Tag Archives: chrysler

2012 NAIAS Biggest Successes

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2012 NAIAS - Acura NSX Concept

2012 NAIAS - Acura NSX Concept

There has been a lot said about the new Acura NSX concept and although I still have some reservation, which I’ll get to, I’m going to label it a success. First of all, I think that the design looks really good. I’m not one of these people that say it needs to carryover lots of elements and design from the old NSX. I think a fresh start and fresh design is exactly what Acura needed.

The second reason I’m labeling this a success is because it has a mid-engine layout. I liked the last NSX concept that used a front/mid setup, but it never felt right to me. You can mess with the design but you can’t mess with the layout, if that makes sense. I’m not as bothered as most about the fact that the new NSX will be pushing a “hybrid” platform. Look at the Porsche 918 for justification. Continue reading →

2012 NAIAS Fails:

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2012 NAIAS FAILS

2012 NAIAS FAILS

When you bring a concept car or a production car to a big show like the North American International Auto Show, you really want to make a statement with that car and get as much good press as possible. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out and these are the cars we think fall into that category. Continue reading →

SRT Track Experience: on the track with txGarage

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txGarage on the infield track at Texas Motor Speedway for the SRT Track Experience

txGarage on the infield track at Texas Motor Speedway for the SRT Track Experience

Last week, we were invited to come out and experience the SRT Track Experience put on by the SRT division of Chrysler and the Richard Petty Driving School. This is a member’s only experience, hence to be involved, you must first purchase a SRT product. None of the staff at txGarage own any SRT products, but luckily, it’s more about who you know.

Let us first talk about what SRT stands for. SRT stands for Street and Racing Technology and is the high-performance divisions of Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge. When you purchase any of these SRT products, this SRT Track Experience is included into the price; so if you don’t attend one of these events after buying your car, you’re definitely missing out. Continue reading →

Quick Drive: 2012 Fiat 500

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2012 Fiat 500 at the Texas Auto Roundup

2012 Fiat 500 at the Texas Auto Roundup

After Fiat bought out Chrysler to up its stake in the company, Fiat knows it has a lasting presence in America. The plan is to rollout the entire Fiat line-up to the U.S. market, starting with the Fiat 500. As the ambassador to the brand then, the 500 really needs to be a big hit for Fiat. So what did we think?

First of all, I wasn’t really impressed with the interior of the 500. I know it’s a lower end car, but it reminded me too much of the PT Cruiser’s interior, and that’s not a good thing. There are big plastic panels along the door and the dash, optioned with different colors no less. One more complaint before I move on; I didn’t get a lot of time to try and adjust the seat, so it could be that, but the pedals didn’t feel right against my feet. I was fortunate enough to score a manual transmission, but it felt like my feet were straight up and down while doing foot work. It was actually uncomfortable. Continue reading →

Quick Drive: 2011 Chrysler 300C

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2011 Chrysler 300 at the Texas Auto Roundup

2011 Chrysler 300

The Chrysler 300 has needed an update in a bad way. When it first came out, it was a great looking car that stood out from the crowd. Now though, it’s become more common and the more you see it, the more you pick it apart. Chrysler knew they had to get this one right as it’s really their flagship car. Chrysler has told us before that they opened the redevelopment process up to the consumer. They asked current owners what they’d change and asked customers in the market what they would be looking for. They took the answers they received into consideration and lots of them implemented into the car. Everything except the chassis itself has been touched and revised on this car. Continue reading →

Review: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Looking for snow on the ground in central Texas is like hoping for a car as a Christmas gift, don’t get your hopes up. Unfortunately, I was not lucky on either account this year. It’s a shame we didn’t get any snow to test the traction settings of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with its new Land Rover-like terrain selection system glaring up at us.

This is the first Jeep product to emerge after the Fiat / Chrysler alliance. It shows, as this Grand Cherokee has one of the best fit and finished interiors I’ve ever seen in a Jeep product. I’m not a big Mopar fan, but most of my family are loyal Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge drivers. I have grown up with the vast imperfection of these products. Jumping into this 2011 was like jumping into a Mercedes-like SUV.

There is a good reason for it feeling like Mercedes quality. The architecture of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is based on that of the M-Class. Anything from the comfort of the ride to the feeling of the steering closely resembles that of the M-Class. The live axle of the previous generation was tossed in favor of an independent multilink suspension.  As a result, Jeep calls this Grand Cherokee “the most capable ever.”

The new Pentastar V-6, the engine our tester was equipped with, is a 3.6 liter pushing 290 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increase over the 3.7 V6 of 80 hp and 25 lb-ft of torque. Hooked to a 5 speed automatic gearbox (the only option), this V6 Grand Cherokee can tow a load up to 5000 pounds. The other option is the 5.7 liter hemi pushing 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. That will up your towing to 7400 pounds.

