Chrysler Announces New Incentives: 0% Financing or up to $4,000 Rebates

The Chrysler Group LLC is the latest automaker to join the incentive war that car makers have been waging for the past month in order to increase sales to individual customers in the U.S.

The Detroit company said that it has began offering 0 percent financing or discounts (e.g. Dodge Charger buyers can choose from 0 percent financing for up to 72 months or a $3,000 rebate) on most 2010 model year Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram truck vehicles when financed through GMAC Financial Services.

The incentives announced are valid until June 1, 2010. For more details, check out the official release after the jump.

From Chrysler Press Release:

Chrysler Brand

Consumers purchasing 2010 model year Chrysler brand vehicles can choose 0 percent financing for up to 60 months, or 1.9 percent financing for 72 months through GMAC Financial Services, or Consumer Cash of up to $3,000.

Jeep Brand

Consumers who purchase Jeep brand 2010 model year vehicles can choose 0 percent financing for 36 months or attractive financing rates for longer terms or up to $4,000 Consumer Cash.

• Consumers who purchase a Jeep Liberty, Jeep Grand Cherokee or Jeep Commander can choose 0 percent financing for up to 60 months or Consumer Cash of up to $4,000
  
  • In addition, consumers who purchase or lease a Liberty, Grand Cherokee or Commander and finance through GMAC Financial Services are eligible for up to $1,000 in GMAC Bonus Cash
    
• Consumers purchasing a Jeep Wrangler are eligible for $500 in Mopar® Bucks
  

Dodge Brand

Consumers purchasing most 2010 model year Dodge brand vehicles can choose from 0 percent financing for 36 months or Consumer Cash of up to $3,000.

• Consumers purchasing a Dodge Avenger, Dodge Grand Caravan or Dodge Nitro can choose 0 percent financing for up to 60 months, or up to $2,000 Consumer Cash
  
• Consumers who purchase Dodge Charger can choose from 0 percent financing for up to 72 months or Consumer Cash of $3,000
  
• Consumers purchasing a Dodge Challenger can choose from attractive financing rates from GMAC. In addition, the consumer receives $2,000 in Mopar Bucks with the purchase or lease of a 2010 Dodge Challenger
  
• Consumers who purchase a Dodge Journey or Dodge Caliber can choose from 0 percent financing for 36 months, or Consumer Cash of up to $1,500
  

Ram Truck Brand
Consumers who purchase most 2010 Ram truck vehicles can choose from 0 percent financing for up to 60 months, or Consumer Cash of up to $3,000.

• In addition, consumers purchasing or leasing a Dodge Dakota or Ram 1500 and finance through GMAC are eligible $1,000 GMAC Bonus Cash
  

Leasing
Chrysler Group is offering attractive lease rates on several 2010 model year vehicles.

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Chrysler Announces New Incentives: 0% Financing or up to $4,000 Rebates

The Chrysler Group LLC is the latest automaker to join the incentive war that car makers have been waging for the past month in order to increase sales to individual customers in the U.S.

The Detroit company said that it has began offering 0 percent financing or discounts (e.g. Dodge Charger buyers can choose from 0 percent financing for up to 72 months or a $3,000 rebate) on most 2010 model year Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram truck vehicles when financed through GMAC Financial Services.

The incentives announced are valid until June 1, 2010. For more details, check out the official release after the jump.

From Chrysler Press Release:

Chrysler Brand

Consumers purchasing 2010 model year Chrysler brand vehicles can choose 0 percent financing for up to 60 months, or 1.9 percent financing for 72 months through GMAC Financial Services, or Consumer Cash of up to $3,000.

Jeep Brand

Consumers who purchase Jeep brand 2010 model year vehicles can choose 0 percent financing for 36 months or attractive financing rates for longer terms or up to $4,000 Consumer Cash.

