Since its reveal at the Detroit Auto Show, the new 2013 Dodge Dart has received a lot of positive reactions and Dodge intends to make it even better. Based on the Italian Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform, the solid European chassis will be further finessed for sport and performance under the care of Ralph Gilles and the magicians of SRT. The SRT4 is back!

While many of the components are carry-overs from Alfa Romeo, the SRT-4 will likely create an engine that produces no less than the 285-hp and 265 lb.-ft. of torque found in the forerunning Caliber SRT4. A likely powerplant would be a larger displacement, turbocharged and intercooled variant of the Dart’s Tigershark 2.0 liter engine.

Other hardware upgrades include stiffer springs and dampers, larger wheels, and stickier rubber. As for the exterior, think modern day Neon SRT4 as the Dart SRT4 will be stylized with aggressive yet functional vents, scoops, and rear spoiler.

Pricing on the SRT4 should fall near $30,000.

GALLERY: 2013 Dodge Dart

[Source: Motortrend]

Discuss this story at DartForums.com

The Mopar ’12 300, as it’s being called, is a souped up version of the 2012 Chrysler 300.

Earlier today we published a story featuring a gallery with four Mopar-modified cars, which will appear at next month’s Chicago International Auto Show. Since then, the company released detailed information on them. Here’s what we’ve learned about the Mopar ’12 300.

On the outside, the car features a black on black look that suggests improved performance. A single blue pinstripe runs from the front fender to the tail lights, keeping the car from looking more like a piece of auto-shaped obsidian than a sedan.

20-inch glossy black wheels with a matching blue stripe are wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1s. Just above those wheels, the car sports “Mopar 75” fender badges that feature the Mopar Blue “omega” logo.

The interior is “monotone” black with die-cast aluminum paddle shifters, a thicker steering wheel and blue stitching. The sound system gets a boost too, featuring a 506-watt Alpine 9-speaker system.

Nothing changes under the hood aside from a new Mopar engine cover. The same 5.7-liter Hemi V8 making 363 horsepower is mated with a 5-speed automatic transmission that powers the rear wheels.

That power will feel a little different though, thanks to a more aggressively geared differential, which gets swapped from 3.06:1 to 3.91:1.

Though the 300 isn’t known for it’s nimble cornering, the Mopar ’12 edition will feel better than the 300C, which is minimum level Hemi version, thanks to a stiffer suspension.

The brakes also get a bit better, though it’s marginal for a car that weighs more than 4300 pounds. The Mopar package moves us up to bigger front brakes featuring two pistons over the standard single piston versions.

Before you buy one of these things, take a good hard look at what you’re getting. Sure, it looks different, but you had better be in love with the looks because at $49,700 you’re paying more than $10,000 for what amounts to a lot of makeup and marginally improved performance.

GALLERY: Mopar ’12 300

For Mopar’s 75th birthday they have added some style and performance to four of Chrysler’s cars.

The Jeep Compass get’s the “True North” package, adding some matte black highlights and blacked out rims. The Fiat 500 is re-badged as the Mopar Fiat Stinger, sporting a bright yellow paint job complete with black racing stripe and checkered flag designed roof. The Dodge Dart becomes the Mopar Dodge Dart GTS 210 tribute, which comes with a carbon fiber hood complete with hood scoop, a skirt to get the Dart a little closer to the ground, and red leather accented interior to make the Dart really pop. To close out the four Mopar tuned vehicles is the Chrysler 300 which is simply called the Mopar ’12. The ’12 got the blacked out treatment, except for a blue line which circles the front wheels and the runs down the side profile of the car.

All four of these beauties will be on display at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

Check out the pictures below and tell us what you think in the comments section.

GALLERY: Mopar Jeep Compass “True North”

GALLERY: Mopar Fiat (500) Stinger

GALLERY: Mopar Dodge Dart GTS 210 Tribute

GALLERY: Mopar Chrysler (300) ’12

On January 31st, Chrysler’s Mopar Division (a term coined from its original title, Motor Parts), celebrates its 75th birthday. And what  could be a better way to mark the occasion than unveiling four modified production vehicles created from the current Mopar performance catalog.

