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Check out this gorgeous 1994 Viper RT/10 for sale

2012-05-16T16:57:22Z

CollectorCarNation.com has a great spread of Dodge product on their virtual pages and today, we take a look at the pristine 1994 Dodge Viper RT/10 shown in the image above. The Viper is the kind of car that comes off of the assembly line as a collector's vehicle so we typically see these American supercars in good shape with low miles but this particular Viper looks incredible.

This 1994 Dodge Viper RT/10 is so clean that the current owner claims that there is not a newer 94 Viper in the world and he guarantee's that, promising that he will pay for people's gas if they come to see the car and don't agree on the impeccable quality of this 18 year old roadster.

]]> The owner claims that it has never been in rain and has lived in a climate controlled garage safely covered; with just 6,300 miles racked up over the 18 year life of the original American supercar. Considering that this car has averaged just 350 miles a year since leaving the assembly line - it is no surprise why the car is so clean.

This bright red 94 Viper RT/10 comes with the red hardtop and a black soft top, factory leather that the owner claims still smells new and ice cold air conditioning. The car is stock with the exception of the lightweight BBS aluminum wheels wrapped in high performance tires - helping to make the most of the 400 horsepower Viper V10.

Owning this like-new piece of American supercar history will set you back just $32,500. You can take a look at the posting by clicking here for CollectorCarNation.com.

Dodge teams thrive at Darlington on Friday, struggle on Saturday

2012-05-15T19:08:06Z

This past weekend the NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup teams took to Darlington Motor Speedway for the VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 and the Bojangles' Southern 500. As opposed to the shorter Nationwide race running Saturday and the Sprint Cup race running on Sunday, the two leagues shifted their events a day earlier so that the drivers could spend Mother's Day with their mommas.

For Friday's Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200, just three Dodge Challengers qualified for the 43 car field with Sam Hornish Jr (shown above) starting 8^th, Brad Keselowski starting 13^th and Derrick Cope starting 42^nd. Keselowski and Hornish were towards the front of the field all day long but at the end of the race, the two Toyota Camrys driven by Joey Lagano and Denny Hamlin were able to beat out the pair of Challengers - leaving Keselowski to finish 3^rd while Hornish finished 4^th. Derrick Cope had the kind of day that you would expect of a driver with his record, finishing in 27^th spot 13, 13 laps down. Hornish remained in the 4^th spot in season standings with his strong finish.

]]> At Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Bojangles' Southern 500, only two of the 43 cars in the field were Dodge Chargers with Brad Keselowski's #2 Miller Lite car starting 15^th and AJ Allmendinger's #22 Shell/Pennzoil car starting on the outside of the same row as his team in the 16^th spot. Keselowski had high hopes after running towards the front of the field the night before and during the race - Keselowski's #2 Charger was as high as 3^rd place but at the end of the race it was not to be, as Brad finishing a disappointing 15^th place. Allmendinger also managed to work his way as high as 3^rd but he struggled late in the race, finishing 33^rd. Keselowski maintained his 12^th place in the season standings while Allmendinger dropped 2 spots to 22^nd.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series takes a break this weekend before heading to Charlotte for the Coca Cola 600 while the NASCAR Nationwide Series heads to Iowa this Saturday for the Pioneer Hi-Bred 250. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Charlotte this Friday for the N. C. Education Lottery 200.

SRT to have major presence at 2012 Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix

2012-05-15T00:29:14Z

Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology division has announced that they will have a major presence at the return of the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix next week - including an exclusive area for SRT owners to park their vehicles and enjoy the race with other Mopar diehards.

