That’s right, we’ve got a big red truck in The Garage this week. The weather in Tdot today would have Noah scrambling to load up the animals, so you’ll just have to wait for our usual bevy of images.

The truck we’re driving is an extended cab, 4×4, 302 horsepower flex fuel model that looks tough as nails. So far, the ride is truckish enough to remind the driver that it is a work truck, but comfy enough to stay relaxed in the rainy day Toronto traffic.

The boys love the jump seats in the back and Dad loves the fact that Dodge used their head and included an Aux jack for my mp3 player. Oh yes, the V8 sounds killer, just don’t press the loud pedal too aggressively in the rain!

Later in the week, we’ll have a proper review of the Dakota.

During the L.A. Auto Show, Dodge unveiled its 2008 Viper SRT10 ACR (American Club Racer) – a street-legal racecar. The vehicle features an aluminum V-10 engine that produces 600-horsepower and 560 lb.-ft. of torque.

In order to really tear off, you have to actually tear out.

To minimize the car’s weight, Dodge indicates consumers can opt for the “Hard Core” package, which eliminates the audio system, under hood silencer pad, trunk carpet and tire inflator.

Dodge says the ACR will cost “under $100,000″ which to my way of thinking could very well end up translating to $99,999. The SRT10 ACR arrives in the second quarter of 2008. With a base Viper coupe running about $87,000, a $10-12,000 track pack is not totally unreasonable for a car on which racing stripes alone are a whopping $3000 option.

You don’t lose billions of dollars without putting a lot of thought behind it. Chrysler seemed to have had a solid plan in effect over the last few years that consist of manufacturing overlapping body doubles. Bob Nardelli is getting out one of his old Home Depot hammers to take another swing at the production line. The most likely candidates to enter the Cerberus crusher will come out of these twofers. Who shall live and who shall die?

One new crossover seems to already be DOA. The mysterious code named JZ49, Chrysler brand’s proposed version of the forthcoming Dodge Journey crossover may have already been cut. I guess the camouflage is really a body bag.

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Chrysler and Cerberus couldn’t provide the UAW with specific product guarantees because they’ve figured out they have too many vehicles that do too little for sales and the bottom line.

The Auburn Hills, MI-based automaker is expected to cut at least five vehicles from its product lineup, including the much ballyhooed, but cannibalizing Jeep Commander. Did they really need another Grand Cherokee that, if possible, looks cheaper and is less comfortable? Clearly not.

Other models expected to get the boot include the Dodge Magnum wagon and PT Cruiser. Additionally, newly hired executive Jim Press, fresh from Toyota North America, sat in a Sebring and discovered in less than five seconds why Chrysler is having some problems: the interiors look cheap. So the automaker is also undertaking a review of its interiors and will made adjustments according, according to a published report.

Tweaking the interiors is just one of many changes Cerberus is going to be trying to affect over the next two years. Shutting down plants is likely next and in spite of the new contract being more favorable to the UAW than many expected, it does allow for the closure of some plants.

However, Chrysler is not the only one that should be and probably will be reviewing product lineups. Ford is still seeing Wall Street analysts call for the death of the Mercury brand. They cannot see the value in the mid-level product linuep. For example, a fully equipped Ford Fusion is just as appealing as the Mercury Milan. The only difference is the front fascia, rear fasica and the price. Ford CEO Alan Mulally has said in the past that every aspect of the company is being reviewed. If they’re willing to dismantle the Premier Automotive Group (Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin and Volvo), cutting Mercury might not be as far fetched as some think.

With the rebirth of The New Chrysler, the marketing gurus at Auburn Hills have their work cut out for them as they try to reinvent the brand. Cutting out in fact is exactly what they have in mind to promote the 2008 Dodge Caravan. Given that families are the most likely to be in the market for a new minivan, what better market to tackle than millions of craft obsessed Moms?

With the help of Better Homes & Gardens scrapbooking experts, Dodge will attempt to break the Guiness World Record for the World’s Largest Photo Album. How do they intend to break this cut and paste record? By inviting consumers to add their memories to Dodge Caravan Page In History album, Dodge hopes to fill a 20 page, 9 x 12 book with Caravan memories. Oh yes, that’s 9 feet by 12 feet! This is going to be one BIG photo album.

To learn how you can join the paper cutting fun, read the full press release after the break
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As Chrysler pulls the wraps of some new signage at the Chrysler world headquarters in Auburn Hills Michigan, employees are greeted to a First Day celebration on the front lawn by Tom LaSorda and new Chairman Bob Nardilli. That’s right, there is a new chief in town. In fact, there is a lot of new happenings at Chrysler these days as the automaker tries to reinvent itself under the new ownership of Cerebus Inc.

This morning’s festivities included vehicle displays and state of the union type speeches from LaSorda and Nardilli. Perhaps more important then the motivation of thousands of employees in attendance are the actual changes that have been announced.

First off, the brand is returning to it’s roots visual, by resurrecting the Pentastar that identified the company from 1962 until 9 years ago. The new Chrysler has a lot riding on the heritage of the old Chrysler and they are hoping this will bring on some fond memories from consumers.

It was announced yesterday that Nardilli, ex of Home Depot will take over as Chairman and CEO, while LaSorda will stay on board as Vice Chairman and President.

In keeping with the rebuilding the brand theme, a new ad campaign is being launched today. The New Chrysler: Get Ready for the Next Hundred Years ties in strongly with the recent news of a lifetime powertrain warranty.

These are obviously exciting days for anyone in the Chrysler world. There is little question that many consumers who might not have given Chrysler products a second glance will be making a trip to their local Chrysler showroom. With that warranty, why wouldn’t they?
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Bullitt or Vanishing point? Charger or Challenger? For my non existent budget, I’ll go with Kowalski’s choice, but for Top Gear’s Richard Hammond…well, he’s British! In this episode of Top Gear, Hammond spends some quality, non destructive time in a Dodge Charger R/T powered by a 440. Oddly, he says the 440 is the car. Apparently he’s never heard of a Hemi car, but I suppose we need to cut him some slack. The head injury must have affected his judgement.

Thanks to Carscoop for finding this one.
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That’s right folks, pretty soon Bubbe & Zaidy will be able to cruise their fave Miami hot spots in a shiny new 2008 Chrysler Sebring convertible. Thanks to Chrysler’s flexible production line in Sterling Heights Michigan, the first new Sebring convertible is now being produced on the same line as the hard top Sebring and Avenger cousin.

Full press release with info on the plant and Sebring after the break
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While putting together yesterday’s Carnival of Wheels, I came across a well written post by Wenchypoo with a bunch of used car buying tips. While I agreed with most of her suggestions, one sorta stuck in my craw:

One more thing that might sway a car purchase: parts for imported cars are more expensive than domestic models—the parts as well as the cars have to be imported, and this takes time and money (namely yours).
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Car enthusiasts love concept cars. Journalists love concept cars. Chrysler loves to build concept cars! In fact they are dedicated to building the Coolest of Cool concept cars. In reality, every designer and every manufacturer thinks that their concepts are the coolest. Not every concept is a driver though and the Chrysler boys and girls try to make most of them runners. the even get them out on the road for journalists to have a go at. Not long ago, one lucky guy got to take the new Challenger down a drag strip!

It has been 20 years since Chrysler began taking this approach and they are pretty proud of some of those cars. Rightfully so, as a number of the cars on the list went on to production and a full model life. Viper, Prowler, Ram, Neon. These and more have been important to Chrysler fans all over, not to mention the company.

More images and press release after the break
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