Challenger Blog

If you love the Dodge Challenger as much as we do, you HAVE to check out the Challenger Blog. Great information and technical specs. Here is their URL: http://www.challengerblog.com/
Enjoy and tell them Casebere Motor Sales sent you!

Chrysler Submits Plan to Build Electric Vehicles

AutoblogGreen.com
Chrysler has submitted a series of plans to the U.S. Department of Energy intended to speed up the development of plug-in hybrids and fully electric cars and trucks under the DOE's Transportation Electrification Initiative and Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiatives. Under the terms of these initiatives, Chrysler and the DOE would each pay half of a total investment of $448 million.

If approved, Chrysler says it will build a new-vehicle electrification technology and manufacturing center at an unnamed location in Michigan that would have the capacity to produce 20,000 vehicles per year. The initial programs would focus on building 100 plug-in hybrid versions of the Dodge Ram pickup truck along with 100 plug-in hybrid Chrysler Town & Country minivans. Further, 165 fully electric Town & Country cargo vans would be used by the U.S. Postal Service for daily mail service. Read the rest of the story with high resolution photos here: http://bit.ly/HnT99

Mother Proof Advice

Mother Proof offers advice on keeping your car clean and shiny, whether you have kids or not! Check out the great article here: http://bit.ly/BnRCZ

Casebere Motor Sales is proud to be a sponsor of RAMM Horse Fencing and Stalls Kenny Harlow's 2009 Training With Trust™ Tour
Venue: RAMM Horse Fencing and Stalls Research & Development Farm
Date: Friday May 29, 2009 - Wednesday June 3, 2009 http://bit.ly/9hBHv

Call Colleen at (434) 983-2221 to reserve your space or to participate!

Check out RAMM Horse Fencing and Stalls website here: http://www.rammfence.com Come on down to the event and check out the new Dodge Ram trucks! We look forward to seeing you there.

(click picture to enlarge)

Rumble on the Rocks!~CA

For all you 4x4 Extreme enthusiasts:

Hosted by The Gear Centre Group and Gears & Rears in the beautiful Okanagan Valley of British Colombia, on June 6th witness first-hand an annual battle like no other in Canada's extreme off-road industry. The competition will feature spectator friendly high speed rock races throughout the day promising carnage like you've never seen before. There are also guided trail tours on Sunday June 7th. Rumble On The Rocks is part of the Can-Rock Series of 4x4 events.

You still have time to register! You can check out their website here: http://bit.ly/UObhL

AutoPacific Survey Says Dodge Nitro and Jeep® Wrangler Owners Recommend Their Vehicles

Dodge Nitro wins Mid-Size Sport Utility segment Jeep Wrangler earns top honors in the Compact

SUV/Off-Road Vehicle category

Auburn Hills, Mich., May 12, 2009 -
Two Chrysler LLC vehicles are on AutoPacific’s survey of the most highly recommended vehicles. According to the survey released today, owners of the Dodge Nitro and the Jeep® Wrangler enjoyed their vehicles enough that they would recommend them to a friend or relative. “We are very pleased that the Dodge Nitro and the Jeep Wrangler have won high praise from their owners,” said Doug Betts, Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, Chrysler LLC. “As this study shows, owners who have confidence in their vehicles and are pleased with their ownership experience will share that message with those around them. This is further evidence that the huge improvements in quality which we have made in the last year have not gone unnoticed by our customers."
The Dodge Nitro was the top recommended vehicle in the Mid-Size Sport Utility segment. Since its introduction in 2007, the Dodge Nitro has ignited the mid-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) segment with its bold, aggressive styling and performance to match. Nitro offers all the mid-size SUV must-haves: space, functionality and flexibility.
The iconic Jeep Wrangler earned top honors in the Compact SUV/Off-Road Vehicle category. The two-door Wrangler is the brand icon, remaining true to its heritage as the original, extreme fun and freedom machine even after more than 65 years.
AutoPacific, an automotive marketing research and product-consulting firm which has provided automotive analysis to carmakers since 1986, based its findings on a just-completed comprehensive survey of more than 25,000 consumers who purchased or leased new cars or light trucks in the period from September to December 2008. AutoPacific’s research objectively measures owner recommendations with newly purchased or leased passenger cars or light trucks by ranking new owners’ responses to the question, “Would you recommend your new vehicle to a friend or relative?” Scores are based on the responses, ranging from “Yes, definitely,” “Yes, with reservations,” or “No.” About the Dodge Brand With a work-hard, play-hard attitude, the Dodge brand continues to offer a full line of cars, trucks, SUVs, commercial vehicles and a sales-leading, fifth-generation minivan in 2009. Dodge will soon add to its award-winning Ram lineup with the introduction of the all-new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 Heavy Duty and 3500 Chassis Cab.
Dodge introduced several new vehicles last year, including the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey, the 2009 Dodge Challenger and the 2009 Dodge Ram. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan-firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold, Chrysler LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in minivan value with more than 40 new or improved features from the previous generation, including unsurpassed 17 city / 25 highway mpg fuel economy. The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan is also the first minivan in the segment to feature the all-new Blind-Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path advance safety systems.
Also in 2008, the Dodge Journey entered key volume markets outside North America, joining the Dodge Avenger, Nitro and Caliber. Dodge Caliber was the highest sales volume vehicle for the company outside North America in 2008.
About the Jeep Brand Staying true to its strong values and character, the Jeep® brand is purpose-built for adventurous lifestyles. With 68 years of legendary 4x4 capability, the Jeep brand continues to fulfill promises of adventure, liberation and independence for those who truly embrace life, whether traveling on- or off-road. The ruggedness and responsiveness of Jeep vehicles provide owners with a sense of security to handle any situation with confidence. For 2009, the brand’s legendary Go Anywhere, Do Anything™ heritage is maintained with the addition of more interior refinement, comfort and technology in the widest range of sport-utility vehicles (SUV) under one brand. The Jeep product line includes the brand icon, the Jeep Wrangler; the four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited; the popular mid-size Jeep Liberty (Cherokee outside North America); the venerable Jeep Grand Cherokee; the seven-passenger Jeep Commander; and the Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass with all-new redesigned interiors and fuel economy of 28 mpg

