Accelerate Mpls

Episode 26 starts with introducing this weeks guests Mirko Reinhardt and Nick Fay.  Moving into the garage we talk about both the EVOMS Porsche 997.2 TT and 2010 Dodge Charger SRT8 I was in for the past weeks along with the Porsche Boxster Nick drove.  Last but not least we discuss the Tesla Roadster Sport I drove.  We then move along to the major news of the week segment.  This week included-

• Jeep Product Onslaught
• Chrysler to leave the European market
• Buick Dropping trim levels and adding three models
• Chrysler Sebring Name to Stick Around For Now

Next came our main topic which we have a discussion about the differences between American driving and European driving and the overall differences in car culture.

Last we plug our respective blogs, Cheers and Gears,  AutoBird Blog and Accelerate Mpls.

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It is now being reported that the Chrysler Sebring name plate will indeed stick around a bit longer.  It was rumored for sometime now that the refreshed sedan would hit the roads with a new name plate.  Apparently the cost with launching an new name was estimated to be around $100 million.  That number made the executives at the head quarters in Auburn Hills decided that is a lot of coin (duh).  So the new plan seems to refresh the sedan with the current name plate.  When a completely new car comes to replace the Sebring they will more then likely replace the name with either 200C or Nassau.

Source- The Detroit Bureau

Episode 22 starts by introducing our newest member to the AutoBird Podcast team, Justin Loyear joining us from Cheers and Gears.  Moving into the garage we talk about the Buick Enclave I was in for the past week.  We then move along to the major news of the week segment.  This week included-

• Hyundai Hands Equus Owners iPad Instead of Car Manual/ Hyundai Plans Revamped Dealership Experience for Equus Customers
• Mazda Sky Engines Promise Diesel in 2012/ Mazda licenses Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive
• March Sales numbers: Toyota way up

Next came our main topics which their were quite a few but they all centered on the New York Auto Show.  This week the topics included discussion on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid & Sonata Turbo, 2011 Kia Optima/Forte Hatch/Sportage, Scions, 2011 Nissan Juke, Chevrolet Cruze Eco and RS, 2011 Hyundai Equus, and last but certainly not least the 2011 Infiniti QX56.

Last we discuss the past week on our respective blogs, Cheers and Gears,  AutoBird Blog and Accelerate Mpls.  The week in review included- my updated  Name That Car: Sebring or 200C, Innovative Ford Fiesta Movement Campaign Stirs Interest, and Name That Car: Dodge Durango or Magnum.  Justin had a post on the March sales numbers along with a short recap of the New York Auto Show.  Colin had posts on Top 20 Vehicles in March and a post about Craigslist Confessionals by the one and only William Maley.

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Episode 21 starts by introducing this weeks guest, Justin Loyear joining us from Cheers and Gears.  Justin kicked us off by telling us a little about himself along with Cheers and Gears.  Moving into the garage Justin had a Camaro SS recently which  he discussed and I talk about the Silverado 1500 I was in for the past week.  We then move along to the major news of the week segment.  This week included-

• GM EN-V
• 2011 Chrysler Sebring 200C
• Volvo Killing Wagons/V8 Sedans?

We then proceed to the clip of the week segment.  This week we featured Chryslers new heavy-duty Ram ads.

We continued with our newer section called tweetmeme.  This week we focused on the leaked photos of the upcoming 2012 Ford Explorer.

Next came our main topics.  This week the topics included discussion on the future direction for Cadillac and the possible partnership between Daimler and Renault-Nissan.

Last but certainly not least, we discuss the past week on both of our respective blogs, AutoBird Blog and AccelerateMpls.  The week in review included- my Chevrolet Equinox V6 review and Name That Car: Sebring or 200C?, along with the post on Colin’s blog about Pump Prices.

