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Dodge Dart falls short of Consumer Reports Recommended, Caddy XTS and Lincoln MKS, too

The Dodge Dart, Cadillac XTS and Lincoln MKS all failed to earn a "Recommended" rating from Consumer Reports. When it came to the compact Dart, the organization's testers thought the vehicle offered a quiet cabin, solid-feeling chassis and nimble suspension, but the new model ultimately fell short of the coveted rating due to powertrain issues. The institute's reviewers found the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine to be underpowered and noted "drivability issues" when the available turbocharged 1.4-liter four was paired with the optional dual-clutch transmission (some of our editors disliked it paired with the six-speed manual). CR also dinged the latter powerplant for sounding "raspy." For what it's worth, we think the forced-induction engine offers an excellent and playful exhaust note, but that's just us.
As for the XTS, CR lauded the car for its luxurious cabin, but the vehicle's experience was dulled by its finicky CUE infotainment interface. Overall, the big Cadillac scored much higher than its cross-town rival from Lincoln. While testers found the American luxury sedan to offer a quiet ride and quality fit and finish, they felt the MKS delivered a "cramped driving position, ungainly handling, uncomposed ride, and limited visibility." Ouch. At the end of the day, both cars fell short of rivals from Japan, Germany and Korea. Check out the full press release below with more details, along with CR's musings on the Chevrolet Spark and Lexus ES.

Last call for Chrysler 300C, Dodge Charger, Challenger: Get your orders in by July 31

We’ve known for a while that the Dodge Challenger and Charger, along with the Chrysler 300C, were going away, and we now have a production end date for the long-running trio of big cars. Earlier this week, we learned that the order books for all three will close at the end of July, ahead of closing production at the end of the year. The 300C has been around since the 2005 model year and has been on sale relatively unchanged since 2011. Chrysler has updated the powertrain choices and technology over the years, but the car we see on sale today is nearly identical to the car we first saw when President George W. Bush was in office. Though it shares a platform and some underlying engineering with the Dodge Charger and Challenger, Chrysler hasnÂ’t gone to the lengths that Dodge did to give the 300C a proper sendoff. Dodge pulled out all the stops with its large cars, offering a series of “Last Call” models highlighting the carsÂ’ power and history. That said, Chrysler did release a limited-production 300C for 2023 that offers a 6.4-liter Hemi V8. ItÂ’s held to 2,000 units and doesnÂ’t have the swagger that DodgeÂ’s cars bring, but there are a few reasons to be excited about the final 300C. With 485 horsepower and 475 pounds of torque on tap, the car can reach 60 from a standstill in 4.3 seconds and run the quarter mile in 12.4 seconds. Those are serious numbers for any car, let alone one that feels like a Barcalounger on wheels. Other upgrades for the final 300C include a 3.09 limited-slip differential, an active exhaust system, and active suspension. If the 300C speaks to you in a way that other rolling sofas donÂ’t, itÂ’s likely too late to grab a limited-production car, but Chrysler is offering the standard 300 — for now.

Plymouth Rapid Transit System muscle car concepts going to auction

Over the past decade, Chrysler has built a reputation for amazing custom concept cars based on production vehicles for the SEMA Show and the Easter Jeep Safari. But the company's customization tradition has much deeper roots that include this collection of muscle car concepts headed for Mecum's Indianapolis auction this May. The collection includes three Plymouths that were featured in the traveling display called the Plymouth Rapid Transit System, and a Dodge that appeared at the 1969 Chicago Auto Show. The possible crown jewel of these cars is the 1971 Plymouth Road Runner, and that's simply because the car is completely unrestored with just 1,300 miles on the odometer. Apparently the owner of the shop that built the car for Chrysler got it back after the Rapid Transit System tour ended and took care of it until he later sold it to the late Steven Juliano, whose estate is now selling this collection of cars. Like all of these cars, modifications were mainly visual, but they were extensive. A custom nose and headlight lenses were fitted that added six inches of length, according to Mecum. The car's bumpers were removed completely, as were the external door handles. Recessed hood scoops were added to the hood, and the trunk lid was lowered by four inches to create a rear wing. The taillights were given red, yellow and green lenses like traffic lights. But the best additions were molded Road Runner head marker lights. The interior is mostly unchanged, and the engine is a stock 383-cubic-inch V8 with an automatic transmission. It also has power steering and brakes and the Plymouth Road Runner horn, which makes a "Beep! Beep!" sound like the cartoon the car is named after. 1970 Plymouth Duster View 12 Photos Then there's the 1970 Plymouth Duster in the collection with arguably the best paint scheme. It's bright green with groovy "DUSTER" lettering on the hood and various contrasting panels. It's actually the second scheme the car used, as according to Mecum, the car was built for the 1970 tour and then redesigned for the 1971 tour. The paint is matched with color-coordinated wheels and blue and green floral pattern floor mats. There are unique body changes, too, such as the custom headlight housings, functional brake air ducts up front, fake extractor vents above the rear window, racing-style fuel cap and rectangular exhaust. Mechanically, it has a stock 275-horsepower 340-cubic inch V8 and four-speed manual transmission.