American Cars Archives

Chevy has released its Super Bowl commercial that will air during the first quarter of Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday.

The spot, named "2012", shows the Silverado navigating the devastation and destruction predicted to occur this year by the Mayan calendar. A group of friends, who are Silverado owners, makes its way to the designated meeting spot but notice one of their buddies is missing. The missing friend, unfortunately, drives a Ford and doesn't appear to have made it to the meeting point. Ouch!

The 2013 Dodge Dart is way better than that old Dodge Caliber that it replaced. Even though the 2013 Dart will be available with three different engines, the most powerful engine only packs 184 horsepower. Want even more power from the Dart, well Chrysler's SRT team that is unveiling a new Viper in April, is also reportedly working on a SRT4 performance variant of the Dart.

Details have not been released for the 2014 Dart SRT4, but the guys over at Motor Trend seem to have an idea of what we can expect. The 2013 Dart borrows its platform from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, so you can expect the Dart SRT4 to get a version of the Giulietta's dual-clutch, six-speed transmission. There are two possible options for the engine, a turbocharged version of the Dart's Tigershark 2.0L four-cylinder or Alfa Romeo's new 1.8L four-cylinder turbo. The Dart SRT4 is likely to get the turbocharged version of the Tigershark instead of the Alfa Romeo's engine, due to the added cost of Alfa Romeo's engine. Either way expect the Dart SRT4 to pack more power than the 285-hp Caliber SRT4.

The Dart SRT4 will also get a more aggressive body kit, an upgraded suspension and larger wheels with stickier tires.

Chrysler is celebrating Mopar's 75th anniversary with four custom vehicles, the Mopar '12 300, 2013 Dodge Dart "GTS 210 Tribute", 2012 Fiat 500 "Stinger" and the 2012 Mopar Jeep Compass "True North."

"Customization is king," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand. "These head-turning 'Moparized' vehicles show how we can go to the next level of personalization. With our best-in-class offerings of parts and accessories, we give our customers every opportunity to further enhance the appearance and performance of their vehicles."

Cadillac's all-new 2013 ATS is the subject of its Super Bowl commercial that is going to air during the game this Sunday. The on-road performance of the ATS is the subject of the 30-second spot.

"The ad showcases what will make ATS a serious new challenger against the world's best compact luxury cars," said General Motors Global Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick. "It's an opportunity to reach a big audience with the message that Cadillac is expanding into new territory."

The 2013 ATS is set to go head to head with models like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class when it is released this summer.

"The car is the total focus of the ad, with actual testing footage of the ATS," Ewanick said. "Competing head-to-head in an elite class requires authentic performance."

This April, Chrysler is going to take the wraps off the 2013 SRT Viper (note that the Dodge name will no longer be applied to the Viper). Although April is still 2 months away, SRT has released the first teaser photo of the Viper on its Facebook page.

The next-generation Viper will be powered by a new V10 and will be released by the end of the year as a 2013 model.

Tesla will unveil its third model, the Model X crossover on February 9th, but here's the first teaser photo of it. The teaser photo shows off the electric crossover's roofline and part of its grille.

The teaser photo was part of Tesla's invitation to the official unveiling of the Model X that is going to take place at Tesla's Design Studio in LA. The Model X is expected to arrive less than two years after the Model S sedan, with pricing that will probably be higher than the Model S that starts at $57,400.

Ram has announced the addition of the top-of-the-line 2012 Ram 1500 Laramie Limited model.

The Ram Laramie gets a body-color front fascia with fog lamps and a matching, painted rear bumper. It also gets a chrome grille and rides on standard 20-inch aluminum wheels that it borrows from the Ram Laramie Longhorn.

Inside the Ram Laramie gets Natura Plus leather seats and the center console is topped with a soft, double French-stitched full-leather lid. Leather has also been applied to the door trim, steering wheel and shifter. Ram Laramie Limited also is equipped with a navigational radio, remote start, back-up camera, power adjustable pedals with memory, heated steering wheel, front ventilated and heated seats and rear heated seats.

The Laramie Limited will be available Q2 2012.

Jeep has unveiled a new production-intent concept version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee at the Houston Auto Show.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Production-intent Concept is based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo X package. The concept's face is more aggressive with a chrome and "blacked-out" look. The front fascia gets a unique platinum-chrome and "blacked-out" appearance with a chrome mesh grille and black headlamp bezels. The "blacked-out" theme continues out back with a black liftgate light-bar. The concept also rides on black-gloss aluminum 20-inch wheels.

