Chrysler (Page 35)

February is Ram Truck Month and to celebrate this featured month in what brand CEO Fred Diaz is calling the Year of the Ram, Chrysler’s all-truck brand is offering free Hemi upgrades on all applicable 2011 Ram 1500 pickups.

Dodge debuted the new 392 cubic inch Hemi in the 2011 Dodge Challenger at the LA Auto Show, followed by the reveal yesterday of the Charger SRT8 at the Chicago Auto Show and if internet rumors prove to be true, the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 could make its debut at the 2011 New York Auto Show.

This afternoon at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, Chrysler’s Ram brand introduced the newest trimline for the half ton pickups – the 2011 Ram 1500 Tradesman, due in dealerships in the second quarter of 2011.

This afternoon, Chrysler’s Ram brand fired a shot heard ‘round the heavy duty truck world as they introduced their new 6.7L High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show – putting the Ram 2500 and 3500 atop the list of the most powerful trucks in the world with a whopping 800lb-ft of torque.

The 2011 Dodge Durango is already heading to dealerships (and consumers) around the country and to help support the sporting side of this new SUV, Dodge unveiled the new Durango Heat trimline at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show.

One auto recall is bad enough, but four in two years is a bit much for any auto owner. So, you get a little experience with handling the process.

The big news from Dodge at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show is the introduction of the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 but the performance oriented brand is also using the Windy City show to introduce the newest special edition color for the Dodge Challenger – Green With Envy.

When Dodge introduced the pavement pounding 392 cubic inch Hemi in the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with more power and better fuel economy than the previous (6.1L) SRT Hemi, we knew that it was only a matter of time before it found its way into another vehicle and today is that day – as Dodge introduces the 2012 Charger SRT8 at the Chicago Auto Show.

While I was at the 2010 LA Auto Show, I had a chance to sit down with Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles where he talked about the new and revised 2011 Dodge models, along with briefly discussing the upcoming Caravan R/T that he playfully referred to as “The Man Van” and according to The Automotive News, that masculine minivan will make its debut at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show.

The Chrysler Group has announced that they expect their dealer network to move 1.57 million vehicles in 2011 – a lofty 44.6% increase over the final sales results for the company in 2010.

While speaking in San Francisco this past weekend, Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne referred to the multibillion dollar loans from both the US and Canadian government as “shyster loans” – comments which the auto boss now regrets.

The Hurst name is well known for making high quality shifters and high performance muscle cars since the 1950s but now Hurst Performance Vehicles has introduced their first high performance pickup truck since the 1971 Hurst Jeepster Commando – the Ram-based 2011 Hurst Hemi Hauler.

Last September, a Detroit television station caught a group of Union Auto Workers from Chrysler’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol during a break and once again, JNAP employees are in the hot seat for drug use on the job.

When Super Bowl XLV airs on Fox this Sunday, commercial breaks during the big game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers are scheduled to last just 90 seconds – expect for one in the third quarter that will feature a full 2-minute television add from the Chrysler Group.

Speaking before a group of the media today at the J.D. Power and Associates International Automotive Roundtable, Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne stated that the Chrysler Group and Fiat Auto could become a single company, possibly based in the United States.