The Future Dodge Lineup

In a marathon session with reporters and analysts today in Michigan, Chrysler officials announced their plans for the future of the company and its U.S. brands. They started things off with Dodge, which will be separate from Ram pickup trucks going forward. The logo (above) will no longer feature the Ram head, just the word Dodge.
 
The company also plans to have 11 new or thoroughly redesigned models on the road by 2014. The company currently has 10 non-truck models. We detail the future products below with some images from the presentation.

Recall Alert: 12,674 Chrysler, Dodge Cars

Chrysler has issued a recall for 12,674 vehicles, including the 2009-2010 Chrysler 300, 2009-2010 Dodge Challenger, 2009-2010 Dodge Charger, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These vehicles may have been built without a front-wheel spindle nut.

The spindle nut is a rather large and obviously important part of the wheel assembly that keeps the wheel attached to the axle. Without one, it’s possible that the tire and wheel could separate while driving, endangering the vehicle and others on the road. Chrysler made the determination after a new supplier, SMW Automotive, began supplying the front corner modules for the 2010 model year, according to the automaker. The previous supplier went bankrupt. Less than a hundred 2009 models are included in the recall. Affected models were built between Aug. 4 and Sept. 28, 2009.

Dealers will inspect the tire; if there is no spindle nut, they will make the repair free of charge. Owners may contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

2010|Chrysler|300

2010|Dodge|Charger

2010|Dodge|Challenger

Fiat to Gut Chrysler Lineup

Update 11/5/09: Fiat and Chrysler have officially announced lineups for the future which directly counter the claims made in the Wall Street Journal story mentioned in the below post. Click on the following links for the formal lineups.

The Future Chrysler Lineup
The Future Jeep Lineup
The Future Dodge Lineup

The Wall Street Journal reported today Fiat’s future plan for Chrysler, a full week before the company is to meet in a closed-door session with analysts and media to reveal its intentions.

The article is striking in its detail and scope of Fiat’s restructuring. Nearly the entire Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep lineups will be replaced in five years by not only Fiat technology and products but also the return of Alfa Romeo as a luxury marquee slated above Chrysler.

We break down the product shifts below.

Pontiac, Dodge Extend Cash-Back Offers on G8, Charger

Last month, we marveled that you could get 400 hp at a discount price, with both the Dodge Charger SRT8 and Pontiac G8 GXP getting healthy incentive deals. Now, Pontiac is extending its $3,000 cash-back offer on the G8, G8 GT and G8 GXP through April 30.

Dodge is now showing $2,500 cash back, versus March’s $3,000, on the Dodge Charger SRT8, with an employee price of $36,845. Unfortunately, Dodge’s site doesn’t list any date for the deal to end.

Earlier this week, GM announced an added Total Confidence assurance plan to any new-car purchase that will cover up to nine months of payments if you lose your job, as well as cover lost equity when you trade in your car for a new GM down the road. Pontiac sold almost 3,000 G8s last month, a record for the model released in March of 2008.

Related
GM Assurance Plan Covering Equity, 9 Months of Payments
400 hp for $35,000: Pontiac G8 GXP, Dodge Charger SRT8 Incentives

2009|Pontiac|G8

2009|Dodge|Charger

2009 Dodge Charger: She Said, She Said

The Dodge Charger was designed to be a masculine family sedan good for commuting and suburban errands. So how does it stack up over a week with two female city-dwellers?

Amanda: I had never really given the Dodge Charger all that much thought before, if only because muscular exterior styling on a sedan doesn’t really appeal to me (although I can definitely see why it would appeal to some folks). And while I did like it more than I thought I would, I’m still having a difficult time coming up with too many exciting things to say about this car.

Beth: I had a similar experience with the Charger. This genre of car just doesn’t do much for me, but I was pleasantly surprised with how easy and comfortable it was to drive. I carried five adults in there with relative ease and, while not ideal, the short windows didn’t present as much of a visual problem as I expected them to. That’s not to say I didn’t have beefs with this car, though. For starters, why on earth does its USB input not have the functionality to play iPods? Would anyone out there really prefer to play music off a flash drive?

400 hp for $35,000: Pontiac G8 GXP, Dodge Charger SRT8 Incentives

If you’re a muscle-car fan or just want a large sedan with a ridiculous amount of horsepower, this may be the perfect month to buy a new car. Two of the most powerful sedans on the market — the Pontiac G8 GXP and the Dodge Charger SRT8, with 415 hp and 425 hp, respectively — have impressive discounts that make them more attractive in tough times.

Granted, the folks buying these cars probably have a solid financial footing, but everyone likes to save money. The 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP was just released, at probably the worst time in history for a car of its type, but its starting price of $37,610 gets $3,000 in cash-back offers or various 0% financing options, depending on where you live, through March 31. However, the company doesn’t include the car’s $1,700 gas-guzzler tax in its pricing. With that, you’re looking at $36,310.

The 2009 Dodge Charger SRT8 may be a few years old in development time, but it still packs a big punch for $38,970. Dodge does include the gas-guzzler tax, along with a $750 destination charge, in its Employee Pricing sale price, bringing the original MSRP of $41,120 down to $37,516 before cash-back offers. In most areas, there’s a $2,000 cash-back bonus, plus another $1,000 cash back if you finance through Chrysler Financial. Yes, that’s $34,516 for 425 hp. Chrysler’s Employee Pricing sale has been extended through March 31.

Make sure to check the manufacturers’ websites to find deals for your region, as offers do vary, sometimes by county. Also check Cars.com’s own incentives page here.