Mopar Speed- NST/Wo0 SPRINT -December 27

Kasey Kahne Racing’s Saldana Takes Top-Five in Down Under Battle

Team Mopar and Kasey Kahne Racing World of Outlaws Sprint car driver Joey Saldana continued his oversees adventures, as the “Brownsburg Bullet” scored a fourth-place finish in the Valvoline Australian Grand Prix, held at Parramatta City Raceway in Sydney, Australia. The Top-five finish follows Saldana’s recent win at the International Sprint Car Classic in New Zealand.

After starting in the middle of a field that included fellow World of Outlaws drivers Steve Kinser and Donny Schatz, Saldana worked his way forward to claim a Top-five spot. World of Outlaws drivers from the U.S. claimed three of the top four spots in the event.

Joey Saldana finished fourth in the Valvoline Australian Grand Prix, held at Parramatta City Raceway in Sydney, Australia, on December 26. Saldana will be joined by team owner Kasey Kahne in winged sprint competition at Parramatta on December 30 and January 1.

Mopar Speed- USAC SPRINT -December 27

Coons Jr. to Compete on Dirt, Dave Steele on Pavement for Hoffman Racing

Hoffman Auto Racing (HAR), the winningest team in the history of USAC National Sprint Car Racing, with eight USAC National Sprint Car championships, announced recently that USAC veteran and defending USAC National Midget champion Jerry Coons Jr. will return to drive the famous No. 69 car on dirt, with USAC pavement superstar Dave Steele driving the pavement Mopar-powered sprinter.

Coons Jr., won two USAC National races for HAR in 2006, as well as the $30,000 Ultimate Challenge at Oskaloosa, Iowa. The Team Mopar driver claimed the 2006 USAC National Midget Car championship driving for Wilke-PAK, and he finished sixth in the USAC National Sprint car championship, despite competing only in dirt races. Steele, a native of Florida who has claimed two USAC Silver Crown championships, rejoins the Team Mopar fold. He claimed four USAC National Midget Car wins with Mopar power in 2003, and won the sprint car portion of the 2005 Mopar Sprint & Midget Classic with Mopar power, among his many accomplishments, while carrying the Mopar banner.

“I am looking forward to being back in 2007 and winning races with the Hoffmans. Hopefully the combination of Dave [Steele] and I can win another championship for the Hoffman Team.” =97 Jerry Coons Jr., on teaming with Dave Steele in 2007 USAC National Sprint Car competition for Hoffman Auto Racing.

Hoffman Auto Racing (HAR), the winningest team in the history of USAC
National Sprint Car Racing, with eight USAC National Sprint Car
championships, announced recently that USAC veteran and defending USAC
National Midget champion Jerry Coons Jr. will return to drive the
famous No. 69 car on dirt, with USAC pavement superstar Dave Steele
driving the pavement Mopar-powered sprinter.

Mopar Speed- NHRA Pro Stock -December 27

NHRA Pro Stock

DSR, J&J Continue Pro Stock Partnership in 2007

By Judy Stropus

Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Racing
announced recently that the two teams will continue their Pro Stock
partnership into the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Richie
Stevens Jr. will again pilot the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T
as teammate to Allen Johnson’s Mopar/Johnson & Johnson Racing
Dodge Stratus R/T.

The two groups partnered up at the end of 2006, to great success.
Stevens Jr.’s performance improved markedly, as he won two of the five
events entered under the new DSR/J&J banner. Johnson also finished
strong, taking sixth in the final NHRA Pro Stock standings, with one win
and two Top Qualifier awards.

“I am thrilled to be able to continue this association with Allen
Johnson and J&J Racing with Richie,” said Schumacher. “J&J clearly
knows how to build, prepare and set up a Pro Stock Mopar Dodge. The team’s
ability to put together a winning combination last year, both for Allen
and Richie, was demonstrated race after race.”

Mark Ingersoll will handle crew chief duties for both teams, with
crew-chief assistants assigned to both teams. J&J’s engine operations
are headed up by Roy Johnson, with Ingersoll handling decision-making on
clutch and chassis. Two additional crew members on each team will handle
maintenance and turn-around.

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ROCK’EM SOCK’EM ROBOTS™ Do Battle in New TV Spot for the 2007 Dodge Ram Pickup Truck

Auburn Hills, Mich., Dec 22, 2006 –

“Robots” TV Spot:

Two brand heavyweights – Dodge and Rock’em Sock’em Robots™ – have teamed up in a new television ad for the 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck. The 30-second spot, titled “Street,” features Mattel’s robots, Red Rocker® and Blue Bomber®. This is the first time that the famous red and blue boxing robots have been paired with Dodge.

“Street” begins airing Christmas Day on network and cable stations. A second, all-new 30-second spot with the robots debuts early next year. Both ads are part of a larger campaign for the Dodge Ram 1500 that will be announced in 2007.

“The Rock’em Sock’em robots are a symbol of toughness and the ability to out-last the competition, which are among the key attributes of the Dodge Ram pickup truck,” said Mark Spencer, Senior Manager – Dodge Marketing and Global Communications. “By presenting the Rock’em Sock’em Robots with the Dodge Ram in a fun and exciting television campaign, we can effectively capture the attention, but more importantly, the hearts and imaginations of truck buyers everywhere.”