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UPDATED- The above sketch was recently added to Allpar and might give a better idea of what the Sebring 200C will look like. – Credit Jack Ratchett

It is no secret that the Chrysler Sebring and its platform mate, the Dodge Avenger, are colossal failures in nearly every sense. They were clumsy in their execution and, as a result, didn’t sell and became the dismal trailings of rental fleets. Sergio Marchionne informed us way back in 2009 (which seems eons ago almost) that the replacements were on the way and they would be much better.  Well, let’s be real! They have nowhere to go but up.  These sketches were done by Jack Ratchett and is supposedly a “dead ringer” for the upcoming 200C, which is set to start production November 18 and replace the Sebring.  Word on the street is that the Avenger refresh will be much less drastic; merely a sleeker front end and a barely touched rear-end.  The interior of both cars is supposed to be a huge improvement.  One person heard that the interior of the upcoming Sebring replacement will be aimed at Lexus but not Toyota, which is particularly interesting because we have heard similar statements about the interior in the upcoming 300C refresh.

The engine line up will consist of the new Pentastar V6 launching soon in the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a four cylinder.  The Pentastar V6 is capable of 280 hp and 260 ft-lb.  It is unclear if a six speed automatic transmission will be used or a borrowed Fiat six speed dual clutch unit.  The four cylinder will be the volume engine, which will be either a retuned version of the World Engine or, possibly a Fiat sourced engine, though this too is unclear at this point but the former is more likely.

We should get to see the Sebring replacement (200C?) in the fall so we will have to sit tight for the next six months and hopefully some spy shots will leak out.

Source- Allpar

2011 Chrysler 300 Interior

Dates have been leaked out onto Allpar, a site devoted to all things Chrysler past and present, with the production start dates for many of the new or refreshed Chrysler/Dodge/Ram/Jeep models.

Things to note:

• The LX based cars now have the same date as each other
• It was originally stated that production of the new Charger and 300C would be staggered and now they are pegged to enter production simultaneously
• The Wrangler date has also been moved up slightly
• Rumors now peg the 200C name plate to be replacing the Sebring name
• The Avenger name may soldier on for the Dodge counterpart

Production Start Dates:

2010 Viper – March 29

2011 Ram Chassis Cab – April 5

2011 Grand Cherokee – May 10

2011 Ram 1500/2500 – July 5 (one plant; second plant for Ram 1500 starts July 26)

2011 Caliber, Dakota, Liberty, Nitro – July 26

2011 Wrangler – August 16

2011 Jeep Patriot – October 4

2011 Dodge CUV (Durango replacement, possibly Magnum) – November 8

2011 Journey, Ram 1500 Hybrid – November 16

2011 Avenger  (Sebring?) – November 18

2011 Minivans – November 22

2011 Charger, Challenger, 300 – November 30

2011 Jeep Compass, 2012 Fiat 500 – December 13

2011 Dodge Charger Gauge Cluster

Source- AllPar

Episode 15 starts by introducing our first guest Chris Baccus.  We decided to move discussing the past week on both of our respective blogs, AutoBird Blog and AccelerateMpls to the end of the show. The week in review included- the Minneapolis International Motorcycle Show, my Volvo XC60 Review, First impressions on the new Ford Edge and Colin’s Chicago Auto Show: Thumbs Up/Down.  We move along to the major news of the week segment.  This week included-

• Chevrolet Malibu is a great car but sales disappoint?
• American Top Gear still Lives?
• Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring may get new names?

We then proceed to the clip of the week segment.  This week we featured the Super Bowl commercial from Dodge – Man’s Last Stand

Last but certainly not least, we discuss our main topics.  This week those topics included the Chicago Auto Show and Toyota’s a better tomorrow.

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The better part of yesterday journalists spent over 6 hours in a Chrysler press conference listening to their detailed plans for the coming 5-years.  Of course most of the people there, including Ray Wert from Jalopnik, were live tweeting all the information for our viewing pleasure.  We now know what will be coming out from Chrysler and can start evaluating the actions they are taking to achieve their plans.  Seems the twitterverse started doing that immediately.  So what exactly happened?  Below I will touch on the highlights.

Ram-

Ram will no longer be known just as the full size pick-up name plate.  Instead it will be known as the truck line of Chrysler vehicles.  All trucks going forth in the future will be known as Ram.  The brand is going to appeal to the commercial side of business.

