William Maley

Chrysler has announced the next Viper will be returning home when production begins late next year. The Viper's home is the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit where it was built from 1995 to 2010. Since production of Viper ended, Conner Avenue has sat idle. Chrysler says the reopening of Conner Avenue Assembly will bring back 150 jobs. Former employees will have first dibs on the positions before other hourly employees can apply for them. But there also a big change with the new Viper. Since 1992, the Viper was always known as a Dodge. However in the press release, the Dodge name is only used once. When asked about this, SRT spokesman Dan Reid said the Viper will be branded and sold as a SRT model. Source: Automobile Magazine Press Release is on Page 2 The Snake Returns to Chrysler Group’s Conner Avenue Assembly Plant Conner Plant reopens to produce 2013 SRT Viper Nearly 150 jobs to return to Detroit New Viper to roll off the line in late 2012 Auburn Hills, Mich. , Dec 13, 2011 - Chrysler Group LLC announced today that it will reopen its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit for the production of the next generation SRT Viper. With the plant’s reopening, nearly 150 jobs, both hourly and salaried, will return to the City of Detroit. The Conner facility was idled when production of the Dodge Viper ended in July 2010. “The next generation Viper will make its return to the product lineup in late 2012 as a 2013 model,” said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer - SRT Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. “We’re extremely excited that our ultimate American sports car will continue to live on and be produced exclusively here in the Motor City.” Current Chrysler Group hourly employees who previously worked at Conner were first offered the opportunity to return to their home plant. The balance of the positions will be filled by hourly employees volunteering to transfer to the Conner Avenue plant. Conner Avenue will begin building the new Viper in late 2012, but employees began reporting for training and orientation this fall. In preparation for the reopening, the Conner facility will begin its transformation by implementing World Class Manufacturing (WCM), a system that is focused on reducing waste and making continuous improvements throughout the assembly process to improve quality and productivity. Viper production began in May 1992 at the New Mack Assembly Plant, then moved to the Conner Avenue site in October 1995. All Vipers that rolled off the line were hand-built in a low-volume, modular process. Over the course of 15 years, Conner Avenue employees built about 12 vehicles a day for a total of 22,070 Vipers. The reopening of the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant reaffirms Chrysler Group’s commitment to the City of Detroit as the only auto manufacturer with two assembly plants in the city. View full article

Yesterday, Acura announced they would be showing three cars at next month's Detroit Auto Show; a concept version of the NSX, a new RDX, and the ILX sedan. Now, we have learned some more information about the upcoming ILX. As we have reported, the new ILX will be using the Honda Civic platform as base. But don't expect it to be a re-badged Acura. "All the suspension settings will be tuned to be Acura. Consider it as different as the TL is from the Accord or the MDX is from the Pilot," said Vicki Poponi, American Honda assistant vice president for product planning. The ILX's engine lineup will include a 2.0L direct-injection four, the 2.4L four found in the current TSX, and a 1.5L hybrid powertrain. Acura has also announced the new ILX will be built at Honda's Greensburg, Ind., plant, which currently builds the Honda Civic. Source: Automotive News Press Release is on Page 2 New Acura Sedan to be Built at Award-winning Plant in Greensburg Indiana plant to build its first Acura model - also the first ever U.S.-made hybrid model GREENSBURG, Ind. Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC (HMIN) today announced that it will be the exclusive manufacturer of the Acura ILX, an all-new luxury sedan going into mass production in Indiana in the spring of 2012. The new Acura ILX sedan will be positioned at the gateway to the Acura lineup and will be offered with both gasoline and gas-electric hybrid powertrain options. The new Acura ILX will be Acura's first-ever hybrid model, as well as the first Acura model to be produced in Indiana. "Building this all-new Acura vehicle as the exclusive global source is a big responsibility for our associates," said HMIN President Jun Nishimoto. "I am very proud of what our Indiana team has accomplished in such a short time, and we have great confidence in our ability to produce a world-class luxury vehicle that exceeds the expectations of Acura customers." The Acura ILX will join the TL sedan, ZDX crossover vehicle, and the MDX and RDX sport-utility vehicles as the fifth Acura model produced exclusively in North America. Acura finished second among all luxury brands in the J.D. Power and Associates' 2011 Initial Quality Study. HMIN was recognized earlier this year for its outstanding quality as one of only three automobile plants globally to earn a Platinum Award for outstanding quality based on the results of J.D. Power and Associates' 2011 Initial Quality Survey℠ (IQS). The plant recently added nearly 1,000 associates to support the move to two-shift production, which started on Oct. 24, 2011, doubling the plant's capacity to 200,000 vehicles per year. The Acura ILX will be the first hybrid vehicle to be made in America at a Honda plant. Gasoline engines for the new Acura ILX will be produced at the Anna, Ohio, engine plant of Honda of America Mfg., Inc. Acura will unveil a concept version of the new ILX sedan at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit during media preview days, Jan. 9-10, 2012. Acura also will debut a new RDX sport-utility vehicle and a concept version of the next-generation Acura NSX supercar at the show, as it moves to further strengthen its product lineup with new products, new technologies and a sharper brand focus. View full article

