Chrysler Group Announces Management Changes

June 7, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – Chrysler Group LLC today announced the following management team changes.

Fred Diaz is appointed President and CEO of Chrysler de Mexico, which includes responsibility for Latin America. Diaz continues in his current role as the President and CEO of the Ram Truck Brand.

Reid Bigland is named President and CEO of the Dodge Car Brand and head of U.S. Sales. Bigland continues as President and CEO of Chrysler Canada. In addition, the Company appointed David Buckingham to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer of Chrysler Canada, reporting to Bigland. Previously, Buckingham was Vice President – Sales, Chrysler Canada. Read more!

Mopar® Previews Customized Vehicles for 2010 SEMA Show

Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep® and Ram Truck Vehicles Get Mopar® Treatment

October 25, 2010 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – It’s SEMA season.

Mopar® is preparing 35 vehicles for the upcoming 2010 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, which takes place Nov. 2-5 in Las Vegas. Mopar will fill its 15,300-square-foot space with customized Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep® and Ram Truck vehicles.

“With five exhibits, the Mopar brand will have a major presence at SEMA,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and Chief Executive Officer – Mopar, Chrysler Group’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “Mopar will showcase cutting-edge technology, innovative accessories, authentic parts, and new customer-care initiatives. And our Moparized vehicles will be must-see.”

“We created an amazing cast of Mopar image vehicles for SEMA,” said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Car Brand and Senior Vice President – Product Design. “As all of our new vehicles arrive in dealerships this year, we want to inspire customization and personalization. Our Mopar image vehicles will definitely turn heads.” Read More!

Dodge Celebrates the Ultimate Factory Customized Viper
July 1, 2010 , Auburn Hills, Mich.
Dodge Brand President and CEO Ralph Gilles (right) and plant manager Shelly Brown Gordon (third from right) welcomed more than 400 hundred loyal Viper owners at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit today to present the ultimate factory customized 2010 Dodge Viper coupe to proud new owner D’Ann Rauh (second from right). Rauh and her husband Wayne from Arp, Texas, own more than 40 Dodge Vipers – the largest personal collection of Vipers in the world.

A member of the Mid-South Viper Club of America, D’Ann Rauh worked exclusively with the Dodge Design team to select the personal touches she wanted on her car. The custom bronzed gold exterior paint was supplied by House of Kolor. The custom interior features various leather appointments, which were crafted by Tony Spampinito from Venzano, who has worked with the Rauhs on previous Viper projects.

Bob Soroka, from Chrysler Group LLC’s Street and Racing Technology team, airbrushed layouts of Viper-significant race tracks into the custom-painted copper stripes applied by Prefix. The five-spoke forged-aluminum wheels are custom painted in dark graphite.

Members from both the Motor City Viper Club and the Viper Club of America participated in the celebration.

Rauh’s Viper is the last of the current-generation Vipers built at the plant. Dodge has created more special-edition Viper models for the 2010 model year than all other model years combined. Production on the Dodge Viper started in 1992.

It seems that Chrysler’s upcoming 6.4-liter V-8 gasoline engine will only be available for the SRT vehicles and not Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks. Joe Veltri, Chrysler vice president of product planning, said “it’s designed for performance, not low-end torque. It’s designed for off-the-line 0-to-60 times.”

He also added “it’s a struggle to recrank that engine to make it a truck engine.” As we can see, Chrysler maybe needs a gas engine with more horsepowers than the current 383 horsepower, 400 pounds-feet of torque 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 used in the Ram HD trucks.

Actually, in the heavy-duty segment between gasoline and diesel engines there is a tendency – from 75%/25% to 70%/30% today and maybe 60%/40% in the future (gas/diesesl). And the price of the diesel engines is rising up.

Official press release:
Geneva, Mar 2, 2010 – The Dodge Car Brand continues to offer customers around the world driving excitement, functionality and aggressive styling.

“The focus of the Dodge Car Brand is creating an all-new spirit and life built around strong American heritage in products that provide performance and personality,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – Dodge Car Brand and Senior Vice President – Product Design, Chrysler Group LLC. “The Dodge Charger SRT8 and Challenger SRT8 command attention by offering benchmark, all-around performance that appeals to unique customers who celebrate their achievements by living life to the fullest.”

At the 80th Geneva International Motor Show, the Dodge Car Brand showcases two iconic models – Dodge Charger SRT8® and Dodge Challenger SRT8 – both of which deliver the best of modern American muscle-car characteristics: unmistakable design, world-class handling, powerful engines and proven technology.

In 2009, the Dodge brand comprised nearly 35 percent of Chrysler Group LLC sales in markets outside North America, led by Dodge Journey as the highest sales volume vehicle and Dodge Caliber also as a top-five sales contender.

As the Chrysler Group product portfolio develops in markets outside North America, Dodge will become a specialty brand with a focus on regional sales for specific models.

Chrysler Group LLC sells and services vehicles in more than 120 countries around the world.

The Detroit News Readers’ Choice award for “Best Curves,” from the 2010 North American International Auto Show went to The 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10. This muscle vehicle was judged as the most expressively styled vehicle at the show.

Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge Brand said “The Detroit News Readers’ Choice award for Best Curves speaks perfectly to the sexy styling of the race-proven Dodge Viper’s design”.“The expressive styling of the iconic Dodge Viper gets everyone’s endorphins kicking and heart racing, even when it’s not hitting the redline at triple-digit speeds. And with its unique two-tone exterior color combinations and aerodynamic components, the even more passionate and track-ready styling of the Dodge Viper ACR looks even more unmistakable.”

Musclevehicles.com – The Ultimate Blog for American Muscle Cars and Muscle Vehicles