Car Throttle

We've already covered the new lineup of Chrysler's SRT-8 vehicles here on CarThrottle. The new Chrysler 300C SRT-8, Dodge Charger SRT-8, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 all pack Mopar's trick new 6.4L Hemi, which manages to make more power and torque overall, significantly more torque at low RPM's, and much improved gas mileage over the old, smaller 6.1L Hemi.  We've gone over all the goodies they'll come packed with, how fast they'll be, all that - but how much will they cost? Chrysler dumped information on pricing for the new SRT-8 models today, and it's a surprisingly wide spread considering the mechanical similarity. The cheapest will be the Challenger SRT-8 2-door, with a base price of $44,070, although that doesn't include the

Chrysler is continuing to roll out it's new SRT models at the NYIAS. The Challenger 392 is already out, the Charger SRT-8 debuted a while back, and Mopar is rounding off the lineup by presenting the Grand Cherokee SRT-8 and the 300C SRT-8 at the New York show this week.  As usual, the 300C SRT-8 is the classiest of the bunch, while still offering the performance that the SRT models are known for. As you'd predict, the 300C is powered by the new 6.4L version of the SRT Hemi V8, which is bigger, more powerful, and more efficient.  The bump in displacement raises power from 425 to 465 horsepower, with a similar jump in torque from 420 to 465lb-ft, and an additional 80lb-ft on tap

Predictable, yes.  But still awesome. Frankly, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 has never made a whole lot of sense.  It's always been seriously cool, sure - a Grand Cherokee stuffed with all-wheel-drive, a huge Hemi V8, a body kit, absurdly stiff suspension, and 20" chrome wheels wrapped with performance rubber.  I mean sure, it would do 0-60 in about 5 seconds.  But it's a Jeep that can't go off-road (20" performance tires, no transfer case) and can't tow anything (center-exit exhausts!) despite having a 6.1L V8. But still, let's not bitch - the GC SRT-8 was a modern hot-rod in a world where that's becoming an unfashionable thing.  It was like a GMC Typhoon resurrected with Mopar parts, 2 decades later.  I loved it. When the

Enthusiasts of smokey burnouts, rejoice: your chariot has returned. Yes indeed, the SRT-8 Charger is back, and it's badder than ever.  Dodge chose the Chicago auto show to reveal the latest SRT-fettled thunder chariot, and it looks like a whole pile of whoop-ass on paper. Gone is the old 6.1L pushrod V8.  One of the (rather odd, considering it's huge displacement) downsides of the previous engine was it's relative lack of torque and high torque peak.  The new engine, the 6.4L we first saw in the Challanger SRT-8 392, has been put to use in the recently-updated Charger.  Here, it puts out 465 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque - a gain of 40 horsepower and 35 lb-ft of torque over the old 6.1L engine.  With

Chrysler's 2011 models are being rolled out, to generally very positive reviews. One thing is clear is that the company really stepped up its game in refinement and design. But what about other key areas, like safety? They have been improved as well. New testing results for the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger have been released, and they have scored "Top Safety Picks." This is a huge improvement over the previous models, which when equipped with side impact airbags, garnered the second-lowest rating available. The cars were tested under more stringent test standards than the federal government - these tests require a car to withstand 5.37 times its weight. This is in the interest of rollover protection. The two LX cars aced these tests.

Chrysler is busy redesigning its lineup - the 300 flagship made its debut at the North American International Auto Show. The 200 mid-size sedan that came before it is a key part of the brand's plan for 2011. The 200 is based on the Sebring and is redesigned with much better styling, a new interior and a different name. The convertible model has yet to debut, with sources pegging the Geneva Auto Show in March as the show of choice. It will be coming as a 2012 model, while the sedan is a 2011. We don't have to wait until then to see the car though, as images of it have leaked online. The convertible model gets similar updates to the sedan, which means they

The new 300 has been in the news a lot lately as Chrysler has teased it and pictures have slowly leaked out to the press. Before that, it was the 200 that was the subject of a long picture-leaking campaign. Now it is finally out, and reviews are in from a few automotive outlets as well. As expected, the 200 isn't a game change. Chrysler did the best with the uncompetitive Sebring they had to work with, and the 200 can only be so good. What the 200 does is give Chrysler a viable alternative in the mid-size segment. As expected, Chrysler is trumpeting the 200 as the best thing since sliced bread. To do so it made this new Head-to-Head video using websites from

The North American International Auto Show is just around the corner, beginning next month. After a rough past couple of years, the 2011 show looks continue Detroit's reputation as the biggest, glitziest and most important show around. NAIAS was supposed to be the site of the new Chrysler's 300's official unveil. With so many introductions taking place on one day, a lot of embargoes get broken showing models before then though. Chrysler has been teasing the new 300 sedan as it did the 200, but the teasing is officially over - Motor Trend has gone and released photos of the whole thing. Its not as if spy shots and teasers didn't give us a clear idea of what to expect before, but this is the

After a good amount of teasing, in October we finally got to see the Chrysler 200 in its entirety. The new 200 is a centerpiece of Chrysler's plan to boost sales and profits. A slew of refreshed models are arriving for the 2011 and 2012 model years. Introduced in 2004 as a 2005 model, the 300 has proved to be a very successful product for Chrysler. The company is hoping for a repeat with the refreshed 300 and for similar success with the mid-size 200 (hence the name change). The 300 has gone quite some time without a refresh - 2012 is a substantive update but, like the 200, not an all-new one. Based on spy shots and Chrysler's released images, the car looks to debut

In a move that shows their clear intentions, Chrysler has started designating new franchises for the FIAT brand in the USA. The initial list of new dealerships selling the Italian brand included dealerships in New York, Massachusetts, California, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Maine. Now the list is increasing to other parts of the country. Some dealers who closed their doors during the ‘08/’09 crisis are happy to take the FIAT brand. One former Saturn dealer in Florida is happy to hang the Italian logo where GM’s forgotten import fighters were once sold. It seems that Chrysler is doing its best to avoid the mistakes made by FIAT in the US in the 70s and 80s. Back then the Turin brand did not have a dedicated dealership basis, instead the