Chrysler Wraps Auburn Hills HQ with New "Imported From Detroit" Tagline

The Chrysler Group is showcasing its new “Imported from Detroit” tagline for the 200 model series with a massive wrap covering almost the entire west side of the company’s 15-story headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Detroit automaker's new tagline made its debut in a two-minute advertising spot for the company's latest entry to the mid-size segment on Super Bowl Sunday.

“The 2011 Chrysler 200 is a vehicle designed with purpose, it has beautiful shapes and incorporates the utmost attention to detail,” said Olivier Francois, President and CEO of the Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC, and Lancia.

“This new mid-size sedan delivers on a promise to our customers to be the very best of American design combined with a value proposition that will exceed their expectations. The new tagline was created to convey the message that one does not have to cross an ocean to obtain luxury, its available right here,” Francois stated.

Francois last statement could be taken as a poke to European buyers who -figuratively speaking- will have to "cross an ocean to obtain luxury" given that the soon to be released Lancia Flavia is a re-badged 200 Imported from Detroit...

Building Wrap Facts [From Chrysler Press Release]

• The Chrysler 200 featured in the building wrap is 116 feet wide by 145 feet tall
  • Its grille is 51 feet wide
  • The badge on the Chrysler 200 grille is 31 feet in length
  • Headlight is 32 feet long
  • Its hood measures 44 feet in length and 85 feet in width
  • Its windshield is 66 feet wide and 20 feet long
  • The side-view mirrors are each 9 feet wide and 7 feet long
• The Chrysler brand logo is 98 feet wide
• The building wrap covers 14 stories of the Headquarters’ tower
• It took three days to place the wrap on the tower

Chrysler Wraps Auburn Hills HQ with New "Imported From Detroit" Tagline

The Chrysler Group is showcasing its new “Imported from Detroit” tagline for the 200 model series with a massive wrap covering almost the entire west side of the company’s 15-story headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Detroit automaker's new tagline made its debut in a two-minute advertising spot for the company's latest entry to the mid-size segment on Super Bowl Sunday.

“The 2011 Chrysler 200 is a vehicle designed with purpose, it has beautiful shapes and incorporates the utmost attention to detail,” said Olivier Francois, President and CEO of the Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC, and Lancia.

“This new mid-size sedan delivers on a promise to our customers to be the very best of American design combined with a value proposition that will exceed their expectations. The new tagline was created to convey the message that one does not have to cross an ocean to obtain luxury, its available right here,” Francois stated.

Francois last statement could be taken as a poke to European buyers who -figuratively speaking- will have to "cross an ocean to obtain luxury" given that the soon to be released Lancia Flavia is a re-badged 200 Imported from Detroit...

Building Wrap Facts [From Chrysler Press Release]

• The Chrysler 200 featured in the building wrap is 116 feet wide by 145 feet tall
  • Its grille is 51 feet wide
  • The badge on the Chrysler 200 grille is 31 feet in length
  • Headlight is 32 feet long
  • Its hood measures 44 feet in length and 85 feet in width
  • Its windshield is 66 feet wide and 20 feet long
  • The side-view mirrors are each 9 feet wide and 7 feet long
• The Chrysler brand logo is 98 feet wide
• The building wrap covers 14 stories of the Headquarters’ tower
• It took three days to place the wrap on the tower

All-New Lancia Ypsilon to Wear Chrysler's Badge in the UK and Ireland

It's no secret that after many years of delays and setbacks, the Fiat Group will finally present the Lancia Ypsilon's replacement at the Geneva Salon in about two week from now. What isn't known is that the new Ypsilon, which will be offered for the first time ever in a five-door body style, will be sold in Great Britain and Ireland under the Chrysler badge.

Back in 2008, Fiat canned its plans to reintroduce the Lancia brand to the UK and other right-hand drive markets citing the global economic crisis as the main reason. But after the Italian firm forged an alliance with the Chrysler Group in 2010, the group's CEO Sergio Marchionne took the decision to merge the Lancia and Chrysler brands, and create a single full-line brand with different names from market to market.