• Consumers who purchase a Jeep Liberty, Jeep Grand Cherokee or Jeep Commander can choose 0 percent financing for up to 60 months or Consumer Cash of up to $4,000
  
  • In addition, consumers who purchase or lease a Liberty, Grand Cherokee or Commander and finance through GMAC Financial Services are eligible for up to $1,000 in GMAC Bonus Cash
    
• Consumers purchasing a Jeep Wrangler are eligible for $500 in Mopar® Bucks
  

Dodge Brand

Consumers purchasing most 2010 model year Dodge brand vehicles can choose from 0 percent financing for 36 months or Consumer Cash of up to $3,000.

• Consumers purchasing a Dodge Avenger, Dodge Grand Caravan or Dodge Nitro can choose 0 percent financing for up to 60 months, or up to $2,000 Consumer Cash
  
• Consumers who purchase Dodge Charger can choose from 0 percent financing for up to 72 months or Consumer Cash of $3,000
  
• Consumers purchasing a Dodge Challenger can choose from attractive financing rates from GMAC. In addition, the consumer receives $2,000 in Mopar Bucks with the purchase or lease of a 2010 Dodge Challenger
  
• Consumers who purchase a Dodge Journey or Dodge Caliber can choose from 0 percent financing for 36 months, or Consumer Cash of up to $1,500
  

Ram Truck Brand
Consumers who purchase most 2010 Ram truck vehicles can choose from 0 percent financing for up to 60 months, or Consumer Cash of up to $3,000.

• In addition, consumers purchasing or leasing a Dodge Dakota or Ram 1500 and finance through GMAC are eligible $1,000 GMAC Bonus Cash
  

Leasing
Chrysler Group is offering attractive lease rates on several 2010 model year vehicles.

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Chrysler Wraps Headquarters to Celebrate "Truck of the Year" Award

To celebrate the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty Motor Trend "Truck of the Year" win, Chrysler has put a dedicated 140-foot tall and 120-foot wide building wrap at its Pentastar Central headquarters in Auburn Hills.

Fred Diaz, President and CEO of the firm's newly formed Ram Truck division, had this to say about the wrap:

"The purpose [of the wrap] is to share our pride in the Ram Heavy Duty as well as the Ram 1500 with our employees that work hard each day to support this company as well as the communities that surround Chrysler Group. This display will be seen by approximately 200,000 drivers and passengers along the Interstate-75 in Auburn Hills, Mich., each day."

The company said that the building wrap is part of an overall marketing campaign for the Ram Heavy Duty that was recently launched nationwide.

Building Wrap Quick Facts

• The Ram Truck featured in the building wrap is approximately 100 feet long and 41 feet tall
  
  • Its headlamps are 18 feet wide and 9 feet tall
    
  • Its tires are 16 feet wide and 17 feet tall
    
  • Its windshield is 28 feet wide and 9 feet tall
    
  • The front grille is 27 feet wide and 12 feet tall
    
• The building wrap covers 14 stories of the Headquarters' tower
  
• It took three days to place the wrap on the tower
  
• The building wrap could stay on the tower up to 120 days.
  

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Dodge to end Viper Production with 50 Final Editions

Dodge's Viper SRT10 will be going out with a bang, or in this case, a limited run of 50 "Final Edition" models starting production this summer.

The Final Edition package will be available on all three variations of the Viper (Coupe, Roadster, ACR) and will consist of the body painted in a Graphite Clear Coat with a center-mounted black racing stripe highlighted in red.

The coupes and ACRs will get a "black windshield surround" and all models will get the oh-so-expected "unique side sill badges" proclaiming that YOU, sir, are more unique than every other Viper owner.

Not only that, but there's a dash plaque in case people didn't get the memo on those sill badges. The rest of the interior gets the Darth Maul treatment with red stitching, red halos painted on the gauge cluster, and other shiny bits here and there. Coupes and Roadsters will roll on anthracite 6-spoke rollers, while ACRs will get black 5-spoke Sidewinders.

