2012 Dodge Durango Receives MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Award

The year may be young, but Dodge brand vehicles are continuing to gain momentum, earning recognition from both new car buyers and the media, alike.

 

Gerry Wood Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Salisbury, North Carolina is please to inform you that on Wednesday, Feb. 8, the editors of MotorWeek presented the “Driver’s Choice, Best Large Utility” for the three-row Dodge Durango SUV (shared with Jeep® Grand Cherokee) at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

 

MotorWeek has judged the best new cars and trucks of the year for the past 31 years. Its annual Drivers’ Choice Awards looks at vehicles from a buyer’s point of view, including priorities such as value and reliability, while also taking the latest trends and innovations into consideration. An episode of MotorWeek featuring the Durango and other award winners is scheduled to air Feb. 11 on PBS and on Discovery’s Velocity Network Feb. 21.

 

“It’s an honor to receive this award from MotorWeek,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Dodge Brand. “Even though it’s still early in 2012, Dodge has already received more than a dozen awards across the line-up, demonstrating the strength of our products.”

 

The MotorWeek award comes on the heels of the Dodge brand’s introduction of the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, where the groundbreaking compact sedan was named “Most Significant Vehicle” by AutoWeek editors. Additional recognition for the Dodge brand and its vehicles so far in 2012 include:

 

-AutoWeek’s Editors’ Choice Award – Most Significant Vehicle at 2012 NAIAS – Dodge Dart

-Top 10 Cars of the Detroit Auto Show, Kelley Blue Book – Dodge Dart

-Complex Media’s 25 Most Anticipated Cars of 2012 – Dodge Dart

-Vanity Fair’s Seven Hottest Cars at the NAIAS – Dodge Dart

-2012 Consumer Guide “Best Buy” Consumer Guide – Dodge Charger

-Edmunds.com “Breakthrough Technology Award” for 2012 – Dodge Charger

-Winding Road magazine’s “Best Everyman Sedan Award” – Dodge Charger

-2012 Consumer Guide “Best Buy” Dodge Grand Caravan

-2012 Consumer Guide “Best Buy” Dodge Journey

-2012 Consumer Guide “Recommended” – Dodge Durango

-2012 cars.com “Shopper’s Choice Award” – Dodge Challenger

-Polk Automotive Loyalty Award Sports Car category – Dodge Challenger

The Dodge brand posted a 29 percent sales increase in January, its best January since 2008 and its eighth-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. The three-row Dodge Durango SUV, and the Dodge Charger and Avenger sport sedans each logged triple-digit percentage sales gains in January versus the same month in 2011.

 

DODGE DURANGO: Best-in-class power, towing and driving range

 

With its four-wheel independent suspension, near 50:50 weight distribution and responsive steering and handling, Durango has driving dynamics unlike what you typically find in a sport-utility vehicle (SUV). No other SUV on the road compares with the all-new Dodge Durango’s distinctive bold Dodge design that craftily houses a spacious three-row, seven-passenger functional, flexible and premium interior, covered in soft-touch materials. Durango features more than 30 storage areas, 50 seating configurations and a rear cargo area of nearly 85 cubic feet that fits a 6-foot couch with room for a coffee table or a 10-foot ladder with the front passenger seat folded flat. New for 2012, the Durango also features second-row captain’s chairs with an available center console and innovative charging and storage outlets. The 2012 Dodge Durango also is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick.

Durango also delivers the perfect blend of power and fuel efficiency. Its award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine delivers a best-in-class 290 horsepower along with a best-in-class driving range of more than 550 miles on one tank of fuel – that means Durango owners could drive all the way from Chicago to Nashville; San Diego to San Francisco; or New York City to Boston and back again without needing to stop for fuel. The available HEMI® V-8 engine with Fuel Saver multi-displacement technology delivers a best-in-class 360 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines deliver best-in-class V-6 and V-8 towing with standard Trailer-sway Control on all models (V-8 – up to 7,400 lbs. and V-6 – 6,200 lbs.). Durango also features more than 45 safety and security features.

