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Rolling Classic: 2020 Dodge Charger

October 18, 2019 by admin 6 Comments

This 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Widebody comes with a 6.4-liter V8 engine.

No matter how you look at it, the 2020 Dodge Charger is an aged design. Its Mercedes-Benz-derived platform dates to the 1990s, with the Charger rolling out in 2006, then updated five years later. Thus, the current model is in its tenth year, which is a long time between updates.

That said, the Charger occupies a niche, one that’s unchallenged by any mainstream competitor — it is a full-size sedan riding on a rear-wheel-drive platform, in a market where front-wheel drive dominants. The Charger, along with the Chrysler 300 sedan, allow Fiat Chrysler to maintain a stake in the full-size sedan market, even as Ford exits and GM plans to do likewise. A third model, the Dodge Challenger coupe, is closely related to the sedan duo.

Dodge Charger Highlights and Lowlights

The following are some of the positive and negative points about the 2020 Charger:

1. Satisfying, even exhilarating V8 power.

Base Charger models come with a V6 engine, which delivers upward of 300 horsepower. It supplies an adequate amount of power along with decent fuel efficiency. But it is a trio of V8 engines that place an exclamation point on the Charger name, with performance ranging from 370 to a jaw-dropping 717 horsepower. Thus, the Charger lays claim to being the most powerful production sedan available.

2. Fuel economy is wanting.

Unless you opt for the V6 engine and its laudable 19 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway rating, you’re just not going to find a Charger V8 that’s fuel efficient. Opt for the SRT model and you’ll pay a $1,700 gas guzzler tax as this model delivers just 13 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

3. Comfortable ride, wonderful handling.

With 120 inches separating the front and rear wheels, the Charger has ample space for distributing road insults. The result is a comfortable ride. Another strong suit is its wonderful handling: you’ll enjoy the connection this sedan supplies to the road and the rear-wheel-drive dynamics that’ll keep a smile pasted on your face.

4. No all-wheel drive with the V8s.

You can opt for all-wheel drive with the V6 model, but you can’t do so with the V8s. The last time we saw an all-wheel-drive Charger with a V8 was in 2014. Once Dodge upgraded from the 5-speed automatic to the ZF-supplied 8-speed, all-wheel drive disappeared. Except in police pursuit models and the V6.

5. A look we love.

Starting with the Magnum wagon, which launched in 2005, followed by the Charger and then the Challenger, the styling of the big Dodges has always been pleasing. Dodge’s designers harnessed old school looks and intersected them with modern performance styling to pull it off. Where some people would never consider a four-door performance model, the Charger offers an intriguing alternative to a coupe that’s difficult to cavalierly dismiss.

6. An interior that doesn’t match the class.

You’ll find a generous amount of amenities when building out your Charger, but the look is still old and relatively spartan, especially with the base model. Upper trim models have more padding and beautiful leathers, although the lower dash is still clad in plastic. At least that’s all below eye level.

7. Tech features galore.

Another area where the Charger shines is in its tech features. The 7-inch touch-screen features the company’s UConnect interface, one of the best in the industry. Bluetooth, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility. Dodge also offers -speaker Alpine and 18-speaker Harman Kardon audio systems.

What the Future Holds

Fiat Chrysler is relatively mum on what the future holds for the Dodge Charger and its two platform mates. We do know that the company has discussed electrification, which could mean anything from a conventional hybrid to a pure electric version of the Charger.

We suspect FCA will finally abandon the aged platform for something new and lighter. It may be based on a modified Alfa Romeo platform or the company could invest in a new architecture. As long as demand remains strong and the company sees a market for a lighter, more efficient series of rear-wheel-drive models, then the trio may yet survive.

