Dodge Journey

Posted on 08.5.2013 14:00 by Kirby Garlitos

Dodge's attempt to re-inject some life to the Journey looks to have paid off with the 2013 model. Although that's not much of a stretch, given the mediocrity that plagued its past iterations, you have to give credit to Dodge for giving the Journey all the necessary tools - and then some - to be able to properly compete against a competitive market segment.

So, yeah, the 2013 Journey is a lot better than its past namesakes and while it still can't be considered a "class-leader," it's made huge enough strides to be treated with respect and attention.

The 2013 Journey's reasonably sporty feel, combined with impressive looks and refined interior makes it an SUV worth your time and money. And, oh by the way, it now comes with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine that produces arguably one of the highest outputs of any SUV in its class.

For those looking to have a family-friendly SUV with a hidden thirst for power lurking underneath, the 2013 Journey is as good a choice as any.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2013 Dodge Journey

Dodge Journey originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 5 August 2013 14:00 EST.

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2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Configurator Goes Live

There was a lot of panic when rumors about Dodge planning to produce only 1,200 units of its impressive Challenger Hellcat SRT a year surfaced. Fortunately, Chrysler was quick to deny it, leaving the HEMI-powered Hellcat available to just about anyone. Well, anyone who's willing to part with $60,990 for a muscle car, that is! If the Hellcat is on your to-buy list this fall, then it's time you start building it, as Dodge has just fired up the car's online configurator.

As expected, the Hellcat is far from being a Mini Cooper as far as personalization is concerned, but there is a handful of exterior colors and options you can choose from. As far as exterior extras go, Dodge offers a set of 275/40ZR20 summer performance tires for $395, a power sunroof for $1,195, and a Satin Black aluminum hood with functional vents for $995. Inside, buyers have to come up with $695 for a Uconnect system that has more than just AM/FM radio and Bluetooth connectivity. A set of red seat belts will set you back $95, while premium Laguna leather seats will fetch an extra $1,795.

Only two options are available in the drivetrain department. If you're not into shifting your own gears, the standard six-speed manual can be replaced by the available TorqueFlite, eight-speed automatic. The unit costs $1,995. The second option is an engine block heater priced at $95. Dodge also offers plenty of exterior and interior color options. Read on to find out more about that.

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Configurator Goes Live originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 11 September 2014 08:00 EST.

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Dodge Charger

Introduced in 2005 for the 2006 model year, the Dodge Charger was in dire need of a facelift. We already knew Chrysler was working on a refreshed four-door muscle car for the 2015 model year, but the big question was when will we see it? Well, the Detroit-based company has confirmed that the 2015 Charger will be showing its facelifted body and underpinning at the New York Auto Show next week, also releasing a teaser in the process.

Dodge refrained from going into specifics, but said the new Charger has received "a full-body makeover with nearly every single body panel being resculpted." This can only mean one thing, the sedan will get more than just a mild facelift, and the adjacent photo showing the vehicles new front grille and headlamps comes to back that claim.

No longer embedded in a front bumper that goes all the way up to the hood, the crosshair grille is now narrower and previews a sleeker look. The redesigned headlamps are also smaller and slimmer, with LED daytime running lights integrated above and below the main bulb.

No longer rounded above the grille, the new hood extends a bit above the headlights in an attempt to bring the looks of the early 1970s Charger into the 21st century. The teaser shows the new blacked-out grille continues into the upper part of the redesigned bumper, but that's about all we get so far.

There's big news under the hood as well, where a much-rumored supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine will be dropped in for some serious power. Word has it the new mill, reportedly dubbed "Hellcat", will pump out at least 640 horsepower. Of course, the 2015 Charger will also be available with updated versions of the existing units, which include the 3.6-liter, Pentastar V-6; the 5.7-liter, Hemi V-8; and the naturally-aspirated, 6.4-liter V-8.

Stay tuned to TopSpeed for more details on the 2015 Charger and Challenger from the New York Auto Show. We'll be back to report it as soon as Dodge spills the beans.

Updated 04/14/2014: Ahead of its debut in New York, we've created a quick rendering of what we think the upcoming Charger will look like.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Dodge Charger.

Dodge Charger originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 14 April 2014 09:15 EST.

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Dodge Charger Pursuit

Posted on 10.1.2013 14:00 by Tom Burkart

The latest Dodge Charger Pursuit just spanked its two arch-rivals in another high-speed test session by the Michigan State Police, whose data and recommendations are highly regarded in the law enforcement community. And can you blame them for choosing the only model running a Hemi V-8 to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic?

You read that right. The latest Charger is not only on the police order books as a rear-drive V-6 and V-8, but now also with the V-8 to all four wheels.

This is big news because it effectively makes the Charger Pursuit as one of the fastest cars on American highways - year round. With a powertrain and seamless AWD system offered for the V-8, the Charger is hotter than ever below its menacing panels.

No big changes outside since the 2012 refresh brought and updated nose and the full LED racetrack of brake lights in back. Even so, the numerous combinations of police-ready trims are enough to make even a grown man tinkle himself a little when viewed in the rearview mirror.

Such a mean grille surely lets any driver know that a big ticket is coming. Why? The Charger is most popular among money-generating State Highway Patrols versus the boring Tahoe and Taurus Interceptor PPV's run by suburban mall cops.

The big Charger Pursuit in your rearview means no chance of escape. The old Pursuit Hemi was able to char the freeways at 160 mph-plus top speed, with a 60 mph sprint now projected to be as low as 5.7 seconds for the AWD Hemi.

What red-blooded cop would turn down this as a daily driver?

Click past the jump for the full review of the 2014 Dodge Charger Pursuit, with details on its newly-available AWD on the potent Hemi V-8.

Dodge Charger Pursuit originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 1 October 2013 14:00 EST.

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Dodge Charger SRT

Posted on 09.10.2013 18:00 by TomBurkart

A few significant updates mark out the 2014 Dodge Charger SRT, but boy are they hard to find in this old-looking package. An active air intake and modified lifters join new adaptive dampers and finally some wheel-mounted paddles for the aging AutoStick transmission.

The 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 now brings a round 470 count for both horsepower and torque, with a new SRT badge to replace the previous SRT8 labels. This change extends across the entire Chrysler lineup for 2014, where the SRT Grand Cherokee is the first to use a high-torque version of the company's new ZF transmission.

The Charger SRT carries on with the older five-speed automatic, which is one of the only automatic transmissions from any automaker that can send nearly 500 horsepower to just the back wheels. Worth remembering is that this exact automatic is also a fixture on the SL65 AMG and a few other torque monsters, despite lacking a few gear ratios versus Mercedes' new nine-speed auto.

Active cruise control and a few other safety innovations join the Charger SRT for 2014, as does the Super Bee package in a variety of yellow or non-yellow colors. The Super Bee lacks much of the style and tech available on the SRT Premium, which is now a de facto 392 Core with available xenon lights and active mufflers that are not offered on the Super Bee.

Are paddle shifters and the active intake enough to keep the Charger SRT fighting fit versus the Taurus SHO and the forthcoming Chevrolet SS?

Click past the jump for more info on the 2014 Dodge Charger SRT, with info on all its tech and performance updates.

Dodge Charger SRT originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 10 September 2013 18:00 EST.

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