Chrysler Group Named Company of the Year

Gerry Wood Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM on of the popular car dealer in Salisbury, NC is pleased to announce that a panel of 15 journalists representing multicultural and mainstream media chose Chrysler Group as “Company of the Year” for its leadership in promoting diversity in the area of workforce development. The award was announced as part of the 16th Annual Urban Wheels Awards show held on Sunday, January 8 in Detroit, Mich. 

The Annual Urban Wheel Awards is the nation’s only award show bringing together celebrities, automotive executives, international media, government representatives and the multicultural community to celebrate diversity in the automotive industry. The awards program is also recognized as the official multicultural event of the North American International Auto Show by the auto show’s Executive Committee. Nearly 2,000 people attended this year’s awards show. 

“It is an honor to accept this recognition of our accomplishments as a leader in promoting diversity, in particular our efforts in the area of diversity workforce development,” said Georgette Borrego Dulworth, Director – Talent Acquisition and Diversity, Chrysler Group LLC, who accepted the award for the Company. “Chrysler Group aspires to be considered a diversity leader not just among automotive companies, but among all companies. This important recognition will inspire us to continue our passionate pursuit of diversity and nurturing a high-powered work culture that is inclusive of all. To Chrysler Group, developing a diverse workforce is a fundamental part of our formula for success and a strategic imperative in today’s multicultural marketplace.” 

"On behalf of the Urban Wheel Awards panel of judges, the Emerging Diversity Education Fund, and Decisive Media, we are delighted to recognize Chrysler Group for its leadership in diversity workforce development,” said Randi Payton, President of Decisive Media. “Chrysler Group has maintained an impressive record of leading the industry through its diversity initiatives and it continues to expand on that rich history through its internal leadership's commitment. We salute Chrysler Group, its leaders and employees on this great honor.”  

About Chrysler Group's Leadership Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

 

Recognized as a leader in promoting diversity throughout its enterprise, Chrysler Group was named one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” by Working Mother magazine 12 times, and has been recognized six times by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as one of the country's leading corporations supporting diversity and inclusion. Chrysler Group has been named to HispanicBusines s magazine's annual Diversity Elite 60 list for implementing strategies to reach more Hispanic customers and to pursue more business with minority- and Hispanic-owned suppliers. 

In March 2011, the editors of DiversityIn c magazine named Chrysler Group to the magazine's 2011 list of "Top 50 Companies for Diversity." This coveted annual benchmark is comprised of companies the magazine's editors believe are diversity-management leaders. This was the fifth year since the list was established in 2001 that Chrysler has been included. In April 2011, Chrysler Group was named among nation's "Top Supporters" of Engineering Programs of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, recognizing the Company's efforts to develop, recruit and hire talented students pursuing technical careers at the nation's minority-serving institutions. 

Over the years, a long line of Chrysler Group employees have received important professional recognition from various diversity organizations, including Black Engineer of the Year, Women of Color, HENAAC Great Minds in STEM and others, reflecting the Company’s strong commitment to developing its diverse workforce.  

About the Urban Wheels Awards

The Urban Wheel Awards promote awareness of inclusiveness and honors companies and individuals who have made progress toward embracing this reality. Proceeds from the event support the Emerging Diversity Education Fund, which provides internships, scholarship and mentoring to students pursuing careers in the auto industry, communications, and Green jobs. For more information, visit  www.urbanwheelawards.com . 

About Chrysler Group LLC

 

Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 to establish a global strategic alliance with Fiat S.p.A., produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Mopar, SRT and Fiat vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler Group’s culture of innovation, first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925, and Fiat’s complementary technology that dates back to its founding in 1899. 

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group’s product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Durango, Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and Fiat 500. Fiat contributes world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-size cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.

