Commute, Toy or Destroy – Chevrolet Chevelle SS, Dodge Charger Daytona, Ford Mustang BOSS 429
Three muscle cars icons battle it out
We are back with this week’s installment of AutoGuide’s newest, interactive weekly feature ‘Commute, Toy or Destroy’.
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Commute, Toy or Destroy – DeLorean Time Machine, General Lee, KITT
Automotive Hollywood icons battle it out
We are back with this week’s installment of AutoGuide’s newest, interactive weekly feature ‘Commute, Toy or Destroy’. But this week it’s different… very different.
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Hollywood and the automobile industry share a rich history. Since the first motion pictures debuted cars have played a starring role, something that’s still true today, especially on the small screen.
Dodge is bringing a touch of style to the seven-passenger vehicles in its lineup. Starting a little later this year Grand Caravan, Durango and Journey buyers will have the option of ordering a unique “Blacktop” package on these vehicles, which adds a healthy dose of design flair without breaking the bank.
Traction is important; it’s the difference between moving forward and sitting still. Without any friction between your vehicle’s tires and the road surface you’d never make it to work in the morning, let alone to that Grand Funk Railroad concert on Saturday night.
Dodge just announced its 2013 Charger AWD Sport models — a mechanically mild update that offers value by bundling previously separate options.
Dodge Charger fans have something new to look forward to in 2013 as the brand brings back it’s higher-performing Daytona package for $36,495.
Shoehorning a Viper V10 engine with 650 hp into the engine bay of the Dodge Charger is something that belongs at the 2012 SEMA Show. And that’s exactly what the Dodge Charger Juiced concept is.
Already a popular choice among law enforcement agencies, the mean-looking Dodge Charger Pursuit will add an active all-wheel drive system to improve traction under slippery conditions.
The SRT Tour kicked off this weekend at Carlisle Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle, PA and will be heading around the country, coming to an end in late September at the Viper Owner Invitational in Charlotte, NC.
Oh the irony! After being selected as Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and earning a five-star safety rating from NHTSA, the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans are being recalled for a possible malfunction of its anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC).
In total 119,700 vehicles are being recalled due to a problem with the power distribution center that could overheat causing both those valuable systems to fail on the vehicle. Without a doubt, the failure and loss of those two safety systems increases the risk of a potential car crash. Currently no accidents or injuries related to the recall have been reported.
“A plastic insert surrounding a fuse may be subject to distortion caused by thermal expansion and contraction,” Chrysler announced in a statement. “Such distortion could interrupt power to the ABS/ESC control system and temporarily suspend its function.”
Those affected by the recall can take their vehicles to a Chrysler Group dealership to have the ABS/ESC system fuse relocated for free.
Marking a milestone in one of the key hindrances to plague electric vehicles (EVs) thus far, eight of the word’s automakers have agreed to unify on a harmonized charging system capable of a 15-minute recharge.
Questions and uncertainty are swirling around the Infiniti battery-electric vehicle (BEV) which Nissan will debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show.
The BEV, which isn’t named yet, will share underpinnings with the Nissan Leaf, but with more emphasis on power and aggressive styling.
“It was designed to be a luxury vehicle first and an electric vehicle second,” Infiniti marketing manager Sam Chung told The Detroit Bureau.
As Nissan’s second electric-only car, it underscores the value placed on such vehicles by the automaker. While ideas surrounding the car’s styling are little more than speculation, we’re wondering how much the Emerg-E concept that debuted in Geneva earlier this month might come into play.
Infiniti’s BEV will, however, adopt the mid-cycle changes headed for the Leaf. Those include an improved electric cabin heater that will be less taxing on the car’s battery, improving range and cold weather driving. The update will also bring an improved battery with better range, though the same principles apply to BEVs as do gasoline engines: the more output, the poorer the range.
Given that, it seems like the better battery will at least make it into the car if not as an even beefier version, but that coupled with a performance-first attitude suggests the vehicle’s range will probably be compromised.
Still, the new BEV will adopt an updated 6 kw charger, over the current-generation Leaf’s 3 kw charger, which will offer improved charging times, both to new Leaf customers and those interested in the more luxurious Infiniti.
We’ll be reporting live from New York next month, so check back for more details as they become available.
KFC’s latest marketing campaign for its classic Chunky Chicken Pot Pie has been a hit as audiences complimented its cool retro style. While that pot pie does look down-right scrumptious, the red 1970 Dodge Charger was the most eye-catching of all.
Fans of the commercial shared their thoughts on KFC’s Facebook page, “The Pot Pies are delicious, but my nod goes to the Dodge Charger!” Another shared the same sentiment, “Man, that’s one sexy 1970 Charger!”
After the outpour of appreciation, KFC announced a special photo contest where the very Charger will be the grand prize awarded to the winner. Chief Marketing Officer Jason Marker explained, “There are lots of ‘classics’ in our current commercial, from the Chunky Chicken Pot Pie and the Dodge Charger to the dudes’ sunglasses and sideburns. Now, one lucky fan is going to own the very car that has been creating all this online buzz. And no matter what the decade, anyone would look cool pulling up to the KFC drive-thru in that classic ride.”
Here is how the contest works: visit KFC’s Facebook page and upload a fun and classic “old school” themed photo. The submitted picture could either be a real photo taken in the 70′s or it could be one that was inspired by the decade. Once uploaded, the picture will automatically post on the user’s Facebook page and will be forwarded to KFC as well. Pictures will be graded on creativity, originality, and consistency with the KFC brand image.
The contest, aptly named “Bring Back a Classic,” will run through April 1, 2012. The winner of the photo contest will be announced after April 15, 2012.