The SRT fan package costs $150 and includes parking on Belle Isle in the special SRT Car Corral parking area for June 2^nd and 3^rd, two grandstand tickets for Saturday and Sunday and with two Paddock passes for both days - giving you and a guest access to check out some of the high performance cars racing around Detroit's Belle Isle road course. Those who opt for the SRT ticket package will also receive meal vouchers as well as having their SRT vehicle entered into a virtual car show on Facebook with the winners receiving "valuable prizes". These passes are only available by clicking here and visiting DriveSRT.com.]]> It is interesting that SRT is so involved with the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix considering that the four racing leagues who will compete don't have any Chrysler Group products in their fields. Two of the classes are open wheel and really don't apply to the Chrysler Group and the other two - while packed with lots of competition from Ford, GM and a variety of European and Japanese competitors - don't have any registered Dodge or SRT entrants.

There has been speculation that the 2013 SRT Viper, SRT Viper GTS and SRT Viper GTS-R could be in attendance to show off the newest Chrysler supercar to race fans in Detroit. These rumors have not been confirmed but considering that SRT is putting so much effort into getting people to the event - we expect that there has to be something special planned.

Could it be that the new 2013 SRT Viper will be entering either the Grand Am Rolex or the SCCA Pirelli World Challenge - both of which feature plenty of cars that the Viper will face in the American LeMans Series later this year? With the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix just a few weeks away - we could have some big Viper racing news over the next month.

America needs a new Ramcharger

2012-05-14T20:05:26Z

While the new Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee are among the most popular sport utility vehicles in the American automotive market, those modern large SUVs are a far cry from the rugged Dodge Ramchargers of the 1970s, 80s and 90s - leaving a need for a big, tough SUV. Back in the day, the most popular SUVs were models like the Dodge Ramcharger, the Plymouth Trail Duster, the Chevrolet K5 Blazer and the full sized Ford Bronco.

These were big, roomy utes powered by large V8 engines that could seat at least four adults, offer space for tons of cargo, tow a heavy trailer and storm through the woods in stock form. While the modern SUV can do just about anything that a 1983 Ramcharger could (plus packing more power, more efficiency and more gadgets), today's full size SUVs have gotten to be so expensive that most average owners shudder at the thought of driving in icy weather for the fear of damaging one of the plastic exterior body panels.

]]> Sure, those who want to go offroading on a budget with a brand new model can still opt for the likes of the Jeep Wrangler but with that model, you sacrifice towing capacity, seating space and storage space. The modern full size SUVs have shifted so far towards the luxury end of things that the only people who buy them new are folks who can usually joke that the closest thing that they do to offroading is driving a golf cart around the club.

The Ram brand has recently brought out the Express and Tradesman trimlines for the Ram 1500 that offer lots of real truck abilities and a big powerful Hemi V8 but without the expensive amenities and the huge price tag. These trimlines have expanded to include larger cab configurations but the industry wants a big, powerful SUV that can do more than a base V6 model but can do so without paying $40,000. Right now, the least expensive Hemi-powered Durango is the upgraded Crew model which - with four wheel drive - carries an internet price of almost $38,000 while the base model 4WD Durango SXT starts under $31,000. The Hemi is only a $2k option, meaning that building the least expensive Hemi powered Durango 4WD will include around $5,000 worth of options that aren't the engine or transmission.

If Chrysler was to offer an Express/Tradesman version of the Durango packing the Hemi V8 and the abilities of that drivetrain in a package containing a simple exterior design - the Chrysler Group would have a powerful, affordable SUV that could appease buyers who want the power but not all of the high tech (and high priced) bells and buzzers. Just like my awesome 1983 Dodge Ramcharger that could do everything that the Ram 1500 could from the same model year while also having lots of dry storage space and room for five passengers - while also having a rugged, sturdy exterior.

Here is my idea...and you heard it here first.

In an effort to bolster sales of the Ram brand, Chrysler builds a new sport utility vehicle based on the Grand Cherokee/Durango platform. This model would have a unique look of its own across the front and back with a body dressing that gives it a higher riding look. While it would come with the goodies from the other company SUVs, it would pack a standard Hemi V8 engine (the one from the Ram 2500...not the one from the Ram 1500), 4WD, basic interior amenities, gearing to make it the most powerful SUV on the American market and a price tag in the $31,000 range. The Ram brand has already used existing vehicle design to create the hardworking Ram Cargo Van, which is based on the Grand Caravan and Town & Country models - why not a hardworking SUV that packs lots of power, towing capacity and a low price? This vehicle would...of course...be named the Ramcharger.