Although we don’t yet have the option for an SRT8 variant, Chrysler has said it should appear in the next year or so. Nonetheless, a V8 option is a dwindling one in this segment. The 4 Runner can no longer be bought with a V8, and more manufacturers are sure to follow.

Keeping you insulated from the rough terrain you’ll be thrusting yourself toward, the air suspension delivers adequate comfort. The body roll is well controlled and the road noise is almost non-existent, even on the freeway doing 70mph.

The price of this Grand Cherokee is no joke. Our tester was a 4×4 Limited edition with the V6, leather, navigation, heated front and rear seats, panoramic moon, and the whole nine yards. This will set the buyer back an easy $40,000. At this price you’re competing above the Honda Pilot and Mazda CX-9, and below the Land Rover LR4 and Volkswagen Touareg. That’s really not a bad place to be, in our minds, as this is one of the best Jeep products we’ve ever had the pleasure of driving.

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Texas Auto Writers Name the SUV of Texas

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2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Out of all the great new SUVs hitting the market in 2011, what would you pick as your favorite? Would it fall under the Chrysler umbrella? I wouldn’t think so either, but the TAWA has named their 2011 SUV of Texas and it’s the all new Jeep Grand Cherokee.

With new looks on the outside and nice interior, largely based on the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, on the inside, we can see why the Grand Cherokee would be in the running for the SUV of Texas. The Grand Cherokee is also packed with a 360 hp 390 lb-ft of torque, 5.7 liter V8. As this SUV has been getting pretty rave reviews from others in the auto journalist world, it’s not too much of a surprise that it has won over the TAWA.

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The 2010 Texas Truck Rodeo

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2010 Ford F-150 Truck of Texas

2010 Ford F-150 Truck of Texas

The Texas Auto Writers Association gathered together last weekend for their annual truck event known as the Texas Truck Rodeo. This year it was held in San Antonio where the trucks and SUV’s would be put through the test at the Knibbe Ranch.
Every year, the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) names the Truck of Texas after this event and for the past six years that truck has been the Ford F-150. This year was no different with the new Ford F-150 taking the big prize yet again. For 2010, the F-150 didn’t just get a new look, it got an all around new package. The interior is a nice place to be whether you are roaring down a highway or driving through an open field. The powertrain has been tweaked giving the new F-150 a boost in fuel economy by as much as 12% over the prior year model. The title for Truck of the Year seems to be well deserved for Ford’s hard work on the F-150 year after year.

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Chrysler… Fiat… and the 500…

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The Fiat 500 was built as a direct competitor to the Mini. Its retro styling with modern functionality and comfort are what made the Mini a hit in Europe and the US. With the recent purchase of Chrysler, Fiat’s number one priority is putting the 500 in the American market. This will be the first and only, so far, to be sold in the US as a Fiat. Most other Fiat/Chrysler cars sold in the US are going to keep Chrysler, Jeep, or Dodge bagging. We will be getting four options for the cute little car including the regular hatchback, convertible, station wagon, and sporty hatchback.

Fiat 500 Old and New

Fiat 500 Old and New

 

Obviously we, at txGarage, are interested in the one called the Sporty Hatchback. This will be the Abarth edition 500, as it’s known in Europe, named the European 2008 Car of the Year. Not too much is known about the exact specs of the 500 that America will get but in Europe it is built on a shortened Panda platform. Engines range from a 1.2 liter with 69 hp to 1.4 liter with 100 hp. I’m not sure what to expect in the US but I’d bet on the 1.4 being the base engine here. In the European Abarth they have the 1.4 liter engine turbocharged pushing out a whopping 133hp, but being a smaller lighter car the driving dynamics are quite good. Also look for upgraded suspension and some “subtle” body changes.

The Abarth 500

The Abarth 500

 

The interior in the 500 doesn’t seem cheap or “half-assed” at all. Like the Mini it is a nice place to be and doesn’t seem as cramped as you would think a small car would. I would go as far to say that I like the interior of the 500 more than the Mini. You get modern technology like iPod hookups and USB interface and a wide range of powered goodies.

The question left is, will it sell in the US? I think in the times we are in that when they bring this car over, yes it will sell. Depending on the price point they put on it, it should sell as well as the Mini has which was a huge success for BMW here. The higher end Abarth models could bring a “boy racer” following to the car like in the Mini and they will get great gas mileage. In Texas though… I’m not as sure that it will be as big of a success when you get out of the big cities. We love our monster trucks and big V8 muscle cars here, and can you blame us?