Chrysler and Dodge to Recall More than 26,000 Vehicles in the U.S.

A new recall announced by the Chrysler Group will affect 26,397 owners of Chrysler and Dodge brand vehicles in the USA. The recall includes certain 2010MY Chrysler 300 and Sebring, and Dodge Charger, Avenger, Challenger and Journey, and some 2011MY Ram pickup trucks, because a power steering pressure hose may leak fluid onto a hot engine and cause a fire.

The U.S. automaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that dealers will inspect and replace if necessary the power steering pressure hoses free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin before the end of the October 2010.

Owners may contact Chrysler for more information regarding the recall at 1-800-853-1403.

According to reports, 13,000 vehicles are also being recalled outside the U.S. for the same problem.

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

2011 Dodge Journey Facelift: First Official Photos and Details

The Chrysler Group continues to bombard the U.S. market with new or refreshed products, the latest being the revised 2011 Dodge Journey which has been given a mid-life facelift with a redesigned and retuned suspension, a new V6 engine, a completely new interior and some subtle exterior tweaks.

The big news here, of course, is the Journey's newly crafted interior with higher-quality materials which puts the outgoing model's cabin to shame (not that it was hard..). Just about everything you see on the dashboard is new, including the sporty looking instrument panel with a standard electronic vehicle information center featuring a full-color display backlit.

The makeover is completed with a new multi-functioning three-spoke steering wheel, larger front storage bin with side nets, newly designed seats and controls, as well as an available Uconnect Touch media center with a touch-screen display. Dodge said the mid-size crossover offers six new interior color and trim options.

On the outside, the cosmetic changes are far less prominent and are limited to the new front fascia sporting the brand's signature "split crosshair" honeycomb grille, restyled fog lamp bezels, available 19-inch wheels, a less angular rear fascia and LED tail-lamps. In addition, the V6 models get a more aggressive lower fascia with a honeycomb grille.

Underneath the hood, the Journey receives the Chrysler Group's new 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine delivering 283 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The firm's engineers also made changes to the 2011 Journey's suspension geometry and steering system, and added different tires to improve ride and handling. The company claims it also reduced noise, vibration and harshness by installing new, premium sound-deadening treatments and insulation throughout the vehicle.

The revised Dodge Journey, which is built in at Chrysler Group LLC's Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico, is scheduled to arrive in U.S. dealerships in the fourth quarter of 2010 and will be available with five- or seven-seat versions.

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Hell Yeah; Dodge Teases Viper V10-Powered Chrysler 300 SRT10 on Video

Dodge has published a video of a current generation Chrysler 300 badged as the SRT10 and fitted with a Viper-sourced 8.4-liter V10 powerhouse on its official Youtube channel. The company did not provide any intel on the car, but it did ask the question, "What happens when you put a Viper engine into a Chrysler 300?". Feel free to post your answers in the comments section below.

A quick search on the net failed to return any results on the Chrysler SRT10, so this V10 powered project car could be anything from an older private build to a new tuning proposal for the upcoming 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas this November. We just don't know - yet.

Those of you with a strong memory, will surely recall the Detroit firm's 2008 SEMA Show Dodge Challenger SRT10 Concept car powered by the Viper's 8.4-liter V10 engine churning out 600 wild ponies and 560 lb. ft. of torque. If you don't remember it, scroll down and refresh your memory with the promo video.

Source: Dodge , Via: eGMcartech

_______________________________VIDEOS_______________________________

New Chrysler 200 May be Rebadged as a Lancia in Europe

Chrysler's redesigned / facelifted Sebring, which will go on sale in the U.S. later this year as the new 200 sedan, was only just released on Tuesday, yet we already have news that it may be sold in mainland Europe as a Lancia and as a Chrysler in the UK and Ireland (the Italian firm has withdrawn from these markets). The Fiat Group is considering the move not so much for retail sales as to help boost fleet sales in key markets such as Germany and the UK.

"We are running numbers to see if it could become a profitable business case," Olivier Francois, CEO of the Chrysler and Lancia brands told Autonews Europe.

The news site reports that a major drawback to this move is that no diesel engine will be available on the 200 in the United States, where the car will be offered with 2.4-liter 4-cylinder and 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engines. However, the report doesn't mention that the current Sebring [Convertible] is offered with a 2.0-liter CRDi turbodiesel engine in certain European markets.

The main problem is the cost and the fact that the 200 would be sold for less than three years in the European market since the Fiat Group is planning to replace the car with all-new model for both Chrysler and Lancia brands in late 2013. The relatively short sale timeframe would make it difficult for the company to recover the investment.

On that note, industry sources state that the Fiat Group will have to spend around €50 million ($70 million) to modify the 200 for Europe. This number is said to include adapting the car for diesel engine(s) as well as redesigning certain parts such as bumpers and lights.

If the Fiat Group makes a business case for the Lancia-badged 200, expect to see the car arriving in the market in the second-half of 2011.

Source: ANE [Sub. Req]

*The opening picture is a Carscoop photoshop

____________________________CHRYSLER 200___________________________

Chrysler Drops the Curtain on New 200 Sedan

After bringing you dimly-lit pics of the Chrysler 200's exterior last week, as well as some hints of the potential jump in interior quality, we now have EVEN MORE official photos from Chrysler.

Finally, we get a glimpse of the post-Sebring in some proper lighting. Although we now have a much better view of what the nose and tail will look like, I'm still waiting for the rear 3/4, profile, and interior shots before an official judgment is thrown out there.

From what I'm seeing, the new front and rear treatments integrate well with the old Sebring's body while adding some decidedly classier (and modern) lines to the chunky mid-sizer.

For all the specs and pics that have dropped so far, check out our previous posts, but as a refresher, Chrysler will offer the new 200 sedan with a 2.4-liter I-4 World Gas Engine mated to either a four-speed or six-speed automatic, or the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine linked to a six-speed automatic.

As for me, I'll be here in my jammies twiddling my thumbs, waiting to see what they did with the interior. Oh, and the AWD mentioned in the comments of the last 200 update would be a nice addition, too.

By Phil Alex

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________