2020 Dodge Charger Specifications

Dodge	2020 Charger
Segment	Full-Size Sedan
Price Range	$29,470 to $65,795 (plus gas guzzler tax)
Destination Charge	$1,495
Engine No. 1	3.6-liter, V6
Horsepower	292/300 @ 6,350 rpm
Torque (lb.-ft.)	260/264 @ 4,800 rpm
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Engine No. 2	5.7-liter, V8
Horsepower	370 @ 5,250
Torque (lb.-ft.)	295 @ 4,200 rpm
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Engine No. 3	6.4-liter, V8
Horsepower	485 @ 6,100 rpm
Torque (lb.-ft.)	475 @ 4,100 rpm
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Engine No. 4	6.2-liter, supercharged V8
Horsepower	707/717 @ 6,000/6,100 rpm
Torque (lb.-ft.)	650 @ 4,800 rpm
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Seating	5
Curb Weight (pounds)	3,964 to 4,586
Wheelbase (inches)	120.0
Length (inches)	198.4, 200.8, or 201.0
Width (inches)	75.0, 78.3
Height (inches)	58.5, 57.8, or 57.6
Headroom (f,r…inches)	38.6, 36.6
Legroom (f,r…inches)	41.8, 40.1
Shoulder room (f,r…inches)	59.5, 57.9
Hip room (f,r…inches)	56.2, 56.1
Storage (cubic feet)	16.5
Gross vehicle weight (pounds)	NR
Towing (pounds)	1,000
Payload (pounds)	NR
Fuel	Regular (V6), Midgrade (5.7), Premium (others)
Fuel Tank (gallons)	18.5
EPA Fuel MPG (city/highway/combined)	19/30/23 (V6); 13/22/16 (6.2)
Manufacturing Plant	Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Data compiled by Tom Keegan. Specifications supplied by the manufacturer.

Photo copyright Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Buick LaCrosse: Where Luxury and Affordability Intersect

November 8, 2013 by admin 6 Comments

You don’t have to go that far back in Buick’s history to find a line up that was dull and uninspiring. GMs premium brand, now wedged firmly between Chevrolet and Cadillac, was serving up a slew of Century’s, Park Avenues and Terraza’s in the first decade of the new millennium. Dependable vehicles mostly, but none of much interest to the younger set. Indeed, with its average buyer aged 70 and not likely to be around for long-term car buying, GM had a problem on its hand.

The best thing to happen to GM was its bankruptcy and restructuring, moves that allowed the company to shed assets, close down underperforming brands, and work on what remains. Buick has benefited enormously, getting new or updated models over the past four years. One of those models is the Buick LaCrosse, a large sedan that demonstrates how luxury and affordability intersect.

Buick LaCrosse Premium I Group

As delivered for my one week drive, the 2014 Buick LaCrosse Premium I edition pulled out nearly all the stops to showcase an elegant and opulent sedan. Its larger frame puts it atop of the Buick pecking order, replacing the forgettable Lucerne in that department. What you have is a vehicle that GM positions to take on the Lexus ES 350 as well as the Ford Taurus, Toyota Avalon, Chrysler 300C, the Lincoln MKZ and the Hyundai Azera, just to name a few.

And she is a looker too with her tri-shield emblem centered in her waterfall grille, flanked by wraparound headlamps. Those lights articulate, to improve visibility especially as you take on winding roads after dark. The LaCrosses body seems to flow from stem to stern with high-end touches such as alloy wheels, body sculpting and wraparound tail lamps enhancing its look.

Buick prices the LaCrosse from $33,135 with pricing topping out above $47,000 when fully loaded. The test model was priced from $38,810 with two driver confidence packages, a sunroof and Buick IntelliLink audio pushing its final cost up to $45,595. A $925 destination charge plus taxes, tags and title are separate fees.

The pricing structure reflects what large sedans cost these days. The Buick LaCrosse platform has also birthed the Chevrolet Impala and the Cadillac XTS, two models that have their own distinctive styling. Happily, you wont see an exercise in badge engineering here, a peculiar habit of the Old GM. What you do have are large sedans ranging in price from the uppers 20s to the low 70s, aimed at wide swath of the consumer populace.

