If you were to ask the adolescents of today which they’d rather have, a new car or a smartphone, you may be surprised at the answer you’d get. As a kid, I distinctly remember that the only thing I wanted was my drivers license. SRT’s new advertising campaign gives us all, young and old, a little shot in the arm and reminds us that, even though technology is a wonderful thing, it’s nothing if it doesn’t stir the body and soul.

Source: Youtube.com

It’s as much a part of the Fast and Furious franchise as any of the main characters, and has been in all but 2 of the 6 installments. It’s Dom’s 1970 Dodge Charger, and although it gets destroyed during each go-round, movie magic has proven that this old Dodge has more lives then any cat you’ve ever come to know and love. For the Fast and Furious 6, the Charger is once again, back. However this time it’s been reincarnated as a highly modified 1969 Dodge Daytona, the pinnacle of the Chargers evolution. Logic dictates that using a Daytona was the next step for the Charger, however now my curiosity is really peaked as I’m wondering what’s going to show up in F&F 7…

Source: Youtube.com

It’s no secret that Dodge has had a long standing relationship with the Fast and the Furious movie franchise. From Dom’s 1970 Charger to the new Challengers and other Dodge products, Chrysler is banking on the fact that the F&F will continue to help bolster brand recognition with automotive enthusiasts throughout the world. The new film, Fast & Furious 6 is no exception and continues this tradition by incorporating some new Alfa Romeos into the action. Ralph Gilles, SRT CEO sits down for the cameras to tell us about the ins-and-outs of this relationship.

Source: Youtube.com

10 years ago if you were to tell someone that they needed to pay over $50K for a Jeep Grand Cherokee, they’d probably laugh at you. This however isn’t 10 years ago, it’s 2013 and this new Jeep Cherokee EcoDiesel is hands-down worth every penny. Not long ago I had the opportunity to test drive the new Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel in Austin, TX and truth be told, it’s a wonderful vehicle. The 2013 Volkswagen Touareg is also a decent SUV. Not wonderful mind you, but decent. The interior feels bland and stagnant compared to the Grand Cherokee, but on the road it’s a little more compliant in my opinion. Motor Trend’s Jonny Lieberman recently got these two trucks together for a little off-road showdown and I’m happy to say that his conclusions about both vehicles were very similar to my own.

Source: MotorTrend.com

PRO’s: Great styling, gobs of torque, impressive performance, great price.

CON’s: Narrow 245-series tires, aging 5-speed transmission, may be a little too aggressive for some.

FINAL THOUGHT: A modern muscle-sedan that provides tire shredding performance in a package that’s all-day comfy and wonderfully styled.

Hurdling down Interstate 680 in Northern, CA in the new 2013 Chrysler 300 SRT8 is an exercise in restraint. On the one hand you’ve got this big American luxo-sled that’s reminiscent of the big Chrysler’s of yesteryear. And on the other you’ve got a player that has the ability to put some serious hurt on the best that Europe and Asia has to offer, something that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The 300 SRT8 is about as bold and brash as the American automobile gets. It sports high style and aggressive looks, and with a naturally aspirated power-plant that has the ability to turn the back tires into liquified goop, it’s definitely a forced to be reckoned with. This is an old-school muscle sedan that’s made for driving hard and fast. It’s the crown jewel of Chrysler’s fleet and it isn’t a car that’s going to be on everyone’s playlist. Enthusiasts will make comparisons between the SRT8, BMW’s M5 and Mercedes AMG cars. But understand that this car appeals to your emotions, American’s especially, on a completely different level.

Where the M5 and AMG’s are technological marvels that sport terabytes of tech, the SRT8 is a pad and pencil. It’s a blunt force object in a sea of razor sharp precision, and this ladies and gentlemen is precisely why I love it.

Okay, down to business. Under the hood lies SRT’s 6.4-liter 392 cu.in. HEMI V8 that produces 470 hp and 470 lb.ft. of torque. It’s big mill has the ability to get this 4,365 lbs sedan to 60 mph in 4.5-seconds, blitz the quarter mile in 13-seconds and onto a top speed that lies in the mid-170′s. Some people out there are going to bitch about the aging 5-speed transmission, and rest assured that a new 8-speed auto is on the way, until then though, the 5-speed unit, while not new and fancy, still does a great job of slamming all that power down to the pavement.

