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Chrysler's in the News

Chrysler Canada sales edge up 1 per cent in June

Chrysler Canada announced Wednesday its 31st consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth, eking out a one-per-cent increase last month compared to the same period last year. While modest, the June sales increase marked the longest sales streak in the carmaker's history, Chrysler said.

Calendar-year-to date, Chrysler sold 130,286 vehicles in Canada, representing a seven per cent increase over the same period in 2011. The Windsor-assembled Dodge Grand Caravan posted an all-time record sales month in June, 2012 with 6,103 units, representing an increase of 10 per cent over June 2011, which had 5,553 sales.

"At the halfway point in 2012, our passenger car sales are up a whopping 31 per cent, led primarily by sales of the Chrysler 300, Chrysler 200 and Fiat 500," said Dave Buckingham, Chief Operating Officer of Chrysler Canada. "We are experiencing the best sales start to the year in over a decade, with many annual records in our sights, including Ram trucks, Jeep Wrangler, Fiat 500 and Chrysler 200."

Fiat 500 sales are on a roll, soaring 48 per cent last month with 839 leaving dealer lots. Year-to-date sales of the mini car are up 92 per cent.

Sales of the Chrysler 200 rose 38 per cent last month, while demand for the Brampton-assembled Chrysler 300 sedan rose 281 per cent.




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Chrysler Posts Best June Sales Since 2007

Chrysler's record streak of impressive sales results continues to grow even longer, as the automaker announced today its June 2012 sales in the U.S. amounted to 144,811 vehicles across its five core brands. That's a 20 percent growth over June 2011, and Chrysler's best June sales result since 2007.

"June was another solid month for the Chrysler Group, with U.S. sales up 20 percent and second-quarter sales increasing 24 percent compared to 2011," said Chrysler sales chief Reid Bigland in a prepared statement. "June also marked our 27th consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth. Continuous improvement remains a key focus at Chrysler as we have steadily increased sales, improved quality, added production, and created jobs."

According to Chrysler, each of its five core brands saw sales increase last month. Fiat led the way by jumping 122 percent, followed by Chrysler volumes rising 63 percent, and Jeep volumes improving by 23 percent year-to-year. Ram saw sales of its truck range increase 11 percent in June, but Dodge only mustered a two-percent uptick ? perhaps that may soon be bolstered by the 2013 Dart, which is still trickling into dealers nationwide.




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Chrysler Jumps, Ford Falls in Reliability

Consumer Reports has released its annual Car Reliability Study, and the results weren't very kind to Ford. The automaker saw its ranking fall from 10th to 20th due to issues with three specific models: the Explorer, Fiesta and Focus. Each of those vehicles ranked below average in reliability during their first year on the market due to issues with MyFord Touch and the dual-clutch transmissions in the Fiesta and Focus.

Meanwhile, Chrysler busily inched its way up the reliability ladder. Jeep managed to jump to 13th spot to become the most reliable domestic manufacturer while Chrysler jumped 12 spots in the study and Dodge manoeuvred up by three places.

According to the study, the Chrysler 200, Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee all performed very well in their respective reliability evaluations.
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The $30000.00 Shootout

PickupTrucks.com asked five half-ton truck manufacturers to provide their best trucks for $30000.00. The entries consisted of the 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 Extended Cab, 2011 Ford F-150 Regular Cab, 2011 Nissan Titan King Cab, 2011 Ram 1500 Quad Cab and Toyota Tundra Double Cab, all of which were put through a variety of tests over four days in and around Detroit. Unlike a comparison that seeks model-feature parity, this one allowed for the manufacturers to provide whatever they thought was best, which is how you get Ford supplying the only regular cab among the field.

After being run through load tests, brake tests, the drag strip, 0-to-60 and even an autocross run, the crown was given to the Ram 1500 Quad Cab. It didn't scorch the competition, but it was always near the top of the field, which gave it enough to take the glory. Head on over to PickupTrucks.com to read the full piece.     
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Rubicon wins Petersen's 4 Wheel & Off Road 4x4 of the Year!


EL SUGUNDO, Calif.- Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine has named the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon the winner of it's coveted 4x4 of the Year Award. This is the 30th year of the enthusiast magazine's in-depth competition of new 4x4 vehicles, and the third time Jeep Wrangler has taken home the award. In fact, Jeep products have won the award more than any other mark, a total of 12 times for different Jeep vehicles.

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was pitted against the worthy Ram Power Wagon, both solid axle titans of the off-road world. The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon ranked high in every category of this year's in-depth test. The grueling 1,000-mile trial evaluates each vehicle's suspension, engine, transmission and transfer case along with the style and creature comforts the vehicle provides. Most importantly, the 4x4's are judged heavily on how well they perform off-road in dirt, mud, rocks, sand and gravel as well as on the highway.

"The 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is the most competent 4x4 ever produced," said Rick Pewe, editor-in-chief of Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road. "The Rubicon gives you complete confidence in its terrain tracking abilities. It allows you to take the trail less traveled without worrying about the journey. And it does so while leaving a smile on your face. This is one fun ride!"

"No one puts a vehicle to the test more thoroughly than the editors of Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road , so Jeep is especially proud to win this prestigious award," said Mike Manley, President and CEO-Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has long been the most capable vehicle on the planet. With a completely new powertrain for 2012, it has reset the capability benchmark, while simultaneously offering customers more fuel efficiency, horsepower and off-road performance in every day driving."

To be eligible to compete, a vehicle must be all new or have substantial improvements that make it perform significantly different from the previous year's model. Vehicles must also be available for sale before January 15 of the model year, have a production run of at least 2,500 units and be equipped with a two speed transfer case. The complete test results and vehicle evaluations for the 2012 4x4 of the Year competition will appear in the February 2012 issue, available December 6, 2011.

Information on the test will also be available on the Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road website,  www.4wheeloffroad.com
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Luxury and Amazing Fuel Efficiency: It Is Possible

Who says you have to drive a cramped, no styling-car "to show you're green and be fuel effiecient on the roadways?"

Chrysler and Dodge certainly don't.

Starting with the 2012 Chrysler 300 and the 2012 Dodge Charger, Chrysler Group is the first U.S. Automaker to offer an eight-speed transmission with its vehicles. Compared to the 2011 versions, the new eight speed transmission means both the 2012 300 and the Charger have the best fuel economy in the large sedan class, according to FuelEconomy.gov.

The new eight-speed automatic, introduced and licensed through ZF, is often found on high-end luxury cars, including Audi, Bentley, BMW, Range Rover and Rolls Royce. For our first models, the transmission is mated exclusively to the 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar engine, which was introduced last year.

But don't take our word for it. Objective media outlets have put the eight-speed 2012 Charger and the 2012 300 to the test.

Car and Driver: 2012 Chrysler 300S V6 8-Speed Automatic: Eight new reasons to consider the V-6.
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