Inside the concept gets standard leather seats, heated front seats and a 9-speaker 506 watt audio system.

Jeep also announced that it has created an online contest for consumers to name the new production-intent Grand Cherokee concept. The person who chooses the winning name will have an opportunity to win a new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

If the concept attracts enough interest, it will be in showrooms this spring.

The first model from the Chrysler/ Fiat marriage, the 2013 Dodge Dart will be hitting showrooms soon, but that model is only the first of many. It's been previously reported that Chrysler is going to kill off the Dodge Avenger after its current run, so that the automaker can focus its efforts on the better selling Chrysler 200 sedan, but that may not be the case.

USA Today is reporting that Chrysler is working on all-new versions of the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger, which will be based on the same Alfa Romeo platform that is the basis for the Dart. They are also reporting that the next Jeep Liberty and Compass models will also be built off the same platform in 2013.

Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne recently stated about the new Jeeps, "It's gonna be a trail-rated, full-blooded Jeep that has its origins in the architecture of a sports car."

Marchionne also stated that Chrysler is thinking about a new small hatchback dubbed the "Chrysler 100." If it gets the green light, it will be sold in Europe under as a Lancia.

Lastly Marchionne claims that plans to bring Alfa Romeo back to the U.S. are still in the works. The models slated to come here will be lightweight and powered by a 1.8L engine with 300 horsepower.

Ford has taken the wraps off the 2013 Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup Car, which mirrors the new styling of the all-new 2013 Fusion. According to Ford, the 2013 Fusion Sprint Cup car was designed to be the face of a new era of stock car racing.

"We wanted Fusion to be the car that helped return 'stock car' to NASCAR." stated Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. "I think fans, when they see the car, are just going to smile and cheer. It is going to reengage them with the sport and make the sport better because there is just something natural about seeing race cars that look like cars in their driveways."

This is the third time that Ford has simultaneously launched production and NASCAR versions of a new model. The first was in 1968 with the Ford Torino and the second time was in 2006 with the Fusion.

"It looks fun to drive and very much eager to go and tear up the track. It has a very aggressive stance from the outside and the inside. From all angles the vehicle exudes performance and I think it reflects our general attitude of how we go about setting up our cars very, very nicely," said Garen Nicoghosian, who led the Ford Design Center staff. "It brings a certain level of nimbleness and lightness and agility to the NASCAR platform, much like we do in our production cars, because all of our production cars have that nimbleness and agility and eagerness about them."

GM has announced that the first shipment of the all-new 2013 Chevy Malibu is on its way to showrooms across the United States.

The first version of the all-new Malibu offered in the U.S. is the 2013 Malibu Eco. As its name suggest, the Malibu Eco is focused on fuel economy. It's powered by GM's eAssist technology mated to a 2.4L four-cylinder engine, which according to GM yields 25 mpg in the city and 37 mph on the highway. The mild hybrid system combines start-stop technology with regenerative braking and a lightweight lithium-ion battery to provide an electric boost in certain conditions.

Later this summer all-new 190-hp Ecotec 2.5L engine debuts in the Malibu. GM has also confirmed that the Malibu will also eventually be offered with an Ecotec 2.0L turbocharged engine.

The 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco starts at $25,995.

Ford's all-new 2013 Escape is slated to arrive this spring. If you head over to Ford's microsite for the 2013 Escape, you will see that Ford has listed the tentative pricing.

Although Ford claims that the prices listed are "for survey purposes only and are subject to change," they will most likely not change much, if at all.

The base Escape S is listed at $22,720. It comes with a 168-hp 2.5L four-cylinder mated to a 6-speed automatic that sends its power to the front wheels.

Stepping up to the Escape SE starts at $25,320. The SE is available with either the 173-hp 1.6L or 237-hp 2.0L EcoBoost engines with either front or all-wheel-drive. The SE trim also adds Ford's SYNC system, keyless entry dual chrome exhaust and body-colored trim exterior pieces.

The Escape SEL starts at $28,120 and adds leather seats and the MyFord Touch system.

The top of the line Escape Titanium starts at $30,620 and adds a 10-speaker HD radio audio system, 19-inch wheels and remote start. Adding all the options like the panorama roof, parking technology package and navigation system on the all-wheel-drive Titanium model pushes the final price around $37,000.

Ford's all-new 2013 Ford Escape will have reduced wind noise leading to a quieter interior thanks to the use of an elliptical acoustic mirror.

