Dodge is taking its new Dart to the races in the U.S. rounds of this year’s Global RallyCross Championship with ESPN. Piloted by Travis Pastrana and built by SRT, the GRC challenger is a little different than the sedan you’d find at the dealership: it puts down 600 horsepower and more than 550 pound-feet from it’s 2.0-liter, four-cylinder to all four wheels. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Dodge unveils Challenger Rallye Redline at Spring Fest
The Spring Festival, held annually in Southern California, has become a sort of mecca for late model Mopar owners, bringing together hundreds of owners of Chrysler’s LX platform cars – Challenger, Charger, Magnum and 300. The event was initially started by a small group of passionate forum members, but it has recently grown enough to garner official support from Chrysler. This year, the Pentastar had a special treat planned for its passionate followers, the debut of the company’s new Challenger Rallye Redline. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: SRT offers up first 2013 Dodge Viper teaser
Early last year, Chrysler announced that it would be bringing the Viper back into production, with the brand’s performance flagship once again taking its place at the front of the SRT lineup. The next generation Viper won’t be unveiled until April at the New York Auto Show, and it looks like Dodge will be doing its best to tease us mercilessly until then with vague sketches of the car. The first has just been posted on the official SRT Facebook page, providing the very first look at the front end of the 2013 Viper. From the silhouette it’s hard to really tell what the design will look like, but the overall shape and the hood scoop distinctly remind us of the Viper GTS coupe built from 1996 to 2002. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Mopar celebrates 75 years with bunch of Chicago-bound special editions
This year Mopar is celebrating 75 years since its name – a combination of MOtor and PARts – was first trademarked. During that time, Mopar has evolved to become synonymous with performance parts for Chrysler and Dodge vehicles, as well as amp’d-up specialty package vehicles, vehicle service and maintenance, and add Fiat to the long list of Chrysler Group brands it supports since the Italian automaker took part ownership in the smallest of Detroit’s Big 3. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: 2013 Dodge Dart will have optional 9-speed auto, hit 40 mpg
Dodge might have teased us with a few images and some initial powertrain details on the 2013 Dart, but Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has provided even more in an interview with Reuters. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Dodge won’t call its new small car Hornet
Dodge has been wise in reviving old nameplates to inject some excitement into its contemporary model lineup. Recent products like the Challenger and Charger – both named after classics from the brand’s past – have drummed up a considerable amount of enthusiasm where names like Stratus and Intrepid could not. But don’t expect that formula to be applied to everything Dodge puts out. Funk Flex