From a ride quality perspective the 300 SRT8 comes with a new 3-mode suspension. Auto, Sport, and Track are your choices and all exhibit subtle changes. In my opinion, Auto mode was simply too soft, and Track was too harsh. This is after all a big sedan, not a Miata. Therefore go with Sport as it will provide the best combination of performance and comfort for daily use.

Handling wise the big Chrysler has the ability to hold its own with pretty much everything out there that’s in the same class. Remember people, you’re not race drivers (and if you are sorry), so understand that whether a comparison test shows this car leading or trailing in one area or another as compared to the competition, the odds of you being able to tell the difference are nill. Also, this is not a track car. Yes, you can venture there every now and again, but if tracking a car is your passion, then buy something else as this is not your baby.

One area that Chrysler has really stepped up its game is the interior. A nicely sculpted dash with monster size touch screen greet you, while fresh analog gauges tell you everything you need to know.

Yes, there is a function that will tell you G-forces, acceleration and breaking times, but I found this to be a bit gimmicky. Will you use it once or twice? Probably, otherwise I really didn’t see it’s appeal.

It must be said though that the Garmin based navigation system, climate and audio controls are intuitive and very easy to use compared to other cars in this class. Then there are the SRT8 seats which provide the best combination of sport-support and all-day comfort that I’ve seen on a sub-60k sedan.

Braking wise we’re looking at 14.2-inch rotors up front and 13.8-inch out back. Combine that with 4-piston Brembo calipers and integrated brake cooling ducts, and you’ve got a car that will haul you down to a stop in no-time flat.

The 2013 Chrysler SRT8 is a great car. It’s a car that will make you grin whenever you mash the gas, giggle when you throw it into a corner, and relax on those long road trips. I’ve owned a BMW M5, driven all manner of AMG car and even owned an older SRT8, all of which have been great cars. However this car appeals to the American in me, the hot-rodder and the muscle car enthusiast, and while it’s not perfect, it does hit all the right buttons for a price that is completely reasonable.

If there’s one thing the boys over at The Smoking Tire know, it’s how to do a proper burnout. Now getting a rear-wheel drive car to spin them up is generally not a problem, but a front-wheel drive minivan? Well that can sometimes be a bitch. In this quick TST snippet the crew has utilized just about everyone they could find in order to get the wheels spinning and us grinning. Check out the smoke show after the jump!

Source: TheSmokingTire.com

With 640 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque the new 2013 SRT Viper GTS is no doubt one of the baddest mutha f*ckers on the block. It’s got more power, less weight and thanks to a complete redesign, has been civilized to the point where it doesn’t try to kill you every time you get into it. The guys over at Edmunds Inside Line recently got their hands on one of these new snakes and forced it to bare its fangs for the camera. Click through and check it out.

Source: InsideLine.com

Thumbs Up: Much better put together than Chrysler convertibles past.

Thumbs Down: Interior is on the bland side, not much fun to drive.

Buy This Car If: You want an affordable, four-passenger convertible.

Chrysler has not always been known for assembling solidly-built four-seat convertibles. Back in the LeBaron convertible days, we literally had rental cars shed interior pieces as we drove. The Sebring convertible was a step in the right direction, since it had less cowl shake than the LeBaron and stayed screwed together throughout every rental car experience we had behind the wheel, though we never really warmed up to its sub-standard ride or interior.

Fortunately, the Sebring-derived Chrysler 200 convertible is a much better car than the models that preceded it. It delivers a smooth and composed ride over all surfaces, is impressively squeak and rattle-free, seats four adults in reasonable comfort, looks good with the top down and delivers solid value for the money. If that’s where your pre-purchase checklist ends, the Chrysler 200 Convertible won’t disappoint, and we’re happy to say it will likely deliver years of trouble-free service.

In terms of exterior styling, only the front and rear of the Chrysler 200 are noticeably different than its immediate predecessor, the final generation of Chrysler Sebring. Blame that on priorities, as Chrysler has spent the bulk of its refresh dollars on new versions of its minivans, as well as updates for the full size Chrysler 300. What was left over went primarily into making the 200 a better car underneath the skin, so we’d call that money well spent.

Major improvements over the Sebring include the addition of Chrysler’s superb 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 to the lineup, stiffer body mounts, a completely revised suspension (to deliver a softer ride), higher quality interior materials, thicker seat padding and further reductions in noise, vibration and harshness. It may look similar to the Sebring from the outside (especially in profile), but from behind the wheel it’s a whole different animal.