An elliptical acoustic mirror was used for the first time on Escape to reduce wind noise and deliver a quieter interior. The mirror resembles a satellite dish with a microphone. The mirror identifies "hot spots" where noise penetrates the interior of the vehicle, allowing drivers to listen to music or conversation inside the car instead of external noises. Thanks to the mirror, Ford's engineers were able to make changes to the Escape's shape, specifically the mirrors and A-pillar, while in the early clay model phase.

"We previously didn't have this tool available," said Peter Kleesattel, interior quietness development engineer. "Essentially we were able to optimize the shape earlier. In noise and vibration, the basic idea is you have noise sources outside the vehicle and you have the path.

"The path could be through the glass, door or insulation. Now we're able to optimize the shape early on, reduce the exterior source and create a quieter interior."

Last year Chevy sold 4.76 million vehicles worldwide, which set a new sales record and pushed GM's global sales to more than 9 million vehicles, a 7.6 percent gain compared with 2010.

The U.S. had the highest sales with with total vehicle sales of 1,775,812, up more than 13 percent from 2010. China posted record sales of 595,068, up 9.5 percent from the previous year.

"Chevrolet's impressive growth in both established and developing markets is the result of a strong new product lineup that meets the diverse needs of consumers around the world," said GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson. "In addition to Chevrolet's record-setting sales, the entire lineup of GM vehicles is meeting customer needs for fuel-efficient cars and work vehicles as well as unmatched luxury."

The Chevy Cruze led Chevy's global sales with more than 670,000 sold in 2011, with more than 1.13 million sold since its launch in 2009. GM also stated that it will continue to make Chevy a more global brand, with more than 60 percent of its sales outside the U.S. market.

"Without doubt the new Chevrolet portfolio has been a catalyst for our success around the world," said Tim Lee, president of GM International Operations.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed on his Twitter account that the Tesla Model X crossover will be unveiled on February 9th at Tesla's design studio in California.

The Tesla Model X will share its platform with the upcoming Model S sedan, but its not known if the version we will see next month will be the production version or a concept. The Model X crossover was rumored to be unveiled by the end of December, but isn't slated to go on sale until late 2013.

According to Tesla, the Model X will "incorporate the functionality of a minivan with the consumer appeal of a sports-utility vehicle."

Dakota fans that were sad that the current Dakota pickup was killed a few months ago can celebrate this little bit of news. Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has confirmed plans for a new Dakota. That may make some of you happy, but wait... There's a 50% chance that the Dakota could switch to a unibody platform, according to Marchionne. If that happens the Dakota would basically be something more along the lines of the Honda Ridgeline than the past Dakota.

Chrysler recently announced plans to introduce a diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee in the U.S. and now there's a good chance that the next Dakota could also be offered with a diesel.

In Europe the Grand Cherokee is offered with a 3.0L diesel V6 that puts out 237 horsepower and 406 lb-ft. of torque. Chrysler hasn't confirmed the stats of the diesel we will get in the U.S.

According to Automotive News, Chrysler may kill the Dodge Avenger to focus on the Chrysler 200 midsize sedan.

Reid Bigland, head of the Dodge brand, recently told Reuters, "Chrysler Group will likely consolidate around one midsize car in the future." By focusing on a single model, Chrysler can save development and marketing costs. The move would also prevent the models from cannibalizing sales from each other.

Last year Chrysler moved 87,000 200 sedans, while only 64,000 Avengers moved out of Dodge showrooms. Both models' sales are no where near Toyota's top-selling Camry that sold over 308,000 units last year.

The current Chevy Corvette is entering its final year, which also happens to be the 60th anniversary of the Corvette. To celebrate the current-generation's (C6) last model year, Chevy is releasing the 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition.

The Corvette 427 Convertible blends elements of the Z06 and ZR1 models to create the fastest and most-capable convertible in Corvette's history. It's powered by a 7.0L LS7 engine from the Corvette Z06 that delivers 505 horsepower and 407 lb-ft. of torque. It's mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission and is the most powerful engine ever put in a production Corvette convertible.

The collector edition Corvette 427 also gets the driveline and rear axle system from the Corvette Z06, a rear-mounted battery and standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control. The standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels are wrapped in ZR1-style Michelin PS2 tires. To keep the weight down the Corvette 427 gets a carbon fiber raised hood, and carbon fiber fenders and floor panels. The weight reduction brings the 427 Convertible's curb weight to 3,355 pounds. It's lightweight helps the Corvette 427 reach 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds, the in 11.8 seconds and a top speed of more than 190 mph.