I might be dreaming but if you look at the lack of an affordable, powerful, full sized SUV that can stand up to some abuse in the American market - there is an obvious need for a vehicle that can serve the same purpose as the old school models that made the big SUV an American mainstay.

Click here to head into the DodgeForum.com Ramcharger section and tell us your thoughts on a new Durango-based Ramcharger!

High performance legend Carroll Shelby has died

2012-05-11T22:31:02Z

Last night at Baylor Hospital in Dallas Texas, 89 year old Carroll Shelby - a man who had as great a hand as any in improving American performance cars over the last 50+ years - passed away after a lengthy battle with pneumonia. Rumors to Mr. Shelby's passing originally surfaced in late April to which Shelby himself replied on Facebook - proclaiming that he was in the hospital recovering from pneumonia with his family by his side. Sadly, Shelby's company issued a statement this morning announcing the passing of the automotive legend.

While Carroll Shelby's name is best known in modern time for his work with the Ford GT500 Mustang, Mr. Shelby had a profound impact on the world of Mopar Performance starting in the 1980s.

]]> The Shelby name first showed up on a Chrysler Corporation product in 1983 with the introduction of the Dodge Shelby Charger. This car, like the many "turbo Dodge" vehicles that followed over the 10 years as Carroll Shelby worked to invent the American sport compact segment, was powered by a diminutive 4-cylinder engine using turbocharging technology to make big (for the time) power. These cars were among the quickest on the street in the 1980s and 1990s but unlike most American performance cars that packed V8 power and focused mostly on straight line performance - the Shelby Turbo Dodge cars were as impressive in terms of handling as they were in all-out acceleration. Between 1983 and 1993, the Shelby name appeared on high performance versions of the Charger, the Omni, the Daytona, the Lancer, the Shadow, the Spirit and the CSX-T - which was based on the Shadow. Shelby also built 1,500 high performance Dakota pickups with V8 engines, some of which were convertible pickups. While with Chrysler, Shelby's performance works were unlike anything the market had seen before - but years later things like high performance compact cars and pickup trucks have become a hot commodity.

Finally, Carroll Shelby's most significant contribution to the Chrysler Group in recent time was his help with the development of the original Dodge Viper in the early 1990s. The mighty Shelby Cobra was among the inspirations for the open-aired Viper Roadster and Shelby's assistance was vital in making the Viper such an incredible performance car in every way.

The folks at DodgeForum.com send their condolences to the Shelby family in their time of loss. Carroll Shelby was an amazing man who arguably did more for the high performance automotive market than anyone in the history of the vehicle.

Dodge, Ram both grow in April 2012

2012-05-11T17:09:30Z

Even though April 2012 had only 24 selling days compared to 27 days in April 2011, both the Dodge and Ram brands were able to post year over year gains - even if only by a small margin. For the Ram Truck brand, an impressive 12% increase compared to April 2011 was reliant almost entirely on the Ram pickup family while the Dodge brand saw their overall sales figures in the short month grow by 2% compared to last April.

The Ram Truck brand was led in both growth and sales volume by the Ram pickup family. Ram moved 21,126 trucks in April 2012 compared to just 17,680 in the same month last year - an improvement of 19%. Pulling down the total sales growth of the Ram brand was the Dakota (which is long out of production) but even as the dealerships continue to sell off new-old stock, the Dakota moved 39 new units.

]]> The overall growth rate of just 2% for the Dodge brand is heavily due to discontinued models as the Nitro (-90%) and Caliber (-65%) both showed massive declines in sales due to them being out of production. The good news is that with a whopping 11,147 units sold, the refreshed Dodge Avenger (shown above in R/T trim) grew by 47% over April 2011 and with 11,183 units sold, the Dodge Grand Caravan improved by 27%. You know it is a good month when two of your highest volume vehicles show huge growth rates and the success of the entire model lineup is a big part of why the Chrysler Group has been killing the rest of the major automakers in terms of year over year growth for the past two years.

