2010 Dodge Challenger Se Coupe 2-door 3.5l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Dodge not being dropped by Chrysler, CEO reaffirms

Dodge isn't going anywhere. Despite some rumor and speculation over the future of the crosshair grille and the cars that wear it, Dodge brand boss, Tim Kuniskis, sat down with TheDetroitBureau.com, explaining that the marque isn't going anywhere. His sentiments echo those of SRT boss Ralph Gilles, who told a group of enthusiasts in July that "Dodge is here to stay!"
Dodge's death won't be "a part of a master plan to consolidate brands," Kuniskis told TheDetroitBureau.com. Instead, the brand, which is ultimately under the command of Fiat/Chrysler CEO, Sergio Marchionne, will likely ditch some of its badge-engineered models, like the Dodge Grand Caravan. A more focused Dodge, which was something Gilles has already hinted at, will likely see it exploring areas of the market that haven't been exploited by other Chrysler brands.
Kuniskis, not surprisingly, wasn't willing to delve into any detailed product plans, telling TDB that the size of the brand's lineup "remains to be seen." Regardless of how big the brand actually ends up being (it is presently Chrysler's volume brand - and not by a little), hopefully the statements from Kuniskiss can put the rumors of a Dodge closure to bed.

2019 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is getting a facelift

The Challenger Hellcat won't be the only Mopar muscle car getting an update for the new model year. One of our spy photographers caught an updated 2019 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat testing near the SRT office. It appears that the car will continue on mostly unchanged, since everything behind the fenders is uncovered and unchanged. But the fascia must be getting some noteworthy changes considering how well it's hidden. And it's really, really well-hidden. It's extremely difficult to see through this covering. Whatever changes have been made still aren't going to be massive. It looks like the basics remain the same, including the large center grille in the bumper flanked by two outboard inlets that lack fog lights. The grille appears to still connect with the headlights, and the grille is pinched in the middle. Odds are, the front fascia is the only major difference on the 2019 Charger Hellcat, just as the twin-scoop hood on the Challenger Hellcat is the only major difference on that model. Under the hood will likely be the same 707-horsepower supercharged V8. This Charger prototype also sports the same Brembo brakes as the current model. The full reveal will probably come this summer along with the Challenger. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2019 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Spy Shots View 14 Photos Image Credit: SpiedBilde Spy Photos Dodge Performance Sedan dodge charger srt hellcat

Fiat brand chief reassigned then resigns amid flagging sales

Jason Stoicevich was replaced as head of the Fiat brand in North America just the other day. He was immediately reassigned to another job within Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. But according to Automotive News, Stoicevich quit the new job – and the company altogether – the very next day. The development comes amidst flagging sales for the Fiat brand in America. The introduction of the awkward-looking 500L multi-purpose vehicle has been largely regarded as a sales disaster in the US. Despite having just introduced the new 500X into the growing crossover market, and an overall upward trend across FCA group sales, the Fiat brand's figures have been dropping all year. While the Italian brand's volume has fluctuated from month to month compared to last year's sales, the number of cars its dealers sells on an average day has been firmly in decline. Fiat's downward trend reflects a general tendency in the market towards larger vehicles at the expense of smaller ones. However, the powers that be in Auburn Hills evidently felt that a change of leadership was in order, so it placed Dodge chief Tim Kuniskis in charge of all the company's mass-market passenger-car brands – namely Dodge, Chrysler, and Fiat – and moved Stoicevich to running the group's fleet and small-business operations. Stoicevich remained in charge of the company's California Business Center, but it seems as though he was as dissatisfied with the switch as his superiors were with the performance of the brand over which he presided, and so he apparently elected to step down and leave the company.