Chrysler adding jobs at Toledo Jeep plant to boost Wrangler production

New car sales have been on the upswing, and few vehicles have experienced more success than the Jeep Wrangler. The iconic off-roader set an all-time May sales record with 14,454 units sold, and its total sales are up 34 percent on the year.

That's good news for Chrysler, and it could lead to more high-wage manufacturing jobs in northern Ohio. Automotive News reports that Team Pentastar plans to add an unspecified number of jobs to its Toledo Jeep plant in the fourth quarter of 2012. The move should help Chrysler satiate demand for the perpetually hot Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited, and it could help international sales, as well. CEO Sergio Marchionne is on record saying that he'd like the Wrangler to spur Jeep sales across the pond.





Ref: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/chrysler-adding-jobs-at-toledo-jeep-plant-to-boost-wrangler-prod/

2012 Jeep Wrangler Freedom Edition Proudly Wears the Red, White, or Blue

Just in time for our nation’s annual birthday hoopla, Jeep has rolled out the Wrangler Freedom Edition. The limited-run Jeep is intended as a tribute to military members both past and present. It’s based on the Sport model and available in either two-door or Unlimited four-door guise—buyers can have their Freedom in any color they want, as long as its Deep Cherry Red, Bright White, or, True Blue, which is exclusive to the Freedom edition.

Star badges with “Oscar Mike”—the traditional military slang for “on the move”—overlaid on them adorn the fenders, while stars without the script reside on the front hood and right rear-quarter panel. Standard features include black sidesteps, taillamp guards, and a Sunrider soft top with tinted rear windows.
Additional star images are embroidered with silver stitching onto the black seatbacks, and there are silver accents all over the cabin, including on a set of Mopar slush mats. Power windows and locks, remote keyless entry, and UConnect voice command are also included as standard items. Running gear is the same 285-hp, 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 found in all 2012 Wranglers.






Ref:  http://blog.caranddriver.com/2012-jeep-wrangler-freedom-edition/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+caranddriver%2Fblog+%28Car+and+Driver%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Ordering Car Features à la Carte

Shoppers considering the just-released 2013 Dodge Dart will encounter something rare in the car market: a menu offering as many as 100,000 possible combinations of colors and optional features.
 Chrysler Group LLC's newest compact car will be available in five different basic styles, 12 different exterior colors and up to 14 different interior color schemes, including black and ruby red, and "diesel gray and citrus." Buyers will pick from up to seven different wheel choices and can get a dashboard they can personalize to show either digital performance data, or virtual analog gauges.
 Rivals including Ford Motor Co., Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor Co. don't offer anything close to this level of à la carte customization







Ref:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304782404577490563216345798.html?mod=WSJ_auto_LeadStoryCollection

Mazda Jumps to #3 on J.D Power & ssociates 2012 IQS

The J.D. Power IQS is an industry-standard survey of customers’ experience with their vehicles after three months of vehicle ownership, in which vehicles are ranked by “problems per hundred vehicles” rate.  The lower the score, the higher “perceived” quality of the vehicle or brand.

 

Highlights from this year’s survey include:

• The Mazda brand achieved 3^rd rank among non-premium brands.
• The Mazda brand improved three problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) to 97 PP100, our best result ever in the study.
• The MX-5 Miata was rated highest in the Compact Sporty Car segment. This is the sixth time in seven years it has maintained the position.

 Mazda achieved top-three initial quality among non-premium brands for the second consecutive year. 

Zoom-Zoom!

THE 40th ANNUAL KIWANIS FIREWORKS SHOW!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012
THE 40th ANNUAL KIWANIS FIREWORKS SHOW!
It's Denton County's most spectacular night, and has been for forty years! Come out to Fouts Field for live music by The Holler Time, followed by an awesome array of fireworks that light up the sky. The event is FREE, but donations are gladly accepted by our energetic "Bucket Brigade" before, during, and after the show.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m., music begins at 6:30.







Ref: http://www.dentonkiwanisclub.org/

2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata: Pure top-down driving joy

The Mazda Media first came on the American automotive scene in 1989, and since that time, the little roadster has provided a great top-down driving experience.
The 2012 Mazda MX-5 continues the rewarding driving tradition. Here is what this roadster has to offer.
Of the MX-5 Motor Trend has said that it is simply, “The best sports car in America.” These are impressive automotive words indeed!
The MX-5 is a two-passenger two-door rear-wheel drive roadster available in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring models.
The engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder providing 167 hp and 140 ft. lb. of torque. The transmission is a short throw six-speed manual (one of the best in the business) or a six-speed automatic with shift paddles on the steering wheel. This Mazda’s 0-60 mph time is in a quick 6.3 seconds. Its front and rear weight distribution is a balanced 51/49 percent and the car’s lateral acceleration is an impressive .92 g.







Ref:  http://www.examiner.com/review/2012-mazda-mx-5-miata-pure-top-down-driving-joy

Kbb.com's 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000: Editors Name All-New Dodge Dart No. 1

Kelley Blue Book's Kbb.com Editors Rank This Year's Top Picks for Affordable New Rides Boasting Cool Factor
IRVINE, Calif., June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The expert editors from Kelley Blue Book's www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new car and used car information, today name the 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 (http://www.kbb.com/car-reviews-and-news/top-10/10-coolest-cars-under-18000-2012/).  In this annual list published by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, the editors ranked their top choices and named the 2013 Dodge Dart as this year's No. 1 affordable new 'Cool Car.'

2013 Dodge Dart

First true collaborative effort between the Chrysler Group and parent company Fiat, the 2013 Dodge Dart's enticing combination of style, performance, features and value has earned it the top spot in our 2012 coolest cars list.  With exceptional interior space and loads of personalization potential, the all-new Dart will definitely make its presence felt in the ultra-competitive compact sedan segment.

2012 Mazda Mazda3
Sporty looks and joyful driving dynamics have made the otherwise practical Mazda3 an omnipresent figure on our annual 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000 list.  For 2012 the Mazda3 appears once again, now with an optional "SKYACTIV" powertrain that enables Mazda's plucky compact to return up to 40 mpg on the freeway.





Ref:  http://www.abc12.com/story/18832203/kbbcoms-10-coolest-new-cars-under-18000-editors-name-all-new-dodge-dart-no-1