Last and certainly not least, in a month where the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang both saw significant declines in year over year sales, the Dodge Challenger improved by 13% in moving 4,102 new models.

What's New This Week: May 11th Press Release Roundup

2012-05-11T16:04:32Z

Sad news to end the week. Carroll Shelby died in Dallas yesterday after a long illness. He was 89.

Over the course of his life, the brash Texan had been a chicken farmer, test pilot and factory race driver for Allard, Maserati and Aston Martin. But he'll be remembered best as an automotive designer. Few cars are as imitated as his first creation, the Shelby Cobra, and his ferocious Mustangs--like the 662hp GT500--continue to deliver earthshaking performance.

The world is a little less bad ass today. Godspeed Mr. Shelby, and thanks for everything. Here's what else happened this week:

* Whether you're looking for more power or better fuel economy, aftermarket tuners can be your best friend, and Edge Products makes some of the best in the business. If you have a Ford Truck, you're going to want to check out the new CS and CTS tuners. Edge Products

* When I'm not driving my car, I spend a lot of time on my bicycle. Why? Because I like to eat, and if I didn't do at least 50 miles a week I'd weigh 300lbs. So I thought it was cool that Optima batteries has stepped up to sponsor the Build-a-Bike program, which helps underprivileged kids put together their own wheels. Optima

* Heather Peters thought that Honda misled her when it came to the mileage she could expect to get out of her Honda Civic, and while she initially, Honda prevailed on appeal. So if you want to fight a car company, class action is the way to go. MPGFraud

* If you spend any time off road, you know how important it is to keep your undercarriage away from all the sharp bits which constantly threaten to ruin your day. California company Trail Gear has just redesigned its offering for the Wrangler and in addition to the improvements, its dropped the price. Trail-Gear

* Sure, your baby might roll up in a brand new Cadillac, but they might have gotten a better deal than you thought. The General just released the sticker on the new ATS, and it's pretty reasonable. GM

A spring gift list for the Dodge lover in your life

2012-05-10T17:41:44Z

If you have a Dodge lover in your world who you want to spoil this spring, the many sellers at RacingJunk.com have a huge spread of different items that can help that Dodge owner go fast and look great doing it - whether they drive a Ram, a Viper or a vintage Mopar performance vehicle. There are thousands of go-fast goodies on RacingJunk.com but we dug through the many pages of the site to find a small collection of cool items that would interest a wide variety of Dodge owners.

If you know a Dodge or Mopar lover who may not be into modifying their vehicle but they want to show off their passion for the Chrysler Group brands, vintage advertising flyers make great décor for a man cave, a game room or a finished garage. Regardless of what vintage Mopar muscle car is preferred, this posting on RacingJunk.com offers a wide variety of the models that made the Mopar name famous - for just $25 bucks each.

]]> Do you know a Ram truck owner who actually uses their truck as a truck and beats up the top of the bedsides loading and unloading items into the bed? A set of diamond plate bed caps add a rugged look and make the upper edges of the bedside more durable for those who do serious hauling with their Ram. Best of all, since these bed caps have been gently used you can buy them for your favorite Ram owners pickup for just $100 bucks.

If you want to go one step further in helping that Ram (or Dodge Ram) owner take extra special care of his or her truck bed, a factory bedliner is a great way to protect from damage while also making it easier to clean out. As a long-time truck owner - a bedliner is a must and on RacingJunk.com you can get a Ram bedliner (2002-2013) for just $150. This includes the large part that fills the bed and the tailgate piece, fitting neatly under most tonneau covers.

What if that Dodge truck/Ram truck owner in your life wants a little more power out of their 5.7L Hemi powered pickup? RacingJunk has you covered with this set of Flowtech long tube headers for just $145. These particular headers are designed to fit 3^rd gen quad ram Ram 1500 pickups fitted with the 5.7L Hemi and these will add exhaust flow which in turns improves the sound and power output of the hearty American V8.

