Chrysler announces pricing for refreshed 2011 Dodge vehicles

Chrysler has bombarded us recently with a huge onslaught of changes for the 2011 model year. In addition to the updated Sebring 200 and Town & Country that wear the Pentastar badge, nearly the entire Dodge model line has been reworked for 2011. To recap, the Avenger, Challenger, Charger, Durango, Grand Caravan andJourney are either all-new or refreshed for the new model year, and the automaker has just announced pricing for the full grip of improved vehicles.

Starting with the all-new products, the 2011 Charger will be priced from $25,170 for the base SE model, which features the automaker’s new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and rear-wheel drive. If a fully loaded, Hemi-powered Charger R/T AWD is more your thing, expect to pay $37,320. In addition to the Charger, Dodge debuted the wholly revamped 2011 Durango, which shares its platform with the much-improved Jeep Grand Cherokee. A base, rear-wheel drive Durango Express will set you back $29,195, and pricing goes all the way up to $43,795 for the top-end Citadel AWD.

The rest of the Dodge lineup offers mild exterior refreshes, Pentastar V6 power and huge interior improvements. The 2011 Avenger sedan starts at $19,245 for the four-cylinder Express model, with the $23,545 Lux trim topping things off. The family-friendly 2011 Grand Caravan will command $24,995, and the 2011 Journey rings in at $22,245. Last, but certainly not least, is the 2011 Challenger which makes use of a new 305-horsepower V6 for the base SE, priced from $24,670, and that hot new SRT8 392 will set you back $42,555.

Look for all of these updated Dodges to hit dealerships in December. For the full list of pricing and trim levels,follow the jump to read Chrysler’s press blast.

Officially Official: 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan reports for family duty

Chrysler has just dropped details on the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan. Along with packing the company’s newPentastar V6 under the hood, Dodge says that the minivan also sports a significantly revised suspension designed to make the vehicle a little more engaging to drive. So far we haven’t been told exactly what’s been changed underneath, but the press release says that “virtually every system” has received some sort of tweaking.

Behind the new 3.6-liter V6 sits a six-speed automatic transmission, and that duo effectively replaces all three of the previously offered drivetrains. Look for 283 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque when the van hits the road later this year.

But the biggest change looks to come from the styling department. Chrysler has heaped all of the company’s new found enthusiasm for excellent interiors onto the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan, swaddling surfaces in top-notch materials, better seats and throwing in redesigned gauges, to boot. The Grand Caravan even wears a massaged front fascia to go along with all of the changes inside as well as a set of LED taillamps out back.Hit the jump to take a look at the full press release.

Integram Seating is a parts supplier for Chrysler. The factory workers there produce seats, which are then sent to the Pentastar’s Windsor Assembly plant to be installed in the brand’s Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan people movers. The popular family vehicles are set to get an update for 2011, but according to CBS News, their assembly may be put on hold because 700 workers at Ingram Seating have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike. If Integram’s employees walk and Chrysler doesn’t have seats to put into its vehicles, production will almost certainly be halted. the supplier’s union, Canadian Auto Workers Local 4-44, says the majority vote is intended to send a message to the company.

Workers at Integram Seating have not had a pay raise in four years and the average wage there is about $24.32 per hour. The strike will occur if no labor contract has been worked out by November 7, the expiration date for the current agreement.

2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 is the crème de la Chrysler

Chrysler made waves earlier today when it announced the company would have an armada of 35 vehicles on display at this year’s SEMA show, but the star of the shindig is likely to be the new 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392.

While no one has ever accused the Challenger SRT8 of being light on grunt, Chrysler engineers have taken things up a notch or two with a new 6.4-liter V8 that produces 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, all while delivering 15-20 percent better fuel economy than the outgoing 6.1-liter V8 in the 2010 Challenger SRT8. The big V8 uses variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation to help keep consumption low.

The Challenger SRT8 392 also employs a reworked suspension with even firmer shocks, a quicker steering ratio and more negative camber than before, all of which are supposed to help the hefty muscle bruiser tackle the corners with a little more finesse.

Up front, there’s a unique chin spoiler that helps channel air to the vehicle’s radiator and provide additional downforce at higher speeds. It also just looks pretty dang sharp.

Chrysler says it will build just 1,492 inaugural editions of the Challenger SRT8 392, and that the cars will be available to buy right after Thanksgiving. Hit the jump for the full model-specific press release.

SEMA Preview: Chrysler goes hog wild

Chrysler has big plans for this year’s SEMA show. The company has worked up a muscle-bound pack of special edition models and concepts slated to be unveiled in Las Vegas. In a live webchat this morning, Ralph Guiles and Pietro Gorlier announced that Dodge and Mopar will be pulling the sheets off of the newChallenger 392, complete with a 6.4-liter V8 with 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. In addition, quarter-mile fans can get excited about the new Challenger Drag Pak V10. The car will come with all the goodies you’ll need to dominate the strip, including a V10 borrowed from the mighty Dodge Viper, a two-speed transmission, roll cage, fuel cell and unique gauge cluster. Even better, both Challengers are production models.

Of course, what would SEMA be without a few wild concepts thrown into the mix? In that vein, Chrysler will roll out the 2011 Red Line Dodge Charger shown above. The car will feature massive 22-inch wheels and a number of unique body treatments geared toward giving the redesigned sedan even more attitude. The company will also show off a different take on the new Durango called the Black and Tan. The truck features a custom interior and wheel package designed to be the most luxurious Durango out there.

Finally, Fiat is getting a taste of Mopar love with a new 500 concept. The pint-sized Italian will wear flared fenders, 18-inch wheels and special interior treatments designed with a sporty flare.

Chrysler says that it will have a total of 35 vehicles on hand for this year’s SEMA show. Hit the jump to take a look at a quick video detailing some of the stars of the company’s show fleet as well as a full press blast.

Report: Chrysler begins handing out keys to Fiat dealerships

Conventional wisdom tells us that Fiat has a daunting task ahead of it: convincing 200 cash-strapped dealers (Chrysler stores get first dibs) to spend millions of dollars on dedicated Fiat dealerships. With precisely one product ready for sale in the next year or two. In a down economy with tight credit. It looks like conventional wisdom doesn’t apply, though, as Fiat is now in the process of naming 165 of the 200 new dedicated dealerships, with the remaining stores being awarded early next year. Fiat has reportedly been selective about which U.S. markets that will be considered for a franchise, with 119 areas targeted.

While dealers are lining up to become one of the 200 Fiat dealers, the auto-hocking entrepreneurs have come up with very different proposals for their stand-alone operations. Automotive News reports that dealers have offered up existing used car lots, abandoned retail outlets and the conversion of shuttered dealerships.

Right now Chrysler is working with dealers to refine their pitches, which includes plans for facilities, marketing, sales and service. The first samples of the Fiat 500 will arrive in dealerships this September, though the official marketing launch doesn’t happen until March, when dealers have stand-alone stores in place. Ultimately, the company is planning to sell 50,000 copies of the A-segment hatch, or about 250 units per store.