Dodge
Dodge teases new compact car during Chicago Auto Show event
Dodge revealed a teaser sketch of a new compact car during a lunch event at the Chicago Auto Show. The sketch is made up by a three-door compact with an aggressive styling. This sketch points to a concept that should be revealed soon. This is not surprising since Fiat’s chief Sergio Marchionne revealed earlier that the group plans to add a range of compact cars into Chrysler-owned brands.
Dodge Viper bows out with more speed, new colours and limited editions
The Dodge Viper is truly one of the iconic cars of the past decade, but all good things have come to an end. Now under the control of Fiat, Dodge has annouced that 2010 will be the last model year for the Viper. And for a grand sendoff, the company is rolling out more performance, new colours and limited-edition models.
The Viper SRT10 is powered by a 8.4-litre V10 with 600bhp and 760Nm, enabling it to sprint to 100km/h from rest in less than 4 seconds, with a top speed of 325km/h. A new shorter fifth gear ratio benefits high-speed acceleration and straightline speed. The hardcore ACR (American Club Racer) model gets a new short throw shifter and aero tweaks for, yes, higher top speed as well!
Two new exterior colours – Toxic Orange Pearl Coat and Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat – joins the existing 10. With this, Dodge says that over 7,600 possible appearance combinations are possible for the final 500 or so Vipers that will roll out next year.
Several limited-edition models are planned for 2010, including the ACR 1:33 Edition, which pays tribute to the new production car lap record set on 24 November at Laguna Seca. It gets a two-tone black/red colour scheme, piano black console bezels with red gauge highlights and red stitching for the seats. Only 33 will be produced. Meanwhile, the Vooodoo-edition Viper ACR features a Black Clear Coat exterior with Graphite Driver’s Stripe outlined in red. Only 10 cars will be available with this unique striping on both exterior and steering wheel. Pricing and more special models will be announced later.
Dodge Circuit EV – An electric American muscle?
Chrysler is doing its part for the environment by working on a few electric vehicle projects of its own. With its ENVI electric vehicle technology, Chrysler revealed that it can initiate production of at least one electric vehicle model by 2010, and that it can produce three more models by 2013.
So far, five vehicle platforms with the ENVI technology are under development including; the Jeep Patriot EV, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EV, Chrysler Town & Country EV, Chrysler 200C EV Concept and the Dodge Circuit EV, which is what you see above.
At first glance, you will associate it in terms of the exterior design with the gas guzzling Dodge Viper, however, it is actually based on the Lotus Europa (in fact, it looks just like it!). The exterior design screams one term definite term; “sports car!”, with its distinctive Dodge cross hair grille on the front fascia, low hood, functional deep scallops on each side and its slopping rear end. The only thing you find missing is the exhaust tip.
This pollution free, fully electric rear wheel drive sports car receives power from a 268HP electric motor with regenerative braking. The electric motor on the other hand receives energy from a lithium ion battery pack.
This “Tangoreen” coloured 2-seater vehicle can deliver driving range between 150 to 200 miles. It is able to accelerate to 100 km/h in slightly less than 5 seconds and has a top speed of slightly more than 193 km/h. The potential rival to the Tesla Roadster, Fisker Karma S, Lampo Protoscar and probably Lotus’ very own electric sports car can be charged up via a standard household power outlet.
The interior of the Dodge Circuit is pretty much basic, staying true to its sport car nature with leather sports seats and two primary analog gauges which can indicate information about the electric drive system. I project that in about 10 to 15 years time, almost all auto manufacturers will have their very own production electric vehicles.
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