Number breakdowns for the 8.4 liter, 600-horsepower Final Edition beasts are like this: 20 Coupes, 18 Roadsters, and 12 ACRs. Get 'em while they're hot.

By Phil Alex

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Mopar at Moab: 2010 Rock Crawlers

While Chrysler's on-lot product seems to be significantly lacking in the appeal department, the company's Mopar tuning division continues to impress. Being showcased during the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah (is there any way to say that WITHOUT sounding like a PR executive?) between March 27th and April 4th) will be some of Mopar's more hardcore concepts.

Much like last year, when Mopar unveiled such hosses as the Lower Forty and J8 Sarge, Mopar will be bringing a variety of Jeeps and trucks.

This year's stars include two Wranglers (J7 and Trail Boss), a Ram (Power Wagon), and a Patriot (Extreme). From spy shots and press pics, it looks like it's gonna be an off-road bonanza full of color and big tires.

The J7 is a said to be a 4-door Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited which is rumored to be a stripped down model in the G.I. vein, while the Trail Boss is probably yet another heavy-duty Wrangler 2-door that can handle anything and then some.

The Ram Power Wagon is shaping up to be another Baja-badass like Chevy's SEMA-fied ZR2 Silverado and Ford's too-legit-to-quit SVT Raptor, albeit with a short cab / short bed layout. All that, AND it has a color scheme eerily similar to Techart's Concept One. Wonder if it has the snakeskin (or cerbero) trim?

Lastly, the Jeep Patriot Extreme is a dream come true, finally looking like the Cherokee successor it's supposed to be (as a Cherokee owner, I refuse to accept that the Liberty is a fitting substitute). Lifted and wearing fender flares. Now the Cherokee can finally rest in peace.

- By Phil Alex

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Chrysler Group's Sales Numbers are More Confident than they Should Be

Despite all the negative publicity, it seems that Americans would still rather be driving a Toyota than a Chrysler product. According to Edmunds, Chrysler's consumer sales are down a HUGE 44% this year, versus Toyota's 14% drop.

Anyone quoting a 3% drop by Chrysler is factoring in fleet sales, and that isn't exactly fair. However, a Chrysler spokesperson says, "Fleet is part our businesses strategy...We have to rebuild consumers' confidence in the company...The fact that large companies are willing to buy our vehicles helps rebuild that confidence." Hopefully.

Here's what you can learn from some industry analysts:

Jesse Toprak, TrueCar: "You cannot viably survive with fleet and rental sales over 50%...The math just doesn't work."

Erich Merkle, President, Autoconomy.com: "The fact that [Chrysler's] losing share on the pickup side, it says to me that this goes beyond the product itself...I think Chrysler in the near term will be at the mercy of the market. They'll continue to lose market share, but they've got to hope that a rising tide will lift all boats."

Jeff Schuster, J.D. Power & Associates: "It really is survival mode for the next 18 months until they see product in the showroom...They're not finished with the turnaround yet. This is not something that can happen overnight."

If the Pentastar's lineup over the next couple years ends up being as promising as it looks, perhaps Chrysler won't have to keep leaning on fleet sales like an old man with a cane.

Maybe then, finally, we'll have a chance to see some legitimate, luxurious Chrysler compacts and small, sporty Dodges. And what if they try to pull another Sebring or Compass? I can't speak for anyone else here, but if that happens, take it easy guys. No tears shed on this side of the table.

- By Phil Alex

Via: CNN

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Chrysler Group's 2011MY Lineup: 8 Redesigns, 7 Face Lifts, and a Fiat 500

In what's probably the least-shocking news of the day, Chrysler is working hard to bring its product line up date. Specifically, fifteen vehicles are being "reworked", eight of those "being redesigned or re-engineered".

Automotive News indicates that Chrysler is looking to get its vehicle portfolio up to snuff for Fiat's upcoming product merger.

