Autoblog

Considering that the Aspen is nothing more than a rebadged and gussied up Dodge Durango, it should come as no surprise that today Chrysler has announced a hybrid version of its ute to accompany the Dodge Durango Hybrid on the market in 2008. Both the Durango and the Aspen will feature a Two-Mode hybrid system – the one developed jointly with General Motors and BMW – paired with a 5.7L V8 HEMI engine featuring cylinder deactivation. Overall fuel economy should increase by 25%, while Chrysler predicts each utility vehicle will see their fuel economy in the city rise by some 40%. Each SUV will be wearing the above badge to indicate their greenness.
We're eager to see this Two-Mode hybrid system in action, and expect the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid to be the first on the market. AutoblogGreen has got some seat time scheduled with one in the near future and will report back with a full evaluation of how this technology works hauling around these behemoths.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

Want a $45,000 new vehicle but don't want to pay for it? Easy! Have your constituents pay for it. Of course, this requires crossing over to the dark side running for and winning a congressional seat, but once clear of that hurdle, it's fat city!

US Representative Stephen Lynch has been seen wheeling around in a Chrysler Aspen. We wouldn't care so much, but it appears that while the car is registered to Congressman Lynch, his personal ATM campaign fund made the $10,000 downpayment (aided by a meager $2,000 trade-in from Lynch's 2002 Envoy), and will be making the $766 monthly payments as well as the roughly $6,500 yearly insurance premium. Sounds like a sweet deal to us. Smells kinda like... pork. Perhaps it'd be less galling if he only bought what was really necessary, like a Durango. Or a Yaris. Something small would certainly save on emissions, wear and tear on the roads and go much further on a gallon of fuel. Why is it that everyone who fancies themselves important must ride around in an overly large vehicle being overtly inefficient?

[Source: Boston.com]

Soon after Chrysler announced a $1,000 incentive for consumers willing to trade their Accord, Camry, Fusion or Altima for a Sebring, more cash was offered up on some of their slower moving models.

Rebates are now available on the 2007 Chrysler Aspen and 2007 Jeep Compass, in the form of $1,000 for the former and $750 for the latter.

Both vehicles have garnered their fair share of criticism, mainly centered on what many see as botched badge engineering. In the case of the Aspen, the marketing of an upscale Durango has seemed to fallen flat and the Compass' lack of off-road cred has diluted the brand's rough and tumble image.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Voting is open for The Truth About Cars' first ever Ten Worst Automobiles Today (or TWAT) award that we told you about earlier in the month. The initial list of more than 120 reader nominations contained predictable TWAT-eligible autos like GM's ancient minivans, uh, sorry, Crossover Sport Van, a couple of Saturns, several DaimlerChryslers, and a few Korean models. Some vehicles that were nominated but didn't make the list included highly-respected vehicles like the Toyota Camry, Pontiac Solstice, Ford Focus and Honda Fit.

Using a highly refined proprietary system, TTAC staffers trimmed the candidates to 20. Voting for the Ten Worst Automobiles Today is now open until Wednesday. See the 20 TWAT candidates after the jump.

Per usual, as the year draws to a close, new car buyers are in a position to pick up outgoing 2006 models at discounted rates. Chrysler is no exception, but with huge supplies of pickups and SUVs laying stagnant on dealer lots, cash incentives began to go through the roof last week.

The newest mound of bennies persuading would-be buyers is $1,000 on vehicles that have a dealer invoice before April 1, 2006. Since these vehicles have been the slowest to sell, DaimlerChrysler is looking to do anything to unload them as quickly as possible.

One dealer in Oregon is reported to be selling Dodge Durango's at $8,000 below sticker, with $6k in rebates, $1k for financing with Chrysler's financial arm and another grand off if the SUV has been around since before April 1st. The newly released, Durango-based, Chrysler Aspen is also seeing substantial cuts to its pricing as supply is far-exceeding demand.

Since DaimlerChrysler announced they expect a $1.5 billion loss for the third quarter and production has finally been slowed to reflect current market trends, the automaker is trying to spell relief, C-A-S-H. Let's hope for their sake it works.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Chrysler took time out today to announce the pricing of its two newest models, the Sebring sedan and Aspen SUV. The Sebring will start at $18,995 for the four-cylinder model that uses the company's 2.4-liter World Engine producing 173 horsepower and 166 ft-lbs. of torque and mated to a four-speed (boo!) automatic. The Sebring will also be available in a Touring model that starts at $20,195 and comes with the same four-speed auto and a 2.7-liter flex-fuel V6 producing 189 hp and 191 ft-lbs. of torque, as well as the range topping Limited model that starts at $23,995 with a new six-speed automatic and the 3.5-liter V6 making 235 hp and 232 ft-lbs. of torque . The engines seem to get decent mileage with the four-cylinder and smaller V6 each delivering 30 mpg or more on the highway and the 3.5-liter V6 returning a respectable 28 mpg.

The Chrysler Aspen, which the company refers to as the "300" of SUVs, will start at $31,490. Two models will be available in both two- and four-wheel drive: the "E" Package and the "J" Package. The Aspen Limited "E" Pacage gets the 4.7-liter V8 and a five-speed automatic. While the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 is on option with the "E" Package, the mighty motor comes standard on the uplevel "J" Package along with wheels upgraded to 20-inches instead of 18, running boards, a power rear liftgate and rear back-up system. The Aspen Limited "J" Package also comes with a two-speed transfer case and skid plate group for when you want to get rough and tough in the backwoods with your "300" of SUVs.

Follow the jump for our thoughts on the challenges facing Chrysler pair of new products.

[Source: the Chrysler Group]