Chrysler
Ford, Chrysler Truck Rivalry Heats Up As Torque Ratings Rise
Just as the horsepower rivalry between the Big Three has spawned increasingly more capable sports cars and muscle cars, the war to claim the top spot in the world of pickups has evolved into a tit for tat battle of one-upmanship. While horsepower is the measurement that go-fast fanatics salivate over, in the realm of trucks, it’s torque that dictates who’s the king of hill in terms of capability. Over the course of the last few days, both Ford and Chrysler have traded blows that have caused the crown bounce back and forth across Detroit this month. But regardless of where it lands, it spells good news for consumers.
RAM Adopts SAE Trailer Towing Standard to Provide Real World Ratings
The Society of Automotive Engineers is an entity comprised of more than 138,000 engineers from the automotive, aerospace and commercial vehicle industries which creates testing standards and practices for certifying performance measurements for vehicles. We recently saw SAE involvement in new Chrysler products in regards to the horsepower ratings in the new supercharged engine in the Dodge Challenger and (potentially) the Dodge Charger. Now, Chrysler’s RAM truck division has decided to adopt the SAE’s newest J2807 towing standard across their entire truck line – the only manufacture to do so thus far. However, the real story here is that the SAE has a standard by which manufactures’ trucks can be rated by a universal measurement, rather than ones designed by the manufacturers to meet target numbers under specific conditions.
Rumor: Hellcat Powered Dodge Charger SRT On the Way
Recently discovered SAE documents indicate that the 707 horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat motor used in the top spec 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT is also bound for at least one other engine bay in the Dodge lineup.
Driven: 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
Back in 2005, when Ford unveiled the newly retro-inspired Mustang, designers from Chevrolet and Dodge took notice of the excitement Ford was generating for nostalgic design coupled with modern performance and convenience and set to work creating their own responses, which resulted in the fifth generation Camaro and the third generation Challenger, the latter of which returned after a twenty five year hibernation. The Challenger SRT8 in particular caused quite a stir – its visual presence and torquey, rumbling 425 horsepower Hemi V8 was considered by many to be the most convincing and honest reinterpretation of the classic.
Update: 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Official HP Number Doesn’t Start With a “6”
Dodge caused quite a stir among muscle car enthusiasts when they took the wraps off the Challenger SRT Hellcat, the new top-spec offering of the brawny coupe. While the Hellcat boasts massive six-piston Brembo brakes, uprated suspension, a new optional 8-speed gearbox (a six speed manual is standard), and a host of aero tweaks to go along with its refreshed styling, the centerpiece of the model is the all-new, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine. But they remained vague about horsepower specifics, only offering “over 600 horsepower” as any indicator of what to expect. Turns out Dodge was being rather coy.
Driven: 2014 SRT Viper TA
The term “beast” gets thrown around almost casually in the automotive industry, as do the terms “track focused” and “high performance”. But if you’re seeking the pure definition of these terms rather than some marketing line, Chrysler’s SRT division has a car for you. Limited to just 159 examples, the Viper TA – which stands for “Time Attack” – is a road course weapon of the highest degree, riding the line between street and track so tightly that one is left to ponder where “sports car” ends and “race car with a stereo” begins.
Preview: 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
As much as the Mopar faithful would like to deny it, for the past few years the pony car wars have been a two horse race, with Ford’s 662 horsepower Mustang Shelby GT500 and Chevrolet’s 580hp Camaro ZL1 leaving the 470 horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT8 in the dust when it comes to performance. Rumors about a supercharged variant of the Challenger have been circulating for years, but Chrysler remained tight lipped about the existence of such a beast. This week, Dodge finally took the wraps off the Challenger SRT Hellcat, an ultra high performance variant of the muscle car that should authoritively bring the Challenger back into the fold of the muscle car wars.
Driven: 2014 Chrysler 300 SRT
Nearly a decade after the car first made waves when it was reintroduced for the 2005 model year, the 300 – and Chrysler’s LX platform as a whole – have earned their fair share of both praise and criticism. Due for a major refresh for 2015, we spent a week with the current car to see what works, what doesn’t, and what we’d like to see updated when the new 300 makes its debut later this year.