If you were thinking about purchasing a new Fisker Karma, you might want to hear this. Fisker has announced they will be increasing prices on the Karma Plug-In hybrid sedan by 6%. That means the base Karma EcoStandard model will now have a sticker price of $102,000; an increase of $6,150. The high-end EcoChic model will see a $10,000 increase to $116,000. However, if you have put down a $5,000 deposit on the Karma, you're in luck. Fisker says for those who put a deposit down can purchase the Karma at the lower price until January 15. This isn't the first time the Karma has seen it's price go up. Back in 2008, Fisker projected the Karma to start at $80,000. However, when the Karma finally went into production this year, the price jumped to $96,850. Source: Inside Line View full article

Last week, Dodge showed some exterior shots of the new Dart compact car. This week, Dodge has released some interior shots of the Dart. Dodge boasts the new Dart will have many state-of-the-art technologies and personalization options to make it stand out from the competition. The interior will have the choice of 14 interior color and trim combinations while a new 7-inch TFT customizable display sits between the tachometer and fuel gauge/PRND gages. The Dart will also use an 8.4-inch touchscreen equipped with UConnect to control many of the Dart's functions. Dodge says the Dart will also will come with Blind-Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path Detection. The Dart makes its official debut at next month's Detroit Auto Show. Related: Detroit 2012: The Return Of The Dart Press Release is on Page 2 All-new 2013 Dodge Dart Interior Sets New Standard for Compact Cars A Modern Blend of Precision Craftsmanship, State-of-the-art Technology and Safety, Exciting Bursts of Color and Hand-sculpted Shapes Create a Highly Customizable Interior New Dodge Dart built with materials and precision craftsmanship typically found in more expensive vehicle segments Customization is key – Dodge offers thousands of ways to personalize the Dart Available high-tech features include class-exclusive customizable 7-inch gauge cluster, 8.4-inch Uconnect touch screen, heated steering wheel and illuminated floating island bezel Class-Leading Safety – Dodge Dart’s 10 standard airbags are unsurpassed in the compact car segment Auburn Hills, Mich. , Dec 13, 2011 - The Dodge brand is giving a sneak peek into the high-tech, precisely crafted and highly customizable interior of its all-new 2013 Dodge Dart. Scheduled to be introduced Jan. 9 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the new Dodge Dart’s interior sets a new standard for compact cars. Setting a New Standard – Quality & Spaciousness Dodge designers focused on creating a modern blend of precision craftsmanship, state-of-the-art technology, exciting bursts of color and hand-sculpted shapes when designing the Dart’s interior, which is made with materials and technology typically found in more expensive vehicle segments. Starting with modern Dodge DNA and through the use of innovative ambient interior lighting, high-quality soft-touch materials and high-tech features, the 2013 Dodge Dart is loaded with cool amenities and unexpected delights for both drivers and passengers. The Dart’s “driver-centric” layout is designed to put all controls within easy reach of the driver. Customizable displays and comfort-tuned seats are packaged in an exceptionally spacious, pleasing interior. Packaged in the footprint of a compact car, the 2013 Dodge Dart features the interior spaciousness of a mid-sized sedan, and it boasts best-in-class hip and shoulder room. Unmatched Customization Customization was key in the all-new Dodge Dart’s development, and with 12 exterior colors, 14 interior color and trim combinations, six wheel options, three engine options and three transmissions, each Dodge Dart can be personalized by every buyer to fit their individual style. And the combinations are multiplied exponentially, as Mopar will also offer hundreds of customization options and themed packages specifically developed for the Dart. Class-leading Technology The high-tech centerpiece of the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart is the class-exclusive floating island bezel, which houses the segment-exclusive available 7-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) customizable gauge cluster display with light pipe surround that also houses the available class-exclusive UConnect Touch 8.4-inch touchscreen multimedia center -- the largest touch-screen in its class. Thoughtful storage options throughout fit today’s technology. The glove box easily conceals a stowed iPad; the center console features auxiliary jacks to plug in a wide variety of electronic devices, and thoughtful, inventive storage solutions, such as console map pockets, which are perfect for storing mobile phones, receipts, or pen and paper. Lighting in all the right places provides drivers and passengers a warm, comfortable cockpit. Available “racetrack” lighting surrounds the floating island bezel. Ambient lighting for the door handles, map pockets, foot wells, glove box, storage bin and illuminated cup holders is both useful and provides a warm atmosphere inside the vehicle. Unmatched Safety Safety was also at the forefront in the development of the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart. Built on a strong foundation, constructed with 68 percent high-strength steel, engineers added both active and passive safety features, including 10 standard airbags, which is unsurpassed in the segment. The 2013 Dodge Dart is also the only car in its class to offer blind spot monitoring and rear cross path detection. View full article