course.

V-6 Dodge Challenger Gains Five-Speed Automatic, New Trim

While the rebirth of the Dodge Challenger happened just last summer, the coupe is already facing stiff competition from a new Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. To keep up with the Joneses, Chrysler has added a new trim level and a five-speed automatic transmission to all V-6 models. They will still be called 2009 models, so make sure to check the car’s sticker to see if it’s equipped with the new five-speed.

Previous V-6 models are stuck with a dated four-speed automatic. The new five-speed automatic — the same one available on the Challenger R/T and SRT-8 — offers better performance and comes with manual-shift functionality. The new transmission doesn’t enhance gas mileage, which remains at 17/25 mpg.

The new trim, called SE Rallye, essentially adds the retro styling package available on V-8 models to the V-6, with seven new color choices. It also features pronounced dual body stripes, a rear spoiler, 18-inch wheels with black-painted pockets, a retro-styled fuel door and micro carbon interior accents.

The SE Rallye will cost $25,765, not including a $725 destination charge. The five-speed SE and SE Rallye will go into production in the next few days. As of now, there’s no announced price increase for the $22,220 base SE with the new transmission.

New 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic: $33,280

Now that Chrysler has its bailout money, the automaker is trying to go back to business as usual. Though its factories are set to “off,” the automaker unveiled a few new concepts at the 2009 Detroit auto show. Hidden beneath those drab displays was a diamond in the rough: a new trim level for the Dodge Challenger.

Dubbed the R/T Classic, the new Challenger will be available in February for a just-announced price of $33,280 (destination tacks on another $725). That’s $3,460 more than a standard R/T. They're not at dealers yet, but you can order one now.

Two Guys and a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T

Our demographically appealing duo of car nuts take on a car that is squarely aimed at a completely different age group. Boomer appeal aside, Eric and Joe found a lot to like about the manual-transmission muscle car.

Dodge Challenger SE for the Young, Convertible for None

Youth will be served — with a V-6 engine.

Mike Accavitti, director of Dodge brand marketing, says the new-for-2009 Challenger SE, which has a 250-hp, 3.5-liter V-6, is aimed at younger buyers who have less cash for a new car than their Boomer counterparts.

"We showed the Challenger to some youth in focus groups when we were creating it, and they said, 'What the hell is that?' They didn't know what it was,” Accavitti said. “But when we told them it would offer a V-6, it changed their perception. The SE, at $21,195, will be for younger folks with limited incomes who can't afford a V-8."

Image-conscious 20-somethings might want the sports car looks along with the 18/25 mpg city/highway they can't get with a Hemi V-8. That engine is found in the $29,995 R/T, which makes 372 hp and has a 16/23 mpg city/highway rating, which really isn't that bad compared with the V-6.

Cars.com Reviews 2009 Dodge Challenger

Kelsey Mays had the good fortune to test-drive all three trim levels of the 2009 Dodge Challenger, which include the SE, R/T and SRT8. You can't underestimate the Challenger's appeal, as Kelsey discovered during a run-in with a state highway patrolman who just wanted some photographic evidence of his find. Does the Challenger deliver the goods? How will it stack up against other examples of American muscle, like Ford's Mustang and GM's Camaro? Read Kelsey's full review to find out.

2009 Dodge Challenger Expert Review