Autoblog

Chrysler recalling 278,222 trucks and SUVs over bad rear axles

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Recalls, Safety, Chrysler, Dodge

Chrysler has issued a recall of 278,222 light trucks and sport utility vehicles here in the United States. The reason: bad rear axles. Specifically, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the rear axle pinion nut may lack a necessary adhesive patch, which could cause the nut to loosen. If this happens, the axle can lock up, which could cause all sorts of havoc on the road.

This is an expansion of the rear axle recall announced in October of last year, where 44,300 Ram 1500 and Dodge Dakota models were being called in. At that time, 12 accidents had been reported due to the faulty axle pinion nut.

Affected vehicles include Ram 1500 trucks from the 2009 to 2012 model years, Dodge Dakota models from the 2009 to 2011 model years, and both the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango SUV twins, both from the 2009 model year only.

The official recall will kick off in March, where owners will be able to take their vehicles to dealerships and have a pinion nut retainer installed, free of charge. Scroll down for the official NHTSA bulletin.

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Chrysler recalling 278,222 trucks and SUVs over bad rear axles originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari debuts new snow and ice driving school in Aspen

Zach Bowman — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Ferrari, Event Alert, Luxury

If you're one of those good souls who doesn't mind getting their Ferrari out in foul weather, we have good news for you. The Italian automaker has just announced the creation of a special winter driving school in Aspen, Colorado. The 2012 Winter Driving Experience is the first snow and ice driving school in America, and should offer participants the chance to sample everything that the new Ferrari FF has to offer in low-traction situations on a custom-built snow and ice course. A fleet of eight FF models have been specially prepared for the task.

Ferrari says that the whole experience will set you back a cool $11,300, plus $950 per guest, though don't expect to lay down your credit card and hop in line unless you already own a Ferrari - the course is for current Prancing Horse owners only. The event will take place over three days and two nights, and Ferrari says that the instruction is based on the successful Pilota On Ice program made popular in Italy. Sounds like a good time to us. Hit the jump for the full press blast and check out the Ferrari site for more information.

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Ferrari debuts new snow and ice driving school in Aspen originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari offering Winter Driving Program in Aspen to FF buyers

Aaron Richardson — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Ferrari, Luxury

To help the well-heeled keep their 2011 Ferrari FFs out of the ditches in icy conditions, and give them something to plan a ski vacation around, Ferrari has announced it will hold a winter driving course for new FF owners in Aspen this winter.

The course is available with limited slots exclusively available for Ferrari owners over a six- or seven-week period this winter. The spots will be made available late this summer on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The American program is based on the Pilota on Ice programs Ferrari offered to European buyers in the Alps. Aspen may not be quite as shi-shi a setting, but an ice road laid down among Colorado's famous "fourteeners" sounds like a good time to us. See all the details in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Ferrari offering Winter Driving Program in Aspen to FF buyers

Ferrari offering Winter Driving Program in Aspen to FF buyers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zenvo's North American special edition ST1 50S comes with watch, $1.8 million price tag

Noah Joseph — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, MISC

Zenvo ST1 50S - Click above for image gallery

Denmark may not rank among the countries - like Italy, Germany or England - you'd list as the foremost producer of exotic supercars, but Zenvo is out to change that with the ST1. The Danish sportscar is coming to America courtesy of Red Sea Distribution, and not unlike the new Volkswagen Beetle with its Black Turbo Launch Edition (albeit at the other end of the spectrum), the ST1 is getting its own special edition exclusively for the North American market.

Only three examples of the ST1 50S - one each in red, white and blue - will be produced, each with a price tag of (wait for it) $1.8 million. That's a whopping $575k more than the existing ST1, so what do you get for all that extra cash? Well, aside from exclusivity, the twin-charged, in-house 7.0-liter V8 has been tuned up to a whopping 1250 horsepower and 1106 lb-ft of torque - 146 and 52 more, respectively, than the "standard" car - coupled to the seven-speed paddle-shifter that's offered as optional on the standard car over the six-speed manual.

A dedication plaque and monogrammed seats are also part of the package, and it comes with a special watch from Aspen, itself worth $49k. Deduct that from the purchase price and you're still paying $526k more for this special edition of an already seven-figure supercar. Follow the jump for the press release and check out the blue example (which is really just a recolored picture of the silver car above), along with the Aspen watch, in the included image gallery.

Continue reading Zenvo's North American special edition ST1 50S comes with watch, $1.8 million price tag

Zenvo's North American special edition ST1 50S comes with watch, $1.8 million price tag originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler announces Aspen Two-Mode hybrid

John Neff — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Green, Chrysler

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]

Chrysler announces Aspen Two-Mode hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boston congressman's campaign pays for his Chrysler Aspen

Dan Roth — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Government/Legal, Chrysler, Daimler

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]

Boston congressman's campaign pays for his Chrysler Aspen originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Dec 2006 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More cash on the hood of Chrysler products

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 19:06:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Crossover, Chrysler, Daimler, Jeep

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]

More cash on the hood of Chrysler products originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Nov 2006 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vote for TTAC's Ten Worst Autos Today

Chris Tutor — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

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.

Continue reading Vote for TTAC's Ten Worst Autos Today

Vote for TTAC's Ten Worst Autos Today originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Oct 2006 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More cash on the hoods of 2006 Chrysler products

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 07:35:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Earnings/Financials

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.]

More cash on the hoods of 2006 Chrysler products originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Oct 2006 07:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler prices Sebring sedan and Aspen SUV

John Neff — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, SUV, Chrysler, Daimler

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]

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Chrysler prices Sebring sedan and Aspen SUV originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Aug 2006 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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