A new 60th Anniversay package is also available on all 2013 Corvette models. It features an Arctic White exterior with a Blue Diamond leather-wrapped interior with suede accents. A ZR1-style rear spoiler, special badging, gray-painted brake calipers and the "60th" logo on the wheel center caps, steering wheel and seat headrests are also part of the package.

Buick has unveiled the newest addition to its lineup, the 2013 Encore small crossover.

"Buick Encore is a great-looking, smart choice for those who want luxury crossover amenities in a more maneuverable and agile vehicle," said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. "It represents a luxury alternative for a new audience of Buick customers, and delivers features and flexibility not typically found in vehicles of its size today."

The small Encore seats up to five and is powered by a turbocharged 1.4L Ecotec four-cylinder engine that is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The 1.4L puts out 140 horsepower and 148 lb-ft. of torque. Buyers will be able to choose between front or all-wheel-drive.

At just over 168 inches long, the Encore is a small crossover. GM compares it to the BMW X1 and Audi Q3, two small luxury crossovers that aren't currently sold in the U.S. In terms of styling the Encore adopts many of the same design themes as the other Buick models, like its waterfall grille, chrome accents and surrounds and portholes on the hood.

"The Encore brings Buick's timeless, sculptural design to the crossover segment in a way that blends elegance, efficiency and utility," said David Lyon, executive director of design. "There's confidence in its athletic stance and elemental beauty in its rich details."

To keep the interior of the Encore quiet, Buick applied its "QuietTuning" process including Buick's first application of active noise cancellation.

The 2013 Buick Encore will arrive in the first quarter of 2013.

Lincoln has unveiled the new Lincoln MKZ Concept in Detroit, which according to the brand "signals a significant step in Lincoln's reinvention, providing a clear vision of its next-generation vehicles."

"With the Lincoln MKZ Concept, we are not introducing a new car. We are essentially introducing a new brand," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford Motor Company group vice president for Global Product Development. "The MKZ Concept is the next step in the reinvention of Lincoln, something we've been quietly but aggressively pursuing."

The MKZ Concept hints at the production version that will arrive in showrooms later this year. Max Wolff, Lincoln design director describes the MKZ Concept's shape as a "vision of simplicity completed with just a few strokes. Our movement as a brand is toward something we call elegant simplicity. It's something warmer and more restrained, which is moving away from complex designs and traditional luxury."

Although the design of the concept is all-new, it's easily recognizable as a Lincoln thanks to certain elements like the split-wing grille. Iinterior features include a push-button transmission gear selection, an open, tiered center console and liquid crystal instrumentation. The interior also gets a reconfigurable 10.1-inch Thin Film Transistor LCD positioned ahead of the driver that operates with the latest version of MyLincoln Touch in addition to the flush-mounted center 8-inch LCD touch screen.

Lincoln didn't give any details of what is under the hood other than stating that the concept is capable of using multiple powertrain options with front and all-wheel-drive configurations. The MKZ Concept also gets Lincoln Drive Control and the Continuously Controlled Damping adjustable suspension. Like the recently unveiled 2013 Ford Fusion, the MKZ Concept also gets Ford's new Lane Keeping System.

Chevy has introduced two new concepts today at the Detroit Auto Show, the Code 130R and Tru 140S concepts, which are aimed at inspiring next-generation buyers to take the wheel and suggest ideas for a car they can co-create.

"Chevy has always stood for making the aspirational attainable for all generations" said General Motors North America President Mark Reuss. "These two concepts interpret that vision for a new generation. We're seeking out our newest customers' opinions, listening to their advice, and engaging them in new ways."

Over the past year, Chevy has conversed with young consumers across the United States and based on their feedback these two concepts explore the styling and functionality this group of new buyers says they are looking for in a car.

The Code 130R concept is a four-seat coupe with an upright profile. It's painted in a red metallic paint with matte anodized gold wheels and is powered by a 1.4L turbocharged engine that sends its power to the rear wheels. The 1.4L turbocharged engine features GM's eAssist technology and puts out 150 horsepower and 148 lb-ft. of torque.