Lancia's 2012 supermini is the first example of the company's new strategy as it will be available in Europe's right hand markets as the Chrysler Ypsilon, however, it won't be the only product exchange between the two companies, but more on that later in the weekend. Even though we don't have any information on the matter yet, it is possible that the Chrysler Ypsilon be offered in other markets as well in the near future.

From what we learned, the new five-door 2012 Ypsilon will get hidden rear-door handles (àla Alfa Giulietta), numerous options to personalize the interior, various high-tech features and a choice of fuel-efficient engines including a 95HP 1.3-liter diesel and a 85-horsepower 0.9-liter TwinAir turbocharged two-cylinder gasoline unit. European sales of the new Ypsilon will start in June.

All-New Lancia Ypsilon to Wear Chrysler's Badge in the UK and Ireland

It's no secret that after many years of delays and setbacks, the Fiat Group will finally present the Lancia Ypsilon's replacement at the Geneva Salon in about two week from now. What isn't known is that the new Ypsilon, which will be offered for the first time ever in a five-door body style, will be sold in Great Britain and Ireland under the Chrysler badge.

Back in 2008, Fiat canned its plans to reintroduce the Lancia brand to the UK and other right-hand drive markets citing the global economic crisis as the main reason. But after the Italian firm forged an alliance with the Chrysler Group in 2010, the group's CEO Sergio Marchionne took the decision to merge the Lancia and Chrysler brands, and create a single full-line brand with different names from market to market.

Lancia's 2012 supermini is the first example of the company's new strategy as it will be available in Europe's right hand markets as the Chrysler Ypsilon, however, it won't be the only product exchange between the two companies, but more on that later in the weekend. Even though we don't have any information on the matter yet, it is possible that the Chrysler Ypsilon be offered in other markets as well in the near future.

From what we learned, the new five-door 2012 Ypsilon will get hidden rear-door handles (àla Alfa Giulietta), numerous options to personalize the interior, various high-tech features and a choice of fuel-efficient engines including a 95HP 1.3-liter diesel and a 85-horsepower 0.9-liter TwinAir turbocharged two-cylinder gasoline unit. European sales of the new Ypsilon will start in June.

Ram Truck Announces New Entry-Level 1500 HEMI V8, Still to Decide on Name

In a somewhat strange move, the Chrysler Group's Ram Truck division announced today that it would launch a new entry-level version of its 1500 pickup truck equipped with a standard HEMI V8 engine, but it has yet to decide on the vehicle's name. According to the company, the new model is currently known under the code name “Adventurer".

The Detroit firm said the new model borrows the formula of the 2011 Ram Tradesman and is aimed at "first-time buyers and owners who are looking for a vehicle with performance and style that they can customize and make their own."

The unnamed new Ram 1500 will come equipped with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine delivering 390 horsepower and 407 lb.-ft. of torque as standard. It will be offered in a monochromatic paint scheme featuring a body-colored grille with black honeycomb inserts, body-colored front fascia and body-colored rear fascia with chrome-tipped dual exhausts.

Other standard features include fog lamps, 20-inch aluminum wheels with locking lug nuts, a locking tailgate, cargo lamp, rear-bumper step pad, 6” x 9” side-view mirrors, a 160-amp alternator, 3.55 rear axle ratio, 700-amp maintenance-free battery, four and seven-pin trailer wiring harness, heavy-duty front and rear shock absorbers, and front and rear stabilizer bars.

Inside, Ram's new pickup truck model get a heavy-duty vinyl 40/20/40 split-bench seat, air conditioning, six-speaker media center with CD and MP3 player, as well as audio jack input for mobile devices and automatic headlamps.

The standard list of safety features include front air bags, supplemental front curtain and side air bags, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes and electronic stability control.

Ram said that buyers will also be able to choose from a variety of options ranging from Mopar chrome tubular side steps to a Sirius Satellite Radio.

