2012 Chrysler Town and Country Limited

Familiarize yourself with the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country. Under the hood you’ll find a 6 cylinder engine with more than 270 horsepower, providing a smooth and predictable driving experience. A wealth of standard features means that you no longer have to sacrifice. Such as remote keyless entry, a built-in garage door transmitter, a blind spot monitoring system, automatic dimming door mirrors, power front seats, heated steering wheel, reverse sensing system, and seat memory. Features such as automatic climate control and leather upholstery prove that economical transportation does not need to be sparsely equipped. Storage solutions are integrated throughout the interior, demonstrating thoughtful attention to detail Power adjustable pedals allow the driver to optimize his or her driving position, enhancing visibility, comfort and safety. Rear passengers enjoy the seat heating functionality, keeping them warm during the winter months. Passengers in the third row enjoy seat back reclining functionality, providing an extra level of comfort and convenience. With high intensity discharge headlights illuminating your path, you’ll always appreciate maximum visibility. For drivers who enjoy the natural environment, a power moon roof allows an infusion of fresh air. Premium sound drives 9 speakers, providing you and your passengers a sensational audio experience. Rear LCD monitors provide entertainment that your passengers will appreciate no matter how far the drive. Chrysler also prioritized safety and security by including: dual front impact airbags with occupant sensing airbag, head curtain airbags, traction control, brake assist, anti-whiplash front head restraints, ignition disabling, and 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS. You’ll never lose visibility with rain sensing wipers, which activate automatically when the drops start to fall. We pride ourselves in the quality that we offer on all of our vehicles. Stop by our dealership or give us a call for more information.

mensjournal.com The Wrangler rejuvenated

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeep’s favorite son has changed little in 60 years. But the 2012 upgrade is so undeniable — more power, better mileage, all the same off-road tenacity — even the purists are happy.

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by Ezra Dyer

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The Jeep Wrangler evolves at roughly the same rate as the shark, which has been rocking the same look for about 20 million years. Other than a flirtation with square headlights in the ’80s,  Jeep’s little proto-SUV has remained true to its stylistic roots since the days when Willys Jeeps were storming Normandy. Unfortunately, the adherence to tradition also extended to the hardware beneath the Wrangler’s slab-sided skin.

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The Wrangler got coil springs in ’97. Last year Jeep gave the Wrangler a new interior, and for 2012, the vehicle has undergone the most significant improvement in decades: a truly new engine, Chrysler’s 3.6-liter Penta­star V-6. With four valves per cylinder and variable valve timing, the Pentastar simultaneously addresses the two major gripes with the old Wrangler: It was slow and got bad gas mileage. Now, with 285 horsepower, the Wrangler is surprisingly quick, at least in its two-door guise, and with 21 mpg on the highway, its fuel economy even edges into the land of respectability.

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But Wrangler owners are famously change-averse — some are still griping about the ’97 spring upgrade — so I head to North Carolina’s Uwharrie National Forest to meet up with the Bragg 4×4 club and see if the diehards can learn to love overhead cams.

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This isn’t necessarily a Jeep club, and yet nearly everyone is driving a Wrangler (the exception is Mike, who’s in a jacked-up Blazer). The ringleader, David, explains that we’ll be climbing up into the hills toward a spot called Kodak Rock. I assume that Kodak Rock is so named because it overlooks some scenic vista, but I soon find out the rock itself is the photo op. When — or if — you make it over this rude geologic obstacle, you’ll want a memento to prove it.

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I’m driving the popular two-door Wrangler Sport, with a new five-speed ­automatic transmission. It has a shorter first gear, providing more precision when rock-crawling in low range. While this isn’t a full-attack Rubicon model, the Sport has an upgraded tire package with beefy 32-inch-tall Goodyears. With the big tires and short wheelbase, it evokes a bear cub that hasn’t quite grown into its paws.

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The trail is fairly mellow until we reach Kodak Rock. The boulder field amounts to a so-called moderate trail, but there’s no easy way up the cratered, rubber-smeared rock face. However, when your rearview mirror is filled with Blazer, there’s no way out but up. I carefully aim to put the largest rocks under the tires and hope for the best. I manage to scramble over a particularly unsavory segment, but the edge of the tailpipe gets pinched on a rock. Meanwhile, the towering Blazer behind me gets stuck. Mike wraps a tow strap around a tree and winches his way up. “This is what I’d call a Jeep trail,” he observes somewhat sourly.

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Still, even hardcore Jeep guys spend most of their time on the pavement, and that’s where Chrysler’s new V-6 really makes a difference. After the climb, I spend a few minutes talking with a guy named Chris who’s just bought a 2011 Wrangler. I toss him the keys to the 2012, and we pull out of the parking lot. I goad him into flooring it, and he runs to redline in first gear. “It pulled all the way to 6,500 rpm,” he says with some amazement. I point out that I’ve been getting more than 20 miles per gallon on the highway, because the more powerful motor means you don’t need to drive around at wide-open throttle to keep pace with traffic. “Holy crap,” he says. “I think mine’s getting something like 15.”

