Dodge Treats Family Movers, Muscle Models to SRT8 and R/T Makeovers

Although Chrysler Group introduced new models for its three brands at both the Los Angeles and Detroit auto shows, it reserved a bit of marketing heat for the Chicago show, which opened to the news media on Wednesday.

The Dodge division of Chrysler introduced five R/T models and previewed one future product on Wednesday, including what was perhaps most pleasing to Dodge performance fans, a 2012 Charger SRT8. The brutish muscle car, which had its debut as a 2006 model but was discontinued after 2010, roars back with 465 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque from a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8. It’s no coincidence that 6.4 liters translates to 392 cubic inches, evoking — at least for enthusiasts of a certain age — memories of the 392 Chrysler Hemi of the 1950s. While the previous SRT8 was not known as a prodigious road machine, the new version will reportedly handle twisty bits better thanks to adaptive suspension. Making noise inside is a 900-watt Harman Kardon stereo system.

With less muscle and a smaller price tag, the 2011 Charger R/T is equipped with a 370-horsepower, 5.7-liter version of the automaker’s Hemi V-8, and wears similar sheet metal to the standard Charger introduced in Los Angeles in November — though exterior and interior trim items distinguish the R/T from the base specification.

Challenger performance offerings are back as well. Here, the 6.4-liter Hemi logs 470 horsepower in the SRT8 while the 5.7-liter, when paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, generates 375 horsepower in the R/T Classic. Reminiscent of the eye-searing colors that Dodge offered in the ’70s is the so-called Green with Envy paint scheme, available on the SRT8 and R/T Classic.


Even two family movers, the Grand Caravan and Journey, receive the R/T treatment. Called the “man van” by Chrysler’s marketing team, the Grand Caravan R/T runs the same 283-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 as in the standard Grand Caravan, but spring rates and shock damping have been stiffened to give the vehicle a more sporting feel and greater handling prowess, while the exhaust note has been tuned to speak with some authority. R/T dressings include 17-inch wheels and a special black leather interior. Neither the Caravan nor the Journey — which also receives the 283-horsepower V-6 — would be mistaken for hot rods, but the R/T distinction imbues them with some needed personality.

The 2011 Durango R/T S.U.V., meanwhile, gets different suspension tuning, load-leveling rear shocks, steering tweaks, a lower ride height and 20-inch wheels with all-season performance tires. Under the hood is a 360-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V-8. Fuel economy numbers for the warmed-over Durango are 14 miles per gallon in the city with rear-wheel drive, and 13 m.p.g. for the all-wheel drive version. Both achieve 20 m.p.g. on the highway

The Jeep CJ-3B

A look At The Jeep® CJ-3B (1953-68)
Posted on Monday, March 21, 2011 at 7:00 am by Jeep in Heritage

As you have probably noticed, we’re delving into historical Jeep brand models over the course of our history (70 years, as of this year!). With this post, we’re shining a light on the famous Jeep CJ-3B.

The 3B was the third generation of our CJ model, and was a significantly more substantial update than the previous CJ-3A’s update over the original CJ-2A. The year it came out, 1953, was an important turning point in our long history as a brand, as it marked the moment that the entire Willys-Overland brand was sold to Henry Kaiser (60 million 1953-dollars, in case you were wondering). This change in ownership resulted a vast broadening of the entire Jeep brand range thanks to an extensive R&D program.

Now, let’s get back to the CJ-3B. This CJ is one of the most classically recognizable Jeep brand vehicles and was in production until 1968 – a good deal longer than the four-year lifespan of the previous two generations. Its new look featured a taller front grill and hood, both necessary changes in order to accommodate the taller valve train of the new four-cylinder engine, the “Hurricane” F-Head.

Nissan Delivers first Leaf in the UK!

Nissan delivers first UK Leaf, buyer says "your station is your driveway" [w/video]
by Eric Loveday (RSS feed) on Mar 22nd 2011 at 2:07PM



First Nissan Leaf delivery in UK – Click above to watch video after the jump

Nissan Europe has officially handed over the keys to a 2011 Leaf to its first paying customer in the UK. British radio disc jockey Mark Goodier took delivery of the electric hatch Monday morning and whizzed down to London to host his talk show on Smooth Radio. Upon taking ownership of the Leaf, Goodier said, "there is huge joy for me never having to go to a petrol station again, your station is your driveway." Later that same day, Goodier tweeted: "Just took the new Nissan Leaf for it's first run from Waltham Abbey into London... it is amazing."

Like the U.S. launch of the Leaf back in December of 2010, the UK's first delivery of the electrified hatch attracted a significant amount of attention. By week's end, numerous Leafs will be whirring down the UK's streets. We can join in the frenzy by hopping the jump to watch Goodier drive off in the first Leaf in the UK

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Thousands of Nissan/Infinit's swept away by Tsunami

Tokyo, Japan, March 12, 2011 /WNCNews/ – Tsunami waves at the port of Hitachi, Irabaki Prefecture in the Kanto region, Honsu Island, Japan had been swept at least 1300 units of Infiniti (Nissan’s premium), plus other Nissan products, which accounted for 2300 units. As reported by autonews (March 11, 2011), all the cars were ready to be distributed to dealers in Japan and exported to North America.

From photo shows thousands of cars were swept away like a toy and some look burnt. Nissan said the damage occurred in some Infiniti, including M sedan, EX, FX crossover and 307Z sports car. All Infiniti models are produced at the factory near Tochigi Prefecture, Utsunomiya.

The tsunami also destroyed other Nissan facilities in Miyagi Prefecture which was assembling 1,000 units of vehicles to supply the local dealer (Japan). This tsunami disaster also crippled mass transit system causing 1500 factory workers of the Nissan were displaced. All the workers were forced to stay overnight and then returned the next day after the subway back in operation.

“Essentially we glad none of the injured employee. About cars, we can still produce again,” said Andy Palmer, Nissan’s Executive Vice President.

Nissan added that they will temporarily stop production at five factories until Monday (March 14, 2011) throughout Japan, including Kyushu which is far from the disaster area. New principals decided the next step on on Tuesday after calculating the loss to be borne by the company