Middle of the Pack

What Buick does best is to find its place in the middle of the pack and then push the luxury quotient higher. It does not intrude where the XTS stands and it offers a more comprehensive package than the Impala. All three models offer the 3.6-liter V-6, but it is the secondary engines that are different.

And the secondary engine for the Buick LaCrosse is a 2.4-liter four cylinder equipped with eAssist, a partial hybrid system that enables this vehicle to get 36 mpg on the highway, an amazing feat for a large car. It is standard with the base and Leather editions, but customers can also exercise a no charge option for the V-6 that powers the Premium I and II editions.

And the performance differences are striking: the four cylinder engine makes 182 horsepower to the 304 horsepower delivered by the V-6. After a week of driving with the larger engine under the hood, I found it difficult to imagine opting for the smaller engine. It just doesn’t seem like it would be enough power to move a vehicle weighing close to two tons.

Precise Steering and Adept Handling

So what Buick does offer is a V-6 engine that dispenses plenty of power without compromise. It is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and you can opt for all-wheel drive or stay with front-wheel drive. As equipped, it was the front-wheel drive model that was delivered, one that offers precise steering and adept handling.

Credit for superior vehicle control must be given to the High-Performance (HiPer) Strut that effectively removes the torque steer common to front-wheel drive models. It keeps the MacPherson strut design, but reduces the length of the spindle assembly by adding on top of the steering knuckle a second ball joint. With a shorter spindle in place, negative camber is reduced and torque steer with it. Other improvements with this suspension system include changes that reduce road feedback, vibration and noise.

Buick LaCrosse: Luxury, Technology & Safety

View manufacturer details and pricing

Bright, Filtered Cabin

Inside, the cabin is expansive and bright or filtered may best explain it. As delivered, the Buick LaCrosse had a power sunroof with a fixed second row skylight. Instead of a solid cover, a filtered cover is used to let in some light, but not enough to be disturbing. Its a look that seems to transform an interior that is already awash in leather, wood trim, chrome, and soft touch materials.

The drivers seat provides 8-way power adjustment and 4-way lumbar support. It also features a heating element for the steering wheel and the front seats. On one recent cool morning I enjoyed both, taking the edge off the chill and sending warmth running through my veins.

The strong suit for the Buick LaCrosse may just be its reliable OnStar communication system. OnStar predates all other systems and has gone through numerous changes down through the years. A favorite feature of mine is the virtual advisor, an electronic voice-controlled interface that serves up turn-by-turn driving directions. The system asks questions such as the city and state of your destination and then pinpoints your destination through a point of interest or an address. OnStar went 4 for 4 in my attempts to get me where I was going, with only a pair of slip ups that were corrected by repeating the address. The information is downloaded to the center stack touchscreen where the driver taps go and the directions start. Those directions were precise and for any time that I purposely deviated from my route, the updated mapping and voice call out was put in place. Simply brilliant.

Choose the Premium I Group and you will discover a long list of amenities at your beck and call. Keyless entry with push button start, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel column, zoned climate control, four-way adjustable head restraints, driver memory settings, a 120-volt outlet, a rear view camera, a power rear sunshade, power accessories, and an auxiliary jack were standard. As equipped, this model was outfitted with an 11-speaker Bose audio system with a SiriusXM satellite radio subscription.

Buick LaCrosse Safety Features

Safety features delivered with a driver confidence package included forward collision alert, rear cross traffic alert, side blind zone alert with land departure warning, a head up display and front fog lights. Adaptive cruise control with automatic collision preparation is part of another driver package, the latter offering hints at what autonomous driving will be like.

Indeed, the adaptive cruise control can be set to provide three varying lengths between your Buick LaCrosse and any vehicle in front of it. It works well, slowing the sedan down as needed and bringing it to a complete stop on its own, such as at a traffic light. I tested this feature several times, finding that I had to later step on the accelerator to get the system to reactivate when I was ready to move forward. I also learned that very high profile vehicles such as 18-wheelers do not seem to be sensed as well as standard vehicles. One incident of getting cut off by a trucker revealed that fact, necessitating quick braking action on my part.

