2004 Dodge Neon Srt-4 Sedan 4-door 2.4l on 2040-cars

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2021 Dodge Durango lineup gets price increases

The 2021 Dodge Durango is another example of Dodge's profitable specialty — minor exterior visual changes that bring outsized improvements, easily identifiable interior updates that elevate the cabin experience, and a whopping chungus engine at the top of the lineup. For 2021, the Durango wears Charger Widebody cues outside plus a new rear hatch spoiler, a new Tow N Go package for the Durango R/T, and a redesigned, driver-focused interior with an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen. Prices go up across the lineup. Next year's Durango SXT RWD starts at $33,260, after the $1,495 destination charge, which is $970 more than in 2020. At the top end, the limited-run Durango SRT Hellcat starts at $80,995, an $18,000 jump over the current top of the line, the Hellcat-less SRT that picks up a "392" badge to signify its new position. Below those two are nine more models in rear- and all-wheel drive. Price for the whole range with the differences to 2020 are: Durango SXT RWD $33,260 ($970) Durango SXT AWD $35,860 ($970) Durango GT RWD $37,460 ($970) Durango GT AWD $40,060 ($970) Durango R/T RWD $46,800 ($910) Durango R/T AWD $49,400 ($910) Durango R/T AWD Tow N Go $54,395 Durango Citadel RWD $49,300 ($1,535)  Durango Citadel AWD $51,900 ($1,535) Durango SRT 392 AWD $64,490 (No Change) Durango SRT Hellcat AWD $82,490 If the Citadel price raises eyebrows, it's because Dodge reworked the model to stand out as the clear luxury buy above the R/T. It appears Dodge eliminated the Citadel trim currently priced below the R/T, which is $4,810 less than the 2021 Durango Citadel. The carmaker rebranded this year's Citadel Anodized Platinum, priced above the R/T, as the Citadel. The higher price pays for driver and front passenger seats that add leather and standard ventilation to the heating function, a suede headliner, the 10.1-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 5 as standard with TomTom navigation, and driver assistance and safety features like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning with active braking, and lane departure warning as standard. Those latter two features and some others can't be had on this year's model. Dodge has also thrown in the Trailer-Tow Group IV, a $1,195 option presently. The group installs an integrated trailer brake switch, heavy-duty engine oil cooler, Class IV hitch receiver, rear load-leveling shocks, full-size spare tire with the Class IV trailer receiver, and integrated brake controller.

Recharge Wrap-up: LA Auto Show may feature updated Cadillac ELR, Uber expands Chicago HQ

A Kentucky man has converted his 1939 Dodge pickup to an electric vehicle. Al Gajda of Lexington built the electric truck, which he now uses as his daily driver. "I take advantage of any excuse to drive it; just banging around town, errands, short runs on the interstate, delivering my granddaughter to school in the morning," he says. It is powered by a lithium-ion phosphate battery, which is mounted in a wooden box on the truck bed, and gets about 100 miles per charge. Read more at the Lexington Herald-Leader. Elon Musk will speak at the Automotive News World Congress in January. The Tesla CEO is a featured speaker for the program, "Setting the Pace in a Thriving Market." The event takes place in Detroit, which could lead to an interesting mix of people in the audience, and Musk will speak on January 13. Read more at Automotive News. Production of the Toyota Rav4 EV has ended. The shipment of the final Toyota EVs concludes Toyota's deal to source batteries from Tesla. Of the 2,600 Rav4 EVs to be produced, there are probably just a few hundred left to be sold, most of which are likely to be gone by the end of October. Read more at Inside EVs. Cadillac will likely show an improved version of the ELR at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The 2016 ELR will include unspecified "engineering enhancements," according to Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell. There will be no 2015 model, as the 2014 model will be sold until the 2016 ELR goes on sale in the first half 2015. Read more at Edmunds. Uber executives, along with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, have announced a major expansion of the ride-hailing company's Chicago headquarters. Uber also plans to add 420 jobs by the end of 2016. "Uber's new expanded headquarters will allow the company to continue its rapid growth and serve its riders and drivers throughout Illinois," says Governor Quinn. Last month, Quinn vetoed legislation that would have put restrictions on companies like Uber in the state. Read more in the press release below. Governor Quinn and Uber Announce Major Chicago Headquarters Expansion Innovative Ridesharing Company to Add 420 Jobs by End of 2016 CHICAGO, Sept. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Pat Quinn and Uber executives today announced that the ridesharing giant is moving forward with creating 420 new jobs by the end of 2016 in a major expansion of its Chicago regional headquarters.

Dodge, Hyundai crowdsourced-funding sites deemed successes

What's not to love about crowdsourcing? This idea, after all, has given us Kickstarter as well Local Motors, but automakers are starting to use the social platform to sell more cars (or just drum up a little PR). Both Dodge and Hyundai have used "crowd-funding" recently, and while Automotive News is reporting that neither has racked up big sales with this gimmick, both automakers are pleased with the attention.
For Hyundai, it teamed up with website Motozuma.com to help customers crowdsource money for a down payment, and the automaker matched this amount up to $500. Last year, this helped Hyundai sell an extra 1,600 units, a fraction of its total 2012 sales. That figure is far larger than Dodge fared with the Dodge Dart Registry - it netted only two sales and a small number of individual options. This registry did help University of Southern California fraternity crowdsource $18,000 to buy a Dart for a local Meals on Wheels, however. Despite the low sales figures, Dodge and Hyundai are considering their crowdsourcing programs a success since it helped them connect with younger buyers.