Chrysler/Fiat vehicles in the U.S. will receive visual and engineering upgrades

The vehicles that will hit U.S. roads as a result of the Chrysler/Fiat alliance will need more than just visual upgrades. According to Jim Hall, an analyst from 2953 Analytics, with engineering upgrades to meet U.S. standards, it will take Chrysler/Fiat about 18 months to introduce vehicles on the stateside.

In its viability plan submitted to the U.S. Treasury in February, Chrysler said that six Fiat-based vehicles will come to the U.S. and will be sold as Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep models.
According to Automotive News, most of those models are expected to go on sale in 2012. Sources say that a group of 20 Fiat engineers were in Auburn Hills last week to start merging product developments.

Thanks to CarJake for their twitter!

Full-Size Truck Comparison: Chevy vs. Ford vs. Dodge vs. Toyota

From Edmunds Daily -
Mark Takahashi, Associate Editor

Back in early March, months of planning and logistics that could put NASA to shame came together in an incredibly in-depth comparison test of four popular full-sized trucks. The smackdown consisted of four tow-equipped, crew cab models: the Chevrolet Silverado LTZ 4WD Crew Cab, Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie 4WD Crew, Ford F-150 Lariat 4WD SuperCrew and Toyota Tundra SR5 4WD CrewMax.
The full story on Inside Line gave the overall win to the Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie, but as the story notes, the margin of victory to last place was incredibly slim. Some of the competitors excelled in certain areas but lagged in others, and we'd like to take the time to point out these traits for consumers that have a narrower focus on what they need from a truck. Keep in mind too, that some trucks offer options that may even-things up or possibly change the final rankings. For this exercise, we're comparing the models as they were delivered to us. Check out more of this great story here: http://bit.ly/15DtaL

The 2011 Jeep Phoenix… why not?

With Chrysler's alliance with Fiat an all but a done deal, people have begun turning their attention towards the Italian automaker's vehicle line up and creating a wish list of which ones they'd like to see for sale over here in the U.S. Thing is, people should keep in mind that any Fiat making the long trek overseas may not be badged a Fiat when it arrives. Before any Fiat sets foot on these shores, it may be transformed into a Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep model. And so we present you this, the 2011 Jeep Phoenix, a wish for what might be when Chrysler starts getting new vehicles from Fiat. The owner of this idea claims the Fiat Panda Cross 4x4 is an eminently suitable canvas on which to create a small, fuel efficient yet very capable Jeep. We've been hearing Europeans rave about it for some time. Let us know if you think the Panda could cut it as a Jeep.
Thanks to CarJake for this article.