Do you know a vintage Mopar muscle car owner who wants to pull more power from their 340 or 360 cubic inch V8 engine? If so, this dual plane performance intake manifold can add power both at low and high RPMs for a great price. For those unfamiliar, this intake looks a great deal like the Edelbrock AirGap intake but with a price of just $169 - it is less expensive than the brand name version that has proven itself at tracks around the world.

If you know a Dodge Viper owner who wants to get into racing and somehow hasn't purchased lightweight race rims of their own, RacingJunk has this pair of obviously used Forgeline 11x17 rims wrapped in racing slicks of an unspecified brand. These rims are a little beat up from track time but with what sounds like a very negotiable price of $450 - this could be a great low budget gift for a Viper owner looking to make his or her supercar more capable at the track.

This one might seem a little odd but for the ultimate Mopar lover who wants to get into the world of circle track racing, we present you with this Dodge Avenger stock car. This vehicle doesn't come with an engine or transmission but with the Winters rear differential and a race ready chassis - this Avenger race car just needs a drivetrain to be ready for track time. With a price of just $2,850 for the rolling chassis, this Avenger race car will make any circle track racing and Mopar lover a very happy camper this spring.

Finally, if you are an insanely wealthy individual looking to buy a Dodge loving friend or family member a springtime gift that they will never forget - RacingJunk.com has this 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X. This is one of the fastest Dodge products ever produced with record times at a variety of tracks around the world including the famed Nürburgring. Thanks to the seller jeffburck159, you can buy this Viper ACR-X and send someone racing in the SRT Viper Cup right away...all for just $115,000.

Five hot Dodge cars available on Collector Car Nation

2012-05-09T18:40:56Z

I was recently flipping through the virtual pages of Collector Car Nation, a new addition to the company that oversees DodgeForum.com, and I thought that I would put together a short list of some of the wicked Dodge cars on the site. Collector Car Nation has a spread of cars - new and old - with the various vehicles broken down by brand which is ideal for someone shopping for a new (old) car.

Here are links to just a few of the Dodge cars on Collector Car Nation:
The odds are good that if you are on DodgeForum you have seen and loved the Stephen King automotive thriller Christine. This 1957 Dodge 2 door hardtop looks like Christine but it packs a major punch thanks to a 60 over 440.

I love the vintage days of drag racing and the 1963 Dodge 330 2-door is still a staple front runner in nostalgia racing classes around the country. This '63 330 packs a 528 cubic inch Hemi with a gorgeous red and white scheme - inside and out.

]]> You know that I had to feature a Demon and with a price of $15,500, this original 1972 Demon 340 is an all-original version of one of Dodge's last low-buck go-fast cars of the muscle car era.

While it is sometimes questionable to buy someone else's project, this 1971 Challenger R/T comes powered by a nitrous-injected 30 over 318 and a 340 short block - allowing you to either stick with that original 318 build or go a route of your own with the 340. In any case, it looks like a nice straight 71 Challenger R/T.

Last and certainly not least is a 1969 Dodge Super Bee 440 Six Pack. These cars can fetch six figure prices in the right venue but Collector Car Nation has this gorgeous clone for under $25,000. It packs all of the performance and attitude of the original factory built 440 Six Pack cars minus that big price tag.

2013 Dodge Dart production is underway

2012-05-09T18:21:57Z

Chrysler announced earlier this week that production of the 2013 Dodge Dart sedans headed to dealerships around the world have officially begun - with the first units expected to arrive in showrooms next month.

The first production model was a 2013 Dodge Dart Rallye, sporting the Redline Red Pearl Coat exterior and Black with Ruby Red interior. This first production Dart was also optioned with the 1.4L MultiAir turbo engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission - a combination that is good for 160 horsepower, 184lb-ft of torque, 27 miles per gallon around town and 39 miles per gallon on the open road.

