This summer offers plenty of options from Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep for fun on the road and off. Today's best options are in the sports, luxury, and sports utility classes, so there's something for every occasion. Here are the most exciting vehicles you can drive from Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep this summer:

     Dodge Challenger

This beautiful powerhouse holds true to its high style, performance-based pony car roots. For the speedster in all of us, the 2011 Challenger packs up to 470 HP, powered by a massive HEMI V8, and all wrapped up in a body that perfectly blends the style of the past with the efficiency of the future.

     Chrysler 300

The 300 is truly the automobile for the man of leisure. Its interior provides luxurious and spacious comfort. Outside features a powerfully stylish and imposing aesthetic. Under the hood lies a beautifully responsive 363 horse power V8 that will get you where you want to go as quickly as you want to get there.

     Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

When action and adventure are what you're seeking, Jeep is always the brand to look to. In a Wrangler Unlimited, friends and families can enjoy the 4x4 legacy of the Jeep brand, crossing any terrain with ease, taking in the view through oversized windows, or enjoying the breeze with no windows at all.

If you want to have some real fun behind the wheel this summer, then stop by Londonderry Chrysler Dodge Jeep to test drive one of these machines before you buy or lease. Call (780) 473-6388 today and ask one of our friendly sales professionals about financing options, and visit our website to check out our inventory.

Ram trucks are famously reliable and undeniably powerful. They are also incredibly comfortable and a pleasure to drive. All Dodge Rams are excellent, so what makes the Laramie Longhorn special? The Dodge Ram Laramie Longhorn has all of the usual advantages of a great Dodge truck, with the added bonus of being luxuriously trimmed and packed with features. Here are some of the things that make the Laramie Longhorn the ultimate Dodge truck:

     Power

The Laramie Longhorn is built on a strong Dodge Ram base with the famously powerful HEMI V8 or Cummins Turbo Diesel engine under the hood. Available as a 1500, 2500, or 3500, the Longhorn's 407 ft-lbs of torque will handle any task you throw at it.

     Style

If you didn't know better, then you might think the Laramie Longhorn looks too good to be a practical pickup. The clean and classic two-toned paint schemes, painted bumpers, running boards, and optional Mopar accessories make this beast a real beauty.

     Comfort

This Dodge is enveloped with supple leather, from the seats to the heated steering wheel and shifter knob. The spacious cabin offers dual climate control, front reading lights, and an exquisitely trimmed dash that blends Old West aesthetics with modern functionality and comfort.

     Entertainment and Navigation

The Laramie Longhorn is loaded with features like a 10-speaker Alpine sound system and in-dash CD/DVD player with an auxiliary input for your mp3 player. This luxury truck also comes with a hard drive-based navigation system and Bluetooth capabilities for hands-free phone calls.

If you want to feel the power and beauty of this award winning Dodge truck, then come to Londonderry Chrysler Jeep Dodge and for a test drive. Call (780) 473-6388 today and ask about our financing options. If the ultimate Dodge truck isn't quite your style, then check out our other vehicles on our website.

Chrysler refines SRT's power in new lineup

High-end interiors aim for brand appeal beyond the racetrack

Rosamond, Calif. Welcome to SRT 2.0.

Chrysler Group LLC's newest brand ? the performance-oriented Street and Racing Technology ? has a different look, a new feel and a whole lot of power.

SRT vehicles have matured from gutsy, powerful machines ready for weekend track days to cars with high-end interiors, world-class stereos and generally good rides on the highway, in the city, and of course, on the track.

These vehicles will take you to the opera in record time on Friday night and then handle the track Saturday. They're so fast, you won't even have to wait until Sunday to start praying. I found that approaching a hard left turn somewhere around 124 mph was enough for me to scream out His name.

These are all very livable vehicles, says Ralph Gilles, SRT's brand   president and top designer at Chrysler Group, at an event this week to   test-drive the SRT lineup.