“For 40 years, Rock’em Sock’em Robots has been a part of pop culture – from appearances in feature films to parodies on popular television shows,” said Cynthia Neiman, vice president of marketing, Mattel Games. “This classic game spans generations and we are excited to team up with Dodge for this ad campaign featuring the original battling robots.”

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Chrysler Group Launches Production of All-new 2007 Jeep® Patriot at Belvidere Assembly Plant

• Flexible manufacturing cuts production costs by 85 percent
• Robotics, lean dies and material flow improve quality, productivity and worker ergonomics
• Third vehicle introduced at Belvidere Assembly Plant

Auburn Hills, Mich., Dec 20, 2006 –

Chrysler Group’s Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant launched production of the Company’s tenth all-new vehicle this year, as the first 2007 Jeep Patriot came off the assembly line today. The plant which was extensively retooled in 2005, has become a flagship for Chrysler Group’s adoption of flexible manufacturing. Production of the all-new 2007 Dodge Caliber began in January 2006 and was followed in May by the all-new 2007 Jeep Compass.

Flexible manufacturing is allowing Chrysler Group to bring its new vehicles to market more quickly and the Belvidere Assembly Plant to manufacture multiple products on one assembly line. Additionally, flexible manufacturing has positively impacted production costs by a savings of up to 85 percent in some instances. The Chrysler Group continues to implement its flexible manufacturing processes plant-by-plant.

“We are now seeing the results of our flexible manufacturing strategy that leads to a competitive advantage for the Chrysler Group,” said Frank Ewasyshyn, Executive Vice President – Manufacturing. “Thanks to Belvidere’s ability to build multiple models off one assembly line, we expect the production of three all-new models to cost significantly less than the initial investment we made in the plant to build one product.”

North American International Auto Show in Detroit: Premiere of the new smart fortwo in the USA

Stuttgart, Dec 20, 2006
For the very first time on US soil: the new smart fortwo, celebrating its USA premiere at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit (January 7 to 21, 2007). The new smart fortwo will be available in the USA beginning in the first quarter of 2008. The car shown in Detroit is an European version of the new smart fortwo. Model lines to be available in the United States will be announced at later date.

smart, like Mercedes-Benz and Maybach, is part of the Mercedes Car Group. The exhibition stand is directly opposite Chrysler and Dodge in Oakland Hall (inside Cobo Center). Written in large letters on the stand are the words “Coming to the USA in 2008″. And right in front of it, a smart fortwo with red bodypanels and a silver tridion safety cell.

The new smart fortwo can do everything that the current model can do – but better. This means that the new smart fortwo is even more comfortable, even more agile, even safer and even more environmentally friendly than its predecessor. And from the first draft it is designed to meet USA customer needs and registration standards.

Mercedes-Benz design study: Concept Ocean Drive design study – the most comfortable and elegant modern-day convertible

Detroit, Dec 20, 2006
At the North American Auto Show Detroit, Mercedes-Benz is adding to its reputation as a pioneer and design trendsetter among premium carmakers with the presentation of its Concept Ocean Drive four-door convertible. This study is a one-off creation by Mercedes-Benz which revives the tradition of large luxury convertibles. Not having to work to a design brief or production specifications left the designers free to get on with the job of developing the world’s most comfortable and elegant convertible.

The Concept Ocean Drive is an aweinspiring jewel on wheels. As a four-door convertible, it belongs in a luxury genre that has almost disappeared from our roads. Like the luxury convertibles of years gone by, this showpiece from Stuttgart features the maximum in elegance, lifestyle sophistication and exclusiveness. To put it another way, it represents automobile culture at its most attractive and desirable.

The one-off special has an all-new body with an almost classic flavour and with clearly defined lines and vibrant two-tone paintwork which are exceptionally charismatic. Although on one level the Concept Ocean Drive displays the restraint of an elite and aristocratic automobile, it is also an open invitation to go on a “top-less” cruise along the world’s finest ocean promenades. Luxurious, exotic materials have been crafted with consummate skill to create a showpiece of unparalleled perfection.

Chrysler Group Makes Three-part Holiday Donation

* Chrysler Group donates $50,000 to the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan to fund therapy programs to increase mobility
* Chrysler Group also sponsors Michigan National Guard troops and donates funds to the Detroit Press Club

Auburn Hills, Mich., Dec 14, 2006 –

Chrysler Group President and CEO Tom LaSorda presented $50,000 to the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (RIM) and $15,000 to the Michigan National Guard Thursday evening at the Company’s annual media holiday party.

“The holiday season is a time for giving; to our loved ones and also to our communities,” said LaSorda. “At Chrysler Group we have a passion for helping the communities where we live and work throughout the year. We hope our donation will assist RIM in fulfilling its mission to help patients live full lives even with limited mobility.”

“RIM thanks the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund for its support and this wonderful donation,” said Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan President Terry Reiley. “This is a great holiday gift and the donation will make a difference in the lives of the patients that we serve.”