DaimlerChrysler Supervisory Board Decides on Changes to Company’s Top Management
Stuttgart, Germany, Jul 28, 2005 -
Prof. Jürgen E. Schrempp (60) to leave the company on December 31, 2005
Dr. Dieter Zetsche (52) new Chairman of the Board of Management, effective January 1, 2006
Thomas W. LaSorda (51) to head Chrysler Group, as of January 1, 2006
Eric Ridenour (47) new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Chrysler Group
Jeep® Hurricane: The Most Powerful, Capable Jeep 4×4 Ever!
“That Jeep Gotta HEMI®?”
“Yea … TWO!”
Show-stopping concepts and extreme expressions of the Chrysler Group brands aren’t new: Dodge had its Tomahawk and Chrysler, the ME Four-Twelve. But when the Jeep® Hurricane blew onto the 2005 North American International Auto Show stage, it raised the bar for the Jeep brand.
“Jeep Hurricane is simply the most maneuverable, most capable and most powerful 4×4 ever built,” said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President – Chrysler Group Design. “It pays homage to the extreme enthusiasts’ Jeep vehicles in form and off-road capability, but is a unique interpretation of Jeep design. Simply stated, it is the extreme example for the Jeep brand.”
Dodge Revs Up Iconic Muscle-Era Performance Package with Introduction of All-New 2005 Dodge Ram Daytona
Limited-edition Dodge Ram draws inspiration from winged 1969 Dodge Charger race car
Dodge dealers to take delivery of first 75 production Dodge Ram Daytona models in ceremonial parade lap at Daytona International Speedway
Building on its storied legacy of power and performance, Dodge is bringing the historic Daytona nameplate to the Dodge Ram line of pickup trucks. The limited-edition 2005 Dodge Ram Daytona, with legendary HEMI® power and bold Daytona-inspired styling, draws further attention to the Ram 1500’s leadership claim as the most powerful light-duty pickup truck on the market.
“The all-new, limited-edition 2005 Dodge Ram Daytona has a bold, race-inspired attitude for customers seeking a performance-packaged pickup like no other,” said Darryl Jackson, Vice President, Dodge Marketing, Chrysler Group. “With 20-inch chrome wheels, a unique custom paint job and a huge rear spoiler, the Dodge Ram Daytona will turn heads on the street and on the track at Daytona.”
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Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology Vehicles Named Official Cars and Trucks of SCCA
Auburn Hills, Mich., May 24, 2005 -
The Chrysler Group and Sports Car Club of America, Inc. (SCCA) jointly announced today a multi-year partnership that names the Street and Racing Technology (SRT) vehicle line as the “Official Cars and Trucks” of SCCA.
The partnership includes a free SCCA membership offer to all participants in the SRT Track Experience, and a number of cross-promotional activities and programs for SCCA and SRT.
“Racing is part of the DNA of every SRT vehicle,” said Dan Knott, Director – Street and Racing Technology, Chrysler Group. “This relationship with SCCA provides a great opportunity to showcase SRT’s signature racing technology and street-legal performance in partnership with America’s premier grassroots racing organization. And, it complements the already great relationship that Dodge Motorsports has with the SCCA.”
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Diesel in the United States
Auburn Hills, Mich., Jul 18, 2005 -
The new era of DaimlerChrysler diesel passenger vehicles in North America began with the market launches of the Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI and the 2005 Jeep® Liberty CRD.
The rebirth of the diesel passenger-car market in the U.S. is made possible by advances in diesel technology, such as common-rail direct-injection fuel systems and advances in precision computer controls that have created today’s modern clean-running diesel powertrains.
Consumer interest in the products has been high. The original production run of E320s sold out, and Mercedes-Benz responded with additional production. Even before the Jeep Liberty CRD was launched, more than 60,000 potential customers called and emailed their interest in the new product – the first mid-sized SUV on the market in the U.S.
There are good reasons why customers are expressing interest in the new diesel products:
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Dodge Challenger concept set for Detroit Auto Show
Posted Jul 20, 2005, 3:00 PM ET by John Neff
Related entries: Concept Cars, Coupes, Sports/GTs
A related post on the CHALLENGER Artwork —> Eye Candy for us Mopar fans
The August issue of Road & Track has a tiny blurb about the possibility of Chrysler resurrecting the Challenger using the LX platform currently dedicated to the 300/Magnum/Charger trio. A concept is reportedly currently in the works for a debut at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show. The coupe would theoretically be easy to design and build and could be, if priced correctly, the first real competition for Ford’s new Mustang. R&T does point out, however, that the plant building the current crop of LX cars is at full production, so adding another model to the assembly line might be difficult.
