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Allpar
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Allpar's Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth news, covering cars, trucks, minivans, corporate changes, and some rumors and Allpar site news.
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2009 Challenger orders accepted?
An unconfirmed e-mail tells us that 2009 Challenger ordering is now open to dealers. We'll work on confirmation.
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No Chrysler clone of new Journey
Chrysler has cut a clone from its future plans. According to vice chairman James Press, the company has dropped plans to build a Chrysler-badged version of the new Journey crossover and will use the money to develop a new small car to be produced by Nissan.The decision highlights the automaker’s commitment to offer more fuel-efficient vehicles and reduce brand overlap in its product line. The downside is the decision will leave Chrysler with fewer new products for the 2009 model year, which analysts say could lead to further losses in market share.Tom LaSorda, Press’ opposite number for engineering, manufacturing and product development, said, "The bottom line is to shift the portfolio into mid- and small cars as fast as we can and balance the portfolio and the technology."Chrysler’s own efforts will continue to be focused on Project D, launched late last year to develop a new global mid-sized platform. According to LaSorda, Chrysler decided against working with Nissan on a mid-sized car because the Project D platform is seen as the core of Chrysler’s future product portfolio. According to the company, it will be flexible enough to support vehicles both larger and smaller than possible with the current platform used by the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger mid-size cars and the Dodge Journey crossover.."You need to have it where it can grow a little bit or shrink a little bit: similar to what others are doing," LaSorda noted.
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Saleen Challenger officially announced
Steve Saleen and his new company SMS introduced today the first product in his line of Signature Series ultra-high performance vehicles, the SMS 570TM Challenger and SMS 570XTM Challenger.As a professional racecar driver and innovative businessman, Mr. Saleen is well known as the founder of a number of Steve Saleen brands including Saleen Autosport, Saleen Productions, Saleen Speedlab, Saleen Performance, Saleen, Inc. and now SMS. Mr. Saleen‘s latest endeavor will focus on the expansion into the high-end of the diverse American Muscle Car markets.The fully certified and street legal SMS 570TM Challenger and SMS 570XTM Challenger will be based on the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T and will feature a SMS Supercharged 5.7L Hemi with respective power ratings from 500 to over 700 horsepower. Both models are equipped with SMS high performance components including drivetrain, suspension, aerodynamics, tires, wheels and interior.“The horsepower and torque that we are developing from the SMS Supercharged Hemi is phenomenal” said Billy Tally, SMS Chief Technical Officer, “combined with suspension and braking improvements our SMS Challenger will be an incredibly capable, refined and tractable vehicle”. Each of these limited edition vehicles will be personally signed by Steve Saleen as part of the SMS Signature Series product line complete with unique badges and graphics. Production numbers will be limited per year depending on the model and the opportunity to be one of the few owners is limited to a first-come, first-served basis.
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Challenger draws attention from border protection officials
Chrysler’s newest muscle car created its first traffic jam as it drew lots of attention from U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials this week.Reid Bigland, CEO of Chrysler Canada, was driving one of the new Dodge Challenger SRT8s through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and stopped at the border checkpoint where the car was surrounded by three customs officers. Turns out they weren’t worried about terrorists or contraband; they wanted to get a good look at the new Hemi-powered coupe. In the process, traffic was backed up for an hour."They checked out everything but my ID," Bigland said later.
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Team Mopar on SpeedFreaks this Sunday
Late night on Mother’s Day, Team Mopar drivers Kasey Kahne, Brady Bacon, Gary Scelzi, Allen Johnson, Jack Beckman, Samuel Hübinette, Shaun Carlson and Brian Collins will be featured on SpeedFreaks, America’s top motorsports radio show. On Sunday, May 11, from 10 p.m. to midnight EDT (7 to 9 p.m. PDT), the drivers will make in-studio appearances as well as call in with the SpeedFreaks trio of Kenny Sargent, Crash Gladys and Statt Mann Caruthers.In the first hour, the SpeedFreaks will feature NHRA Funny Car driver Jack Beckman as their in-studio guest. Beckman, who drives for Don Schumacher Racing, has one win this year and is currently eighth in the points battle. NASCAR standout Kasey Kahne, a Team Mopar USAC owner, will make a call-in appearance in the first hour. Kahne will be joined by 18-year-old Brady Bacon, a driver for Kasey’s USAC team. Bacon is currently second in the USAC Sprint Series points standings. The second hour will feature two-time Formula Drift champion Samuel Hübinette and his team owner, Shaun Carlson, in the studio. On the phone will be four-time NHRA champion Gary Scelzi and NHRA Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson. Johnson is currently fifth in the Pro Stock points as he goes into next weekend’s O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, which is Johnson’s home track. Look for another call-in, this time from Team Mopar newcomer Brian Collins, who racked up back-to-back wins at the SCORE San Felipe 250 and the SNORE Mint 400. Collins and his No. 12 Dodge Ram 1500 are preparing for the upcoming Tecate SCORE Baja 500 which gets underway on May 31. SpeedFreaks radio show is heard on over 70 stations nationwide, SIRIUS Satellite channel 122, the Armed Forces Network and live on the Internet at www.sportsbyline.com. Listeners can call in to 1-86-69-FREAKS.
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