If you’re looking to feel safe of the roads, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has given the thumbs up to the 2011 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. These cars have driven away with the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick designations after achieving good ratings for front, side, rollover, and rear impact protection.

When a vehicle wins a Top Safety Pick award, it means that it has been recognized by the IIHS as offering the best overall crash protection. These vehicles must also come standard with electronic stability control (ESC), an important crash-avoidance feature.

To win this award, Chrysler brought its safety game to the table and really improved the safety of the 2011 Charger. It’s interesting to note that the last generation of the Charger and 300 earned the second lowest rating of ‘marginal’ for side impact protection (and that’s including the head-protecting side curtain airbags installed in the cars). This also marks the first time these vehicles have been rated in the Institute’s roof strength test for rollover protection – and they passed with flying colors. The roof of the Charger withstood a force equal to 5.37 times the car’s weight (the current federal standard is 1.5 times weight).

Read AutoGuide’s 2011 Chrysler 300 Review Here

Read AutoGuide’s 2011 Dodge Charger Review Here

When the retro-ish Dodge Charger debuted a few years ago, a lot of people groaned that the car had swayed so far from the incredibly awesome concept car that had preceded it. That concept looked an awful lot like the Duke’s of Hazzard General Lee era Chargers that most people remember rather fondly.

For 2011, Dodge has taken a step closer to that ancestor, adding scalloped sides and an equally contoured hood that do a fair job at copying those of the late ’60s and early ’70s, but it goes a bit wonky from there. It still looks a bit too much like the 2010 everywhere else. But if Ralph Gilles is to be believed, the suspension changes should transform this model. The interior, for sure, is a huge improvement. Take a look at the live pics and decide for yourself.

As for the powertrain, base models get the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 292-hp and 270 ft-lbs of torque, while R/T models get the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with Chrysler’s FuelSaver Technology that allows the big V8 to operate on just 4-cylinders when full power isn’t needed.

Read AutoGuide’s 2011 Dodge Charger Review by Clicking Here

GALLERY: 2011 Dodge Charger

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Once a upon a time, NASCAR racers really were stock. Not any more. But although the ‘Car of Tomorrow’ may share little commonality with its street going counterparts, the Dodge boys are making an effort.

Besides the commonality of rear-drive (the only one we might add out of the current generation of family sleds represented in NASCAR), Dodge Motorsports Engineering, in conjunction with Penske Racing has gone to great lengths to give their latest Sprint Cup racer a nose that’s virtually a dead ringer for the revised, 2011 street going Charger.

“We worked closely with [Penske] to develop Dodge brand identity while maintaining aerodynamics within the NASCAR rules,” said David Bailey, Senior Manager for Dodge Motorsports Engineering. “Coupled with NASCAR’s new common lower nose for 2011, the revised front end carries the image and character of the Charger forward in true Dodge performance fashion.”   But as similar as the front ends on street car and racer look, you still can’t turn on headlights where the latter is concerned, because, as on all NASCAR racers, they’re decorative only.

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Having just officially announced the new 2011 Charger last week, Dodge has revealed a special RedLine version of the muscle sedan at the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Built by Mopar’s “Underground” division the car is based on the 5.7-liter HEMI R/T model and gets a long list of upgrades.

Outside there’s a more aggressive front and rear, with a carbon fiber front splitter and rear spoiler that further add to the updated 2011 model’s new look. Plenty of black accenting is used on the roof as well as on the hood to keep the retro feel – which is really driven home by the car’s new taillight design. A set of carbon fiber mirror caps also help complete the look.

Compared to the stock car that will go on sale later this year, the suspension has been lowered by roughly one-inch, with a Mopar strut tower brace under the hood and a set of 22-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli tires. Several other Mopar parts improve overall performance with new headers, a cold air intake and complete exhaust system.

GALLERY: Redline Dodge Charger

Having just officially announced the new 2011 Charger last week, Dodge has unveiled a special RedLine version of the car at the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Built by Mopar’s “Underground” division the car is based on the 5.7-liter HEMI R/T model and gets a long list of upgrades.

Outside there’s a more aggressive front and rear, with a carbon fiber front splitter and rear spoiler while black accenting is used on the roof as well as on the hood. A set of carbon fiber mirror caps also help complete the look.

The suspension has been lowered by roughly one-inch, with a Mopar strut tower brace under the hood and a set of 22-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli tires. Several other Mopar parts improve overall performance with new headers, a cold air intake and complete exhaust system.