Check out KFC’s Bring Back a Classic Advertisement Below:
Dodge‘s performance department, SRT, announced its 2013 Dodge Charger will be revealed during next week’s Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A little more than a week ago, the first images of the new race car leaked from Penske Racing.
Thanks to a 2010 NASCAR summit held with all four participating automakers, the series decided racing cars should carry a brand identity and look more similar to their production versions. Because of this, the new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2013 Dodge Charger race car will look much closer in line and design language to the standard production Charger. According to SRT president and CEO Ralph Gilles, “The fans were like, ‘Hallelujah, finally the race cars look a lot like the cars I can buy and drive.’”
While the new 2013 Dodge Charger Sprint Cup car gets revealed next week, Penske Racing is currently the only team to field Dodge cars for the 2012 racing series and had just announced the end of its contract with Dodge after 2012 and a new partnership with Ford for 2013. Naturally, this threatens the chances of seeing the new Charger sprint car race next year
Despite the uncertainties, Penske Racing is actively participating in testing and development for the Charger. Penske Nationwide driver Sam Hornish Jr. was the first to test the new race car and said, “The car looks the best out of any of the new cars, that’s for sure. Nice sharp lines and you can see a lot of the street car in the race car. It brings the Charger’s identity back onto the racetrack.”
Look out for the new 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dodge Charger at the upcoming Kobalt Tols 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It will be unveiled at the Neon Garage before the race begins.
GALLERY: 2013 Dodge Charger Sprint Cup Car
The 2012 Chrysler 300 and its mechanical twin, the Dodge Charger are both recognized as Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) after also earning a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA.
The American full-size sedans each received full marks in front and side crash tests and earned a commendable four-stars in rollover. However, the combined five-star overall rating for the two models exclude the high performance SRT8 versions.
Offering more than crash safety, the mechanically identical 300 and Charger both offer active safety equipment as well, including all-wheel drive, auto high beams, adaptive headlights, adaptive cruise control with forward collision warning, blind-spot sensor, and rear cross-path detection.
The IIHS bases their ratings for both vehicles on their performance in front- and side-impact crashes as well as a rollover test.
GALLERY: 2012 Chrysler 300c
GALLERY: 2012 Dodge Charger Blacktop
NHTSA has issued out a recall on 9,688 2011-2012 Dodge Charger police cars that could have their low-beam headlights failing due to an overheated bulb harness connector.
And while that may sound not too hazardous, the recall also affects vehicles that could potentially lose ABS system functions due to an overheated power distribution center. The loss of visibility from a non-functioning headlight is pretty hazardous though, but the loss of braking ability in a police car, is probably not a good idea.
Chrysler is notifying owners and dealers and will replace the headlamp jumper harness and will also relocate the ABS/ESC system fuse within the power distribution center. The recall is expected to begin in March.
The first ever, original General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard will be heading to a Barrett-Jackson auction in Arizona that starts on January 14th, 2012. Nicknamed “Lee 1″, the 1969 Dodge Charger will have no reserve price and is probably one of the most iconic vehicles in the history of Hollywood.
Rumor has it that over 300 different General Lees were used during the show’s production from 1979 to 1985, so owning the first ever General Lee is pretty special. The only cast member to have ever driven this particular Charger was John Schneider, who played Bo Duke in the hit TV show.
Probably more tragic was the fact that this vehicle sat in a junkyard in Atlanta for 23 years before it was recently rescued and professionally restored over 16 months.
GALLERY: First Dodge Charger General Lee
[Source: Carscoop]
Chrysler is cranking up the heat when it comes to SRT raw power. Chrysler is said to be looking at offering a supercharger package for its LX-based SRT products that could produce as much as 570-hp. Chrysler has been developing an Eaton-sourced supercharger package that will boost power for the 6.4-liter HEMI V8 from 470-hp to between 540-570-hp.
This would propel the Dodge Challenger, Charger and Chrysler 300C into Chevy Camaro ZL1 and Ford Mustang GT500 territory.
The twin-screw supercharger kit will most likely be offered as a factory part, but dealers may also offer the kit as a retrofit to cars currently sold. Pricing details are unknown and the kit probably won’t be offered on the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. The kit will most likely be available next year, on 2013 model year cars.
[Source: Left Lane News]
A Dodge Charger police car catching fire and burning to the ground, has prompted Chrysler to replace the car and the gear inside for free. The Curry County, Oregon squad car only had 6,000 miles on it, when it burnt to a crisp/
The car was stopped to assisst in a successful search and rescue opertion in which a man named Patrick Combs, was found and taken to the hospital by ambulance. Deputy Jared Gray’s new Charger was the sole casualty, after catching fire while stopped.
Chrysler agreed to replace the cruiser, however the Sheriff’s department had to agree to sign a non-disclosure agreement(NDA). An NDA, also known as a secrecy agreement, is a legal contract, signed between the two parties that restricts access to third parties, which means the general public may never know what set the car ablaze.
The fire seemed to start in the passenger-side front wheel well and continued to reignite after fire crews continued to extinguish the blaze.
[Source: Jalopnik]
What you see here isn’t just a simple Dodge Charger General Lee imitation; no, former NBA player Jalen Rose owns one of the actual remaining units that was used during filming of the popular television show Dukes of Hazzard. Rose will be auctioning off this General Lee on May 23rd with an opening bid of $45,000 with the proceeds going directly to Jalen Rose’s Leadership Academy – a preparatory school opening in Detroit in September 2011.
There are a few changes that have been made to the General Lee however. For starters, the infamous 01 has been swapped out for an 05 – Jalen Rose’s playing number – and the confederate flag was removed from the roof. The auction will have no reserve and features Rose’s autograph under the hood alongside John Schneider’s.
GALLERY: Jalen Rose’s 1969 Dodge Charger General Lee