Chrysler recently made SRT a stand-alone brand after years of using SRT to designate a performance trim level.

The current SRT family, which includes the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8, the   Dodge Charger SRT8, Challenger SRT8 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, comes with fine-dining road manners, but under each hood is a 470-horsepower 6.4-liter Hemi V-8.

It's this split personality that makes them so appealing and opens them up to a whole new set of customers.

In the past, SRT was more of an amalgamation of vehicles, all sharing   enhanced performance but lacking those final finishing features. Oh, those SRTs could go fast, and there was a wildness about them that was fun. But they were not something you'd take home to the family.

Now, these vehicles should have a much wider appeal.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 can legitimately contend with the much more expensive Range Rover Sport and BMW X5. The Charger SRT8 can take on the likes of the BMW 5 Series M and the 300 SRT8 can go toe-to-toe with luxury performance sedans.

Big engines, souped-up suspensions and giant brakes are only part of any vehicle. Performance is essential, but it's not the only thing. It needs the real carbon fiber trim along the dash and the 19-speaker Logic 7 Surround Sound System by Harman Kardon that sounds just as good playing Vivaldi as it does Van Halen.

It also needs to be profitable.

SRT has always made money, Gilles says.

Since its inception in 1992 with the introduction of the Dodge Viper, SRT has sold more than 145,000 vehicles. Last year, there was only one SRT model, the Challenger SRT8. But through it all, there remained a loyal   customer base.

Enthusiasts are still alive and well, Gilles says.

While these high-performance vehicles will fall under one brand umbrella, they also have to represent the individual brands from which they were   derived, a difficult task but something each new model does with a deft   touch of power and sophistication.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is an extension of the Jeep brand that pushes the limits of its capabilities, says Jim Morrison, head of Jeep marketing.

It's a dual role for certain, but something these vehicles seem to relish.

SRT will have to stretch the limits of each of Chrysler's core brands while   also captivating ? and capturing ? the different type of enthusiasts who might want it.

Meanwhile, Gilles says he will work to create a community of exclusive SRT owners.

We're not going to launch and leave, he says. This is a loyal customer base that we want to develop but keep exclusive.

Gilles and the SRT team will get some help next year, of course, when the next SRT vehicle arrives: The much-anticipated Dodge Viper SRT, a flagship with really sharp teeth.

Chrysler Canada Reports Sales Increase of 27 per cent for June 2011 

• Total sales up 27 per cent year over year
   
• 19 months of consecutive sales growth
   
• All-time sales record for Jeep Wrangler
   
• June sales records for Ram truck, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Journey and Chrysler Town & Country
   
• Chrysler minivan wins J.D. Power Top Quality Award
   
• 2 of the Top 3 best-selling vehicles in Canada for 2011 are Dodge Grand Caravan (#2) and Ram truck (#3) 
 

Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Challenger Earn Segment Awards for Initial Quality From J.D. Power and Associates

 

   
• 2011 Chrysler Town & Country ranks highest in initial quality for minivan segment

  

   
• 2011 Dodge Challenger earns top spot in mid-size sporty car segment

  

   
• Five Chrysler Group vehicles rank third or better in their segments for initial quality
 

Like the current Mustang, Camaro and Challenger, the 2011 Dodge  Charger has returned to its muscle-car roots for styling inspiration.  The Chargers of the late 1960s and early '70s are favourites with classic car enthusiasts, having been immortalized in the TV series, "The Dukes of Hazzard" and in one of Hollywood's most famous car chases in the movie "Bullitt".

Some of the '60s era styling features appearing on the restyled 2011 Charger include a rear tail light assembly that stretches across the entire width of the car, similar to the original 1966 Charger fastback;  twin fake air vents in the hood and an inset rear window with "flying buttresses" that recall the second generation 1968 Charger; and sweeping bodyside indentations that are a throwback to the 1970 model.

