2012 Silver Dodge Avenger R/T Official Photos and Info

This is a big year for the Dodge Avenger. Like many vehicles beneath the Chrysler umbrella, it starts 2011 with a wholly redesigned interior, as well as a new V-6. The 3.6-liter Pentastar, as the six-shooter is called, is a vast improvement over its predecessor. Its output of 283 hp is an increase of 20 percent, while the improvements in general power delivery and smoothness are nearly unquantifiable.
For 2012, that engine will power the Avenger R/T that is making its debut at the New York auto show. The R/T sees no uptick in output, nor does the calibration of the six-speed automatic transmission change. But the suspension is stiffened slightly all around. Roll stiffness increases 18 percent, while spring rates increase 17 percent up front and “more than 12 percent” (12.3 percent? 8000 percent?) in the rear. Damping rates increase 15 percent up front and “almost 20” out back. Additionally, the 21-mm rear anti-roll bar is 2 millimeters thicker than the regular car’s.
War and Paint
Aesthetic changes are minimal. The R/T gets a body-color grille, black headlight surrounds, unique 18-inch wheels, and Dodge’s “war paint” hash marks on the front fenders. The trunklid gets a spoiler and an R/T badge. The car gets a bit more of a makeover inside, where the bolstered leather seats have Z-stripe inserts and red stitching, as well as “R/T” embroidered in the front headrests. The driver grips a leather steering wheel with red accent stitching and faces a unique gauge cluster with a tach front and center—very important when driving an automatic.
Dodge isn’t quoting a price yet for the R/T, but figure on it being at the top of the Avenger lineup. Remote start and Dodge’s touch-screen-controlled Boston Acoustics stereo system will be among the standard equipment cribbed from the Lux model that previously sat atop the range. Pricing for that car starts around $24,000, so we expect the R/T to come in somewhere around $26,000 or so. While that’s into base Charger territory, the Avenger R/T will have a lot more personality than a stripped Charger. With 260 lb-ft routed to the front wheels, it also will have a lot more torque steer.
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2012 Silver Dodge Charger SRT8 Official Photos and Info

The Dodge Charger SRT8 is back.
Scheduled to go on sale later this year, the 2012 Charger SRT8 adopts the 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 that first debuted in the Challenger SRT8 392, here making an estimated 465 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers are 5 down from the Challenger in each category, but, uh, who cares? The previous Charger SRT8 had “just” 425 hp and 420 lb-ft from its 6.1-liter V-8.
The new Hemi’s intake features active air flaps that vary the ram length based on engine speed, and new variable cam timing increases the duration of the intake-valve opening with the goal of stuffing more air in the cylinder. Fuel economy, for what it’s worth, will be improved over that of the outgoing engine, although no figures have been revealed yet.
We clocked the old SRT8 from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, and that’s about where Chrysler pegs this new car’s abilities (in addition to a stated top speed of 175 mph). But we think it will be a little quicker than that: We estimate the car will cover a 0-to-60-mph sprint in 4.6 seconds, reach 100 mph in 11.0 seconds, and blast through the quarter-mile in 13 flat. Not bad for a four-door sedan that should weigh somewhere around 4350 pounds.
The rest of the SRT8 story may not be as mouth-watering as the engine, but it’s still pretty juicy. The five-speed automatic carries over from the last car, but this time it’s equipped with steering-wheel-mounted paddles to augment the side-to-side manumatic function of the gear selector.
The chassis has received plenty of attention, too, with a new pump for the hydraulic steering that Dodge says increases feel, as well as a standard two-mode adaptive suspension. The suspension interprets data such as steering angle and speed, vehicle speed, throttle position, and lateral acceleration to automatically vary shock stiffness. Besides the automatic setting, the driver can also select a Sport mode. Deceleration is handled by four-piston Brembo calipers, squeezing 14.2-inch front and 13.8-inch rear rotors. The brakes also incorporate a collision-anticipation function that tucks the pads snug against the rotors in anticipation of hot car-on-car (or car-on-object) action. A new underbody shield integrates brake ducting to mitigate brake fade.
Looking Pretty Good, Inside and Out
The aggressive new front end incorporates a blacked-out grille and center section, while the Hemi’s hat—the hood—is reshaped with a power bulge, air-exhaust vent, and 6.4-liter badging. There are new side sills, and the rear gets restyled, too, with the new fascia sandwiched by a spoiler up top and robust four-inch exhaust tips below. The fancy-pants, split-spoke 20-inch wheels are forged of aluminum. We think the car looks pretty damn good, and all the angry add-ons work well with the deep body-side scallop, which looks a bit overwrought on lesser Chargers.
The cabin gets its own touches, of course, most notably the flat-bottomed steering wheel—an SRT exclusive piece—and special trim for the IP and shifter surround. The seats, as before, have suede inserts and are aggressively bolstered, but this time around they’re heated and cooled as standard. Rear passengers, while they may not be able to see much out the gun-slit glass, will at least have toasty butts: they get seat heaters, too.

