Posts Tagged ‘Dodge’

2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4×4

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

Review and photos by
Jil McIntosh, Autos.ca

I’ve never stood at the helm of an ocean liner, my hand on the controls, watching as the enormous ship responds to my commands. But way up in the cabin of my 2011 Ram test truck, I think I have some inkling of how it feels.

2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4x4

2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4x4

This truck is big. This truck is very nice, but it is very, very big. And while that may appeal to many buyers, it’s unnecessarily large, as are all of its oversized competitors these days. My 1995 Dodge 1500, purchased at a time when it was pretty much the biggest of the big, looks more like a Dakota when parked alongside. It will be interesting to see who will be the first truck maker to finally pull back the reins. And now that I’ve got that off my chest, let’s see what this Ram has to offer. (That’s the proper name of it now, by the way; Ram has become its own brand, although I still think of this truck as a Dodge.)

There aren’t a lot of changes from the 2010 model, but one that applied to my Laramie 4×4 was a new, active on-demand transfer case, which is also standard on the Big Horn and Outdoorsman trim levels. (more…)

2006-2010 Dodge Charger

Friday, February 11th, 2011

Review and photos by
Chris Chase, CanadianDriver.com

The 2006 Dodge Charger was the third model to use Chrysler’s (DaimlerChrysler, at the time) full-size, rear-wheel drive LX platform, following the 2006 introduction of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum.

2006 Dodge Charger SXT

2006 Dodge Charger SXT

The Charger was a mainstream variant of the upscale Chrysler 300, and ostensibly a sedan sibling to the Magnum, which shared the Charger’s drive-train options. Those included a 2.7-litre V6 (180 hp to start, later upgraded to 190), a 3.5-litre V6 (250 hp) and a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 (340 hp). A 425-horsepower, 6.1-litre V8 was reserved for a high-performance SRT8 model. (more…)

2001-2007 Dodge Caravan

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

By Chris Chase; photos by
Greg Wilson, CanadianDriver.com

What’s the deal with minivans? Many people seem to think they’re terminally uncool, yet these people-movers still sell pretty well despite the surging market for seven-seat SUVs and crossovers. Of particular interest is the continuing success of Chrysler’s minivans. The former Chrysler Corporation arguably invented the minivan back in the early ’80s, when these family haulers quickly became more popular than leg warmers and frizzy hair.

2006 Dodge Grand Caravan

2006 Dodge Grand Caravan

For years, no other minivan came close to being all things to families like the Chrysler minis were, but that’s changing. Competitors like the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey and even Koreans like the Kia Sedona and Hyundai Entourage (now discontinued) offer most of the same stuff the Chrysler-built vans have, but they have it wrapped in, generally-speaking, more reliable packaging. (more…)

Bullrun Season 3: Team Challenger – 9 Questions

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

A Quick Discussion with Bullrun Season 3’s Team Challenger
   Michael Schlee

 The new season of Speed TV’s hit reality television show Bullrun is now less then weeks away. The brain child of Andrew Duncan and David Green, Bullrun features 12 teams of competitors driving across the USA racing through checkpoints and challenges. The goal? $200 000.

Team Challenger

Those familiar with the show know how intense and entertaining it can be. This season promise to be even more so. Recently I had the chance to ask Jonathon Bowen, driver for Team Challenger, 10 questions. Along side his co-driver Julian Muniz, Jonathan is piloting a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T in the 3rd Season of Bullrun. With Hemi power on their side, Team Challenger is poised for the competition.

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Yesteryears Automobiles: 1915

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

 

The Year That Was 1915

Michael Schlee

 

With the American Auto Industry in a crisis like it has never faced before, I thought we could take a look back at the past 100 years of American Vehicles to see the highlights (and lowlights) of an industry on the edge of collapse.

Model T

Model T

This is a new feature that will become a regular segment for this blog.

 

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CIAS Tour: Dodge

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

 

Touring the Dodge Display at CIAS

By Michael Schlee

 

Dodge dominates the floor space for the Chrysler Corporation at CIAS this year. They have brought multiple examples of the all new Dodge Ram.

Photo: Michael Schlee

Photo: Michael Schlee

The Viper is also on display sporting giant rear tires and an even more giant rear wing. Continuing with the sports car theme, there are two examples of the new Challenger on display as well as a bright green racing example that was used recently at the Targa Newfoundland Rally.

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Chrysler Electric Vehicles

Monday, January 19th, 2009

Author: Marc Lachapelle


While major competitors are locked into a race to bring a single extended-range electric or even a plug-in hybrid car to market, the beleaguered Chrysler Corporation has introduced no fewer than five different electric-drive vehicle platforms in Detroit. Furthermore, the first vehicle to be spun off one of these platforms would be produced for North America in 2010 and three more by 2013. Such announcements, mere days after the approval of the TARP financial rescue agreements, have a taste of vapourware. Yet, Chrysler is adamant about its plan and goes even further by stating its goal of having 500,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2013, a number that includes its market-leading GEM neighbourhood electric vehicles.

 

The carmaker had already unveiled three rechargeable electric prototypes last fall and presented updated versions in Cobo Hall. The sports car, now called Dodge Circuit EV, a four-door Jeep Wrangler and a Chrysler minivan. To these, Chrysler now adds the Jeep Patriot EV and the all-new Chrysler 200C EV sports sedan concept. Both are ‘range-extended electric vehicles while the Dodge Circuit, built on a version of the Lotus Elise chassis, runs on electric power exclusively.

Isaac Adams-Hands)

Chrysler 200C EV (Photo: Isaac Adams-Hands)

Looking at the Circuit and 200C on display, Chrysler design chief Ralph Gilles spontaneously says: “they look so good, you wouldn’t think they are electric vehicles.” Asked about his favourite, Gilles immediately replies: “The 200C, no doubt. It is a sign of where I want to take Chrysler design. Basically back to its prominence in the mid-90s.” One can only wish the passionate Gilles, who grew up in Montreal and went on to design the smashing Chrysler 300C sedan, to succeed again.