Chrysler (Page 12)

The Chrysler Group has announced a new special edition package for the 2013 Jeep Patriot compact SUV with a portion of the proceeds from each copy of the new Patriot Freedom Edition models sold going to American military charities.

The automaker issued the massive recall due to an airbag control module problem, which may lead to unintended airbag deployment.

The sales numbers are in for October 2012 and once again, the Chrysler Group is the strongest of the American automakers and third from the top among major auto groups – trailing only Toyota Motor Company and the BMW Group.

I recently found that the receiver lock on my Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab was getting harder and harder to deal with when I was changing my hitch receiver so I began shopping around for a new lock. I was first introduced to the BOLT products at the SEMA Show with their “one key lock technology” and considering how handy their product appears – I picked one up for my own truck.

Just when it looked like the Chevrolet Camaro would cruise to the end of the year to win the sales title among the American muscle cars for 2012, the Ford Mustang battled back in October 2012 to lead the segment and close the gap a bit between the Ford and Chevy muscle cars.

The Chrysler Group has announced that for the 2013 model year, the Dodge Challenger R/T will be available with the optional Blacktop package that provides a dark, sinister look and while the Blacktop edition is available for other Dodge brand models, the Challenger R/T Blacktop is far more than just an appearance package.

Among the many vehicles at the 2012 SEMA Show was the bright red 2013 Ram 1500 regular cab short bed model that sported the vintage “Little Red Express” name and design scheme complete with exhaust stacks but unlike the 1978 red-and-gold sport pickup – the truck at the 2012 SEMA Show packed a turbocharged 5.7L Hemi engine.

Buoyed by sales of the Fiat 500, Chrysler Group LLC posted the highest increase in sales of the Big Three automakers selling 126,185 cars and trucks, a 10.2 percent jump over last October.

Among the massive indoor Mopar display at this week’s 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas was a trio of 2013 Dodge Dart sedans modified with items from the Mopar Accessories catalog that not only give current Dart owners a chance to see how much they can customize their compact sedan with company help but these sporty show cars could also give us a glimpse of what to expect from the Dart SRT.

A couple weeks ago we brought you a preview video discussing the joint project between ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and Chrysler’s Mopar division but at this week’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas – show goers got a chance to check out the heavily modified Dodge Challenger dubbed Project UltraViolet in person.

This week’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas offered tens of thousands of people a chance to get their first glimpse of the 2013 SRT Viper including a modified unit from Mopar and the unique Launch Edition model displayed by the folks at Pirelli tires.

The organizers for the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show have announced that among the new model debuts at the LA show this year will be the all electric Fiat 500E – giving the Chrysler Group their first electric vehicle and helping them show some support for the EV movement even though Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne seems less than enthusiastic about the project.

The 20th Annual Texas Truck Rodeo saw Chrysler Group vehicles taking top honors (again) as the Texas Auto Writers Association voted both Ram and Jeep products awards.

Comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham is currently working on a project with the folks from Chrysler’s Mopar division to customize a 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with a series of YouTube videos chronicling the build – and the debut of this unique Challenger named Project Ultraviolet is set for the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.