Archive for the ‘Dodge’ Category

New interior design—check! New engine—check! New suspension—check! The 2011 Dodge Journey will be bringing all this and more to your Baxter and Performance Chrysler Jeep Dodge showroom soon.

Dodge Journey drivers spoke up about the Journey’s bland interior and Dodge listened and gave the 2011 model a complete interior makeover. New interior features include:
• One-piece instrumentation panel
• Backlit instrumentation
• Uconnect Touch system
• New seat design for increased comfort
• High quality fabrics
• Newly designed steering wheel with standard audio controls
• Soft touch materials with accent stitching
• Available seven-passenger seating

What really makes the 2011 Dodge Journey exciting, though, is its new performance-driven engine. The 2011 Journey has a fuel efficient V6 3.6-liter Pentastar performance engine. This gives the new Journey a 17 percent horsepower improvement over the 2010 model with 283 horsepower and a 12 percent improvement in torque with 260 pound-foot torque.

The 2011 Dodge Journey also sports some new exterior design elements:
• Newly designed signature Dodge split crosshair honeycomb grille
• Aggressive new front panels
• More aggressive rear panels
• 19” wheel designs in aluminum or chrome-clad finishes

With all of the 2011 Dodge Journey’s new features, it is definitely a vehicle to watch for.

If you’ve visited the gas station recently, you may have noticed a new fuel label—E85. What is E85? Can your vehicle run on it? We’re here to answer these questions and more.

E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gasoline. The 85 percent ethanol is made from fermented corn or other grain products. Because of this, E85 is fairly easy to find in the Midwest, where the majority of the nation’s corn is grown.

Ford, Toyota, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz and Honda all make vehicles capable of running on E85.  Vehicles such as the Ford F-150, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango, also known as flexible-fuel vehicles, are able to run on a variety of fuels. They work with 100 percent E85, 100 percent pump gasoline or any combination of ethanol and gasoline. A special computer in each vehicle monitors these fuels and helps the vehicle run efficiently on whichever fuel you choose to fill up with.

E85 has many advantages over gasoline:
• E85 is up to 30 cents cheaper to fill-up with per gallon.
• E85 keeps fuel systems cleaner than gasoline, which results in potentially lower long-term maintenance costs.
• E85 vehicles have lower carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions than gas or diesel vehicles.
• E85 is a renewable resource.
• E85 can help lessen our dependence on foreign oil.

Ready to switch to E85? Check out our lineup of flexible fuel vehicles at www.PerformanceAuto.com.

Few things are more frustrating than starting your vehicle and seeing your empty gas tank light come on. Trips to the gas station are a thing of the past for electric vehicles, which get their energy anywhere an outlet is available.

Electric vehicles are ideal for people who live and work within city limits, such as those who live in Omaha or Lincoln. Because the majority of people living and working within city limits drive a short distance between their home and work, they would be within the range limits of most electric vehicles.

Most electric vehicles have a range of around 100 miles per full charge. Like gas vehicles, this range varies depending on driving styles, road conditions and weather conditions. You can easily charge your vehicle by plugging it in at home or at a public charging station. Public charging stations aren’t wide-spread yet, but they are expected to become more easily available as electric vehicles become more popular. Charging takes anywhere between 30 minutes and 8 hours, depending on the type of charging system you use.

In addition to freedom from high gas prices, electric vehicles offer excellent performance. Unlike gas-powered vehicles, 100 percent of the electric vehicle engine’s torque is instantly available when you start the vehicle. This means you get more power right away. The electric engine is also considerably quieter than a gas engine, which can offer you a quieter and more comfortable ride.

Electric vehicles also require less maintenance than gas-powered vehicles because:
• The battery, motor and associated electronics require no regular maintenance
• Electric vehicles don’t have any fluids to change other than brake fluid
• The brake wear is significantly reduced due to regenerative braking
• The electric engine has fewer moving parts than a conventional gas engine

Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Dodge will all have electric vehicles on the market in the next three years with the Toyota RAV4 EV, Ford Focus Electric, Volkswagen Golf blue-e-motion, Mercedes Electric A-Class and Dodge EV. All of these vehicles will qualify for a federal tax credit and could qualify for state incentives, making these vehicles both affordable and environmentally-friendly.

If want a performance-driven environmentally-friendly vehicle, an electric vehicle could be the right choice for you.

More power! With the return of the 392-inch 6.4-liter Hemi V8, that’s exactly what the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 will give you.

After a 52-year hiatus, the 6.4 liter Hemi V8 is back and better than ever. Increasing the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8’s performance and decreasing the amount of gas it takes to power the beast, this engine is a muscle-car-lover’s dream! It boosts the Challenger’s performance and handling with 470 horsepower and 470 pound-foot of torque, which is 45 horsepower and 50 pound-feet torque more than the previous 6.1-liter Hemi V8. Drivers will be able to achieve up to 180 miles-per-hour without any engine adjustments.

Dodge isn’t sacrificing power and performance for gas mileage with the 2011 Challenger SRT8, though. In fact, they’ve actually improved gas mileage with their cylinder deactivation multi-displacement system. Fuel is saved by shutting down four cylinders while the Challenger’s cruising.

The return of the 6.4 liter Hemi V8 isn’t the only upgrade the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is receiving. The Challenger is also getting a new intake manifold, new exhaust manifolds, a new high-lift cam and variable cam timing. A six-speed manual transmission, three-spoke steering wheel with better controls and new exterior door handles that are easier to grip round out the improvements to the 2011 Challenger.

A few lucky Dodge Challenger fans will have the opportunity to purchase a special Inaugural Edition 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8.  Only 1,492 will be available, with 1,100 in the United States and 392 in Canada. The Inaugural Edition will be available in blue with white stripes or white with blue stripes.  It comes with an Inaugural Edition 392 Hemi dash plaque.

The 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is expected to make its Nebraska showroom appearance in December. Be sure to check our website at www.PerformanceAuto.com for updates and more information!

Distracted driving has become a serious problem in our country, particularly due to the use of cell phones and other electronic devices while driving.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Institute reports that in 2008, more than 20 percent of all car crashes occurred because of some type of driver distraction.  Furthermore, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety says that drivers who use hand held devices are four times more likely to get into accidents serious enough to injure themselves.

With such staggering statistics, we must do whatever we can to eliminate distractions so drivers can physically and mentally focus on the road.  When drivers engage in distracted driving behaviors, they not only endanger themselves, but they put everyone around them at risk too.  We have always had a moral obligation to put the phones down, but now it’s the law.  Nebraska and Iowa recently passed laws banning texting while driving.

Vehicle manufacturers are also doing what they can to help eliminate driving distractions. 

• Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles feature the UConnect system.  UConnect is an in-vehicle, hands free communication system that allows you to talk on your Bluetooth enabled phone while keeping your hands on the wheel. 
•  Lexus vehicles also give drivers the capability to wirelessly connect their Bluetooth phones to the car via the navigation or audio system. 
• Ford cars feature the Ford Sync system, which allows drivers to make hands-free calls and control music and other functions with simple voice commands.  

While these features drastically reduce visual and manual driving distractions, they can still take your mind off the road.  To eliminate cognitive distractions as well, avoid using cell phones except in case of an emergency.

Many drivers simply do not recognize the dangers faced when they take their eyes and minds off the road and their hands off the wheel.  We are all part of the solution to distracted driving.  When teaching your own children to drive, we cannot expect them to put the phones down unless we do the same.  Set an example for your children and other drivers by putting the phone away while you drive and eliminate distractions behind the wheel.