Chrysler Group Repays US and Canadian Government Loans in Full

The Chrysler Group announced the repay of U.S. and Canadian government loans totaling $7.6 billion (€5.39 billion), more than six years ahead of schedule. More specifically, the Detroit automaker made a payment of $5.9 billion to the U.S. Treasury (UST) and $1.7 billion to Export Development Canada (EDC) to retire the loans granted in June 2009. EDC is the holding company through which the Canadian federal and Ontario provincial governments provided loans to Chrysler Group. Read more »

Great variety of fun stuff over at Tamerlane's Thoughts, not all car stuff though, lots of travels

the above Land Rover advertisement is brilliant, go see the world and get your passport stamped
Who know Sammy had a Delorean?
The source of the above XJ220 Jag's tail lights? the below Rover... huh

Wow, rare Jeep FC 170 and Civil Defense with the old license plates!

these two were photographed at the Sonoma Marin Concours
all this variety is from just the only http://karakullake.blogspot.com/

Chrysler Reports Net Profits for the First Time Since Emerging from Bankruptcy

On Monday, the Chrysler Group LLC reported its first quarter gains since exiting bankruptcy almost two years ago in June 2009. The Auburn Hills-based automaker, which is now operated by Fiat S.p.A., said net income totaled $116 million in the first quarter of 2011 compared to a net loss of $197 million in the same period last year.

At the same time, the company’s revenues grew 35 percent from $9.7 billion in Q1 2010 to $13.1 billion in Q1 2011. In addition, the automaker said it had $9.9 billion in cash reserves at the end of the first quarter compares to 2.5 billion in December 31, 2010.

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Chrysler Group to Repay $7.5 Billion of Government Loans by the End of June

In order to pave the way for Fiat to reach 51 percent ownership of the Chrysler Group, the Auburn Hills-based automaker announced today that it intends to repay in full the loans provided by the U.S. and Canadian governments back in 2009 ($7.53 billion in total).

The Chrysler Group said it plans to complete the repayment during the second quarter of 2011 (ending in June). The company will use money from a new term loan facility plus a new issue of debt securities that will be sold to institutional investors in a private offering along with proceeds from Fiat’s recent cash infusion to increase its stake in Chrysler.

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Jeep Betting on Three New SUVs to Boost European Sales Five-Times by 2014

Jeep has disclosed plans to increase European sales from 25,000 units this year to 125,000 units by 2014. Europe will play a key role in Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne’s plans to double the brand’s global sales from 420,000 units last year to 800,000 units in 2014.

"Our plans for Europe are ambitious but doable. Europe for Jeep is an incredibly important market. We have been here for 30 years and half of our international sales historically were in Europe," Jeep CEO Mike Manley told Autonews Europe.

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New Footage of Jeep’s Build-it-Yourself Wrangler JK8 Independence Pickup Truck

Earlier this month, the Chrysler Group’s Mopar division unveiled a new do-it-yourself pickup conversion kit for the latest generation of the Wrangler modeled after the 1980’s Scrambler CJ-8. Called the JK-8 Independence, the kit allows the transformation of a four-door 2007-2011 Wrangler Unlimited into a two-door, two-seater pickup truck with a 50-inch long cargo bed.

Now, the Detroit automaker has released new running footage of the JK-8 Independence pickup conversion shot at the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, as well as a walkaround clip with Steve Hautman, a Mopar Performance Offroad Team engineer, providing us a brief explanation on the build. You can watch both clips right after the break.

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2011 NYIAS: Jeep Launches New Wrangler Mojave with Bespoke Features

The refined 2011 Wrangler has only been a few months into its U.S. market introduction but Jeep is already rolling out a special editions of its rugged 4x4. The latest addition to the Wrangler range is the Mojave, which is named after the western desert Mojave Trail, and comes with unique features inside and out, including an aggressive wheel and tire package. Read more »

465 Horses Make the 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8 the Fastest Jeep Ever

Jeep has given the SRT treatment to its flagship Grand Cherokee and the result is the creation of the firm’s fastest and most potent production model ever. How does a 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) acceleration of 4.8 seconds or a quarter mile time in the mid-13 second range sound? This is what the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is capable of, and the reason for these figures lies under the SUV's bonnet.

The Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology division (SRT for short) equipped the performance SUV with an all-new 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine that delivers 465 horsepower and 465 lb-ft (630 Nm) of torque.

Compared to the outgoing model powered by the 6.1-liter HEMI V8 unit, the new Grand Cherokee SRT8 has an extra 45HP and 45 lb-ft (61 Nm) of torque. About 90 percent of peak torque is available between 2,800 and 6,000 rpm. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 can do 0-100-0 mph in the mid-16 second range and has a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).

Read more »

Moparized Jeep Wranglers

Daftest model name of the year (so far) must be the Jeep Wrangler ‘Pork Chop’. Built in collaboration with Mopar, it’s a customised special that’ll first appear at the upcoming Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah.

Six such models are set to be unveiled, although for now only two have been revealed - the other being the much more sensibly titled ‘Renegade’.

Can’t wait to see what other weird monikers Jeep comes up with for the remaining four…



Related post:

Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty

this Jeep is well outfitted with period correct military paraphernalia

Just get it home... even when an axle breaks

Jeep minivan prototype designed by Brooks Stevens

Found on http://megamoto.tumblr.com/
But get info about it from http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2011/02/23/the-fc-150-van-now-in-color/

World Car Awards finalists

Sixty-six jurors from across the world have completed a first round of voting to determine the 2011 World Car Awards finalists.



With four different awards up for grabs, the shortlist models - in alphabetical order - are:





2011 World Car of the Year

• Audi A1


• Audi A8


• BMW 5 Series


• BMW X3


• Jaguar XJ


• Jeep Grand Cherokee


• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG


• Nissan Leaf


• Porsche Cayenne


• Volvo S60 / V60

Obviously, this is the big prize. Each of the finalists will be judged on ‘overall merit, value, safety, environmental responsibility, emotional appeal and significance’, a combination that has lead to some previous winners being very worthy but also just a bit dull.



What’s striking is that 2011’s entire crop is from premium or, in the case of the Volvo and Jeep, semi-premium manufacturers. Even the Nissan isn’t exactly mainstream, given its relatively high price.

The Leaf could well repeat its 2011 European Car of the Year victory, but it does tend to divide opinion. There are those who believe it almost makes petrol or diesel cars obsolete, while others won’t back an all-electric car until both battery range and the recharging infrastructure improve.







It’s hard to see either the SLS AMG or Cayenne winning, given their comparative lack of environmental responsibility. The BMW 5 Series has to be a contender given its all-round ability, but it would be good to see the Jaguar XJ clinch it, simply because it represents such a brave departure from previous generation XJ models.



Audi’s A1 probably ticks all the boxes. However, it’d be a shame for it to win because it’s essentially a tarted-up version of last year’s World Car of the Year, the Volkswagen Polo.





2011 World Performance Car

• Aston Martin Rapide


• Audi RS 5 Coupe


• Cadillac CTS-V Coupe


• Ferrari 458 Italia


• Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera


• Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG / CL 63 AMG


• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG


• Porsche 911 GT2 RS


• Porsche 911 Turbo


• Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250

This category is wide open, as it includes everything from a compact hot hatch to numerous supercars for the jurors to choose from. Audi has won the performance car award three times in the past five years, but it’ll be a surprise if the feat is repeated with the RS 5.









2011 World Car Design of the Year

• Alfa Romeo Giulietta


• Aston Martin Rapide


• Audi A7


• Citroën DS3


• Ferrari 458


• Honda CR-Z


• Kia Sportage


• Nissan Juke

There were originally fifty-one candidates in this category, which is expected to ‘highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries’ - a demanding set of criteria.

On that basis, the Aston Martin would seem to be a strong challenger, but arguably it’s the Nissan Juke that truly stands out as a unique design.



The shortlist was decided by a panel of five design experts but, as with all of the other awards, it’s now solely up to the jurors to arrive at a winner.







2011 World Green Car

• BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition


• Chevrolet Volt


• Hyundai Sonata Hybrid


• Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell


• Nissan Leaf


• Smart electric drive

Three environmental experts were asked to draw up the finalists for this award based on emissions, fuel consumption and the power plant technology employed.

Perhaps the Leaf stands a stronger chance of winning this category, but it may be the case that more jurors consider the Volt’s range extender concept as being more practical for everyday use.