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Given that the prices have stayed about the same, the new motor is a win-win. Unless, that is, you just bought a 2011. Later, Chris utters a phrase that will probably leave the lips of many a 2011 Wrangler owner. As he hands me back the key, he says, “I should’ve waited a few months.”

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This article originally appeared in the November 2011 issue of Men’s Journal.

New 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Named “4×4 of the Year”

New 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Named “4×4 of the Year” by Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine

• Jeep Wrangler earns prestigious award from leading off-road enthusiast publication
• “4×4 of the Year” award is Wrangler’s third award in last week
• Jeep Wrangler boasts dramatically improved on-road performance and even more off-road prowess for 2012
• New 3.6-liter V-6 engine improves fuel efficiency up to 21 miles per gallon, with 285 horsepower (40 percent improvement) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (10 percent improvement)
• Wrangler powertrain now includes new five-speed automatic transmission – shared with Jeep Grand Cherokee – for refined shifting and greater performance

Auburn Hills, Mich. , Oct 31, 2011 – The off-roading experts at Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine have awarded the new 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon their top honor: “4×4 of the Year.” Powering the legendary Wrangler to the title was its new Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine that transforms the Wrangler’s driving experience on-road, while giving the most-capable production off-road vehicle in the world even more off-road mastery.

“The 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is the most competent 4×4 ever produced,” said Rick Péwé, editor-in-chief of Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road. “The Rubicon gives you complete confidence in its terrain tackling abilities. It allows you to take the trail less traveled without worrying about the journey. And it does so while leaving a smile on your face. This is one fun ride.”

Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road’s “4×4 of the Year” competition included a thousand miles of trails, where editors evaluated suspensions, drivetrains, transfer case functionality, and off-road performance – on sand, mud, dirt and rock – as well as styling and value. They tested everything from how well a vehicle climbs up a rock to how fast it can drive across the desert, and every scenario in between.

“No one puts a vehicle to the test more thoroughly than the editors of Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road, so Jeep is especially proud to win this prestigious award,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has long been the most capable vehicle on the planet. With a completely new powertrain for 2012, it has reset the capability benchmark, while simultaneously offering consumers more fuel efficiency, horsepower, and on-road performance in every-day driving.”

This latest honor from Petersen’s 4-Wheel and Off-Road magazine is the third award for the new 2012 Jeep Wrangler in the last week. Last week, the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) named Jeep Wrangler Unlimited the “Mid-Size SUV of Texas,” while a panel of journalists and professional athletes awarded it the “Best Off-Road Value” in the 2012 Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year competition.

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler
Jeep Wrangler – the most capable and recognized vehicle in the world – becomes even more capable both on- and off-road for 2012, courtesy of an all-new, more fuel efficient and more powerful 3.6-liter V-6 engine, and a new five-speed automatic transmission – both of which it shares with the award-winning Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Chrysler Group’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine – winner of the prestigious Ward’s 10 Best Engines award – delivers 285 horsepower (209 kW) and 260 (353 N•m) lb.-ft. of torque, while delivering up to 21 miles per gallon highway in the 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The improvement, when compared to the previous 3.8-liter V-6 engine, is 40 percent in horsepower and 10 percent in torque.

Additionally, for refined shifting and greater performance, the Jeep Wrangler migrates from a four-speed to a new five-speed automatic transmission. The 2012 Jeep Wrangler also features the company’s first application of a manual transmission to the Pentastar V-6.

Jeep continues to refine the successful Wrangler formula by combining legendary, benchmark capability with an interior that delivers rich styling with significantly upgraded touch surfaces, occupant comfort and versatility, and a premium appearance courtesy of a body color hard top for the popular Sahara and Rubicon models.

2012 Jeep Wrangler interior highlights include a recently redesigned instrument panel and storage areas with improved ergonomics and upgraded materials. A lockable console and upgraded door armrest areas boast comfortable touch points, while a redesigned center stack is easier to reach and operate. Heated, power mirrors are available, and drivers and passengers enjoy enhanced visibility courtesy of large rear windows.

Jeep Brand
Built on 70 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV brand with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup includes Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. To meet consumer demand around the world, all six Jeep models are sold outside North America – and all are available in right-hand drive versions and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options. Chrysler Group LLC sells and services vehicles in approximately 120 countries around the world.

2012 DODGE DURANGO NAMED “FULL-SIZE SUV OF TEXAS” BY TEXAS AUTO WRITERS ASSOCIATION

 

Dodge Durango, the segment leader in power, towing capacity and driving range, wins “Full-Size SUV of Texas” award.