Gerry Wood Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM serves all major areas in and around Salisbury, Kannapolis, Concord & Charlotte in North Carolina. Visit us online or call us to request your special internet price quote.

2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is "Four Wheeler of the Year"

The new 2012 Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon – the most capable production vehicle on the planet – has been named “Four Wheeler of the Year” by Four Wheeler magazine. The award is given annually by the editors of the opinion-leading off-road enthusiast magazine.

“The 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon owned nearly all aspects of off-road testing during our annual ‘Four Wheeler of the Year’ competition,” said Four Wheeler Editor John Cappa. “The grueling 1,000-mile trek put each contending vehicle through its paces in several on- and off-road environments, including high-speed graded roads, jagged rocks, shifting sand dunes, and more. The universal do-all capability of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon allowed it to outperform the other competing 4x4s, making it our 2012 Four Wheeler of the Year award winner.”

To qualify for the competition, entries had to be entirely new or have substantial mechanical revisions from a previous model year. Testing was conducted over more than a thousand miles on a variety of terrain, including pavement, gravel, dirt, sand, rocks and mud, at elevations ranging from sea level to more than 9,000 feet.

“By earning the respected ‘Four Wheeler of the Year’ award, consumers – and particularly the most die-hard off-road enthusiasts – can be assured that the new 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has established an even higher level of unmatched capability,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “We are delighted the influential editors of ‘Four Wheeler’ magazine have recognized Wrangler’s new level of capability, along with its improved power, torque and fuel efficiency.”

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon “Four Wheeler of the Year” award comes a year after the Jeep Grand Cherokee – the premium icon of the brand – captured the award, and less than two years after the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was named the Best 4x4 vehicle of the 2000-2009 decade by Four Wheeler magazine.

The “Four Wheeler of the Year” award is the latest in a list of awards the new 2012 Jeep Wrangler has received since its introduction in September. Other recent Wrangler accolades include:

• 4x4 of the Year, Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine
• Mid-size SUV of Texas, Texas Auto Writers Association
• Best Value Off-Road, Active Lifestyle Vehicle (ALV) award
• Hottest 4x4 SUV, Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) award
• ALG Residual Value Award – Best Compact Utility Vehicle
• Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com Best Resale Value Award, Compact Utility Vehicle
• Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com Best Resale Value Award, Top-10 Cars

For the 2011 calendar year, Jeep Wrangler sales are up 29 percent in the U.S. November marked Wrangler’s sixth consecutive year-over-year monthly sales record.

New 2012 Jeep Wrangler Jeep Wrangler – the most capable and recognized vehicle in the world – becomes even more capable both on- and off-road for 2012, courtesy of an all-new, more fuel efficient and more powerful 3.6-liter V-6 engine, and a new five-speed automatic transmission – both of which it shares with the award-winning Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Chrysler Group’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine – winner of the prestigious Ward’s 10 Best Engines award – delivers 285 horsepower (209 kW) and 260 (353 N•m) lb.-ft. of torque, while delivering up to 21 miles per gallon highway in the 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The improvement, when compared to the previous 3.8-liter V-6 engine, is 40 percent in horsepower and 10 percent in torque.

Additionally, for refined shifting and greater performance, the Jeep Wrangler migrates from a four-speed to a new five-speed automatic transmission. The 2012 Jeep Wrangler also features the company’s first application of a manual transmission to the Pentastar V-6.

Jeep continues to refine the successful Wrangler formula by combining legendary, benchmark capability with an interior that delivers rich styling with significantly upgraded touch surfaces, occupant comfort and versatility, and a premium appearance courtesy of a body color hard top for the popular Sahara and Rubicon models.

2012 Jeep Wrangler interior highlights include a recently redesigned instrument panel and storage areas with improved ergonomics and upgraded materials. A lockable console and upgraded door armrest areas boast comfortable touch points, while a redesigned center stack is easier to reach and operate. Heated, power mirrors are available, and drivers and passengers enjoy enhanced visibility courtesy of large rear windows.