Tag Archives: charger
2019 Dodge Charger Gets Performance Upgrades
Large sedans are still in competition with crossovers. Lest we forget about them, Dodge came up with fresh aesthetics and performance upgrades for the 2019 Charger. Sure, we’ve been preoccupied with the Redeye, but we’re sure Dodge has not forgotten that the Charger used to get plenty of attention, too.
For 2019, the high-performing variants of the Dodge Charger will get a new grille with dual air inlets. The grille, however, will only be available with the R/T Scat Pack and Hellcat. The two models will also receive as standard Launch Assist, which can detect driveline-damaging wheel hop at launch and modifies the engine torque to regain grip.
Same with the Challenger SRT Demon, the Charger SRT Hellcat will also receive the After-Run Chiller and the Torque Reserve, as well as new options like the Brass Monkey 20-inch forged wheels, a Satin Black hood, and an Alcantara package. The latter will bring a suede-like material to the sedan’s seats and steering wheel.
The R/T Scat Pack buyers can also opt to have the Bilstein adaptive damping suspension with modes such as Auto, Sport, and Track. There are new exterior colors available and there’s a new Launch Control switch placed on the dashboard.
Performance
There are many different engines for the Charger: the base model gets the 292-horsepower V-6 engine while the Hellcat has a 707-horsepower V-8 engine.
The base model, called the SXT, will come with an all-wheel-drive system, while the new GT gets a rear-drive system. The GT and R/T models, on the other hand, will receive a performance hood, side sills, fascia, and spoiler for the higher variants.
Performance suspension, improved steering, Dodge Performance Pages Pages with the 8.4-inch Uconnect screen, performance bolstered seats, and 20-inch Satin Carbon wheels and Black Noise wheel options are standard for the two trim levels.
The GT gets a top speed of 130 mph while the R/T gets 150 mph.
More Details Emerge About The 2020 Cadillac CT5 Luxury Sports Sedan
Cadillac hasn’t given us much to talk or think about when it comes to the 2020 Cadillac CT5 luxury sports sedan—seeing as the prototype has always been heavily camouflaged to the point that it’s barely recognizable. We think Cadillac wants us to think they’re merely testing the Charger, thanks to the big hood scoop and fake full-width taillights.
The last time we got spy photos of the CT5, we only glimpsed its front end. This time, thankfully, we’re seeing it from all angles and despite the fake body work, we can find some important new details about the luxury sports sedan.
The front lighting takes a new development. The production-ready headlights are fitted with what appears to be LED illumination and it takes on the same shape we saw on the last prototype. We believe this will end up higher on the front-end section, probably extending horizontally toward the grille. A section of the headlights would still bend to extend to the fender at the back. The design language of the headlights is meant to fuse the current Cadillacs and the Escala concept, which are the basis of the car’s overall body style.
There are also vertical LED accent lights, a trademark feature of the current Cadillacs and the Escala. This is a new detail since we didn’t see this development on the last prototype.
The grille’s details have also changed. Instead of the usual slats that we see in many Cadillacs and other sedans, the CT5 has a plastic mesh of small rectangles. Think of a brickwork and you’ll understand what the CT5 is getting into.
The back looks a typical Cadillac, though it’s less modern than the front end. There are angular cutouts in the bumper (probably to let exhaust gases out) and the taillights have the current Cadillac look with the top curving. The prototype used fake lights, so we can’t tell yet if it will be similar to the one on the Escala.
There’s a good chance the new CT5 will use existing Cadillac engines such as the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6, and the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. The CT5 should be revealed sometime next year for the 2020 model year.
2020 Cadillac CT5 Photos
Here are new spy shots of the 2020 Cadillac CT5 from Autoblog:
Will There Be a New Dodge Viper?
The Dodge Viper is probably one of the most iconic cars of our generation. With its production tracing back from 1992 to 2010 and then making a comeback in 2012, it was sad to see it go last year. So, during the recent interview of Fiat Chrysler Automotive CEO Sergio Marchionne, he was asked if there are plans to revive the sports car.
Based on Marchionne’s statement, the future of the Viper remains bleak. He said that the Viper cannot stand on its own because it needs to share its architecture. Then, it needs a platform specifically designed to house its American engine. Another factor holding back the return of the sports car was its low sales volume.
With that, the rumors about the sixth-generation Dodge Viper were doused. It was previously speculated that there were plans for the new model to ditch its V10 engine in favor of a new naturally-aspirated V8. The unit will be able to produce 558 hp for its base trim and up to 710 hp for its range-topping trim. Reports claimed too that the upcoming Viper will get a lighter platform, but it will retain its distinctive shape as well as its front-engine and rear-drive set-up.
For now, it appears that the fate of the Viper has been sealed though.
Dodge Continuing the Charger and Challenger
Despite the heartbreaking developments about the Viper, Dodge will go on with its Charger and Challenger models. Marchionne said that the two will get an upgraded architecture.
The FCA CEO noted that they will likely continue using the Giorgio platform for the cars. However, the architecture needs an upgrade to make the models more competitive. He hinted that by the time they are finished reworking the current platform, we might not be able to recognize it from its origins.