]]> This initial production Dart Rallye was also upfitted with the rear view camera system and the power sunroof option. Like all new Dart sedans equipped with the Rallye package, this first Dart wears the unique, aggressive body kit with a special front fascia, a black grille surround, a set of black headlights, integrated dual exhaust and 17" aluminum wheels.

When the 2013 Dodge Dart arrives in showrooms starting in June, the hot new C segment sedan will be available in SE (base), SXT, Rallye and Limited trims. All of these trimlines come with the standard 2.0L Tigershark engine with 160hp and 148lb-ft of torque mated to a manual or automatic transmission but starting with the Dart SXT - buyers can opt for the more powerful and more efficient turbo 1.4L engine.

For those who want more performance and more luxury, the 2013 Dodge Dart R/T will arrive in the third quarter of 2012 with the 2.4L Tigershark engine packing 184 horsepower and 171lb-ft of torque - along with just about every feature offered across the range of Dart trimlines. There will also be an Aero model that is promising more than 41mpg but details on that model are limited to just the fuel economy for the time being.

Behind the wheel of the 2013 Dodge Dart SXT and Limited

2012-05-08T17:44:33Z

I recently had a chance to spend a couple hours tearing around Texas in the 2013 Dodge Dart; one being a Dart Limited with the 2.0L Tigershark engine and the other an Dart SXT fitted with the 1.4L MultiAir turbo engine and the 6-speed manual transmission. (I drove the red Dart in the middle and the silver Dart on the left side with the all-silver fascia of the Limited trimline)

Before we get into the specifics of the 2013 Dodge Dart, I should point out that I have spent a significant amount of time in the 2012 Ford Focus and the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze - two of the bestselling vehicles in the C segment sedan class that the Dart officially enters next month. Dodge hasn't had a serious contender in this rapidly growing segment since they killed off the Neon in 2005 but friends...I am here to tell you that the new Dodge Dart is the big hit that the Chrysler Group needs in order to take a slice out of the compact sedan segment.

]]> First of all, let's talk about the drivetrains of the 2013 Dodge Dart. Due to the late availability of the Dart R/T, I didn't have a chance to drive a Dart with the 2.4L Tigershark engine but I put a few hundred miles on the new 2.0L Tigershark and the 1.4L MultiAir engine borrowed from the Fiat 500 Abarth. The 2.0L Tigershark is the standard engine for the Dart SE, SXT, Rallye and Limited with 160 horsepower and 148lb-ft of torque making it one of the more powerful engines in the class - with only the Ford Focus equaling it in horsepower while still posting less torque than the entry Dart engine. This engine is strong, even when mated to the automatic transmission (forgive my love of the clutch pedal) and it allows the Dart an impressive pull from a stop along with strong 'passing gear' acceleration on the highway. Around town at lower speeds and RPMs, the automatic transmission shifts quietly and smoothly with the naturally aspirated engine being just as quiet but when you put the pedal to the floor - the transmission pulls the 2.0L engine well into the higher RPM range at which point you can hear the roar of the Tigershark engine.

The 2.0L entry engine of the 2013 Dodge Dart is a fine mill but for those who want a more engaging driving experience - the 1.4L MultiAir turbocharged motor mated to a manual transmission is the setup for you. While the horsepower output is the same as the 2.0L engine, the 184lb-ft of torque of the Fiat 500-turned-Dart engine makes a big difference. From a stop, there is a slight pause in acceleration while the turbo spools but by 2,000rpm or so - the Dart Turbo puts you back in the seat hard and keeps you there as you bang through the gears. While a short throw shifter would be on my wish list if I were to buy a new Dart Turbo, the manual transmission is user friendly both in the clutch function and in the shift pattern. I drive a great many vehicles with a manual transmission and I found the Dart to be one of the easier vehicles to get in and learn how to drive it hard - quickly.

The 2013 Dodge Dart does offers a nice, comfortable ride around town and on the open road but when you want to hammer the corners - the Dart is quick to oblige. The Dart has a larger look than other cars in the class but on the road it is very nimble; feeling like a much smaller car in tight quarters. At high speeds on the highway, the car was incredibly smooth for a lightweight sedan even on rougher surfaces where other sedans in this class are rough and noisy over uneven road surfaces. I'm looking at you...Corolla.

