Review: 2011 Dodge Durango

Two years ago on a lark, my friend and I climbed on board a new Dodge Durango hybrid and drove from Detroit to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania are known in the kitschy phenomenon Groundhog Day. The idea was to do a combined road-trip history check and vehicle, but Chrysler did not even wait until we return home before they killed production of the gas-electric SUV. In fact, it was little more than two months after his initial announcement that production was stopped at the truck's Delaware plant.Blame then difficult financial Chrysler condition, but the hybrid Durango barely made a dent on the Pentastar production charts, a maturity of one year and moved only 224 copies. Keep your late "Who the electric SUV? Killed" screams though. Despite a claimed nearly 25 percent increase in fuel efficiency, the Durango hybrid was not a particularly good vehicle. This was not was not really their fault, of course, as the already aging second-generation Durango, on which it was based did not start very sophisticated piece.
Fast forward to 2011, and we have requisitioned an example of completely new third-generation Dodge Durango to see our second ever make pilgrimage to Punxy Phil. More importantly, we use the trip as a chance to see whether Chrysler has finally got around to building a better Durango.

Dodge brand to ditch cross-hair grille?

Now, Dodge Ram and separate groups under the umbrella of Chrysler, Dodge plans to mark his crosshair grille phase of its product range. The crosshairs nose will remain a part of the Ram truck lineup for the foreseeable future, but Dodge vehicles, a new identity, to have not yet been revealed.

Ralph Gilles, Dodge, CEO and chief designer for the Chrysler Group, recently spoke Automotive News about the decision. Gilles said that this movement will take some time, but develop the products and go in a different direction. In other words, no matter which way Dodge has his style, do not expect any changes in wholesale to far to look for the model year 2011.

AdSpotting: Dodge Charger gets the "Never Neutral" treatment

Company: Chrysler
Brand: Dodge
Media: TV Ad
Advertising Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Portland, Oregon.
Product: 2011 Dodge Charger
Campaign: "Never Neutral"
What we like: The Re-Do on the 2011 Dodge Charger turned a car, a half was a two-clothes-for-the-price-of-one deal in a smooth, polished and well rounded sedan, which now deserves our respect . The "Never Neutral" marketing campaign debuted last week at the Chicago Auto Show and is completely in these ads as a decent tag line for the charger. We like the attitude that the charger is a car for people who enjoy not real driving their own gas pumps is moaning and not necessarily swayed by the reputation of other brands that are now larger than their current carrier sheet. In these two ads, takes Chrysler aim directly at self-moving car of Google and Mitsubishi in the online test drive "experience" (although picking on Mitsubishi at this point is like mocking Urkel), and references to the Matrix movies, which never hurts.
What we do not like: a statement sticking to the Dodge brand for real drivers and a thumb in the eye of a few competitors is all well and good, but we could write some edgier here? All they could come up with Mitsubishi to ridicule online test drive is: "This is absurd." As we used to say in the newspaper biz: "Get me rewrite!"
Strategy: Dodge has positioned itself as the brand of vehicles for those that Detroit is still the capital of car production in the U.S., and respond to drive a car is to appreciate a fine American value. We absolutely loved the show from 2010 shows George Washington leads his troops into battle against the British redcoats in Dodge Challengers, and we like the same attitude is on display. But that approach to the sale of Dodge new image to Americana, American values and for people who enjoy a real wheel is a bit of a balancing act depends significantly on the creative team with an eye to 0.500.

Report: Pentastar V6 models first to get ZF eight-speed autos at Chrysler

Chrysler LX platform cars to pick up a new eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF for the 2012 model year manufactured. The Dodge Charger, Challenger and Chrysler 300 will benefit greatly from the new transmission that will eventually replace the older five-speed unit that is currently available.

Allpar reports that a reliable source has disclosed within Chrysler that the new transmission are first in 2012 and 2012 Dodge Charger Chryler 300 models, the 3.6-liter V6-powered Pentastar available. 2012 Dodge Challenger SE models hanging on the five-course still a little longer.
The reason for rolling out the new transmission this way, the SUSS any problem when saving a less powerful engine. It may be that the fuel consumption can be improved with the larger V6 and said another theory is that the engineering and software work for the V6-and eight-speed connection was further along. It stands to reason that sales of Hemi-powered V6 models overtake LX cars, and bring the gear to the market after the highest-volume engine CAFE is the largest to be effective. What is the reason, the new automatic transmission shift skip a step that further re-modernized the redesign of the LX range.

Chicago 2011: 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T is spruced up, yet unsurprisingly sedate

Long ago, Chrysler said to us, it would be the introduction of a "male minivan," and the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan R / T looks to be just right. Somehow.

Power still comes from the automakers 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar, and while there is nothing weak about 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in a minivan, own visions part of a real "man van" some kind of Hemi -spec power outputs. Nevertheless, the Grand Caravan R / T looks a little more aggressive, with a unique combination of 17-inch alloys and has design tweaks such as body-colored side moldings. Inside, black leather seats standard kit and red contrast stitching gives off an aura of sportiness, although the family tractor not impress your sports car-driving friends at parties.

Man van? Not so much. Even so, the Grand Caravan's R / T has to speak equipment package is a good chance those consumers who need a minivan ability to try while still playing it cool. Scroll directly from our high-res image gallery of live shots seen from the Chicago Auto Show floor for themselves.