The Tru 140S concept is a front-wheel-drive "affordable exotic" four-seat coupe. The Tru 140S concept features a three-door hatchback design that is painted in matte white with chrome wheels. Chevy claims that the Tru 140 S "is designed to look confident, exotic, expensive and fast." The Tru 140S shares its platform with the Chevy Cruze and Volt. It's powered by a 150 horsepower 1.4L turbocharged Ecotec engine.

The all-new 2013 Dodge Dart is here and it's the first Chrysler model built on a Fiat platform, since it borrows its platform from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

The 2013 Dart features an all-new design that ditches the hatchback layout of the soon to be forgotten Dodge Caliber. "The Dodge Dart was a dream to design," said Joe Dehner, Head of Dodge Design - Chrysler Group LLC. "The Alfa Romeo-based architecture allowed us to design an exterior with great proportions that say 'fun-to-drive' when you look at it. The overall design is definitely more visually appealing than the Caliber and its Charger-inspired 'racetrack' taillights are a nice touch.

Ford has officially unveiled the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. According to Ford, "Fusion brings alive the next generation of more expressive vehicles from Ford." The all-new, more stylish Fusion is also the first sedan to gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.

"Our vision for Fusion was clear - deliver the very best of what One Ford stands for," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of Global Product Development. "We brought our global teams together around a blank slate with the charge to develop a midsize car with groundbreaking design and jaw-dropping fuel economy - one that featured technologies to help make our customers safer and better drivers. This car is the result."

The 2013 Fusion is now more stylish than ever before and ditches the "three-box" designs that we're used to in this segment. The Fusion borrows many styling cues from the Ford Evos concept and builds upon the design set by the current European Ford Mondeo.

Ford is gearing up to unveil all-new versions of both the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans at the Detroit Auto Show this week. We're gonna get our first view of the 2013 Fusion at the show tomorrow, but we'll have to wait until Tuesday to see the all-new MKZ.

In the meantime Lincoln has teased the new MKZ with a photo of the rear deck lid on its Facebook page.

Stay tuned...

Here are the first official photos of the 2013 Cadillac ATS, which is being unveiled at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, this week. The Cadillac ATS is Cadillac's direct rival to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class models.

The ATS features Cadillac's Art & Science design language that is similar to the new XTS and CTS models, but in a smaller package. GM has already confirmed that the 2013 ATS will be offered with three engine choices, a 2.5L four-cylinder, a 318-hp 3.6L V6 and a 270 horsepower turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder. Buyers can also choose between a six-speed manual or automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive.

Inside the ATS will be get Cadillac's new CUE infotainment system. Stay tuned for all the info from the show.

You can now forget all about the unloved Dodge Caliber because the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart sedan is here. It's set to debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, but the first official photos have leaked.

These photos give us our first official look at the 2013 Dart R/T and Limited trims. The Dart shares its platform with the Alfa Romeo Giuletta and will be offered with the choice of three four-cylinder engines. The 2.0L will pack 160 horsepower, while a 2.4L will be offered with 184 horsepower. A turbocharged 1.4L will put out 160 horsepower. Initially the Dart will be available with either a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission or a six-speed manual, but in 2013 a new 9-speed speed transmission will be available.

Come back for all the details from the show.

GM has announced new safety enhancements to the 2012 Chevy Volt in response to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Preliminary Evaluation to examine post-severe crash battery performance. NHTSA opened its Preliminary Evaluation on Nov. 25 following a severe-impact lab test on a battery pack that resulted in an electrical fire six days later. The test was conducted to reproduce a coolant leak that occurred in a full-scale vehicle crash test last May that resulted in an electrical fire three weeks later.

The enhancements to the vehicle structure and battery coolant system in the Chevy Volt will further protect the battery from the possibility of an electrical fire occurring after a severe crash.

GM has announced these changes/ additions to the Volt:

-Strengthen an existing portion of the Volt's vehicle safety structure to further protect the battery pack in a severe side collision.
-Add a sensor in the reservoir of the battery coolant system to monitor coolant levels.
-Add a tamper-resistant bracket to the top of the battery coolant reservoir to help prevent potential coolant overfill.

Chrysler has announced at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that the 2012 Dodge Charger is now available with the Beats™ by Dr. Dre™ audio system. The system was introduced last year and is already available on the Chrysler 300.