• Dakota will be dead after 2011
• A new midsize unibody truck is under consideration to replace the Dakota in 2012
• Light duty full size pick up (current Ram) major refresh in 2012
• Heavy duty full size pick up (current Ram Heavy Duty) major refresh in 2012
• Chassis cab pick up (current Ram chassis cab) major refresh in 2012
• New large and small commercial vans from Fiat come branded as Ram’s.

Jeep-

They said Jeep is going “back to its roots”.  What that means is yet to be seen.

• Small SUV based off a Fiat comes in 2013
• Current Compass gets refresh (mostly interior) for 2010
• Current Patriot gets refresh (mostly interior) for 2010
• Compass and Patriot merge into one new small CUV in 2013
• Wrangler to get major refresh 2010/2011
• Liberty gets a mild refresh in 2010 and will be replaced in 2013 with a Fiat SUV
• Commander will probably be killed off after 2010
• Brand new Grand Cherokee in 2010

2011 Grand Cherokee coming in 2010

Fiat-

• 500 coming in 2010 as coupe, convertible, and hot Abarth form
  

  Fiat 500 Abarth

Chrysler-

Supposed to be up market and have style with class.  This will remain to be seen.

• Town & Country will get a major overhaul in 2010
• Brand new 300/300C in 2010
• All new crossover coming in 2013
• Sebring will get refresh in 2010.
• Brand new Sebring in 2013. Unknown if it will retain the Sebring name.
• The PT Cruiser is finally being killed after 2010. No seriously, this time they are for real.
• Brand new compact sedan will arrive in 2012
• Brand new small car will arrive in 2013 that will come from Fiat

Dodge-

• Full size CUV arrives in 2010 most likely the next Durango based off of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Grand Caravan gets major refresh in 2010 with a all new model in 2014
• Brand new Charger will arrive in 2010
• Challenger will receive a mild refresh in 2011
• Viper is being killed summer of 2010.  All new Viper arrives in 2012
• Nitro gets refresh in 2011 and the future is uncertain going on from that
• Journey gets a refresh in 2010
• Avenger gets a refresh in 2010 with a all new model arriving in 2013
• Brand new compact sedan arrives in 2012
• Caliber is killed after 2012 and will receive a mild interior refresh next month
• Brand new small car arrives in 2013 based off a Fiat

Engines/Transmissions-

• Fiat 1.4 liter Multiair in Fiat 500 in 2010
• Fiat 1.4 liter Multiair turbo in Fiat 500 in 2011
• Phase out quickly all 4-speed transmissions
• Pentastar V6 debuts in new Grand Cherokee.  Will spread across the line over time
• Pentastar V6 turbo/twin turbo coming in late 2010/early 2011
• Start/stop technology to debut in Jeep Wrangler diesel in late 2010
• Dual clutch transmission debuts in late 2010
• Diesel engines coming late 2010/early 2011

Ram will keep the current ram’s head as the logo.  Dodge’s logo will be Dodge spelled out in black and red.  Chrysler is receiving a new logo which looks very similar to the Aston Martin logo.  Fiat and Jeep will retain their current logos.  It has been confirmed a 6.4 liter Hemi is coming, and will have 450 hp.  Also confirmed is next year the Sebring, 300, PT Cruiser, and the Town & Country will all have special editions next year before the refreshed models (or in the PT Cruisers case, dies) hit the showrooms.  The PT Cruisers special edition, fittingly, will be “Final Edition”.  The 300C will have a “sport” edition while the Sebring’s special edition will be known as “Ocean Edition”.  The Town & Country’s special edition will be a “Fashion Edition”.  Also shown were two photos of the next Dodge Charger.  One photo was the new gauge cluster while the other was of the side of the car looking from the rear fender.  The photo of the outside looks very similar to the 1999 Dodge Charger RT concept car.  The major take aways from the announcement is that maybe Fiat did know what they were getting into and possibly, just maybe, Chrysler could turn out to be on the right course.  The above is a lot to accomplish in a small amount of time so time will tell how this “plan” turns out.

2011 Dodge Charger

2011 Dodge Charger Gauge Cluster

1999 Dodge Charger RT Concept