2009 Dodge Cummings Diesel on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Awesomely '80s time-capsule Dodge Daytona Turbo on Bring a Trailer

From the humble K-car, Chrysler in the 1980s was able to spin out all manner of variants, including some fairly credible (for the time) performance machines. One of the most ambitious was the Dodge Daytona Turbo, and a rarely seen example in near-new condition is selling today on Bring a Trailer. [UPDATE: The car was bid to $9,300 but failed to meet reserve. It is now for sale on the dealer's website with an asking price of $19,900.] The Daytona Turbo featured a 2.2-liter four to which was bolted a Garrett To3 turbocharger, bringing output to 143 horses and 160 pound-feet. Naturally, it's paired with a five-speed stick. And dig that black-and-white checkerboard cloth interior, with four bucket seats. The story is that the car was purchased new in Kansas, and that after driving it for two years, the original owner put his prized Daytona up on jack stands and stored it in a climate-controlled garage. This Dodge now has just over 5,000 miles on the clock. If all of the above sounds enticing, you'll be powerless to resist after watching the launch commercial for the Daytona. BaT commenter "Himselvis" posted a link to the 2-minute cinematic masterpiece, which is equal parts "Blade Runner" and Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Some heavy-duty talent was brought to bear on the project, as he recounts: "The director, Bill Butler, was the cinematographer on 'Jaws,' 'Deliverance,' 'Grease,' and 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.' Production designer Jim Spencer had worked on 'Gremlins,' 'Poltergeist,' and 'Stripes.' Director of photography David Watkin shot 'Out of Africa,' the BeatlesÂ’ 'HELP!' and 'Chariots of Fire.' The voiceover was provided by Billy Dee Williams." And the actor was from "Hot Dog the Movie." But the real star is the car, of course. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Dodge Viper returning to Le Mans this year?

If you were among the fans disappointed by Chrysler's recent decision to end the Dodge Viper's racing program, we may have some good news for you, as the racing outfit behind the campaign is reportedly working to bring the American supercars back to Le Mans this year. That racing outfit is Riley Technologies, a constructor perhaps best known for its Daytona Prototypes, but it has also prepared its share of GT racers, too. Chrysler charged Riley with leading its racing program for the new Viper GTS-R, campaigned it in the United SportsCar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Auburn Hills made the unfortunate decision back in March to pull its Vipers out of Le Mans, and then in October to withdraw from the US series, as well, thereby effectively ending the program altogether. Disappointed though it surely was, Riley remains defiant. The North Carolina-based company is planning on taking the existing Vipers back to Le Mans on its own, with or without factory support. The Viper has, after all, proven a capable machine, having taken both the drivers' and teams' titles in the United SportsCar Championship this past season. "With Le Mans, every driver and every manufacturer needs to have their first trip there, and it isn't always what you want it to be, but we did show reliability and did have some pace," Bill Riley told Racer.com. "Since then, we've worked hard on the cars, they're now strong, front-running cars in the US, and we're working with the ACO on the BoP to make sure the cars are strong at Le Mans. They're super-reliable and fast, and we'd expect to be right in the mix with the other cars." Riley has kept the existing support staff in place, and once it secures its driver lineup and sponsors, chances look good that it could represent America well at Le Mans this year in either the GTE Pro or GTE Am class. Its predecessor did, after all, complete a three-year winning streak that saw it dominate the GTS class right up until its withdrawal in 2000. News Source: Racer.comImage Credit: FCA Motorsports Dodge Coupe Racing Vehicles

Dodge Durango Hellcat teased in 'Fast and Furious' spot is real, headed to New York

The Durango Hellcat teased in a Dodge commercial appears to be the real deal, according to a report that surfaced Monday afternoon, and we could see it as soon as the New York International Auto Show in April. The horsepower Gods are smiling upon us.  Motor Authority says that a Dodge insider was able to confirm the existence of a Durango Hellcat, and suggested it will make its public debut at the New York show this spring. "Hellcat all the things" has become a bit of a meme, and it appears Dodge is either in on the joke, non-ironically committed to the concept, or maybe a little bit of both. A commercial FCA debuted to coincide with the release of the trailer of the latest "Fast and Furious" film gave us our first brief glimpse the new supercharged Durango SUV. Credit for the original find goes to the fine (and eagle-eyed) folks at Road & Track, who spotted the fender badge at approximately the 17-second mark in the embedded commercial. The tease left little to the imagination. The badge is shown prominently on the fender of the mystery vehicle, which isn't much of a mystery at all. It's a Dodge and it's not a Charger or Challenger; no need to overthink it.  Immediately after, the camera cuts to what is obviously a Durango silhouette, but we can't see a whole lot in the glare of its headlights.  It also makes sense from a product cycle perspective, as the Durango is well past the point where it has received its AARP card and we're not necessarily expecting a replacement. The three-row slot in FCA's lineup may go exclusively to Jeep once all is said and done.  We know (or have heard rumors) that other variants of the family SUV are in the pipeline, making it clear that FCA plans to milk the aging three-row for all it's worth. The Jeep Grand Cherokee, which rides on the same fundamental platform but with a shortened wheelbase, has already gotten the Hellcat treatment in the Trackhawk, so porting this engine over for three-row duty should be a snap.  More importantly, a mild facelift may accompany other updates to the Durango, which would conveniently explain why Dodge obscured the Durango's front end in the teaser.  If there's any downside to this, it's that FCA is going to run out of vehicles eventually. With the Ram Rebel TRX well underway and now this, there just aren't many vehicles left in FCA's various brand lineups that can physically accommodate a supercharged, 6.2-liter V8.  Hopefully they have Sawzalls. Related Video: