DODGE, Chrysler's Performance Brand
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DODGE, Chrysler’s performance brand The KIA family just keeps on growing! A few things are changing at Chrysler’s, espe- Another Dodge favourite is the retro-looking As incredible as it may seem, the small Kia able as an electric vehicle as well. The Kia cially the name. The whole company was Challenger mid-sized coupe, which gets a brand that landed on our shores only a couple line-up continues with the very popular Forte, recently renamed Fiat Chrysler Automobiles minor facelift for the coming year. Otherwise, of decades ago is already a full-fledged fa- which is offered as a great looking sedan, a or FCA. But one thing that is not going to it remains pretty much the same except for a mily of vehicles. And this year, it shows up as superb coupe, or a new five-door sporty change is the performance image carried by its revised interior. It will still be a rear-wheel an important competitor in the luxury sedan hatchback, the Forte5. Dodge brand. The Dodge line-up begins with drive, while a more powerful V-6 Pentastar is segment with its all-new K900 full-size car. the Dart, a very recent compact sedan known available in addition to the 5.7- and 6.4-litre Next is the very successful Optima, a se- for its sporty versions, including the 2.4-litre HEMI V-8s. But be on the lookout for an But let’s have a look at Kia’s whole line-up dan that sports a modern design. This mid- four-cylinder GT model. The Dart returns even more powerful 707 hp version of that of vehicles, starting with the smaller Rio. sized four-cylinder front-wheel drive is also with very little change for the coming year, engine, known as the Hellcat. By the way, the This popular and oh-so-affordable sub- offered with a turbocharge option or as a but if you look at its bigger sister, the mighty SRT Viper supercar is not sold as a Dodge compact is available as a stylized sedan or hybrid model. Just before launching the Charger, you will see that it has been modified car, but it still belongs to that family! as an equally impressive five-door hatch- K900, Kia introduced a new mid-sized luxury for the coming months. back. Both cars are powered by a very com- car, the Cadenza, a V-6-powered front- If you need a people mover, Dodge can sug- petent four-cylinder engine and front-wheel wheel drive. As FCA gets ready to phase out the mid- gest two interesting vehicles: the mid-sized drive. Motorists looking for a different kind of sized Avenger sedan, the Charger gets a Journey CUV with four-cylinder or V-6 power vehicle will want to consider the uniquely By the way, Kia has a few interesting SUVs to totally new front end; it will look a lot like and front- or all-wheel drive (the Journey is designed Soul, which was recently refreshed. offer, including the well-designed Sportage the one found on the Dart. Yet the Charger the most popular CUV in Canada!); and the This front-wheel drive will soon be avail- with front- or all-wheel drive, and the re- retains its original four-door body and the legendary Grand Caravan minivan with cently redesigned So- aggressive look you might have noticed on Pentastar V-6 power and front-wheel drive. rento, available with many Charger police cars. The Charger will More news on that product should be coming a four-cylinder or V- still be offered with rear- or all-wheel drive soon. If you are looking for a bigger or more 6 engine and capa- and Pentastar V-6 or HEMI V-8 power. robust people mover, consider the rear- or all- ble of carrying se- wheel drive V-6 or V-8 Durango. ven people on board. Kia has also recently Although Chrysler’s light trucks are now mar- reintroduced its popu- keted under the Ram brand name, we will lar Sedona minivan; point out that the Ram 1500 pick-up is it is now sporting a now available with a turbodiesel V-6 totally new look. engine. Chrysler is also back in the delivery van business with its Pro- Kia is now master products, which will soon in the luxury car include a smaller City version. segment with its all-new V-8 K900. The Charger is now showing a redesigned front end. More new products from Japanese giant TOYOTA Reliability is MITSUBISHI’s middle name It is not at all easy to describe this major car might be tempted by the reliable Sienna manufacturer’s products in a few short para- minivan. It is available in many versions, Mitsubishi is one of the most popular manu- with front-wheel drive is powered by a very graphs; Toyota just has too many vehicles including a spectacular all-wheel-drive facturing brand names from Japan, and it economical three-cylinder engine. And for on offer! The task is especially tricky now configuration. can be seen on products ranging from air- even more fuel economy, how about the that Toyota has recently unveiled many new planes to electronics. Here, in North Ame- i-Miev, an all-electric urban car with surpri- cars for the North American public. The famous manufacturer can count on its rica, the name Mitsubishi was made popular sing range that can carry up to four people. many SUVs to stay at the top of favourite lists by its automotive products. Once associated Take, for instance, the smallest Toyota car — the Canadian built Rav4 has the perfect with Chrysler, the company is now indepen- Motorists looking for a more convention- on our market, the sub-compact Yaris. It is formula to please motorists looking for a reli- dent from any other car makers. al car will be interested by the Lancer line back for 2015 with a major redesign that able yet economical compact vehicle.And To- of compact cars. They include a modern- should help it tread water alongside some yota’s designers have been busy recently re- Today’s Mitsubishi dealers don’t have do- looking sedan and a sportier five-door ferocious competition. Its bigger sister, the doing the popular Highlander CUV, which zens of models to offer, but the cars and hatchback. Mitsubishi dealers can also show ever popular Corolla, went through such a now bears a design even more appealing to light trucks they sell do come with a major you the recently revised Outlander mid- process a few months ago and came out a consumers. But if it is a conventional four-by- warranty program that proves these vehicles sized SUV, which bears a totally different real winner. But that is not all. four that you are looking for, your local To- are among the most reliable on the market. front end. Note that it can be powered yota dealer can show you the 4Runner, a Take, for instance, the smallest Mitsubishi by a four-cylinder engine or a V-6; a hy- Toyota’s Camry, North America’s most po- traditional off-road people mover that is car, the Mirage. This city-going sub-compact brid powered version is promised for the pular mid-sized sedan, is also going through more robust than most others. There is near future. a major redesign. This car has a great repu- even a retro-looking version of the same tation, but it still has to fence off some truck: the impressive FJ Cruiser. The tiny Mitsubishi Mirage is powered Lastly, one of Mitsubishi’s other popular strong competition. The Venza is considered a thrifty three-cylinder engine. vehicles is the smaller version of the the Camry’s station wagon version. The Let’s not forget Toyota’s mighty pick-up Outlander, known as the RVR in Canada same goes for the Avalon, Toyota’s biggest trucks, including the now legendary Tacoma, and the Outlander Sport in the Uni- sedan ever; it was also recently redone. If the most-sold compact pick-up on the North ted States. It is basically the same you have a little family to drive around, you American market. Toyota’s other pick-up, vehicle in both countries; the full-size Tundra, is back their only differen- this year with a major body ces are their trim redesign. It has also had a com- packages. The plete interior makeover that RVR/Sport is includes the luxurious 1794 powered by a Edition trim. Find the material for these four-cylinder pages under AUTOMOBILE in engine and is the special sections packages search option of our website. available with The very popular front- or all- Camry sedan has had wheel drive. a dramatic makeover. 66 / SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014 / NEWSPAPER TOOLBOX The American English version of the text on this page is available in the page folder..