I wasn’t too sure about the copyright laws concerning the artist’s rendering of the Challenger in R&T, so rather than reproduce it here and get sued I pulled a photoshop job by Doug Schramm off of Autospies instead. I actually like this rendering better than R&T’s, even though it’s oozing retro from every orifice.
What Edmunds.com Says: Dodge, no doubt taken aback by the overwhelming success of the 2006 Ford Mustang, apparently sees fit to repeat history and resurrect the Challenger nameplate to once again pursue its arch rival.
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Post from www.srtforums.com
One of our forum members did a great write up, I think it desserves a post in the frontpage:
By toasteroven:
Well, September of this year will see the end of the Dodge SRT4 as we currently know it. With DCX planning to match GM’s employee pricing plans (announced in Canada today), and the last of the ’05s and ‘05 1/2’s getting ready to be built, there has never been a better time to buy an SRT4… or take a moment and think back on it’s short, 3-year run.
It goes to sleep as the king of its roost; the Cobalt SS, Ion Redline, and the various import competition still haven’t matched its brutal assault on the sport compact market as its nearest competitor has nearly a 30-horsepower disadvantage. It’s still the best bang for the buck, and it still starts around $20k (US).
Originally, the SRT4 was simply the Dodge SRT, and instead of being turbocharged, the first prototype was supercharged. And only 2.0 liters to boot. But it caught people’s attention, and the SRT team (then called PVO; Performance Vehicle Operations) kept the project evolving. Soon yellow and red prototypes were photographed here and there, minus the production model’s dual air intakes on either side of the front Dodge emblem, and wore PT GT 17” rims. But the key ingredients were there – turbocharged motor, dual-outlet muffler-less exhaust (which many magazines doubted would make it into production), boost gauge and Viper-inspired race seats.
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I found this site thanks to AUTOBLOG.com, It should keep you entertained for hours!
Hemi.com Gets Supercharged
Auburn Hills, Mich., May 27, 2005 -
Today DaimlerChrysler launched a new edition of Hemi.com (www.Hemi.com). The improved Web site has new stories, new photos, more in-depth history and specifications, and new multimedia features, including HEMI® sounds. The new HEMI engine story is continued and expanded to include the 6.1L version.
Hemi.com presents three newly interactive historical timelines showing the development of all versions of the HEMI engine, starting with the legendary Chrysler FirePower HEMI in 1951. The development of the legendary 426 HEMI that revolutionized NASCAR and NHRA racing is featured in great depth, along with the new generation 5.7L and 6.1L HEMI engines. In addition, Web surfers will find vintage photographs and biographies featuring the people who were behind the most famous automotive powerplant in the world.
“Hemi.com documents how Chrysler’s unique approach to high performance created the great HEMIs of the ’50s and ’60s, and how that heritage applies to the new HEMI engines of today,” said Ron McDaniel, Chrysler Group Director of Advanced Service and Technical Information. “We updated the site to include even more detail on the HEMI story. Web site visitors will enjoy following the HEMI through history as it establishes its legendary status in all kinds of racing.”
New stories include the first-ever Chrysler HEMI victory. It happened in 1951 in a NASCAR race in Detroit. More race drivers are covered, and legendary crew chiefs are added. Vintage photographs show early racing victories in stock cars, sports cars and boats.
New galleries show ’50s HEMI cars, 426 HEMI-powered vehicles, and racing cars and boats of all kinds. There are more vintage ads in the Web site, and twice as many rare-image wallpapers are available for download.
Hemi.com is the official Web site for HEMI enthusiasts.
AEV Brute
The Brute is a highly mobile utility vehicle designed for extreme use; it’s also one of the most unique modern vehicles available. With less than 50 units per year scheduled to be built, the Brute is guaranteed to draw attention anywhere it goes. If you’re looking for the ultimate in utility and rugged aesthetics, the Brute is for you.
Originally designed for the 2002 SEMA Show, every aspect of the Brute conception focused around making a real world off-road truck that was fully reproducible and effective. As with all AEV designs, the vehicle’s great form came from the need to have great function.
The Brute has received a great deal of attention from the media, public and even DiamlerChrysler (it came very close to going to full production with Jeep). Check the notoriety section of the site to read some of the comments. The Brute is more then a conversion Jeep, it’s a lifestyle change.
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