Dodge Boss Says Chrysler is considering New Barracuda

Is there room in the U.S. market for an another retro-style muscle car? According to Ralph Gilles, Chrysler's chief designer and boss of the Dodge brand, the answer to that question is yes. At last week's SEMA aftermarket show in Las Vegas, Gilles told show-goers at the Mopar stand that he is "seriously thinking of how to revive the Plymouth Barracuda."

"There's a lot of pressure on us to bring the 'Cuda back," said Ralph Gilles. Speaking with reporters he added that "the customers have (been) stomping their feet for it."

Being that the Plymouth brand was phased out from the Chrysler Group's portfolio back in 2001, if the 'Cuda were to be revived, it would probably be marketed under the Chrysler brand. And like the original 1970s model, it would be based off the current Dodge Challenger.

This is not the first time that Chrysler Group has toyed around with the idea of bringing back the 'Cuda nameplate, but due to ownership changes and of course, last year's bailout, the company was forced to put all plans on hold.

Over the past years, we've seen a few concept models of the Cuda. At the 2007 edition of the SEMA Show, there was a custom-made build called the "BBP Project 'Cuda". That's the one featured in our photo gallery here.

The 'Cuda concept was handcrafted by Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters, which coincidentally, was the same company that manufactured the original Challenger Concept that lead to the current production model.

Though many might think that it isbased on the Challenger, the 'Cuda study is actually built on shortened version of a brand new 2007 Charger SRT8. The design of the car was inspired by its 1970-74 "E" Body ancestors. It was auctioned off by Barret Jackson in 2008 for $159,500. Metalcrafters also created a convertible version of the 'Cuda concept, which you can check out here.

Source: USA Today , Concept photos: Barret Jackson

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Chrysler Group Reports Smaller Losses in Q3 2010

A loss is a loss, but at least there's an improvement in the Chrysler Group's financial results for the third quarter of the year that ended on September 30, 2010. The American automaker, which is operated by Fiat SpA, reported an $84 million net loss in Q3, the smallest in the year and less than half the $172 million loss in the second quarter of 2010.

In other results, Chrysler said Net Revenues increased to $11,018 billion representing a 5.2 percent improvement over the prior quarter, while year-to-date Net Revenues, as of September 30, 2010, totaled $31,183 billion. The firm's operating profit rose 31 per cent from Q2 2010 to $239 million.

The company's global vehicle sales were 401,000 units for Q3 2010, a decrease of 1 percent compared to 407,000 units in Q2 2010. In the U.S., Chrysler's market share improved for the fifth consecutive quarter since the company's formation to 9.6 percent in Q3 2010 from 9.4 percent in Q2 2010 and 8.0 percent in Q3 2009.

After the announcement on the Q3 financial results, Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer of Chrysler Group LLC, stated:

"A year ago, Chrysler Group laid out clear and concise five year financial goals and after three consecutive quarters of better than forecasted results, we are not only living up to our commitments but we are also exceeding our 2010 financial objectives."

"Chrysler's financial success is dependent upon the vehicles we design, build and sell. In a mere 16 months, the Company is delivering 16 all-new or refreshed products led by the critically acclaimed all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and including the Fiat 500, signaling the return of the Fiat brand to the U.S. and Canada. We are committed to ensuring that every new vehicle this company launches has the same high quality and technological advances as the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Our 2010 accomplishments are just the beginning of building Chrysler Group into a vibrant and competitive auto maker," Marchionne added.

Chrysler Magnum and Dodge 300C in Face-Off...

Spotted outside the SEMA Show in Las Vegas was this odd creation pictured above; a hotted-up and lowered-down Chrysler 300C with a Dodge Magnum fascia - talk about family ties... And just in case you wondering what the opposite face-transplant would look like, we checked around out the tuner's website -that would be USWheel- and, not surprisingly, we discovered a Chrysler 300-snouted Magnum. More photos after the break.

Link / Source: USWheel

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Mopar Tunes from SEMA Show Including Fiat 500, Dodge Redline Charger and Jeep Grand Cherokee

Here are the first real life photos of some of the Mopar-tuned Chrysler Group products that were introduced at the SEMA aftermarket show in Las Vegas. If you follow the break, you can find photos of the customized Fiat 500, Dodge Redline Charger, Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee, plus a video with Mark Allen, head of Jeep Product Design, showing off three new Jeep studies.

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Dodge at SEMA: Video presentation offers first look at the 2011 Challenger SRT8's Interior

Last night, the Chrysler Group's Mopar division held a special media event at its SEMA Show booth in Las Vegas to show off its new goodies, which include the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Inaugural Edition, Charger Redline, Durango and the Rich Evans Mopar-powered Challenger. This video from the presentation provides us our first glimpse of the 2011 Challenger SRT8's interior, which doesn't look any different from the current model sans the newly designed and badged three-spoke sports steering wheel. Follow the jump to watch the video clip.

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SEMA 2010: Old Skool Look for New Dodge Challenger

If there's one thing we can be sure about SEMA, is the abundance of custom proposals for Detroit's trio of muscle cars - yes, we mean the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger. You can find just about any type of tune including some that don't make much sense like this here example of the new Dodge Challenger from Radiatnz Inc., which blends old-skool parts such as the vinyl roof top and chrome trim and bumpers with modern day amenities like LED lamps.

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Dodge Shows Off More of its 2011 Challenger SRT8 392

Dodge has released a new batch of photos of the limited run 2011 Challenger SRT8 392 Inaugural Edition, of which only 1,492 examples will be built (1,100 for the U.S. and 392 for Canada). Unfortunately, we still don't have any pictures of the interior, so we still don't know for sure if the Chrysler Group has applied some of its recent redesign-magic to the 2011 Challenger's cabin.

Set to make its world premiere today at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the Inaugural Edition debuts the firm's new 392 c.i. [6.4-liters] V8 HEMI that pumps out 470 ponies and 470 lb.-ft. of torque, or 45HP and 90 lb-ft more than the previous SRT8's 6.1-liter V8 engine.

The bigger and brawnier V8 HEMI also features Chrysler's Fuel Saver technology in automatic transmission [five-speed] equipped models, which allows the engine to operate more economically on four cylinders or use all eight cylinders when needed.

Drivers can opt for the available Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission that was first offered on the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10.

According to Dodge, the 2011 Challenger SRT8 392 can complete the 0-60 mph [96km/h] sprint in the high 4-second range and the quarter-mile in the high 12s.

Other changes for the 2011 Challenger SRT8 include a reworked suspension and steering system. Dodge claims that the 2011 Challenger SRT8 392 is capable of .93g on the skid pad - the most of any production Challenger to date.

Those that manage to get their hands on one of the Inaugural Editions of the 2011 Challenger SRT8 392, will be treated with exclusive exterior and interior content.

On the outside, there are 20-inch wheels, "392 HEMI" badges, Mopar quad exhaust tips, a larger front splitter, rear spoiler, integrated front fender spats and a body colored front grille. Buyers will have the choice of two colors, either Deep Water Blue with standard Stone White stripes or Bright White Clear Coat with standard Viper Blue stripes.

Interior upgrades include standard Smooth Pearl White leather-trimmed seats with dual blue stripes accented by unique blue stitching and a silver metal brush finish for the center instrument panel, center stack and console bezels. The door trim panels also feature silver metal brush grab handles inside Pearl White door bolsters with special blue accents.

Sales of the 2011 Challenger SRT8 392 Inaugural Edition will start within the next few weeks.

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