2009 Caliber SRT4

Although it’s the Neon’s replacement in the Chrysler family, the Caliber is not just a compact hatchback Crossover substitute.  On the outside, it has the crosshair grille and tough-looking body panels present in many vehicles across the Dodge lineup.  But while most of the Caliber models are inexpensive and useful, actual driving performance is lackluster at best.  The SRT4 is Dodge’s way of injecting a little firepower into the Caliber.

[Photo Source: Jalopnik]

Despite a wash of rumors that Dodge will be bidding adieu to the Viper performance line, Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli appeared on CNBC this morning to introduce the Dodge EV, an all-electric Viper look-alike. Part of Chrysler’s ENVI electric program, the Dodge EV utilizes a powertrain identical to that of the all-electric performance car, the Tesla Roadster, operating entirely on plug-in power. Achieving a reported range of 150-200 miles off a single, 4-hour 110/120 charge [standard current found in the average a home], the Dodge EV ditches Chrysler’s famed HEMI in favor of a lithium ion battery pack, while still managing to accelerate from 0-60 in under 5 seconds [or so they claim, we'll reserve final judgement until the real world test].

Video after the jump

Yesterday, Jalopnik posted about Mopar’s unveiling of the 2009 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak, which one commenter pointed out appeared to have been designed for “the man with a switchblade in his sock and only one testicle” [which I personally found to be uproariously funny and dead-on-balls accurate]. The Mopar Challenger Dragster is serious business though, and Mopar actually requires all potential buyers to fill out an application before getting behind the wheel, presumably to screen out those who aren’t man enough [a tobacco spitting contest is included in phase 2 of the review process].

As old as legends like Sergeant Slaughter and The Nature Boy but still able to squeeze into those barely-there wrestling tights without horrifying fans [seriously, Ric Flair, we love you man, but really, keep the robe on], our hero Hulk Hogan has been in the gossip rags everywhere lately while his tranny wife takes him to the cleaners. So what kind of car does Hulk Hogan own? We were surprised to find he’s cruising around in a Hulkamania-yellow Dodge Charger SRT8, we were almost sure his estranged wife would have reduced the star to a Geo Prism.

After committing a spelling error during my daily google image search for “erotic spanking from cop”, I happened upon a Lamborghini Gallardo police interceptor, an “exotic cop” car custom-fitted for the Italian Polizia that “spanked” the Holden Commodore on the test track. My interest sufficiently piqued, I went on in search of other bigger, badder cruisers and was surprised to find that the police around the globe are riding surprisingly phat these days.

1. Lamborghini Gallardo, Italy

The National Insurance Crime Bureau has released reports suggesting the recent surge in fraudulent vehicle theft claims is directly related to the rising cost of fuel. Although no one has specifically linked the two trends, researchers are implying that a large number of truck and SUV owners are staging the theft and/or vandalism of their vehicles, ultimately using the insurance payout to buy smaller, more economical vehicles. Sound a little far-fetched? Keep reading.

We know we bitch and moan about a lot of the entry level sedans currently on the market - they’re always too small or too slow or too ugly. If you were to hazard a guess based simply on what we write, you’d assume we make beer runs in late model German luxury sedans, but we don’t. Our fervent ride lust is dampened considerably after we balance the checkbook, and when it comes right down to it, all we really need is a good, reliable car to get us from Point A to Point B. We assume that most car buyers are currently in the same boat, so we decided to temporarily abandon our unadulterated hate for penny racers like the Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa and assemble an objective, unbiased list of the least expensive, best new car bets for 2008-2009.

1. 2009 Hyundai Accent [$11,745 - $14, 595]

2. 2009 Chevy Aveo [$12,120 - $14, 255]

Later this month, Chrysler will offer a preview of the three electric car prototypes it plans to produce over the course of the next decade. Currently working with battery suppliers both at home and abroad, Chrysler’s primary focus is developing an electric plug-in hybrid vehicle capable of averaging 300 miles per charge. “Fuel cells are in the future, ” said Chrysler co-president Jim Press, “but probably more in my kids’ future than my own.”

Jeep Hurricane Concept

Full Chrysler Concept Gallery After Jump

Hennessey Challenger SRT600

Unlike the Mopar-tuned Dodge Challenger drag racers, the new Hennessey Challenger HPE600 Turbo’s are completely street legal and completely bad ass. A product of Hennessey Performance Engineering [HPE], the Hennessey HPE600 Turbo package is geared towards drivers looking to upgrade the already impressive stock performance of their Dodge Challenger SRT8 models. Utilizing forced induction for a turbo-charged power boost, the HPE600 Turbo upgrades the Challenger SRT8’s OEM output an incredible 195 units to 620-hp. Coupled with 650 lb-ft of torque, the Hennessey Challenger earned itself an awe-inspiring 11.9-second quarter-mile laptime during test runs.

More Pics & Specs After Jump

2009 Dodge Journey

Featuring all the ambiguous family-crossover-vehicle styling of the Chrysler Avenger, the 2009 Dodge Journey is the newest and most unexciting addition to the family. Sitting on Chrysler’s Global-D platform, the new Journey offers yet another alternative to buyers in denial of their need for a minivan. Standardized to seat 5 with the option to accommodate an additional 2, the Journey’s rear passenger layout is decidedly kid-friendly. Theater seating serves as a precautionary offensive maneuver against the inevitable “Mo-om, tell Mikey to keep his arm on his side of the car!” while rear doors that open at a 90-degree angle provide ample room for swiftly and efficiently locating the offending child to backhand.