 by carmax

2013 Blue Dodge Viper

What it is: A two-seat super–sports car left for dead in the wake of Chrysler’s stay in Chapter 11 purgatory, exhumed by Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne. Styling is expected to echo elements of the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and Zagato’s Alfa Romeo TZ3 concept car. Dealers got to see a design study in September, but it remains shrouded in secrecy. Ralph Gilles, VP of design at Chrysler and CEO of the Dodge division, recently told an industry conference that the styling of the next Viper was inspired by a “naked woman on the beach.” This could be very, very good or—depending on which naked woman served as inspiration—less so.
Why it matters: C’mon—it’s a new Dodge Viper. Although actual Ferrari hardware is unlikely, the new Viper will have the benefit of Ferrari engineering and development.
Platform: Front-engine, rear-drive, extensive use of lightweight materials. Beyond that, who knows?
Powertrain: Speculation raises several possibilities, but the most frequent—and most likely—is a revised version of the 8.4-liter V-10 equipped with Fiat’s Multiair variable intake-valve timing system. Output could be as high as 700 horsepower if Chrysler/Fiat decides to challenge the ZR1 Corvette. If that’s the case, a more modestly priced version may be offered with Chrysler’s 6.4 Hemi V-8. The Viper likely will keep its six-speed manual gearbox.
Competition: Aston Martin V-8 Vantage, Audi R8, Chevrolet Corvette Z06/ZR1, Porsche 911 Turbo.
What might go wrong: Although a styling prototype exists, Marchionne and his Fiat cohorts may  yet decide that the Viper business case is untenable.

2012 Dodge Avenger R/T: First Look news and view picture

2012 Dodge Avenger R/T: First Look news and view picture
2012 Dodge Avenger R/T: First Look news and view picture
For 2012, Dodge will market an R/T version of its Avenger midsize sedan. The R/T name — apparently, the only trim-level designation Dodge thinks is worth keeping — will join the Express, Mainstreet and Lux, whose badges were minted for the updated 2011 model. Dodge considers R/T its performance designation. Though the SRT8 label represents even higher performance, we don't expect to see an SRT8 version of the embattled Avenger, one of the less enthusiastically received models among the Chrysler group's 2011 updates.
Though the R/T's firmer suspension and cosmetic upgrades might increase its appeal, its admittedly robust 283-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 is the same one offered as an option on the Mainstreet and Lux. Likewise, its 19/29 mpg city/highway is the same.
So, what has changed?

The spring and shock absorber rates are all greater, as is the size of the rear stabilizer bar. The grille is body colored, and the headlamps are darkened. A spoiler and 18-inch wheels are exclusive to the R/T. The interior gets a distinct instrument panel with a center tachometer, and the pedals have "SRT-inspired" pads. The heated seats get unique fabric with striped inserts, red stitching and more prominent bolsters. A red "R/T" is embroidered into the head restraints, and the perforated-leather steering wheel has red stitching, as well. A Boston Acoustics premium stereo and touch-screen controller are standard.

By Joe Wiesenfelder

2012 Dodge Avenger R/T: News review and view picture

2012 Dodge Avenger R/T: News review and view picture
For 2012, Dodge will market an R/T version of its Avenger midsize sedan. The R/T name — apparently, the only trim-level designation Dodge thinks is worth keeping — will join the Express, Mainstreet and Lux, whose badges were minted for the updated 2011 model. Dodge considers R/T its performance designation. Though the SRT8 label represents even higher performance, we don't expect to see an SRT8 version of the embattled Avenger, one of the less enthusiastically received models among the Chrysler group's 2011 updates.
Though the R/T's firmer suspension and cosmetic upgrades might increase its appeal, its admittedly robust 283-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 is the same one offered as an option on the Mainstreet and Lux. Likewise, its 19/29 mpg city/highway is the same.
So, what has changed?

The spring and shock absorber rates are all greater, as is the size of the rear stabilizer bar. The grille is body colored, and the headlamps are darkened. A spoiler and 18-inch wheels are exclusive to the R/T. The interior gets a distinct instrument panel with a center tachometer, and the pedals have "SRT-inspired" pads. The heated seats get unique fabric with striped inserts, red stitching and more prominent bolsters. A red "R/T" is embroidered into the head restraints, and the perforated-leather steering wheel has red stitching, as well. A Boston Acoustics premium stereo and touch-screen controller are standard.

By Joe Wiesenfelder