2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Limited Wagon 4-door 2.4l Turbo - Custom Rear Bumper. on 2040-cars

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Fiat Chrysler target 850k sales in China by 2018

Behind the vanguard of numerous Jeep models, two Chryslers, a smattering of Fiats and Alfa Romeos and local production through a joint venture with Guangzhou Automotive Group (GAG), Fiat Chrysler wants to increase sales in China more than six-fold by 2018. The group sold 130,000 cars in China in 2013, the aim for 2018 being 850,000 cars.
Ultimately it's expected that the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Wrangler, Renegade, the coming Grand Wagoneer and a sub-Renegade-sized crossover will either be built in or exported to the People's Republic. The Chrysler Town & Country and 300 will join the export list in 2016 and 2018 respectively, according to a report in Automotive News.
With a number of those vehicles not in production or perhaps even envisaged yet, and others not due on the local market until 2018, it will be interesting to see how Fiat Chrysler plans to achieve the target in the specified timeframe. The joint venture with GAG builds two products now, the Dodge Dart-based Fiat Viaggio launched two years ago - supposedly designed just for China - and the just-launched Fiat Ottimo, a hatchback version of the Viaggio. Fiat projected 300,000 Viagio sales in its first two years, that number has been adjusted downward to 94,000 and there doesn't appear to be an analyst alive that sees a good future for Fiat in China's overrun mainstream market. Still, last year's 130,000 group sales in China is a huge jump from 2012 sales of 66,000 units, but less than half the 300,000 units it projected.

2017 Chevy Camaro Z/28 Nurburgring crash caught on video

A 2017 Chevy Camaro Z/28 prototype crashed Thursday morning during testing on the Nurburgring in Germany. The driver appears to be unharmed, and the Camaro was not severely damaged. You can see the crash happen near the 1:35 mark of the video. Everything is going fine as the camo-clad Camaro accelerates onto the 'Ring. But as the driver goes through a turn the back wheels lock up. The driver then nails the brakes, the front wheels lock up, and he careens into the rail, getting airborne in the process briefly. The driver then navigates the Camaro to the other side of the circuit. A crumpled front fender and maimed aero is the only damage. View 11 Photos Mishap aside, this is an excellent look at what we believe is the track-focused Camaro Z/28. We see the huge wing in back and smaller winglets in front reminiscent of the Corvette Z06's Z07 Performance Pack. The new Z/28 has a throaty, almost buzzy V8 sound. We predict the seven-speed manual transmission from the Corvette, and perhaps the new 10-speed automatic trans from the Camaro ZL1, will be available. This prototype has a huge, gaping grille, blacked out wheels, and an aggressive front splitter. Look for the Z/28 to go on sale next year. A General Motors spokesperson said the company doesn't comment on development testing, but noted that "safety is our overriding priority." Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Image Credit: Brian Williams / SpiedBilde Spy Photos Chrysler Coupe Performance Videos viral video chevy camaro z28

Bring back the Bronco! Trademarks we hope are actually (someday) future car names

Trademark filings are the tea leaves of the auto industry. Read them carefully – and interpret them correctly – and you might be previewing an automaker's future product plans. Yes, they're routinely filed to maintain the rights to an iconic name. And sometimes they're only for toys and clothing. But not always. Sometimes, the truth is right in front of us. The trademark is required because a company actually wants to use the name on a new car. With that in mind, here's a list of intriguing trademark filings we want to see go from paperwork to production reality. Trademark: Bronco Company: Ford Previous Use: The Bronco was a long-running SUV that lived from 1966-1996. It's one of America's original SUVs and was responsible for the increased popularity of the segment. Still, it's best known as O.J. Simpson's would-be getaway car. We think: The Bronco was an icon. Everyone seems to want a Wrangler-fighter – Ford used to have a good one. Enough time has passed that the O.J. police chase isn't the immediate image conjured by the Bronco anymore. Even if we're doing a wish list in no particular order, the Bronco still finds its way to the top. For now (unfortunately), it's just federal paperwork. Rumors on this one can get especially heated. The official word from a Ford spokesman is: "Companies renew trademark filings to maintain ownership and control of the mark, even if it is not currently used. Ford values the iconic Bronco name and history." Trademarks: Aviator, AV8R Company: Ford Previous Use: The Aviator was one of the shortest-run Lincolns ever, lasting for the 2003-2005 model years. It never found the sales success of the Ford Explorer, with which it shared a platform. We Think: The Aviator name no longer fits with Lincoln's naming nomenclature. Too bad, it's better than any other name Lincoln currently uses, save for its former big brother, the Navigator. Perhaps we're barking up the wrong tree, though. Ford has made several customized, aviation themed-Mustangs in the past, including one called the Mustang AV8R in 2008, which had cues from the US Air Force's F-22 Raptor fighter jet. It sold for $500,000 at auction, and the glass roof – which is reminiscent of a fighter jet cockpit – helped Ford popularize the feature. Trademark: EcoBeast Company: Ford Previous Use: None by major carmakers.