It's too bad Chrysler didn't throw in the 1969 Charger's wide split grille with hideaway headlights, but I guess Dodge is committed to its corporate "cross-hair" grille design that pervades all Dodge cars at the moment.

2011 Dodge Charger R/T AWD.

For 2011, that grille protrudes further forward than the headlights which are now recessed, giving the Charger a more aggressive look.    Combined with a rear deck spoiler, standard 19-inch tires and alloy wheels, dual chrome tailpipes, and "Toxic Orange Pearl Coat" paint, this week's test Charger R/T AWD is a very sporty looking full-size sedan.

If the producers of the Dukes of Hazzard ever decide to do a remake, the next generation "General Lee" is ready to fly!

There have been changes under the hood, too. For 2011, a new   3.6-litre DOHC 24-valve V6 engine replaces both the 2.7-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 that were offered in 2010. The 3.6 puts out more   horsepower and torque than either of those engines: 292 horsepower at   6,350 r.p.m. and 260 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,800 r.p.m., and is standard in the Charger SE ($29,995), SXT ($31,995), and SXT Plus ($33,995).  The V6 is mated to a standard five-speed automatic transmission.

The top-of-the-line Charger R/T includes the famous 5.7-litre Hemi   overhead valve V8 engine that, in this case, pumps out 370 horsepower at 5,350 r.p.m. and 395 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 r.p.m. ? and includes Chrysler's MDS cylinder deactivation system that automatically deactivates four of the eight cylinders under light load to help save fuel.The R/T comes with a standard five-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode, 19-inch tires, performance suspension, and HID head lights.The Charger R/T model starts at $37,995.

2011 Dodge Charger R/T AWD.

A meaner-looking R/T "Road and Track" model, $38,995, adds 20-inch   tires and chrome alloys, a satin black grille and surrounding trim,   performance exhaust, high-speed engine controller, and 3.06 rear axle ratio.

But the subject of this review is the R/T AWD, $39,995, which comes with everything in the regular R/T model plus a full-time all-wheel drive system that is rear-biased, meaning that it's a rear-wheel drive car that transfers torque to the front wheels automatically via a centre differential when needed.  Under ideal conditions, it can completely disconnect from the front wheels to help save fuel.

Our test car came with $3,375 worth of options, including a premium 506-watt, nine-speaker sound system, power tilt/telescoping heated steering wheel, power pedals, navigation system, UConnect Touch, rear parking sensors and rear-view camera, blind spot and cross-path detection, and adaptive cruise control with collision warning. With a $1,400 Freight charge and $100 a/c tax, the as-tested price came to $44,870.

By the way, the high-performance Charger SRT8 with the 6.1-litre Hemi V8 was discontinued this year but is expected to return for 2012.

Driving impressions

While a full-size sedan based on a rear-drive chassis might seem out   of step with the times, most large luxury cars still use rear-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive system based on a rear-drive chassis.The reason is that a rear-drive chassis is generally better balanced because of its even distribution of vehicle weight front to rear, which improves ride, handling and braking stability.

Elana Scherr is an automotive PR professional who resides in Los Angles. Her daily responsibilities include developing and initiating strategic communication programs at Kahn Media for host of clients including major players in the high-performance aftermarket business. However, this attractive 33 year doesn't sit behind a desk all day working on power point presentations and crafting press releases. On the contrary, Elana can be found mixing it up with the boys at the drag strips and autocross tracks throughout the southwest in her big-block powered 1970 Dodge Challenger.

She had been driving her Challenger for about three years when she applied for a position at Kahn Media. The folks there were quite impressed with her hands-on knowledge and passion for cars. The funny thing is, the interview went from the office to the parking lot where she showed Mr. Kahn her Challenge. To this day Elana joking claims "Mr. Kahn hired the car instead of me!"

As Elana puts it, "working at Kahn Media is a blast. I get to write about cars, hang out with car people and attend lots of racing and automotive events. Along with drag racing, I've been learning autocross. It's really a good feeling to see people's mouths drop open when a big muscle car takes a turn at speed."