Rumor: SRT “Hellcat” Challenger to Out-Muscle Current Viper
When the pony car wars ramped up a few years ago with the reintroduction of the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro, many expected Mopar to be the company to beat when it came to horsepower, as was the case the first time around back in the late 1960s when the burly 440 six-pack and 426 HEMI engines dominated drag strips around the country. However, Chrysler’s resistance to forced induction meant that when the supercharged ZL1 Camaro and Mustang GT500 hit the streets, SRT didn’t have the hardware to answer back with. That may be about to change in dramatic fashion, though.
Los Angeles 2013: SRT Viper GTS Anodized Carbon Special Edition Package
At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Chysler’s SRT brand has shown the Anodized Carbon Special Edition Package for the 2014 Viper GTS. It includes a striking, dark matte metallic finish, and several other features that make it a unique grab for the Viper customer who really wants to stand out.
Update: Autoblog Drives the SRT Viper TA
Autoblog editor and Winding Road alum Seyth Miersma recently got some seat time behind the wheel of the SRT Viper TA, Chrysler’s most potent road-going track weapon to date. When phrases like “world class” and “close-to-sex” litter a review, it’s safe to assume that this is a very good car indeed.
Preview: SRT Viper TA
There are a rare few people out there that like things more extreme. The people that order their Thai food extra spicy, or that prefer 100-proof liquor over the “limp-wristed” stuff, or when it comes to cars, find a standard SRT Viper is just too docile.
SEMA 2013: Challenger R/T Shaker and Mopar ’14 Challenger
Dodge and Chrysler Group’s performance parts division Mopar have brought two new challenger models to the SEMA show in Las Vegas. The 2014 Dodge Challenger R/T Shaker features a very retro floating hood scoop. The Mopar ’14 Challenger is the newest in a line of annual limited edition performance models from the Chrysler family.
Mopar ’14 Challenger Teased Ahead Of SEMA Debut
Chrysler is teasing the Mopar ’14 car it will be presenting at the SEMA show in Las Vegas next month. This year, Mopar will be giving its annual treatment to the Dodge (or SRT?) Challenger.
Update: Fiat Announces “Naughty” 2013 Fiat 500 Cattiva
Fiat has announced a new design option for the 500 Sport and Turbo models. Called the 500 Cattiva—meaning naughty and cool, simultaneously—this factory-customized special edition adds a mischievous flair to the diminutive and sporty 500.
New Rear-Drive Platform For Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge?
According to Automotive News, the platform could go into the Alfa Rome Giulia and a new Alfa Romeo sedan, as well as replacements for the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger.
Update: 2013 Dodge Charger Pursuit
Yes, they gave us a police car. Complete with functioning lights, sirens, and loudspeakers (which many journalists used to heckle their compatriots at the track’s stop signs and crossings), driving the Charger Pursuit wasn’t so much an objective from an editorial standpoint, but more of a fun activity.
Update: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit EcoDiesel 4×4
At first blush, the 2014 Grand Cherokee isn’t a tremendous departure from the model that debuted for 2012. Subtle styling tweaks are apparent, but it’s what’s in the cabin and under the hood that are cause for excitement.
Update: 2014 Fiat 500e
The best thing about this car, though, were the brakes. Fiat’s “blended braking” system hasn’t been talked about much, and we can’t really understand why. The system essentially uses engine braking down to eight mph, at which point the actual rotors and pads go to work. Not only does this save electricity and greatly expand brake life, but it feels better than any regenerative braking system we’ve ever tested.
Update: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
If you were turned off by the old Grand Cherokee SRT8, the addition of a modern transmission, paddle shifters you’ll actually want to use, and a host of infotainment upgrades are enough to give it a second look.
SRT Introduces Viper GT3-R
Powered by an unrestricted 8.3-liter V-10 engine, it is a burly, race-ready version of the already raw SRT Viper street car. With 680 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque in a 2855-pound, it is eligible for competition in FIA GT3, United SportsCar Racing GT Daytona, Pirelli World Challenge GT, NARRA, SCCA, and NASA races.
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