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.

Chrysler President: "If It's Political To Say I'm Proud To Be American, So Be It"

The 2012 election season leaves nothing untouched — even cars. Chrysler's two-minute-long Super Bowl XLVI spot starring actor Clint Eastwood had conservative pundits crying foul, while Obama's administration was quick to praise the ad and defend the 2009 auto bailout. In response to questions about the ad's political nature, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne told Detroit's WJR-AM radio station on Monday that Chrysler is "as apolitical as you can make us" — and Eastwood, incidentally, doesn't even support Obama.

Chrysler division President Saad Chehab, who has lived in Detroit for more than 25 years, said the ad was just about being "damn proud" of the automaker's Detroit heritage. Chehab characterizes the automaker's current "Imported from Detroit" tagline as a "love letter" to the city.

"We're proud of this city of Detroit, and we want to go to the highest mountain and say it," he told Cars.com at this week's Chicago Auto Show. "If it's political to say I'm proud to be American, so be it."

Chrysler's Mopar Dart, 500, 300C and Compass: Up Close

Chrysler celebrated the 75th anniversary of its Mopar accessories division by bringing four custom vehicles to the Chicago Auto Show: a 2012 Chrysler 300C, 2013 Dodge Dart, 2012 Fiat 500 and 2012 Jeep Compass. The Mopar-accessorized, rear-wheel-drive 300C will be available from the factory this summer for around $49,000 -- about $3,000 more than a loaded rear-drive 300C. The others are available with assorted parts from Mopar’s catalog, and I checked out all four.

More 2012 Chicago Auto Show Coverage

True to its factory-rollout status, the Mopar 300C looks like the sleeper of the bunch, with subtle blue stripes and matching wheels. Pop the hood, and Chrysler's 5.7-liter V-8 has blue etching. Thanks to a 3.91 rear axle ratio -- compared with 3.06 for the standard 300C -- the Mopar car should hit 60 mph in close to 5 seconds, Chrysler says. The automaker doesn't cite an exact zero-to-60 time on the regular 300C, except to say it’s "under 6 seconds." The tradeoff is the engine running at higher, mileage-killing rpm on the interstate, but I doubt any Mopar owner will care. I'm not as wild about the custom interior. It gets a cool, palm-sized automatic shifter but trades the 300's upscale Nappa leather for blue-accented Katzkin leather seats. They feel like too much aftermarket cowhide: shiny and, well, cheap.

Name the Next Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep unveiled a new Grand Cherokee concept at the Houston Auto Show, but it doesn't have a name yet. The automaker also launched the "Name My Ride" contest to name the production-intent vehicle. Aside from naming (and bragging) rights, the winner will also take home a new 2012 Grand Cherokee.

Distinguishing it from the regular Grand Cherokee, the concept rides on black-gloss 20-inch aluminum wheels, has platinum-chrome front-end trim with a mesh grille, black headlamp bezels and a black liftgate light bar. In other words, Chrysler is going for a more menacing look with this version of Grand Cherokee. 

Dodge Dart Shines Light on Future Chrysler-Fiat Vehicles

The 2013 Dodge Dart is the first compact sedan from Chrysler in nearly seven years. That in itself is a milestone, but the car also looks competitive against the likes of the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Chevrolet Cruze.

Chrysler's compact car plans are thanks to its new partner, Fiat. In the Dart we get the first real-world example of what to expect from upcoming replacement vehicles for the Jeep Liberty, Chrysler 200 and others in the future.

Chrysler has stated that the Dart's underpinnings are based off a new basic platform originally used to design and produce the Alfa Romeo Giulietta in Europe. Chrysler says the Dart platform — called Compact U.S. Wide — will also underpin most of its upcoming midsize and large sedans, crossovers, SUVs and minivans. The exceptions are the Jeep Wrangler, which will remain body-on-frame, Ram's trucks and the 2013 SRT Viper.

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 Video

Those looking for the most versatile performance car money can buy should look no further than … Jeep? It may seem odd, but the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 can go from zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, and it can tow 5,000 pounds and carry the kids and their friends to and from school. That's a lot to ask from an SUV, but the Grand Cherokee SRT8 delivers, according to Cars.com editor Joe Bruzek.

Diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee Coming Next Year

Chrysler announced that not only was it hiring a third shift of workers to build more of its popularly redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee in Detroit, but that it would also add a diesel version of the SUV to the lineup sometime next year.

There weren’t more details about the vehicle itself in terms of specs or mileage, but the company also confirmed the next SRT Viper sports car — not called a Dodge — will go on sale this year as a 2013 model.

Year-End Deal Reality Check: Chrysler Group

Chrysler's had a very successful year overall, with sales up 25% through November. Part of that has to do with the automaker's redesigned and refreshed vehicles, and part of it has to do with Chrysler's seemingly eternal and robust incentive spending. The end of the year is no different. Under Chrysler's cross-branded “Big Finish 2011” sales event, there are plenty of attractive financing and cash-back deals to be had.

Starting with the Chrysler brand — which has the most aggressive incentive offers – there are 0% financing deals on the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country and 2012 Chrysler 200 sedan for 60 months and for 60 to 72 months on all 2011 Chrysler brand models. The Town & Country ($1,250), 200 ($2,500), 300 ($1,500) and 200 convertible ($1,000) also have generous cash-back offers.

Which Cars Fit Three Car Seats?

Parents are often searching for the automotive holy grail: a car that's not a minivan and can fit three child-safety seats across the backseat. It's a short list. In the nearly two years that Cars.com editor Kelsey Mays, Cars.com photographer Ian Merritt and I have been installing car seats into test vehicles, we've come across only a handful of cars that can hold three car seats across a backseat.

We recently tested the 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class and it fit three car seats in it. To be considered a fit, there must be enough room between the booster seat and infant-safety seat for a child's hand to reach the seat belt buckle.

Updated Favorites Top Holiday Car-Shopping Lists

Black Friday shopping isn't just relegated to hot new gadgets and deep discounts. Last month, car buyers snapped up nostalgic nameplates like they were going out of style. But while the names were familiar, the oldies that sold best had shiny new wrappers.

America's longtime best-selling car, the Toyota Camry, was recently revamped for 2012. Sales jumped 13% last month thanks to the new design, and the Camry beat Honda's staler Accord by more than 9,000 units. The Camry reigned supreme as America's best-selling car with a 2,827-unit lead over the Nissan Altima.

America's fourth- and fifth-best-selling SUVs in November were two much-improved versions of formerly past-their-prime nameplates. Year-over-year, Ford Explorer sales jumped 217% to 12,888. Compared with October, Explorer sales climbed 7.5% in a market that shrank 2.6%.