The official unveiling of these four, as of yet unknown machines (the image above is of Mopar’s existing Jeep Wrangler JK-8 pickup conversion), will take place tomorrow at 9.00 Eastern Standard Time at Mopar’s Accessory and Performance Parts Lab, located at 26001 Lawrence Avenue, Center Line, Michigan.

Present at the ceremony will be Pietro Gorlier, who currently heads up Mopar division, along with legendary drag racer Don Garlits. Once the four vehicles have been revealed, they will take pride of place on the Chrysler stand at this year’s Chicago Auto Show, which runs from February 10-19.

Live streaming of the official unveiling begins at 8.30 am EST tomorrow. For more information, click on the link below:

[Source: Mopar]

Would you pay a million bucks to put your butt in the same place as Barack Obama? Yeah, we wouldn’t either.

Nevertheless, Lisa Czibor is holding out hope that someone with an affinity for Obama memorabilia will shell out the big bucks for a Chrysler 300C that the President leased during his time as an Illinois senator.

For those who don’t remember, Obama opted for a more environmentally friendly car during his presidential campaign. It seems that you don’t win votes with V8s these days.

We should really be thanking Czibor for doing the internet a service by offering one of the most laughable Ebay ads since last December’s candy cane car.

The Obama car is still without a bid and if history is any indicator it will remain that way. The auction, which was supposed to end tonight has been extended another week. The reality is, $1 million for a car with an actual value of less than $15,000 is asinine.

What’s more ridiculous is the political nonsense and attempted price justification on the page itself. Some of the examples are simply offensive regardless of political affiliation. For example, the ad insists the price tag isn’t a joke, how could it be? Adolf Hitler’s Mercedes sold for $8 million.

As if that wasn’t ridiculous enough, she cites the price Barry Bonds’ 756th home run ball went for, as if that has anything to do with the car. It’s almost as if the ad is saying “look, other people waste money, you can too!”

Don’t forget to look at the ad yourself, it’s pretty funny.

Now that the Dodge Caliber production has ended, Chrysler will no longer have a hatchback offering in any of their models. It turns out that Chrysler has been thinking the same thing and is possibly considering building a compact hatchback for their Chrysler brand.

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne spoke to USA Today and revealed the consideration of a Chrysler 100 compact hatchback. Though the vehicle hasn’t been approved for production yet, Marchionne also noted that it would be exported as a Lancia if it does come to fruition.

So given that Marchionne stated it would be exported, it’s a safe bet that the 100 hatchback would be produced and built in America, or “Imported from Detroit” as Chrysler likes to say. There is probably a real good chance too that it’ll be based on the new Dodge Dart, which is replacing the now defunct Caliber.

[Source: USA Today]

While past reports have suggested that the Dodge Avenger is dead, speculation has apparently been a bit premature. Chrysler/Fiat have plans for a number of new cars in the future including the introduction of new midsize sedans which will update the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger for 2013. The new Avenger and 200 will be based on the Dodge Dart platform. Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne also intends to have a Chrysler premium compact hatchback in the mix, known for now as the “Chrysler 100.” If given the ‘okay’ for production, then the Chrysler hatch will be exported as Fiat European luxury brand Lancia as well.

Also, next generation crossovers 2013 Jeep Compass and Jeep Liberty will receive the Dart platform too. Despite the small-car platform, Marchionne insists, ”It’s going to be a trail-rated, full-blooded Jeep that has its origins in the architecture of a sports car.”

But more importantly, Italian sports car enthusiasts of the western hemisphere have long awaited the return of Alfa Romeo ever since the merger of Chrysler and Fiat was first announced. While Alfa Romeo’s return to the United States has been delayed until 2013, Marchionne insists the legendary Italian marque will return. “There will be plants making Alfas in the United States and Europe,” says Marchionne. “I need to export to Europe from the U.S. The volumes I get here are how I reintroduce Alfa to Europe.”

