2007 Dodge Sprinter 2500 Base Standard Cargo Van 3-door 3.0l on 2040-cars

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The Dodge Demon's massive drag tires are just barely street legal

Despite the gaffe that was the Vin Dieselgate leak (no, not that one), Dodge and SRT are soldiering on with the twelve-part Dodge Demon rollout in the lead up to the car's reveal at the New York Auto Show. The Vin Diesel video showed what is almost assuredly the car's front, but now we get an official view of the Demon's rear in this week's video, "Wide Body." Along with the new view, Dodge shows off a cryptic license plate (Michigan #2576@35) and details on the Demon's tantalizing wheel and tire combo. That wheel and tire combo, meant to fill out the Demon's new wide wheel arches, is frankly impressive. Lightweight 18- by 11-inch wheels are wrapped in special Demon branded Nitto NT05R tires measuring an astounding 315/40R18 at all four corners. Not only does that trump the old Camaro Z/28's 305 section tires, it makes the Demon the first production car to come equipped from the factory with drag radials, claims Dodge. Presumably, the goal with the Demon is to provide enough power and grip to rotate the Earth underneath the car rather than propelling the car itself down a dragstrip. Beyond that, few other details were revealed. Dodge provided some vague information about how the "wide-body is laser clearanced, and the entire chassis is e-coated for durability before final assembly," but doesn't actually explain what that really means. We do know now that the flared fenders add 3.5 inches to the Demon's overall width. Overall, the car looks mean and purposeful, especially wrapped in just barely street-legal rubber. Follow along at www.ifyouknowyouknow.com and see if you can find and decipher all the hints. Related Video: Design/Style New York Auto Show Dodge Coupe Performance tires dodge demon dodge hellcat

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.

Chrysler Recalling 870,000 SUVs For Brake Defect

Chrysler is recalling nearly 870,000 SUVs because corrosion may make the vehicles' brakes harder to use. Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs from the 2011 through 2014 model years are involved. Chrysler says crimp joints in the brake boosters can corrode if they're exposed to water. If the water freezes, the boosters won't aid braking as they usually do. Chrysler began investigating after some customers said their brakes felt too firm when pressed down. The company knows of one accident, but no injuries, due to the defect. Dealers will install a shield to protect the boosters for free and replace boosters that aren't working properly. Chrysler has since changed the design to make the boosters more corrosion resistant. Chrysler will notify owners of the recall, which involves 867,795 vehicles. Related Gallery Safest Crossovers For The Budget-Conscious Family View 10 Photos Recalls Chrysler Dodge