Elana's Challenger is no show poodle or full blown racer car that has to be strapped down on a trailer to get to events. Instead, this is her daily driver that has been updated to deal with commuting in the 21st century. It also makes frequent visits to all kinds of racing venues and therefore she added new technology to improve the car's street and race behavior. Elana updated the cooling system, brakes and suspension. Things like a Firm Feel Stage II steering box makes the 3800 lb. E-Body easier to maneuver and theHotchkis Sport Suspension TVS kit makes the Challenger handle more nimble on the street and on autocross tracks. What's nice about these modifications is they don't detract from the Challenger's already gorgeous lines and appearance. That's another reason why Elana runs the era correct factory 15X7 Rallye wheels with BF Goodrich rubber on all four corners. She also wanted the car to look "low key" and therefore kept the factory flat hood and refrained from cloning into some high-impact colored, shaker hood wearing, bumble bee striped R/T poser.

Under the hood, a very mild 440 Magnum resides in place of the original 318. It received subtle upgrades such an Edelbrock dual-plane intake, Holley 750 CFM carburetor, MSD ignition and TTI headers. Not only do these enhancements improve the horsepower and torque, but also help make it tolerate the 92 octane unleaded pump gas. The venerable Wedge is hooked up to a 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission and the factory 8 ¾ axle spins a 3.91 ratio.  This combination has propelled Elana's Challenger to a 12.42 ET at almost 109 mph in the quarter mile

Both the car and the engine have fairly detailed histories. Elana purchased the Challenger from the original owner, who had bought it for his wife and used it to tow their boat. The engine in the car is a re-ring originally out of a Chrysler New Yorker. When putting the 440 back together, she met her future boyfriend Tom Yeager and he agreed to help reassemble the engine on a stand in her living room. "I guess that made him think I was somewhat appealing" laughs Elana! The 440 has served her well as it has been in two different Challengers and still retains the stock cam with over 100,000 miles on it.

With numerous road trips to Las Vegas and San Francisco along with the daily grind of the LA freeway systems, the paint on Challenger is not perfect and the body has a few nasty parking lot bruises but the pleasure of driving the car far outweighs the negatives. After all, she built it once and can do it again and that's why Dodge Girls have more fun!

• 'Golden Target' award and first place ? 'Automotive Over $500 per Thousand' award to 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee's direct-mail entry
• First place award ? 'Automotive Under $500 per Thousand' to Mopar® service magazines
   

Marchionne is steady behind wheel

Next time Washington is in the market for someone to save a Detroit automaker, it could do worse than dialing 1-800-Sergio.

In little more than two years and with an equity investment so far of zero, the CEO of Fiat SpA is cementing control of Chrysler Group LLC by crafting the integrated global player that über-CEOs Jürgen Schrempp and Dieter Zetsche promised to deliver. But they failed miserably, lost big money and quit.

Not Sergio Marchionne, CEO of both Fiat and Chrysler, at least not so far. Today the Italian automaker is expected to announce a complex transaction that would repay the remaining $7 billion Chrysler owes the federal government for its bailout and give Fiat a majority stake in Chrysler for less than $1.3 billion in cash.

Winning! Where the Germans spurned integration with their vassals in Auburn Hills, the Canadian-reared Marchionne is embracing the best of Chrysler, fixing what's broken and melding its strongest parts with Fiat ? partly in the service of Fiat, which was the point all along.

Chrysler, for the first time in a more than a decade, gets the prospect of a future with a partner that actually wants to be its partner. And Marchionne, a plainspoken iconoclast simultaneously reshaping two companies on two continents, gets a lot for his comparatively minimal equity investment:

His global distribution network, expanded by valuable Chrysler outlets spanning the United States and Canada, offers ready-made sales channels to relaunch Fiat and Alfa Romeo brand vehicles in North America. Chrysler's manufacturing operations provide a hedge against costly production in Europe, chiefly in Italy itself.

He now controls what is arguably the most desired and well-known SUV brand in the world ? Jeep ? a name synonymous with rugged off-road capability. And, in a way the Germans never would, Marchionne stands to reap the economies of scale from an evolution in global engineering operations that should reduce purchasing costs, simplify product programs and improve base technologies.

Not bad for a guy who persuaded the Obama White House and its Treasury Department auto task force to effectively pay him billions of dollars to save tens of thousands of jobs, secure pensions and rescue Chrysler communities from the industrial scrap left by the global financial meltdown of 2008.

U.S. sales of Chrysler group products, including Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep vehicles, rose 23 percent in the first quarter of this year over the same time last year. Ram is up 38 percent and Jeep, armed with a new Grand Cherokee, is up 34 percent, Fiat said Wednesday. Sales in March equaled the best single month since May 2008 and the 12th consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases.

Time to declare victory? Hardly, considering spiking gas prices, sovereign debt fears in the United States and Europe and the budget wrangling that makes Washington look more like a Keystone Kops routine than anything that could remotely pass for leadership.

Marchionne and his team still need to convince would-be investors to buy debt that would be used to repay the feds. They still need to maintain sales momentum, fatten the bottom line and show that integrating Fiat, Alfa and Chrysler Group brands makes more automotive sense than it might appear at first (and second) glance.

Still, there are lessons here, as well as stains that cannot be expunged no matter how hard insiders try to spin it. The stains? That the feds forced Chrysler's secured bondholders to accept a deal they otherwise wouldn't have been forced to accept in a traditional bankruptcy. And, second, that a driver behind the bailout was saving the United Auto Workers' claims against Chrysler ? to the detriment of bondholders.

The lessons? That smart management shaping a defensible and deliverable business plan matters more than Old Detroit was ever willing to admit, much less actually do. Second, that automakers given up for dead ? starting with Chrysler ? possessed brands, operations and technical capability worth saving.

As positive as Chrysler's revival under Italian owners is for Metro Detroit, communities around the country and the Obama administration's decision to back a bailout, others won't see it that way. That's OK, because it can be hard to admit being wrong.

Posted April 25th, 2011 - by Mike Blackmore

 









Tough Hard Worker - LEGENDARY INNOVATION
RAM 1500

Here is where it all comes together . To do the job right means you're working smart.
It demands that you come prepared - with the strength experience, and guts to lead the way.
And when your world demands a truck, it means Ram 1500. This is where a sculpted exterior
delivers Best-In-Class aerodynamics that are good, they actually help improve fuel efficiency
and the quietness fo the ride. This is where you'll find a class-exclusive five-link coil spring 
rear suspension that provides exceptional comfort with no compromise in capability. 
And this is where you'll find the innovation that seperates Ram from the other players. In power,
it takes the form of an available 5.7-litre HEMI V8 that oes beyond payload and towing. For this
power plant comes with two innovative technologies - the intelligent Fuelsaver MDS Technology, which
transforms this mighty 8-cylinder onto a fuel-sipping 4-cylinder, and Variable Valve Timing (VVT) to
multiply the efficiency and performance factors. Innovation in storage totally works in Ram Crew cab,
which broke new ground with the available and still class-exclusive RamBox Cargo Management System
and it's standard rear in-floor storage. Get the big picture at Londonderrydodge.com

You deserve this Ride! 
EXPECT  YOUR FRIENDS TO COUNT ON YOU - AND YOUR RAM 1500.

It's built for the independent lifestyle - but your Ram 1500 is eager to get hitched up, offering a vary 
impressive towing capacity up to 4740 kg ( 10, 450lb) when properly equipped. And while providing 
nearly 5 tonnes of pulling power is a formidable number, this Ram is the real deal.

To View the complete 2011 Ram Truck lineup visit us at Londonderrydodge.com for details.

Till next time -