The system features an 8.4-inch touchscreen display and a 12-channel amplifier in addition to:

-Three 3.5-inch speakers located in the instrument panel
-Two 3.5-inch speakers located in the rear doors
-Two 6 x 9-inch front-door woofers provide bass
-Two 6 x 9-inch speakers and a center-mounted 8-inch speaker located in the rear-shelf area provide full-range audio

The Beats Audio system will be standard equipment on the 2012 Dodge Charger R/T Max and included with the Blacktop Package or Rallye Appearance Group on Dodge Charger SXT models. The Beats Audio system is also included with the Sound Group and Wheels and Tunes Group on Dodge Charger R/T models.

The system will be available in the first quarter of this year, but Chrysler has not announced the pricing.

2011 is officially over and for some of the automakers it was a difficult year with the earthquake in Japan and the flooding in Thailand that crippled production. Honda and Toyota were hit the hardest with sales falling off sharply for some of their popular models. Although Honda and Toyota had a difficult year, Ford and Chevy had a much better year.

The top two models continue to be the Ford F-Series and Chevy Silverado, with the Toyota Camry holding onto the top selling car title.

Check out the list after the jump.

Chrysler has confirmed that the Jeep Grand Cherokee will be offered with a diesel in the U.S. The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee will get a new diesel engine that will be produced in Detroit, but Chrysler hasn't confirmed the official specs. It's likely that the diesel will be the same diesel engine sold in Europe. In Europe the Grand Cherokee diesel is a 3.0L V6 that puts out 237 horsepower and 406 lb-ft. of torque.

In addition to the announcement about the new diesel-powered Grand Cherokee, Chrysler also announced plans to add a third crew and 1,100 new jobs at its Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit. Chrysler is also adding 150 jobs by reopening its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant for production of the the SRT Viper.

In addition to the Dodge Charger Redline, Chrysler's Mopar division has unveiled the Chrysler 200 Super S, which is meant to showcase the latest Mopar exterior parts that will be available for the 200 sedan in 2012.

"The Super S is Mopar's interpretation of the Chrysler 200," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand. "The extensive list of high-quality Mopar parts enhances the performance and appearance of our Chrysler 200."

The Stage One kit starts with the front and includes a chin spoiler, satin chrome fog light trim, satin chrome grille surround and mesh in the upper and lower grilles. The upper grille is gloss black with a recessed Chrysler wing badge. The side of the 200 gets new side sills, satin chrome belt molding, black chrome "200" badges and gray or hyper black 18-inch "S" alloy wheels. The kit concludes with a new trunk lid spoiler, satin chrome light bar and a matte black lower diffuser with attached exhaust openings.

Stage Two adds performance with a coil-over suspension, which also lowers the center of gravity for the vehicle. In addition, Stage Two includes a cold-air intake and cat-back exhaust.

Chrysler claims that the Super S packages will be available later this year.

Chrysler's Mopar division has unveiled the 2012 Dodge Charger Redline ahead of its debut at the Detroit Auto Show, this month.

The 2012 Dodge Charger Redline features three available Mopar stage kits for factory-tuned performance. Stage One features aerodynamic exterior components and interior accents. Stage Two features bolt-on performance parts for improved power, handling and braking, while Stage Three features a more powerful version of the 426 Hemi V-8 engine that packs 590 horsepower.

"Since the 1960s, the Mopar Brand has built a long history of adding power and performance to the Dodge Charger - and with the Redline, we Moparized the new Charger with modern-day performance and style while giving a nod to our storied past," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand. "With three kits, Mopar offers a tailored choice for every customer."

The Cadillac Escalade currently sits at the top of the "most-stolen" vehicle list, which obviously isn't great publicity for the large SUV. GM is out to fix this with new security enhancements on the 2012 Escalade.

"The goal is to make the Escalade a very difficult target for thieves without any added inconvenience for customers," said Bill Biondo, General Motors' global leader for vehicle theft prevention. "The new systems work in the background and few people realize they are there, but they are strong added protections."

For 2012 the Escalade gets:

- PASS Key 3+, which is an encryption system for the key, key cylinder and ignition system. -A steering column-lock system that makes it nearly impossible to maneuver the Escalade onto a flatbed.
- An available inclination sensor that sets off an alarm when the system senses an unwarranted change of the angle of the vehicle, such as would occur with towing, flat-bedding or lifting the vehicle.
- An available shock sensor intended to reduce content theft and push-away theft by sounding the alarm when the vehicle is "shocked," such as by breaking window glass.
-An available new wheel lock system to help prevent the theft of Escalade's wheels and tires.

