Chrysler just announced a new promotion that spans its list of sub brands, except for SRT, to delay payments on the purchase of any new vehicle for 90 days.

That means holding off on payments for the first three months on all Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, RAM, or Fiat vehicle. The promotion extends through the rest of May and is only valid when financed through Ally Financial or Chase Auto Finance.

Just before making that announcement, the automaker also said it would offer a military discount in conjunction with Memorial day, running until the end of the month as well. The discount takes $1,000 off an eligible vehicle, which is double the normal active personell discount.

As is  often the case with these deals, the fun cars are left out. All SRT models are excluded, as is the Fiat 500 Abarth, Dodge Journey AVP, Chrysler 200 LX, Dodge Avenger SE and (of course) the Viper.

Today’s cars all seem to be focused on delivering fun driving experience that’s still friendly on gas. Those two elements are often an important factor in a car purchase, but sometimes you just want to feral thrill of a big, loud engine.

Lets take a look at our top ten list of the most affordable cars with big V8s. Just about all of these cars have at least 300 horses under the hood, and have the personality of old-time muscle cars. The range here includes sports cars, sedans and luxury vehicles, so you might see something out of place while looking through this top 10. The price range also starts off pretty steep, but ventures into real bargain-bin prices near the top three.

At the end of our list is the new Chevrolet Camaro.  ZL1At $54,095 The Camaro ZL1 might not sound like value. That is, until you consider that it has 580-hp and makes a whopping 556 lb·ft of torque. The supercharged 6.2-liter V8 helps you get to 60 mph in under four seconds, and this hopped-up Camaro is also capable of lapping the famous Nurburgring in 7:41.27. The ZL1 accomplishes this thanks to its high-tech Magnetic Ride Control, which you’ll find in some high-class exotics like the Ferrari 458 Italia.

One of the most wonderful sensations come when you command a whole handful of power just with the flexing of your right foot. Horsepower is an intoxicating element when it comes to driving, but that doesn’t mean that it’s saved for the most expensive vehicles out there.

Check out the list of the top ten most affordable vehicles with 300 (or more) horsepower. You might be surprised at the deals here, with our leader having a price-to-pony ratio of $73-per-horsepower.  Most of the vehicles here are coupes, but a trio of sedans squeezed in, proving fun can come in four-doors.

First on our list is the rally-tested Subaru WRX STI. The performance-oriented vehicle is the first of three sedans that made the top 10, and features Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive and a turbocharged 2.5-liter Boxer engine, which pumps out 305-hp. The cheapest WRX STI is the four-door model, which also has the STI’s instantly recognizable rear spoiler. With a top speed of 160 mph,  the four-door also has a slightly higher top-speed than its five-door counterpart. The WRX STI can get to 60 mph from a standing start in under 5 seconds, and it’s all-wheel drive helps it gobble up the road as fast as anything else on this list. It starts at $34,095.

The Durango has been a hit for Dodge, bringing back SUV buyers to a brand that has shed numerous products over the past few years.

While equipped with a standard (and efficient) 3.6-liter V6 engine, as a truck (and a sizable one at that), rising gas prices could send potential buyers away from the Durango and into something smaller. In order to keep pace with such changes Dodge is moving up the introduction of the 2014 model, which will see a several mile per gallon improvement thanks to a transmission with two extra gears.

According to one source the 2014 Durango will launch in May of 2013, sporting the same 8-speed automatic transmission that is already being used in the Chrysler 300 and which is expected to make its way under the hood of the Jeep Grand Cherokee soon.

In addition to that update, also look for the addition of the Chrysler brand’s larger 8.4-inch LCD screen as a part of the Uconnect system.

[Source: JeepGarage.org]

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.

When the Dodge Dart hits dealers later this year it will be the first Fiat-based Chrysler product to go on sale in America and will also offer competitive fuel economy.

While not quite segment leading, the new numbers are near the top of the pack, with the entry-level 160 hp 2.0-liter Tigershark 4-cylinder rated at 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway with the six-speed manual, and 29 mpg combined.

