Maybe you heard Chrysler drop the bomb that the 2013 Dodge Dart will get a combined 40 MPG rating? Don’t worry, they’re full of crap. Autoblog explains why.

The short version is that Chrysler is basing this outlandish claim on the bloated CAFE numbers. Numbers which have no bearing on the real world performance, which is why you won’t find them on window stickers anywhere. C’mon Chrysler, you’re better than this.

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Owners of a model year 2008 Chrysler Town & Country, Chrysler Grand Voyager, or Dodge Grand Caravan may want to keep a close eye on their mailboxes. Chrysler has issued a recall for 300,000 of these vehicles. The problem? Possible random airbag deployment.

Say what?

Some of these vehicles may be prone to leaks coming from the air conditioning system. This leak could damage the airbag electronics, possibly causing a sudden unwanted deployment of said airbags. Neato.

Owners will receive their notices later this month, and the repair will be free of charge as always.

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Since the Dodge Charger and Challenger got massive horsepower upgrades for the latest model year, it was only a matter of time until the Chrysler 300 followed. Somehow, the number seem more impressive with the Chrysler.

Big, burly Dodges are supposed to put out ridiculous horsepower numbers. They are supposed to inspire fear in Chevy and Ford competitors. But the Chrysler 300? It’s more of a gentleman’s car. At least, that’s true until you step up to the big daddy. Let’s look at the specs:

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 Specs

• 465 HP 6.4 liter HEMI V8
• 465 lb-ft of torque
• Five speed automatic transmission
• 0-60 in the “high four second range”
• Quarter mile in less than 13 seconds

Ridiculous numbers for any car, but insane for what is essentially a family sedan. A very expensive family sedan, but still. Of course it also comes equipped with huge Brembo brakes, monster 20″ forged alloy wheels, and some sort of magic suspension.

The 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 is huge, absurdly powerful, and ridiculously fast. It’s also quite good looking – especially with those new LED headlights.

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 Gallery

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The words of Chrysler’s CEO, Sergio Marchionne:

Because the Dodge Grand Caravan and the Chrysler Town & Country are so similar, “we’re creating confusion in the dealer network,” Marchionne said.  And since Chrysler showrooms include all four of its brands, consumers are being asked to choose between two minivans that are structurally the same, “so you need to make a brand choice at that point in time,” he said.

It’s clear that one of the minivan twins is toast. Considering the Dodge Caravan outsells the Chrysler Town & Country by a large margin, there’s really no mystery here.

Source.

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Normally EPA fuel-efficiency ratings are pretty much black and white. (Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf aside, of course.) However, the conventionally powered 2011 Chrysler 200 is a bit of a mystery. This is what TTAC has to say:

For example, why does ChryCo’s 2.4 liter 4-banger base engine get the exact same rating (21/30) with a four-speed auto as with a six-cog slushbox? And while we’re at it, why does the “model overview” section of Chrysler.com show the 200 getting 20/31 MPG with the four-banger? Plus, how does the convertible have the same rating as the sedan?

Confusing indeed. In normal cars, more gears in the transmission means better fuel economy, at least by a MPG or two. TTAC goes on to note that both the new 4 cylinder and the all new Pentastar V6 that powers the high end 200′s is less efficient than, well, nearly all of its’ competitors. The V6 did manage to edge out the Malibu and Fusion, though.

Read more about the 2011 Chrysler 200.

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Spy shot and sneak peak time is over – here is the 2011 Chrysler 300. Final specs are still undercover, but at least we can see what this puppy looks like without any camo.

First impression? It looks fancier. It’s almost as if Chrysler is trying to go upmarket again – something that failed for them the last time around. Maybe I’m wrong here… in fact I hope I am. But in any case, it does give off more of a luxury car vibe.

Under the hood will definitely be your choice of the Pentastar 3.6 liter V6, or the trusty 5.7 liter HEMI V8. No doubt Chrysler will also offer the 6.4 liter HEMI in SRT-8 trim.

2011 Chrysler 300 Gallery

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Chrysler has gotten generous with their preview images of the 2011 200 sedan. We can’t quite see it from all angles, but there’s no doubt that it’s a Sebring underneath. In fact, it looks exactly like a polished-up Sebring. The revised front end looks quite nice, and the rear is even better. The problem is that these weren’t the biggest issues with the Sebring – the sideview was. From the side, the current Sebring looks like… well like nothing else I can think of at the moment. It’s repulsive, especially in the rear quarterpanel area.

Since Chrysler doesn’t give us much of a look at this part of the car, I’m going to assume that not much has changed. And that makes sense – it’s not really feasible to make changes like that in the middle of a car’s life cycle.

Supposedly the interior is all new as well, which is good news. As far as interior’s go, the Sebring is right about at the bottom of the class. So really, there’s no way the 200 *can’t* be better. No pictures just yet, though.

What about specs?
Yet another weakness of the Sebring is the pitiful powertrain offerings. Chrysler has confirmed that the 2011 200 will have your choice of a 2.4 liter 4 cyilnder engine or the 3.6 liter Pentastar V6. Four-cylinder buyers will have their choice of a 4 or 6 speed auto, based on trim.

You knew this was coming, right? Chrysler, it’s two thousand and ten. We’re talking about a heavily revised 2011 model year car. You’re putting a four speed transmission in this thing?

2011 Chrysler 200 Gallery

**Update** It looks like only rental versions of the 200 will get the four speed transmission. Again, I ask, why? Does Chrysler want most folk’s first impression of the 200 to be one with a horribly outdated transmission?

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Though they can’t quite outdo GM’s latest recall, Chrysler is issuing a recall nearly seven hundred thousand units strong. About 600k of these units are here in the States.

Model years 2006-2010 Jeep Wranglers ( 288k worth ) are being recalled for a potential brake fluid leak. I don’t know much about brake fluid, but I do prefer it in my vehicle instead of on the ground underneath it.

The balance of the recall is made up of 2008-2009 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country models. There’s a wiring flaw that could cause a fire inside the sliding doors.

Leaky brakes, flaming doors – pretty good stuff. Fortunately, no accidents or injuries have been reported yet. Hopefully Chrysler can get all these cars fixed before anything like that happens.

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In yet another example of stunning performance, Chrysler posted a net loss of $197 million in the first quarter of 2010. That’s on top of the $3.8 billion that Chrysler has lost since it exited bankruptcy protection.

Through the vagaries of accounting that only accountants and perhaps leprechauns can understand, Chrysler did manage to generate $1.5 billion in cash during the same period. Along the same lines, their total debt was reduced from $5.4 billion to $3.8 billion.

So in short, Chrysler lost more money, yet is sitting on more cash, and less debt. I’m honestly not sure if they’re in a better or worse situation than before. In any case, they’re still losing money. I don’t see that turning around until the new product starts hitting dealers later this year – at the earliest.

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The TARP loans given to Chrysler and GM were never intended to be loans, despite what lawmakers and auto executives would have you believe. It was always the government’s intention to give this money to the automakers – knowing all along that they would never see the money again. The only reason the government masqueraded these gifts as loans is to keep public outcry to a minimum.

On that note, Old Carco, LLC ( Chrysler’s “bad” half ) has $3.7 billion in unsecured debt to the US Treasury. Since Old Carco has no assets or money, this money is gone, never to be paid back. Chrysler hasn’t officially come out and said so yet, but it’s clear at this point. While Chrysler figures out how to attempt to pay off all secured debts, the unsecured debts sit and linger. It’s only a matter of time until the announcement comes.

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