Ford's U.S. sales have topped 2 million vehicles, which is the first time since 2007. The milestone makes Ford the best selling brand in America and the first automotive brand to hit the 2 million mark since 2007.

"Ford's lineup of high-quality, fuel-efficient cars, utilities and trucks continues to attract more and more new customers," said Erich Merkle, Ford's sales analysis manager. "With gasoline prices tracking higher than last year, customers continue to move toward smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, whether they are passenger cars or utilities."

Ford is going to unveil the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion in January at the Detroit Auto Show. Ford has announced that the new Fusion will be available with a new Lane Keeping System that will alert and assist the driver when the car starts drifting out of a lane.

The new Lane Keeping System uses a digital camera mounted on the windshield ahead of the rearview mirror, allowing the Fusion to watch the road ahead to detect an unintentional lane departure. The Ford Lane Keeping System has three levels of assistance available to the driver depending on what is happening: Lane Keeping Alert, Lane Keeping Aid and Driver Alert.

"Fusion's Lane Keeping System combines a digital imaging sensor with our own state-of-the-art control software to process images and determine what level of warning or assistance to provide to the driver," said Michael Kane, Ford development engineer. "We've put a lot of effort into ensuring the accuracy of the lane detection and the smoothness of the assist."

The system only works when it is turned on by the driver and at speeds above 40 mph. The lane markers also must be clearly visible for the system to work.

The 2013 Buick Encore crossover is set to debut on January 10th at the Detroit Auto Show, but Buick has been giving Facebook fans a sneak peak.

The official photo is divided into four panels, with this photo now revealing two of them. GM hasn't released any new details about the Encore. In a previous statement, GM stated that the "Encore will offer contemporary styling, signature QuietTuning technology, and a host of features and amenities customers expect from Buicks today."

Chrysler has announced the expansion of the Chrysler 300 lineup with the 300 Luxury Series.

"The new 2012 Chrysler 300 Luxury Edition is more than just our flagship car, it's the trophy for the tireless majority, an automobile designed and built to meet the most discerning of expectations," said Saad Chehab, President and CEO - Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.

The Chrysler 300 and 300C Luxury Series sedans get black or Mochachino leather that covers everything from the seats to the instrument panel and interior door panels. The leather wrapped steering wheel also features a unique chrome accent ring to highlight the segment-exclusive 360-degree heated rim.

On the outside the Luxury Series sedans get 20-inch polished alloy wheels, and chrome accents on the fascia, mirrors and door handles. A platinum-chrome finished grille surround with platinum-chrome mesh grille tops off the changes.

The Chrysler 300 Luxury Series sedans are available either with the 3.6L Pentastar V6 thats mated to an eight-speed transmission or the 363-hp 5.7L Hemi V8.

The 2012 Chrysler 300 Luxury Series arrive in the first quarter of 2012, starting at $40,145.

Chrysler has reportedly ended production of the Dodge Caliber that originally went on sale in 2006 as a replacement for the Neon.

The Caliber never really caught on and was consistently ranked at the bottom of its class. In its 2011 annual car issue, Consumer Reports ranked the Caliber SXT at the bottom of its list of small hatchbacks and wagons.

Analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics LLP stated, "It's the last of the American bottom-feeder compacts. That's what they were. It came from thinking, 'small cars, small profits."

Chrysler's replacement for the Caliber, the 2013 Dodge Dart is going to be unveiled next month in Detroit.

This year Ford created the EcoBoost concept sleigh for Santa Claus that is powered by a small 1.0L three-cylinder engine that is supposed to be greener than Santa's fleet of reindeers. Hennessey Performance (HPE) has also created a high-performance version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 that Hennessey has described as an 800 horsepower Twin Turbo sleigh.

HPE has taken the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and turned it into quite the beast known as the HPE800 Twin Turbo. The standard 6.4L HEMI V8 has been bumped up to 7.0 liters with twin turbochargers. The result is 805 horsepower and 823 lb-ft. of torque. The HPE800 will reache 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds.

The HPE800 also gets an upgraded transmission, 15.1 inch Brembo brakes, a lowered suspension and a unique front fascia with a carbon fiber front splitter.

According to the latest sources, the next-generation Chevy Camaro will debut in about three years for the 2016 model year.

GMI claims that its sources have confirmed that the next Camaro has already been added to GM's product plans as a 2016 model. It will also get a Gen V 6.2 liter V8 engine.

That's all we have for now, but lets hope the next Camaro is lighter with a higher quality interior.