 

The Texas Automotive Writers Association (TAWA) hosted its annual “Texas Truck Rodeo”  in San Antonio

October 24, 2011 , SAN ANTONIO - Nearly 60 journalists belonging to the Texas Automotive Writers Association (TAWA) spent two days driving the industry’s newest sport-utility and crossover vehicles in San Antonio late last week, and when the dust settled, the new Dodge Durango stood proud as the winner of the prestigious “Full-Size SUV of Texas” honor. “It’s always an honor when opinion-leading journalists recognize the tremendous capability, style and value we’re offering with our all-new lineup of Dodge vehicles,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Dodge Brand. “With Durango’s standard seven-passenger seating, class-leading towing capacity and driving range, the Dodge Durango offers a true no-compromise solution, blending capability and refinement into one stylish SUV.” The TAWA media take many customer demands into consideration when evaluating the vehicles, including everything from exterior styling and on- and off-road capability, to the entrant’s overall utility, value and fuel efficiency. “The 2012 Dodge Durango made quite an impression at this year’s TAWA Truck Rodeo,” said Mike Herzing, President of TAWA. “With its spacious and refined interior, impressive driving dynamics, and class-leading towing capability, it’s only fitting that the Dodge Durango is named the 2012 Full-Size SUV of Texas.” Earlier this year, the Dodge Journey seven-seat crossover was recognized by TAWA, winning the coveted “Family Car of Texas” award. About Dodge Durango With its class-leading towing and driving range of more than 550 miles, V-6 and V-8 engine choices, four-wheel independent suspension, near 50:50 weight distribution, and responsive steering and handling, Durango has functionality and driving dynamics unlike what you typically find in a seven-seat Sport Utility. No other SUV on the road compares with the all-new Dodge Durango’s distinctive bold Dodge design that craftily houses a spacious three-row, seven-passenger functional, flexible and premium interior, covered in soft-touch materials. Durango features more than 30 storage areas, 28 seating configurations and a rear cargo area of nearly 85 cubic feet that fits a six-foot couch with room for coffee table or a 10-foot ladder with the front passenger seat folded flat. Utility may be one of Durango’s key attributes, but safety did not take a back seat during development. The 2012 Dodge Durango was recently named a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

 

2012 Jeep® Grand Cherokee SRT8

2012 Jeep® Grand Cherokee SRT8 goes to the track, Truck Trend, December issue

 

A road course, not rock-climbing, is exactly where the 2012 Jeep® Grand Cherokee SRT8 feels most at home, Truck Trend said. While the Jeep isn’t sports-car precise, it is big fun, Truck Trend said. Driving the big SRT8 across a lakebed fulfills every “Mad Max” fantasy you’ve ever had, the article said. It isn’t a muscle car, but an old-school hot rod; this may not be a traditional Jeep in the go-anywhere, conquer-the-trail sense, but it is imbued with that same sense of adventure and spirit, Truck Trend said. It isn’t trail-rated, but it is track-, lakebed-, and road-rated, the article said.

Domestic Car of the Year: 2011 Chrysler 300

 

The 2011 Esquire Car Awards

THE SPECS /// 292-HP 3.6-LITER V-6, 363-HP 5.7-LITER V-8 /// 27/18 MPG (V-6), 25/16 MPG (V-8) /// $27,995

 

The Chrysler 300, a legend in its own time, was approached with caution. The basic platform was kept, but the set dressing got a healthy rework. The 300′s future-mobster bodywork, as much an icon as Lucky Luciano, was toned and smoothed with an eye toward German sophistication. The chintzy, hollow cockpit was dumpstered and replaced by acres of soft surfaces and confident class. Engine options, a decent V-6 and a strong V-8, were tweaked, and they spit out good power without chugging fuel. (The tire-burning, Hemi-powered SRT8 model arrives this fall. Hide your children.)

The glory here is continued relevance. In a single stroke, Detroit’s only Italian car company breathed new life into the Motown luxury sled, something most people had long left for dead. The 300 is the kind of deeply cultural car your dad bought and kept for decades, a brand of four-wheeled American charm we never expected to see again. You can love it. And you should.

Now that Hurricane season is in full swing ……….. bring your vehicle in for that safety check to make sure it’s ready when evacuation time comes !!!