While we’d stop short of calling the 200 a beautiful design, it is handsome and likely to age well. Its styling won’t necessarily attract buyers (at least not in the way its functionality and value will), but it won’t send them away, either. Like most convertible designs, the cloth top takes away from the lines of the car when its in place, so the soft-top Chrysler 200 looks noticeably better with the top stowed.

Inside, the 200 aims for a more upscale feel than the Sebring, and mostly hits its target. Gone is the Sebring’s hideous fake wood and hard plastic, replaced by soft touch vinyl, piano black and tasteful chrome or metallic accents. Even the small details are covered here, like the restyled analog clock that now links the 200 to its larger, more successful brother, the 300 sedan. The three-pod instrument cluster even tries to step up its game, but somehow winds up looking dated. Throw in the vast expanse of monochrome plastic across the doors and dash lower, and the 200 falls just short of earning top marks for its interior restyle. If the Sebring earned a D for its interior, at least the 200 is up to a C+, and that’s clearly measurable progress.

Front seats, while a step up from the previous model, still need a bit of improvement. The bottom cushion is too soft, which actually makes the seats less comfortable for longer distance driving than firmer cushions. Side bolstering is minimal, which discourages spirited driving (which, to be honest, isn’t the 200’s forte) and the leather panels seem to be a different shade than their vinyl surrounds. On the plus side (literally and figuratively), the 200’s front seats are wide enough to accommodate drivers and passengers of all shapes and sizes.

The 2+2 rear seats offer reasonable accommodations for two adults, as long as they’re not overly long-of-inseam. Entry and exit requires some gymnastics with the top in place, and those much taller than six feet aren’t going to be comfortable for long in inclement weather. With the top down and the sun shining, however, few passengers will complain about the second-row seating. In fact, the Chrysler 200 is about as good as it gets for hauling four adults al fresco in reasonable comfort, at a reasonable price point.

Another bright spot is Chrysler’s superb 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, which just picked up its third “10 Best Engines” award from Ward’s. An available option in Touring and Limited trim cars (like our Chrysler-supplied tester), the V-6 comes standard in S model convertibles. Rated at 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque and mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission, the run from 0-60 mph takes around 7.5 seconds. No, that’s not sports car territory, but the Chrysler 200 Convertible’s strength isn’t in the quarter-mile or on the autocross track. The Pentastar V-6 is remarkably smooth, which makes it well-suited for use in a convertible meant more for cruising to the beach than strafing apexes in a canyon. Another plus is fuel economy; even with the V-6, the 200 Convertible delivers 29 mpg highway, 19 mpg city and 22 mpg combined.

On the road, the 200 Convertible serves up a comfortable ride and predictable handling that is well-suited to the car’s target demographic. We’d have liked a bit more steering feel, but it is reasonably well weighted given the car’s comfort-focused mission. Braking is also quite decent, and we think most drivers will find that the 200 Convertible’s on-road manners exceed their expectations. That said, the 200 doesn’t produce much joy behind the wheel, so if you’re passionate about driving, this isn’t a car that will prove satisfying for very long. On the other hand, if driving is nothing more than a chore to you, we suspect the 200 Convertible will put a smile on your face, especially in sunny weather.

Chrysler supplied the 200 Limited Convertible for the purpose of this evaluation. Base price was $33,090, including a destination charge of $995, and options included the $475 Boston Acoustics speakers and the $695 UConnect navigation and infotainment system for a total sticker price of $34,260.

For comparison, a similarly-equipped Chevy Camaro 2LT Convertible would price at $37,315, while a comparable Ford Mustang V6 Premium would sticker for $37,760.

Here at Ridelust.com we don’t generally condone things like unsafe driving, vehicular mischief or things that can get you killed. However we do know that you guys love it, which is why were posting a video of a few rednecks trying to kill their Momma’s old minivans.

Enjoy.

Source: Youtube.com

It’s the Granddaddy of the muscle truck. The original gangster, and the one that broke the mold when it came to straight-line American speed in the late 1970′s. The Little Red Express Truck was a twin-stacked, small block powered pickup truck from Dodge that was you’re worst nightmare if you happened to own a Ferrari 308, Trans Am or Corvette back in 1978 or 1979. Big on style as well as performance, the Little Red’s are some of the rarest and coolest trucks to ever come out of Detroit, and with the power to back up the looks, it’s no wonder they’ve generated a cult following amongst dedicated enthusiasts.

Source: Youtube.com/DRIVE