But with its 109 g/km and combined cycle 68.9 mpg (4.0 l/100km), the 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition proves that cars with a traditional internal combustion engine can still be impressively green.







The next stage is that during February the jurors will vote again, but this time just on the finalists.



Following that ballot, the top three cars in each category will be announced at the Geneva International Motor Show on 1st March.



Then, bringing the process to a close, the 2011 World Car Awards winners will be declared during the New York International Auto Show in April.

Volt is Car of the Year

The Chevrolet Volt has been declared the 2011 North American Car of the Year. 49 jurors from across the United States and Canada gave it 233 points, making it the fourth time that GM has won the title.

Images © GM Corp.

In second place was the Hyundai Sonata, which received 163 points. Third went to the electric car that took the 2011 European Car of the Year award, the Nissan Leaf. It picked up 94 points.



Meanwhile, the 2011 North American Truck of the Year is the Ford Explorer, which earned 253 points. It comfortably beat the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which scored 138 points from the jury. The Dodge Durango, with 99 points, was third.

Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty

Jeep has marked the introduction of its 2011 Wrangler by announcing a special Wrangler Call of Duty: Black Ops Edition. As the name implies, this limited edition has been created following a marketing tie-up between Jeep and Call of Duty creators Activision Publishing, Inc.

The Call of Duty: Black Ops Edition is based on the 2011 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Changes from standard are mainly to the exterior, which is finished in black with Call of Duty: Black Ops graphics on the roof and front wings. High-gloss Mineral Gray wheels come shod in 32-inch off-road tyres, while the Mopar catalogue has been raided for the tail light guards and fuel-filler door.

Pricing in the US has been confirmed at $30,625 for the two-door model and $33,500 for the four-door, including $750 destination. The Wrangler Call of Duty: Black Ops Edition will be available in showrooms from next month.

And that coincides nicely with the release of the game of the same name, which is released worldwide on 9th November for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and Windows PC platforms. Naturally, as part of the partnership, Jeep Wranglers will feature in both the game’s single player storyline as well as its multiplayer mode.



Meanwhile, all Wrangler models benefit from 2011 model year updates. The most significant of these is the interior, which is all-new in an effort to improve quality.



As well as a new instrument panel, the centre console has been redesigned and upgraded materials have been used. New steering wheel mounted buttons mean Wrangler drivers will now be able to use the cruise control, radio and hands-free phone without taking their hands from the wheel.



To help refinement levels, cabin noise is reckoned to be reduced compared to before. Larger rear windows are now fitted for improved visibility, and the door mirrors are heated and powered for the first time. Finally, Sahara models get a brand new body-coloured hard top.



Like the Wrangler Call of Duty: Black Ops Edition, the 2011 Jeep Wrangler range arrives in dealers next month.

2010 Jeep Commander Offers

The Commander offers a base V6 engine with an optional new Hemi: The Jeep commander comes with the optional entertainment package which includes a DVD player and TV and rear parking camera.The Commander is scheduled to discontinue production beginning in 2011 model year, according to Chrysler-Fiat's new 5-year restructuring plan.2010 Jeep Commander 2010 Jeep Commander 2010 Jeep Commander 2010

2010 Jeep Commander Offers

The Commander offers a base V6 engine with an optional new Hemi: The Jeep commander comes with the optional entertainment package which includes a DVD player and TV and rear parking camera.The Commander is scheduled to discontinue production beginning in 2011 model year, according to Chrysler-Fiat's new 5-year restructuring plan.2010 Jeep Commander 2010 Jeep Commander 2010 Jeep Commander 2010

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee soon

The next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee will go on sale in spring 2010 as a 2011 model.2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee soon

The next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee will go on sale in spring 2010 as a 2011 model.2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee2011 Jeep Grand

Jeep Liberty 2010 great price

Price Range: $23,195 - $28,675The Liberty dropped its four-cylinder option because the Patriot and Compass crossover SUVs took its place as Jeep's four-cylinder vehicles. The iron-block, aluminum-head V6 is the only engine available for 2008.Jeep Liberty 2010Jeep Liberty 2010Jeep Liberty 2010Jeep Liberty 2010Jeep Liberty 2010Jeep Liberty 2010Jeep Liberty 2010Jeep Liberty 2010Jeep Liberty 2010Jeep