This means that Chrysler will be throwing its new V6 into just about anything with wheels while redesigning, re-engineering, and renaming just about all of its vehicles (while also making use of a Fiat-developed dual-clutch transmission... about time, guys).

So, what do we know? The Sebring name is being dropped; Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne considers the changes "extensive" enough to call it a new model (this is good news). Also, it will be the first vehicle to come with the DCT from Fiat.

Then, beginning with Jeep's 2011 Grand Cherokee, we see the real-world application of the new V6. While the Jeep's V6 doesn't feature direct injection, Chrysler's 5-year plan indicates a few different variants including 3.0, 3.3, and 3.6 liter displacements, along with direct injection and turbocharging. Very good news. Also, Jeep's overseas, diesel-equipped Wranglers will gain start/stop technology.

Last but certainly not least, Fiat's long-anticipated 500 mini that will be sold through Chrysler dealerships starting from the fourth quarter of the year.

Redesigned/re-engineered models debuting this year and featuring Chrysler's new V6:

• Jeep Grand Cherokee (Quarter 1 2010)
  
• Chrysler Town & Country (face lift ; Q4 2010)
  
• Chrysler 300 (face lift ; new sheet metal / interior / rear suspension; Q4 2010)
  
• Chrysler Sebring replacement (Q4 2010)
  
• Dodge Durango (unibody construction ; 7-seater ; shares platform with Grand Cherokee ; Q4 2010)
  
• Dodge Charger (face lift ; new sheet metal / interior / rear suspension; Q4 2010)

Refreshed models debuting this year:

• Jeep Liberty ("styling tweaks" ; Q1 2010)
  
• Jeep Wrangler (start/stop for overseas diesels in Q3 2010 ; Pentastar V6 in 2011)
  
• Jeep Patriot (face lift ; Q3 2010)
  
• Jeep Compass (face lift ; Q4 2010)
  
• Dodge Avenger (face lift ; Pentastar V6 ; suspension/interior upgrades ; Q4 2010)
  
• Dodge Grand Caravan (face lift ; Pentastar V6 ; new interior ; Q4 2010)
  
• Dodge Journey (face lift ; pentastar V6 ; new interior ; Q4 2010)
  

If anyone can think of a good name for Chrysler's replacemo-Sebring, throw it down in the comments below.

-By Phil Alex

Via: Autonews (sub. Req)

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Dodge Remembers the 1970s with Special Edition Furious Fuschia Challengers

Dodge is celebrating forty years of muscle car badness in a fruity tropical colorful high-impact way. The latest vehicle in Dodge's blitzkrieg of brightness (see Top Banana, Go ManGo, Detonator Yellow, Sublime Green, Plum Crazy, B5 Blue, Hemi Orange, TorRed) is the Furious Fuchsia package, available on R/T Classic and SRT8 models.

"Commemorating four decades of Challenger performance, the new R/T Classic and SRT8 Furious Fuchsia editions modernize one of the most memorable hues from 1970 to create a modern muscle-car that exudes more performance, passion and even more nostalgia," said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer.

For $35,140 for the R/T Classic with the 372HP 5.7L V8 and $45,150 for the SRT8 with the 425HP 6.2L V8, the Furious Fuchsia Challengers won't offer any additional performance goodies, but what they do come with is that eye-searingly floral hue along with all the standard trim.

The R/T Classic model gets "A-line" side stripes in Bright White (or Matte Black) along with all the other "heritage" bits that usually come with the Classic such as the 20-inch polished-aluminum wheels, egg-crate grille, body-color rear spoiler, functional hood scoop and bright racing style fuel-filler door.

Inside, monotone Dark Slate Gray leather performance seats and center console armrest with Furious Fuchsia accent stitching are standard while Pearl White performance seats accented with Dark Slate Gray and Furious Fuchsia French-seamed stitching are optional.

For buyers who opt for a clutch, the pistol-gripped, 3.92-geared, anti-spin-enhanced Trak Pak comes standard.