2009 Dodge Ram:

By Connie Keane KEANE ON WHEELS
Dodge set out redefine the truck segment with the all-new 2009 Ram. The changes are from head to toe, inside and outside and have gotten noticed. For Dodge it’s a feather in their cap to be honored with “Interior of the Year” by Ward’s magazine. After all, the Dodge Ram is all about hard brawn and honest work performance for the “Git R Done” trucker. So to be recognized for building the most compelling interior in the truck segment shows how deep Dodge went when rethinking the entire Dodge Ram for the all-new 2009 model. The all-new Ram is the first model to come out of the automaker’s new Advance Interior Design Studio, which focused on craftsmanship for the 2009 truck with an emphasis in premium interior appointments, as well as seating with bolsters and twotone upholstery. In honoring the Ram with the Interior of the Year, Ward cites, “The saddle stitching on the seats and instrument panel make a wonderful styling statement, as do the upscale instrument gauges.” The all-new Ram has also been named by Consumer Guide magazine as a “Best Buy for 2009,” citing the truck’s “composed ride, impressively comfortable and quiet cabin and unique cargo storage features.” For example, the 2009 Dodge Ram pickup meets an unmet demand in the truck owner’s life: the ability to hold 240 cans of his favorite 12ounce beverages. Kidding aside (but it does hold that many cans), the new RamBox is a dry, lockable storage unit integrated into the sidewall of the pickup bed. Dodge truck development executives say the 2009 pickup features the RamBox to secure — and safely carry — the work and hobby possessions of tradesmen, craftsmen, sportsmen, fitness enthusiasts and outdoorsmen. The RamBox can carry fishing rods, golf clubs, kayak paddles, and of course tool boxes and chain saws. The RamBox features two storage bins that run the
length of the pickup bed and are weatherproof, lockable, drainable and illuminated.

VEHICLE TYPE: 5/6-passenger 4WD full-size pickup BASE PRICE: $34,850 (as tested: $47,330) ENGINE TYPE: 16-valve OHV V-8 Hemi w/SMPFI HORSEPOWER (net): 390 at 5600 rpm TORQUE (lb.-ft.): 407 at 4000 rpm TRANSMISSION: 5-speed automatic FUEL CAPACITY: 26 gal. EPA MILEAGE RATING: 13 mpg city, 18 mpg highway

Chrysler LLC: Corporate Website - Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Chrysler Financial, Mopar and GEM

Chrysler LLC: Corporate Website - Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Chrysler Financial, Mopar and GEM

Fiat considering new company to combine Chrysler and GM Europe

Apparently, Fiat's alliance with Chrysler is only the beginning. According to a variety of reports coming out of the UK and Germany, the Italian automaker's expansion plans aren't limited to its 20% stake in Chrysler Fiat is also considering acquiring General Motors' European operations, including Opel, Vauxhall and even Saab.

The result could be a new company that spins off Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo, along with Chrysler and GM Europe, into one corporate entity worth around $106 billion and rivaling Volkswagen to become the world's second largest automaker behind Toyota.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Fiat's CEO Sergio Marchionne said of the union, "From an engineering and industrial point of view, this is a marriage made in heaven" and with the full support of the automaker's board, Marchionne hopes to have the deal completed in May, with shares of the new company tentatively dubbed Fiat/Opel available by the end of the summer.
Marchionne believes that the alliance would make Fiat a stronger entity in the global marketplace during the economic downturn and through merging Fiat and Opel's B- and C-segment platforms, along with absorbing Opel's larger D-platform and Fiat's sub-compact A-segment offerings, could save around 1 billion euros each year.

Of course, Fiat and Marchionne have a long road ahead. German trade unions are opposed to the deal, citing concerns about job losses and factory closures, and according to the German magazine WirtschaftWoche, Fiat's initial offer of $1.33 billion to acquire GM's European operations was considered too small by the General.

Marchionne is scheduled to present Fiat's plan to an assortment of German leaders later today and expect more to follow over the coming weeks.

Thanks to CarJake.com for this update.

Driving the Mopar Underground's Latest Dodge Ram Project in Moab

By John Stewart
Photos by John Stewart, Chrysler
Every year for the past few years, Mopar Performance has brought a brace of customized off-road vehicles to share with thousands of off-road enthusiasts that jam Moab, Utah, for the annual gathering known as Easter Jeep Safari. The engineers who build them like to call themselves the Mopar Underground.
Usually, Mopar Underground creations are proof-of-concept vehicles, having been built by enthusiastic Jeep and Mopar engineers to illustrate an idea or a plan in the works. Almost always, they are within a few months or a year of becoming available to enthusiasts in some way, shape or form. Vehicles such as the first-generation Dodge SRT4 are products of the Mopar Underground initiative.
Jim Sassorossi, director of Global Parts Sales and Marketing for Mopar Parts, told us the Mopar team gets valuable insights by talking to its core customers “about their unmet needs.”
“We’re also here to debut new off-road performance parts that are being considered for release,” he said. More here: http://bit.ly/1P5DZS

Thanks to PickupTrucks.com for article found on Twitter!