Chicago 2011: 2011 Dodge Durango Heat lights our fire

Dodge hat erhellte seine neue Durango Wärme bei der 2011 Chicago Auto Show. Die mächtigen Crossover trägt das Kostüm des R / T-Modell, kommt aber ohne Durst 5,7-Liter-Hemi-V8 unter der Haube. Stattdessen können die Käufer erwarten, dass die 3,6-Liter-V6 Pentastar hinter dem Scheinwerfer am laufenden Band 295 PS und 260-Pfund-Füße von Drehmoment zu finden. Das ist eine extra fünf Ponys über die typische V6 Durango, und kombiniert, sagt Dodge, dass die Maschine sollte in der Lage sein 16 mpg Stadt und 23 mpg Autobahn. Das ist ein Sprung von zwei und drei mpg bzw. über die Hemi-powered R / T.

Draußen trägt die Durango Heat die gleiche Frontpartie, Seitenschweller und Monochrom-Behandlung als die stärkeren Crossover, und es kommt sogar die gleiche Verpackung tiefliegende Fahrwerk und 20-Zoll-Räder. Erwarten Sie nicht, Sitzgelegenheiten für sieben Räumen zu finden, obwohl. Dodge hat die dritte Reihe ein paar Pfunde zu speichern Leistung und Kraftstoffverbrauch erhöhen ditched.

Wenn du magst was du siehst, erwarten zu berappen $ 30.295. Allradantrieb Gestalt wird euch wieder eine zusätzliche $ 2.000.

Chicago 2011: 2011 Dodge Challenger R/T is Green With Envy and so are we

Dodge has never been so shy about using eye-catching colors for many of its performance models such as Plum Crazy Purple, Go Mango! and Top Banana Yellow. The tradition continues with the 2011 Challenger, Dodge is green with envy as the new color scheme for both the R / T and SRT8 models offer 392.

The limited edition colors will also come with a few extras, like the dual side stripes and five-spoke cast aluminum wheels in the R / T and the Dark Slate on nappa leather seats with embroidered green with envy both models. Dodge had an R / T model is sitting on the floor show in Chicago that you can see in the high-res gallery below. You can also read to jump to hit the Chrysler PR for more details about the car.

Chicago 2011: 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 is a 465-horsepower family sedan

We're still wrapping our heads around the look of the new 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8, but we do not need a second thought about his performance. Almost all sports a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 Shutting 465 hp and 465 pound-feet of torque is to find a welcome in our garage bay, and this charger is no exception.

Yes, the five-speed automatic transmission, a bit of a disappointment in today's world, but something tells us a couple of 12 second tours in the good ol '1320 should relieve some pain, as if a highway explosion at the Charger SRT8's 175 Miles per hour speed limit. When this tantalizing little tidbit enough to arouse your appetite for more, we're very recommend you click here to view the rest of the impressive specifications.

Of course, you want a nice, long look at the live photos from the 2011 Chicago Auto Show in our high-res image gallery take down.

Chicago 2011: Dodge Challenger goes Green With Envy

Dodge Challenger line is the season with a new, stunning paint. The color is called green with envy, and it is to pay homage to some of the wilder colors from the company in the past, including Sublime, and Go Green. Shoppers can grab their new green challenger in one of two configurations, including a new R / T Classic that serves the company to 372-hp 5.7-liter V8 engine with two A-line body stripes. The accents are available in matte black or white.

For those who need a little more bite with their bark, Chrysler is also the Challenger SRT8 in the new color. In this trim, the owner of the same 470-hp 6.4-liter V8 engine in the Challenger SRT8 392 found, and the muscle clubs are different from full-body black stripes. Likewise, the interior Green With Envy will enjoy accented seats.

Look pony up about $ 35,785 for the Challenger R / T Classic Green with envy, and $ 44,875 for the SRT8 iteration. Both prices include destination. Hit the jump for the full press explosion.

Chicago 2011: Dodge gives Grand Caravan, Journey the R/T treatment for 2011

As part of the huge rush for the Chrysler product model year 2011, the Pentastar has released new R / T trim levels of both the Dodge Grand Caravan and travel crossover. Both models make their debut at the Chicago Auto Show this week, and while there are no large performance gains, the spruced up exterior and interior speak of sportiness.
Both the Grand Caravan and Journey R / T use Chrysler 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar, pumping out 283 hp and 260 pound-feet of torque, for use only on a six-speed automatic transmission. The minivan is only with front-wheel drive, though a four-wheel-drive version of the travel-R / T available.
Outside, the Grand Caravan R / T new appearance tweaks like a "dipped" body-colored grille, body-colored side moldings and a new set of 17-inch alloy wheels. Also offers the Journey R / T is the same type of external treatment, but rides on larger 19-inch aluminum wheels with a satin-Carbon finish. Inside benefit both vehicles upgrades like black seats with red contrast stitching throughout, and the latest Chrysler connectivity and infotainment.
The 2011 Grand Caravan R / T and Journey R / T will arrive at dealerships this spring of $ 30,595 and $ 28,995 or prices. The decision for the four-wheel-drive Journey R / T you back $ 30,695, and you can read the full range of detail in the car manufacturer press release after the jump.