GALLERY: 2011 Dodge RedLine Charger

See a brief very brief video of the Challenger Redline after the jump:

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After much anticipation Dodge had finally taken the wraps off the facelifted 2011 Charger. Now normally a mid-cycle refresh doesn’t get much publicity, but there’s a great deal of attention being paid to the new Chrysler family products now that Fiat Execs back in Italy are in charge of the American automaker. The Charger also represents one of the stronger models in the Dodge lineup and big changes were promised that go well-beyond just a nip-tuck.

For the most part Dodge has delivered, with a swoopier design that is supposed to more closely resemble the second-gen Charger that dates from 1968-1970. Included in the redesign is a more prominent “split crosshair” grille as well as a massive rear taillight assembly that’s made of 164 LEDs.

Dodge has confirmed the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 will be the new base engine, although no power or fuel economy numbers have been released. It is expected to get 290-hp and 270 ft-lbs of torque – an increase of 40-hp and 20 ft-lbs.

R/T models will then get the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with Chrysler’s FuelSaver Technology that allows the big V8 to operate on just 4-cylinders when full power isn’t needed. R/T models will be available with an optional AWD setup that operates as a RWD system until added grip is needed.

And to help all that power go around corners, Dodge has redesigned the suspension geometry to deliver a more nimble package.

No photos of the new cabin have been released but Dodge is promising a big step forward, while also claiming improvements in minimizing road noise and powertrain sound. Dodge claims the new car will deliver a, “level of quality, capability and refinement that rivals the very best European, Asian and North American E-segment sedans.”

GALLERY: 2011 Dodge Charger

Official release after the jump:

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Our friends at Jalopnik managed to get their hands on these photos of the 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit being put through the wringer at the Michigan State Police’s annual vehicle evaluation tests.

The MSP evaluation is a well recognized system designed to see how police package vehicles would hold up to the rigors of police duty. The results will be released in December, but judging by the pictures, we can confirm that the 2011 Charger looks badass. We can’t wait until these start showing up on the used market.

Gallery: Dodge Charger Pursuit

[Souce: Jalopnik]

We’ve already seen quite a few spy photos of the revamped Dodge Charger, but these are easily the best yet. Spy photos taken by KGP for Autoblog show the more aggressive and angular front snout of the big American sedan after the tarp covering the car was either left up or blew back. Along with the more sloped eyes and a hood that comes down over the front just a little, the fascia also gets larger lower air intake, adding an even more menacing look. We have to say, the design cues certainly look inspired by Alfa Romeo.

Past spy photos of the car have shown a more sloping rear roofline, aimed at giving it a sportier look. We’ve even seen a few snaps of a much improved interior for 2011.

See all the pics at Autoblog’s gallery by hitting the link below.

[Source: Autoblog]

We’ve already seen a few spy photos of the updated Dodge Charger, but a selection of new images now reveals some impressive updates to the big sedan’s interior. Likely a high-end trim level, the photos show an impressive two-tone interior with leather door inserts, stitched into patterns. The instrumentation looks nicer overall and the new gauges have a retro feel with plenty of aluminum color trim. There’s also a sporty three-spoke steering wheel and a push button ignition.

These updates, along with a revised exterior with a more sloping rear roofline, should arrive for the 2011 or 2012 model year. The updated car is also expected to get a new standard 3.6-liter V6 with more power (280-hp most likely) and much improved fuel economy, while the HEMI 6.1-liter V8 will be replaced by a 6.4-liter V8 with cylinder deactivation and Fiat’s MultiAir variable valve timing.

We’re interested to get a closer look when these much-needed updates make it to market. In the mean time, See more Charger spy photos here

[Source: Autoblog]

Spy photographers have caught the folks at Chrysler Corp. out testing the 2011 Dodge Charger. While the entire vehicle is covered in the typical camo, it’s still possible to see a new rear roof-line, which gives the rear of the muscle-sedan a more sleek European look. A full mid-cycle refresh is expected for the 2011 model year, after a very mild set of adjustments that Chrysler debuted on the 2010 model at the Detroit Auto Show this year.

More importantly, the 2011 Charger looks to get big changes inside with a big LCD screen and revised center stack.

Under the hood, the 2011 Charger will get Chrysler’s new Pentastar V6, which will debut in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee this year making 280-hp and 260 ft-lbs of torque.

Follow the link below for a full gallery of exterior and interior photos:

[Source: Autoblog]