Overall, the 2013 Dodge Dart offers better performance than the competitors in the class both in terms of acceleration and handling without sacrificing in the way of comfort when not pushing the performance boundaries of the new Dart.

Based on the performance capabilities of the rest of the current Dodge brand lineup it should come as no surprise that the 2013 Dart is powerful and fun to drive but one area where previous compact Dodge products - and those similar models from other brands - have often suffered is in interior quality. This is a segment plagued in the past with low quality materials with pleather wrapped cardboard and exposed, practically unfinished surfaces. However...those are not problems that affect the new Dodge Dart.

One of our test vehicles was the new Dart Limited which is packed full of all sorts of high tech gadgets including the 7" customizable driver information center, the gigantic 8.4" infotainment screen in the dash and a premium sound and navigation system. However, even without those higher end amenities the Dodge Dart is still a very nice, solid car. The standard cloth surfaces in the SXT Turbo we drove is unlike other cloth upholstery options and the heavy duty feeling material provides a much higher quality feel than other entry level cloth interiors. Everywhere a driver or passenger will rest their arms - be it the center console, the upper edge of the door or the mid-door arm rest - there are incredibly soft padded surfaces. The interior provides plenty of headroom, elbow room and leg room for front and rear riding passengers; even when four adults are riding in the Dart. You could likely fit a fifth adult but it's getting a little cozy in the back once you get that extra person in the middle.

The 2013 Dodge Dart looks awesome on the outside and packs tons of content inside, even for the lower priced models. With more options, more standard features and a whole lot more power than competitors in the booming C segment sedan class - the new Dart should surely be the huge success that the Chrysler Group has been lacking since the Neon left the lineup.

Dodge and Mopar enthusiasts have long been clamoring for a real, solid replacement for the Neon and having driven the Dart in two different trimlines - I believe that the 2013 Dodge Dart IS the car that will bring back the success seen during the Neon era. Once the Dart R/T arrives in the third quarter of this year we will have a legit sport model and with the Dart Aero - the 2013 Dart will likely be the most powerful and most efficient compact sedan in the American market.

The 2013 Dodge Dart will begin arriving in dealerships this June in SE, SXT, Rallye and Limited trimlines and I insist that everyone who is in the market for a compact sedan checks out the Dart before making their final decision. This car offers everything that the competition has and more...with a price that makes it one of the more affordable cars in the segment.

Worlds Fastest Naturally Aspirated SRT8 Jeep Goes 10.57 in the quarter

2012-05-08T17:32:44Z

The Jeep might not be a Dodge in name, but it does have a Mopar heart beating underneath all that sheet metal. It's also not a car you'd normally expect to see at a drag strip, but this one is a little different. And by different, we mean that it is ludicrously fast.

]]>

People like to talk about sleepers, and how a busted looking car can suddenly show-up and lay waste to the smug and the proud. This is exactly the kind of vehicle that'll do that. No one expects and SUV to lay down a fast pass. To run a 10.57? All-motor? That's just unbelievable. It's not wonder then that this is the fastest all-motor SRT8 Jeep in the world.

The best part? They're working on adding nitrous.

Fastest non-turbo Jeep we've seen. Tell us what you think in the forums!

Keselowski wins in Talladega!

2012-05-07T22:58:32Z

This past weekend marked the 10^th stop on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and with it came the second win for Team Penske and Brad Keselowski in his #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger. Keselowski started in the 13^th position and worked his way to the front of the field during the high speed race around the 2.66 oval track.

Late in the race, a caution flag led to a green-white-checked system that saw Keselowski pushed past then-leader Matt Kenseth by Toyota driver Kyle Busch on the second to last lap. Then, during the last lap of the race, Keselowski was able to out-muscle the Toyota Camry car of Busch to preserve the win. Teammate AJ Allmendinger, who started on the outside of row 1 - finished 15^th.