At the top of the spectrum, the big-dog Fuchsia SRT8 - limited to 400 units - gets its wheels done up with Satin Black eyeliner, a plaque on the dash, accent stripes on the standard Pearl White leather SRT performance seats, and "retro-inspired chromed quad exhaust tips".

The Furious Fuchsia Challengers will debut at the Chicago Auto Show this week.

By Phil Alex

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2012 Dodge Durango SUV Pictured in U.S. Patent Drawings

A Carscoop reader dropped these patent drawings of an unnamed Dodge SUV model in our mailbox last night. We performed a search of our own and can confirm that the images are indeed authentic.

And while there's always a possibility that we are wrong here, but from what we can tell by comparing the drawings to the latest scoops from around the web, it appears that the SUV - Crossover - CUV (take your pick) featured here is the 2012 Dodge Durango, or whatever else the Chrysler Group decides to call this model.

If you follow the jump and click the respective links, you'll see that the so-called 2012 (or 2011) Durango seen in the spy shots shares many styling cues with the vehicle pictured in these patent drawings.

These include the pronounced arches on the front and rear fenders, the shape of the window frames and the exhaust pipes. Even though under cover, the shape and styling of the headlamps and tail lights also imply that this is the same vehicle.

It is believed that the new Dodge CUV will make use of a lengthened version of the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee's platform, which itself is derived from the latest Mercedes-Benz ML.

That said, the Dodge model will most likely be offered with the same 3.6-liter Pentastar and 5.7-liter V8 churning out 280HP and 360HP respectively, found on the 2011 Grand Cherokee.

Thanks for the images 'AC' - Spy Photo Links: Insideline & Caranddriver

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Dodge Refreshes and Renames Nitro Lineup for 2010, 4.0-Liter V6 Standard Across the Range

The Chrysler Group has revised and renamed its Dodge Nitro range for 2010. The SUV's lineup now comprises of the Heat, Detonator and Shock trim grades, all of which are now powered by a 4.0-liter V6 with 260HP and 265 lb.-ft. (359 Nm) of torque (the previous entry level 210hp 3.7L V6 is discontinued).

All 2010 models come with more standard content including 20-inch alloys, eight premium speakers with a 368-watt amplifier and 9-inch subwoofer, deep-tinted glass, Uconnect Phone, iPod Control, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, speed control and security alarm.

The MSRP for the base 2010 Dodge Nitro Heat is set at $23,995 and includes a $745 destination fee.

Building on the former SXT model, the new Nitro Detonator model features 20-inch Mopar polished/painted alloys, hood decal, eight speakers plus subwoofer, remote start, ParkSense rear-park assist and color-keyed premium cloth interior that matches the exterior paint color. The 2010 Nitro Detonator is priced at $25,995 (including $745 destination).

Finally, the Nitro Shock adds heated leather seats and a sun roof to the Detonator model and is priced at $26,995 (including $745 destination).

Dodge offers the 2010 Nitro in nine exterior colors, including a new Detonator Yellow Clear Coat.

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Dodge Challenger gets New Mopar Appearance Packages for 2010

The New Year brought new exterior and interior appearance packages from Mopar for Dodge's reborn Challenger muscle car. Available as a factory production option, the exterior kit includes a unique body-color hood with scoop, body-color rear "Go-Wing" spoiler and strobe stripe performance graphics. The exterior package can be yours for $1,995.

For the interior, Mopar's set includes a Mopar-branded T-handle shifter, bright pedal kit (only for automatic models), bright door-sill guards, premium carpet floor mats and a full vehicle cover. Dodge prices the interior package $945 for Challenger's equipped with an automatic transmission and $780 for cars fitted with a manual gearbox.

Both styling packages are available on Challenger SE (3.5-liter V6) and R/T (5.7-liter HEMI V8) models but only with these exterior colors: TorRed, Bright Silver Metallic, Brilliant Black Crystal and Bright White.

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