“We know we have the formula right,” said Ram Truck President and CEO Fred Diaz. “Now we just need a great name that promotes pride of ownership. This new Ram model will be an attractive alternative for a younger or first-time buyer looking for performance at an affordable price. Case in point, it will have more horsepower and a lower base price than our competitors’ entry-level performance cars with the added benefit of versatility and capability.”

The new truck will come as a regular cab, short-bed model, with a choice of 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain. Sales will begin in the second quarter of the year with prices starting from 23,830, including $975 destination charge.

Ram Truck Announces New Entry-Level 1500 HEMI V8, Still to Decide on Name

In a somewhat strange move, the Chrysler Group's Ram Truck division announced today that it would launch a new entry-level version of its 1500 pickup truck equipped with a standard HEMI V8 engine, but it has yet to decide on the vehicle's name. According to the company, the new model is currently known under the code name “Adventurer".

The Detroit firm said the new model borrows the formula of the 2011 Ram Tradesman and is aimed at "first-time buyers and owners who are looking for a vehicle with performance and style that they can customize and make their own."

The unnamed new Ram 1500 will come equipped with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine delivering 390 horsepower and 407 lb.-ft. of torque as standard. It will be offered in a monochromatic paint scheme featuring a body-colored grille with black honeycomb inserts, body-colored front fascia and body-colored rear fascia with chrome-tipped dual exhausts.

Other standard features include fog lamps, 20-inch aluminum wheels with locking lug nuts, a locking tailgate, cargo lamp, rear-bumper step pad, 6” x 9” side-view mirrors, a 160-amp alternator, 3.55 rear axle ratio, 700-amp maintenance-free battery, four and seven-pin trailer wiring harness, heavy-duty front and rear shock absorbers, and front and rear stabilizer bars.

Inside, Ram's new pickup truck model get a heavy-duty vinyl 40/20/40 split-bench seat, air conditioning, six-speaker media center with CD and MP3 player, as well as audio jack input for mobile devices and automatic headlamps.

The standard list of safety features include front air bags, supplemental front curtain and side air bags, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes and electronic stability control.

Ram said that buyers will also be able to choose from a variety of options ranging from Mopar chrome tubular side steps to a Sirius Satellite Radio.

“We know we have the formula right,” said Ram Truck President and CEO Fred Diaz. “Now we just need a great name that promotes pride of ownership. This new Ram model will be an attractive alternative for a younger or first-time buyer looking for performance at an affordable price. Case in point, it will have more horsepower and a lower base price than our competitors’ entry-level performance cars with the added benefit of versatility and capability.”

The new truck will come as a regular cab, short-bed model, with a choice of 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain. Sales will begin in the second quarter of the year with prices starting from 23,830, including $975 destination charge.

Kansas Thieves Targeting....Jeep Wrangler Doors

We've heard of thieves stealing wheels, tires, GPS and audio systems from cars, but pinching off doors from Jeep Wranglers is something new. However, that's exactly what's happening in Overland Park in Kansas, as thieves are taking doors off Jeep Wrangles and selling them online. Local police told KMBC news that four such thefts took place in the past few weeks alone.

According to the report, because the Jeep Wrangler's doors are hinged on the outside of the vehicle, it's very easy to remove the bolts if the vehicle is unlocked. The Overland Park police suggested that owners should keep their cars locked [maybe a warning sticker similar to the one found on mirrors could help...] adding that there are special bolt kits that make it very difficult to remove the doors.

Kansas Thieves Targeting....Jeep Wrangler Doors

We've heard of thieves stealing wheels, tires, GPS and audio systems from cars, but pinching off doors from Jeep Wranglers is something new. However, that's exactly what's happening in Overland Park in Kansas, as thieves are taking doors off Jeep Wrangles and selling them online. Local police told KMBC news that four such thefts took place in the past few weeks alone.

According to the report, because the Jeep Wrangler's doors are hinged on the outside of the vehicle, it's very easy to remove the bolts if the vehicle is unlocked. The Overland Park police suggested that owners should keep their cars locked [maybe a warning sticker similar to the one found on mirrors could help...] adding that there are special bolt kits that make it very difficult to remove the doors.