Expectations are high for the Alfa vehicles as an upcoming 1.8-liter engine producing a staggering 300-hp is currently in the works. In regards to Alfa Romeo vehicles for the United States, Marchionne said, ”We had to make sure they were lightweight, fast cars with Alfa powertrains.

[Source: USA Today]

Despite Chrysler experiencing a 26-percent growth in sales last year, CEO Sergio Marchionne is still not pleased with the customer experiences at Chrysler’s dealerships.

According to the latest J.D. Power and Associates Sales Satisfaction Index Study, Chrysler Group’s Jeep, Ram and Dodge brands were three of the brands in the bottom four among mainstream, non-luxury brands. The study also ranked Chrysler ninth out of 19 mass market brands, but most importantly the survey gave Chrysler Group dealerships low marks in the categories of salesperson, delivery process and negotiating.

Even Marchionne has admitted that some dealerships’ salespeople weren’t treating customers “with the dignity they deserve.”

Chrysler Group recently suspended its Dealer Standards program temporarily in order to incorporate changes to ensure it results in improved customer satisfaction. The program provides an incentive to dealers to meet factory standards for customer service with rewards of $4,500 to $200,000 per quarter.

“We can do all the Eminems you like, all the commercials, but at the end of the day, this only gets you so far,” Marchionne said. “The interface is with the guy who sells you the car.”

[Source: Automotive News]

Ford and General Motors could have an all-too-familiar rival in the V8 Supercar series and despite some rumors, it won’t be from German or Japan. Hailing from the other side of the world, where they’re cross-town rivals, Chrysler is tipped as the latest possibly entry into the touring car championship.

Top Chrysler designer and CEO of the new Street and Racing Technology (SRT) brand Ralph Gilles confirmed as much recently, telling Australian outlet The Age, that, “I am extremely interested (in V8 Supercars),” though he stopped short of confirming anything.

According to Chrysler Group Australia managing director Clyde Campbell his division is in constant contact with SRT and even made some strong hints about the future, commenting that, as SRT is all about incorporating racing technology into street cars, having a strong racing presence is important.

A possible timeline for entry into the series could see Chrysler coming in at the start of next season with a new “Car of the Future” plan that would make fielding a team more affordable. Estimates peg a two car team at roughly $10 million dollars for a season. There’s a catch, however, as fielding a team takes more than just money. Current regulations mean Chrysler would have to enter the series using an existing team, meaning they’d have to woo one of the Ford or Holden groups away from their current partner.

While Chrysler putting so much effort into an Australian-market-exclusive product seems like a long shot, the series’ plans for the future include expanding the championship to a wider audience. The Australian V8 Supercar series has already visited the Middle East and is scheduled to run one race in Austin, Texas in 2013.

[Source: The Age]

At least that’s the findings from Evalueserve’s White Paper, entitled “Platform Strategy Will Shape  the Future of OEMs.” Like many facets of  the auto industry, the concept of platform sharing is nothing new, automakers have been doing it for decades.

Yet, the realities of doing business in the 21st century mean that not only is it no longer acceptable for automakers to offer a range of badge engineered models (think back to GM’s J-cars of the 1980s), it simply isn’t financially feasible to have a range of unique, dedicated platforms either.

According to Evalueserve’s own analysis, last year, the top 20 global passenger car platforms accounted for some 40 percent of global sales, with realistic projections set to see these top 20 account for almost 50 percent of all global vehicle sales by 2015.

Yet as we move forward and automakers seek to maintain economies of scale, the number of vehicle architectures is expected to shrink still further, even as many brands aim to proliferate their model offerings as well as adding localized production, all in an effort to make their products appeal to a wider range of consumers in different global markets, while minimizing supply and tariff issues.

Evalueserve estimates that by 2020, the  major vehicle manufacturers; Daimler AG, Fiat/Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, PSA Peugeot/Citroen, Renault/Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen Group will have reduced the total number of vehicle architectures they use by a third.

In fact, not too long ago, GM declared that by 2018, it will have reduced its number of global vehicle architectures to just 14, down from 30 in 2010. The company also said this strategy should help it save some $1 billion each year, money that’s primarily contributed by product development programs.