]]> th spot in the 2012 Sprint Cup season standings while AJ Allmendinger also moved up one spot, now sitting in 20^th.

Things weren't so great for the two Dodge entries in the Saturday NASCAR Nationwide Series as Keselowski had a strong start at 9^th but struggled all day to finish a fairly disappointing 20^th - one lap off the pace. Keselowski's teammate Sam Hornish Jr was towards the front of the field late in the race but ended up edging out Danica Patrick for 12^th in what turned into quite a melee. As the two crossed the line with Hornish claiming 12^th, his Dodge Challenger drifted up the track - squeezing the sexy female driver into the wall. Patrick glanced off with little impact but as the two cars entered turn 1 (after the race was over, mind you), Miss Patrick got into the back of Hornish's car - sending him into the outside wall in a fairly violent fashion. Danica played it off as an accident that she wrecked Hornish but many believe that it looked fairly intentional. Perhaps she was too busy texting her BFF about evening plans to see the slowing field but in any case - Hornish finished 12^th with a wrecked car. His finishing spot allowed him to hold onto his 4^th place spot in the season points.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series both head to Darlington this weekend.

ALMS looks at the Viper's top 5 wins

2012-05-07T18:03:16Z

The folks at the American LeMans Series are as excited as we are about the return of the Viper to the racing world and leading up to the ALMS debut of the 2013 SRT Viper GTS-R later this season; the racing league has put together a video review of the top 5 wins for the original Viper race program.

The Dodge Viper did plenty of winning in the American LeMans Series, taking the top spot for the GT Super class in all 6 races in they entered in 1999 and winning 10 of the 12 events entered in the 2000 season. The Team Oreca Viper GTS-R race cars were the dominant force in the GTS class through those two years with the #91 taking home the majority of the major wins with a variety of different driver combinations at the helm.

]]> The #92 Team Oreca Viper was a regular runner up in many of those races (shy of the #3 race where the #92 car crashed) and at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2000 - the Viper claimed all three of the GTS podium spots with the #93 Viper claiming third behind the other two Team Oreca Vipers.

Later this season, the 2013 SRT Viper GTS-R will return to theAmerican LeMans Series with a pair of factory backed 2013 Viper race models and four drivers to reintroduce the ALMS world to the awesomeness that is the Viper racing program.

Check out the video below for a closer look at the original Viper GTS-R race program dominating the ALMS GTS Class in 1999 and 2000.

Ram sponsors tomorrow's 2012 Kentucky Derby

2012-05-05T02:49:16Z

Tomorrow at 6:24pm Eastern Standard Time, the 138^th running of the Run for the Roses will take place as the horses take the post for the 2012 Kentucky Derby and the Chrysler Ram Truck brand is once again one of the key sponsors for horse racing's crown jewel.

In addition to having the Ram Truck brand proudly displayed on the Kentucky Derby website over the past few months, Ram trucks will be prominently featured in unqiue displays around the grounds as well as those trucks used to provide services during the weekend's races which are capped off by the 2012 Kentucky Derby.

There will be a variety of 60 second Ram Truck commercials that run during the broadcast for the Kentucky Derby along with all of the day's televised races as well as signage in and around the grounds at Churchill downs. There is also a short segment slated by the folks at NBC Sports featuring the Ram 1500 and Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn.

]]> Those track officials who help to load the horses into their positions in the starting gate for the 2012 Kentucky Derby will be sporting Ram Truck brand apparel (which unfortunately could be rain gear) and for the owners, jockeys and trainers the Ram brand will once again host the "Horsemen's Lounge". This is an area for the race teams and their jockeys to relax between the day's races with television, internet and refreshments along with more Ram branded displays for these wealthy horse racing participants.

Horse racing fans can catch the early action from Churchill Downs tomorrow from 11am to 4pm (all times Eastern Standard Time) on the NBC Sports Network and the actual coverage of the Derby comes on the air at 5pm on NBC with the main event set to begin at 6:24pm.