Dodge Trio Shines in J.D. Power APEAL

A J.D. Power and Associates survey of which new cars are best loved by owners shows good news for Chrysler Group’s Dodge brand, a CBS Moneywatch blog said. The story notes that Dodge had winners in three categories  up from none last year and enough to tie it with luxury stalwart BMW in the Auto-motive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study. The Challenger, Charger and Durango led their respective segments. Coming on the heels of a strong sales year for the Dodge, Jeep® and Chrysler brands, the survey results mark another big notch in the belt of Chrysler Group,‖ CBS Moneywatch said. “We put a lot of effort into 16 new cars, and this is where we really get an opportunity to see how much the people who bought the new cars liked them,” said Chrysler Group’s quality chief Doug Betts, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

The Jeep brand improved by 32 points and Chrysler increased by 27 points com-pared to the industry’s average improvement of three points, Allpar.com noted. Dodge had the most top-ranked vehicles of any domestic manufacturer, All-par.com said. The APEAL Study examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on owner evaluations of more than 80 vehicle attributes, Allpar.com said.  In more good news for domestic automakers, the top three vehicles that improved the most from last year are all domestic—the Dodge Charger, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Ford Explorer, AutoWeek said.

Charger screams “American Performance”

 

 

The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger R/T still screams “American performance,” pro-claimed The Truth About Cars website in a recent review. One push of the start button and the Charger R/T’s main selling point roars to life: the 5.7L HEMI®, The Truth About Cars said. The familiar brash form of the previous Charger is still there but a tad softer, the review said. Motor Trend’s digital staff celebrated America’s birthday on July 4 by picking their favor-ite new U.S. cars, and their list included the 2011 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. There are really only two choic-es for a domestic, full-size, rear-drive sedan, and they’re both from Chrysler Group, Motor Trend said. Following a comprehensive 2011 makeover, both are “substantial improvements” over their already well-regarded predecessors, Motor Trend reported. Interior quality has been “unequivocally ad-dressed” with much-improved materials, styling, and ergo-nomics, the magazine staffers said. For 2011, the Charger ampli-fied its “rock-and-roll looks” while hanging on to its “bona-fide family-car credentials,” according to the Family Car Guide. Despite the NASCAR-infused looks and the bad-boy image, the Charger provides good interior room and storage space for five people and their carry-ons, while it kicks in great safety scores and features, the Family Car Guide website re-ported. Motor Trend said the Charger offers the HEMI V-8 in two flavors: “smoky jalapeño 5.7-liter” and “habanero-hot 6.4-liter,” which powers the SRT-8 models.

SUVs now least likely for rollover crashes

 

By Peter Valdes-Dapena | www.CNNMoney.com  

 Thanks to electronic stability control and more stable designs SUVs like this Dodge Durango are now half as likely … Once feared for their dangerous rollover tendencies, high-riding SUVs are now much less likely to be involved in the deadly crashes than ordinary cars. In fact, someone driving a 2009 model year car is almost twice as likely to die in a rollover accident as someone driving a 2009 model year SUV.    That’s one of the surprising statistics from a new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety report comparing real-world auto accident death rates for various types of vehicles. The biggest factor in the declining rollover rate, and an overall declining death rate for SUVs drivers is electronic stability control, the Institute said. ESC is a computer-based system that helps drivers maintain control during abrupt maneuvers and on slippery roads. Now available on all SUVs sold in the U.S., it has greatly reduced the tendency of SUVs to skid and flip over. More stable car-based SUV designs have also played a role in decreasing SUV rollover death rates, Insurance Institute spokesman Russ Rader said. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a private group financed by auto insurers. SUVs, there’s one for everyone One of the big selling points for SUVs has always been safety. People believed that the big, heavy, high-riding vehicles kept them safer in a crash. But the tendency of SUVs to roll over, due to their tall bodies, offset much of that apparent safety benefit. While relatively uncommon, rollover accidents are far more deadly than ordinary impacts. With rollovers less of a factor, SUVs now have among the lowest crash death rates and are even safer, pound for pound, than big cars. Only minivans are safer. Each year, from 2006 through 2009, drivers of newer SUVs suffered an average of 28 deaths per million vehicles, according to the Institute. That’s about half the average driver death rate for cars, which was 56. The Institute only counts the driver’s death even if multiple people died in the vehicle that crashed. By doing this, multi-passenger vehicles can be more fairly compared to those that carry fewer people.  Although the technology is available on almost all types of cars, it’s still most common in SUVs. That’s largely why drivers in 2009 model year cars are almost twice as likely to die in rollover accidents as those in 2009 SUVs. Stability control has helped bring down death rates across the board. The overall death rate for 1989 to 1993 model year vehicles was 110 per million registered vehicle years. For 2005 to 2008 model year vehicles, the death rate is 48. Sheer size is still a big factor in auto safety, according to Insurance Institute’s analysis. Although many small cars get good crash test scores, the vehicles with the highest death rates are, in general, small and the ones with the lowest are mid-sized or larger. Death rates vary greatly from model to model for a variety of reasons. Besides the vehicles themselves, some car and truck models have lower death rates because of the way people tend to drive them. For instance, some high performance cars tend to have low death rates because owners drive them only occasionally.