dodge

Instant classics: 10 show cars of tomorrow

Could you have predicted in 1965 that a $3,000 Mustang would be worth $50,000 today? Or in 1960 that a $5,000 Corvette could go for $100,000 in 50 years? There are certainly many cars from the past that are gone and forgotten, that will never attain anything like classic status. Trying to predict classic cars is harder than picking soybean futures.

Nevertheless, the editors of Car Tech decided to give it a try. Looking at cars from the last decade, we came up with 10 that seemed like they should stand the test of time. Most of the cars we picked had niche interest or a limited production run, ensuring some rarity in the future. A car like the first-generation Toyota Prius heralds the beginning of a new trend in the automotive world, while the Pontiac G8 marks the end of a brand. … Read more

10 car stars of movies and television

As common objects in everyday life, cars frequently appear in movies and television. But sometimes they show up with more impact, such as when a camera angle just happens to pick up the badge in the foreground, a character makes a comment about the car that has little to do with the story, or a whole fleet of the same type of car drives into view onscreen.

Automakers embrace movie and television tie-ins as a means of raising awareness for their brands and specific models. And with some movies, the product placement is baked in, such as the recent series of live-action "Transformers" movies with the Bumblebee Camaro. Similarly, the "Fast and The Furious" franchise is all about cars, so it is no surprise to see a Dodge Charger featured prominently. … Read more

2012 cargo vans get 'Ram Tough'

By rebranding the Dodge Grand Caravan as the Ram cargo van, or Ram C/V, Chrysler has paved the way to expand in the commercial van segment.

The U.S. automaker has more than 25 years of minivan engineering and promises the Ram C/V will meet the needs for small and large businesses.

The Ram C/V is a Class 1 commercial vehicle that offers a 1,800-lb. cargo payload and up to 3,600 lbs. in towing capability. It also features 16-inch steel wheels, a 160-amp alternator, 20-gallon fuel tank, and it runs on a 3.6-liter Pentastar … Read more

A Dodge in Fiat clothing

At the 2011 Geneva auto show, this Dodge Journey sported Fiat badges on the grille and wheels. It seems that Fiat has discovered badge-engineering, using it to bring Chrysler group cars to Europe. Fiat acquired Chrysler in 2009.

Under Fiat, the Journey goes under the model name Freemont, which is intended to evoke the freedom of the open road, and is also a homonym for a name associated with the American West.

By European standards, the Freemont is a very large vehicle. It comes with third-row seating, so it can handle seven occupants, and still carry cargo. That third row … Read more

Chrysler to unveil 200 ragtop in Chicago

The 2011 Chrysler 200 convertible and the 2012 Acura TL are among the vehicles that will be unveiled this week at the Chicago Auto Show. Chevrolet, Dodge, Hyundai, Volkswagen, and Chrysler's Ram division also are planning world debuts.

While Toyota will not have a world debut, the automaker is touting its display, which it says will be the largest the Toyota brand has created for a U.S. auto show, covering 45,000 square feet.

As part of the display, an indoor road course will feature Toyota pickups and SUVs. The public will be able to ride in the … Read more

Mopar app acts as electronic owners manual for Dodge vehicles

Dodge is launching a group of free apps for Android, iPhone, or BlackBerry smartphone platforms. Boasting a feature set similar to that of the Hyundai Equus' iPad app, the Mopar apps act as a digital owners' manual, as well as offering access to owner services.

After downloading the app for their smartphone platform of choice, users will be given access to all of the vehicle operation, warranty, and maintenance information that one would normally find in a paper manual, as well as video demonstrations of features. The smartphone's data connection also allows access to 24-hour roadside assistance, customer care, … Read more

Make the big play

Backbreaker Football 2: Vengeance ($2.99) is the sequel to Backbreaker Football (99 cents), a game that put you in the shoes of a football player running and dodging tackles to get to the end zone. Just like the original, beautiful 3D graphics and solid animations give you the feeling of powering your way down the field. But in BackBreaker Football 2: Vengeance, you now have the ability to play on the other side of the ball as a defender who needs to dodge blockers and ultimately tackle the ball carrier. You start off by customizing a player with a … Read more

The 2011 Dodge Durango boasts V-6 and V-8 options

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 2011 Ford Explorer seem to be getting all the headlines lately, but don't overlook next year's Dodge Durango.

The hefty 2011 Durango promises tighter handling, better fuel efficiency, and more options. The Durango comes in two sizes: the V-6 engine that has a towing capability of 6,200 lbs., and the V-8 engine has a towing capability of 7,400 lbs. Both variations offer "lifestyle packages," that one guesses include "sport" and other options.

The price on the new Durango starts at $29,195 for the rear-wheel … Read more

Dodge Challenger: Fast, good-looking, drivable

With its simple styling, the 2010 Challenger is an excellent take on a classic Dodge muscle car. But more impressive here is the update to the driving tech. Boasting 425 horsepower in SRT trim, the Challenger is surprisingly drivable. It does equally well crawling through a parking lot or blasting down a country road. Far less back-breaking than other modern muscle cars, it exhibits European refinement in ride quality.

Tech-wise, it looks a little rough, but it is feature rich. We didn't like using the graphical interface for the navigation system, but voice command worked very well. iPod and … Read more

Cult Motorsports' 1,000-hp Challenger to stalk SEMA Show

Earlier, we featured the 470-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT8 392, boasting more displacement and more power than the standard SRT8. But for pure bragging rights, the aftermarket can always do better. Enter the Cult Motorsports Challenger SRT8. This menacing custom, set to debut at the 2010 SEMA Show, has a look that borders on demonic and an estimated power output that you wouldn't believe.

Photographer Webb Bland of Not Bland Photography brings us the first look at the Cult Challenger. Details are slim, but the rumors circulating this matte-black beast point to an 8.3-liter blown V-8 replacing the standard … Read more