Available after launch will be a 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbocharged 4-cylinder (shared with the Fiat 500 Abarth) also making 160 hp mated to a dual-clutch transmission making 27 mpg city and 39 mpg highway, though it will still get a 29 mpg combined rating. Dodge also plans to launch a fuel economy package “aero” version of the Dart with “at least” 41 mpg highway, which will arrive in the the Fall.

In addition, Dodge will offer a 184 hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder model, though no fuel economy numbers have been announced for that package yet.

The 2013 Dodge Dart will go on sale in June starting from $15,995.

GALLERY: 2013 Dodge Dart

Discuss this story at DartForums.com

Fuel economy numbers are more important now than ever before, as gas prices continue to rise in North America.

Recently Dodge came under criticism for announcing its upcoming Dart compact will get 40 mpg combined.

An impressively high number, even a class-leading car like the Hyundai Elantra, which gets 40 mpg highway, only achieves an average of 33 mpg. While the exact fuel economy figures have yet to be released and a 40 mpg highway rating is still in sight, when the Dart (above) goes on sale later this year it most certainly will not get 40 mpg average; not in real world driving and not even on the window sticker.

Dodge wasn’t wrong. They’re not even entirely to blame. If fact, they were just using a different testing method to get their fuel economy numbers. Or to put it more accurately, they weren’t even doing the testing. So why would a different testing method be used? It’s a long and complex story, but the gist of it is that according to a government mandate, in order for Fiat to take control of Chrysler it needed achieve three goals, the final one being building a 40 mpg car on American soil. Being government related, that number is a CAFE number, not an EPA number. What’s the difference? Read on.

The one measure of fuel economy that we’re most accustomed to is provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These are found after testing a vehicle on a dynamometer and incorporating various ‘real-world’ conditions. We have another story detailing what goes on behind the EPA numbers, so if you want to know how and why the EPA tests cars for fuel economy be sure to check it out here.

But what Dodge and other car makers are talking about is the Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE numbers. CAFE is a politically driven regulation intended to improve the fuel economy of vehicles in the United States. Like the EPA number, it is expressed as miles per gallon and represents the fuel efficiency of a car manufacturer’s total cars made in the current year.

The reason CAFE numbers are important is because it helps rank the manufacturers in terms of fuel efficiency.

CAFE is a defined fuel economy standard for each year, and if a company falls below the standard, they must pay a fine. Currently, for every .1 mpg below the standard, a car manufacturer has to pay $5.50 multiplied by the number of cars manufactured.

Passenger cars and light trucks are classified by CAFE rules. Each category of vehicles has two sections. For passenger vehicles, cars with a “footprint” of 41 sq. ft. or smaller get a different CAFE standard than those that are 55 sq. ft. or bigger. For light trucks, vehicles with a footprint of 41 sq. ft. or smaller, get a different CAFE standard than those that are 75 sq. ft. or bigger. In fact, these rules are partly to blame for Ford’s decision to axe the smaller Ranger pickup. In between the two footprint ranges the CAFE targets are calculated by an average, comparing vehicle size to fuel economy.

These standards are set pretty aggressively. However, the manufacturers do get a break since mpg numbers for CAFE are based on an older version of the EPA test. New tests involving real user conditions are the main area where the EPA numbers and CAFE numbers differ. Since the EPA also tests cars for other factors, like a car being driven in cold weather, or with the AC on, they tend to have lower MPG numbers. It’s worth noting though, that the EPA test doesn’t actually put the car on the road, and makes some fuel optimizing technology untested, including start-stop systems that shut off the engine at stop signs or street lights.

However, if the automaker can prove that technologies like active grille shutters, start-stop systems, and active aerodynamics do work, credits can be issued to help an automaker meet the standard. Using technology like this can improve a manufacturer’s CAFE numbers by 3 mpg, or even more if there is data to back up the advantages of using this technology to improve fuel economy.

Additionally, there are bonuses for car companies that sell electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell vehicles. To encourage their sales the government will value each sale of an electric vehicle as two when calculating a fleet’s CAFE numbers. This helps boost numbers significantly, so car manufacturers can avoid the penalty of not meeting CAFE numbers.

CAFE standards will continue to be an important part of the car industry. For 2012, CAFE regulations for a small passenger vehicle is 36 mpg. In 10 years, it will be 53 mpg. By 2025, it will reach 61 mpg. It’s clear that the government is pushing better fuel economy numbers in an effort to rely less on costly and dirty gas.

Ward’s Auto has released its top 10 picks for best interior in 2012 today, though in no particular order. Here they are with brief notes on each car’s engine specs and starting price.

The 2012 Mazda CX-5 crossover is powered by 2.0-liter Skyactiv inline four cylinder that makes 155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque with a starting MSRP of $20,695 with front-wheel drive.

289 Dodge Caravans and Chrysler Town and Countries manufactured from November 15th, 2011 to November 21st, 2011 are being recalled for a possible wheel separation issue.

The cause of the problem is from a right rear hub and bearing assembly that might not be fully machined. Those affected by the recall will be notified by Chrysler so that dealers can replace the right rear hub and bearing assembly free of charge. The safety recall began this month, so concerned owners can also contact Chrysler at (800) 853-1403 and reference recall number M13.

Try to look past the fact that it’s a Dodge Challenger without a Hemi. Heck it still boasts 305 horsepower, which is about what a Mustang GT did in 2010.

If you can manage that, have a look at the 2012 Dodge Challenger Rallye Redline edition: it’s a V6 version of the coke bottle muscle car with generous upgrades for a bargain price. We already reported the details, but the car made its debut yesterday at the New York Auto Show where we got to take a look.

Opting for the Rallye Redline package costs $28,745, which is only $3,750 more than the base Challenger’s MSRP. Looking over the options, it’s hard to think of the package as anything but a great value.

For that money, you get new front and rear sway bars to stiffen the chassis and make the car more corner-capable but that’s only the beginning. It also gets 42 percent firmer monotube shocks in the front and 22 percent in the rear a cold air intake, a more aggressively-geared rear axle and upgraded brakes on all four wheels.

Cosmetic upgrades also add to the car’s style with a thick red racing stripe and two matching pinstripes running  the car’s length through the center. Black 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels with a matching red stripe further compliment the car’s special look.

Best of all, Dodge isn’t skimping on the other features you might want in a new car. This package is based off the SXT trim level, which is the high-end V6. That means it also comes with  standard equipment like leather seating (heated in the front), bluetooth connectivity, electronic stability control and more.

At $28,745 (plus a $925 destination fee) you’re looking at a handsomely upgraded car that would probably cost more if you took care of the upgrades yourself.

It’s true that the entry-level Hemi-having R/T is about the same price, albeit before the destination fee. The Redline Rallye is much better equipped than its similarly-priced V8 counterpart. Ultimately the decision boils down to a trade-off between horsepower and driving comfort.

GALLERY: 2012 Dodge Challenger Rallye Redline

Just about a week ago, we told our readers about the new Dodge Dart Rally Car that will compete in the Global RallyCross Series, with X Games ace Travis Pastrana at the helm.

Now Dodge has revealed a video of their 600-hp, all-wheel drive Dart, being put to the test by Pastrana. The video is full of Ken Block Gymkhana style slow-motion scenes, which we think is getting a little old to be honest.

The Dart RallyCross racer is shown tackling both dirt and tarmac sections and ends up losing its rear bumper in all the mayhem.

You can check out the video below.

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The latest teaser image features two more macro shots, this time of what looks to be the interior trim of the Ram truck – the first of an interior light, the second of a piece of trim from the dashboard. While teaser images are considered by many automakers to be a fun and effective marketing trick to raise awareness and excitement, these obscure images fail to convey exactly what we should expect from the next generation Ram. Its official reveal will be during the New York International Show and we will share more substantial information regarding the new truck later in the week.

So far, we know that development of the new 2013 Ram 1500 truck heavily focused on the mechanicals, featuring a fuel efficient package that combines Chrysler’s Pentastar V6 along with an eight-speed transmission. What’s more, the new Ram will also feature the air bag suspension system from the Jeep Grand Cherokee.