The higher end of the Buick LaCrosse pricing spectrum puts this vehicle in Cadillac territory, especially with the CTS sedan, Motor Trends 2014 Car of the Year award winner. You would do well to consider either model, sedans that reflect what the new GM has accomplished.

2014 Buick LaCrosse Premium I Group

Sticker price from $38,810
Price as tested: $45,595
Seats 5 occupants
3.6-liter 24-valve V-6 engine
304 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm
264 foot-pounds of torque @ 5,300 rpm
3.7 inches bore by 3.37 inches stroke
Engine compression ratio: 11.5-to-1
Six-speed automatic transmission
Wheelbase: 111.7 inches
Length: 197 inches
Width: 73.1 inches
Height: 59.2 inches
Passenger volume: 101.7 cubic feet
Storage volume: 13.3 cubic feet
Towing capacity: 1,000 pounds
EPA: 18 mpg city, 28 mpg hwy.
Regular grade gasoline
Fuel tank: 18 gallons
Curb weight: From 3,896 pounds
Vehicle assembly: Fairfax, Kan.

More Car Reviews

Road Tripping With the 2014 Cadillac XTS VSport AWD Platinum

Buick Wears Her Luxury Well

2014 Chevrolet Impala: Decidedly Unboring

Skip the Lexus: 2013 Toyota Avalon Touring

Buick LaCrosse photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine.

Fleet Favorite Chevrolet Impala Seeks to Attract a Consumer Audience

April 12, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

All-new Chevrolet Impala rolls out.

You know that you have a problem on your hands when the chief shoppers of your product are fleet buyers. In the auto industry, “fleet” typically translates into “rental car” companies, not consumers. The latter group is what car manufacturers should prefer, as consumers are more likely to pay closer to full price, which also helps that model retain its value over the long haul. Fleet sales increase market share, but owning a “fleet fav” is not what most car shoppers desire.

The all-new 2014 Chevrolet Impala has arrived.

From Fleets to Consumers

The Chevrolet Impala is a fleet favorite and for that reason it hasn’t been attracting the kind of support that GM would like for its flagship Chevy to garner. Indeed, the Detroit Bureau pegs that fleet percentage at 70 percent, a number Chevrolet would like to see lowered to about 30 percent. At the same time, Chevrolet would like Impala’s annual sales of approximately 170,000 units to increase and the new sedan will be produced at two plants in anticipation of a boost in demand.

The next generation Chevrolet Impala arrives in Chevrolet showrooms this month as a 2014 model, one that will offer both four cylinder and V-6 engine choices. The flagship sedan is priced from $27,535 and offers updated technologies and new content.

2014 Chevrolet Impala Specifications

The 2014 Chevrolet Impala comes in within fractions of an inch of the outgoing model, weighing slightly more too at 3,800 pounds. Despite no big difference in size and weight, its base engine is a 2.5-liter inline four. This 16-valve engine is rated at 196 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 186 foot-pounds of torque at 4,400 rpm. Paired with its six-speed automatic transmission, its estimated few economy is 21 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

Chevrolet Impala Buyers can choose a 3.6-liter V-6 engine, a 24-valve motor that makes 305 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 264 foot-pounds of torque at 5,300 rpm. It, too, is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and is expected to get 19 mpg around the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

Like the midsize Chevrolet Malibu, the Chevrolet Impala will also offer a partial hybrid model: the Impala eAssist, outfitted with a 2.4-liter four cylinder engine, an electric motor and a six-speed automatic transmission. Its estimated fuel economy rating will place it only behind the Toyota Avalon Hybrid, with the Chevy delivering 25 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. That’s a distant second, however, as the fully hybridized Avalon is rated at 40 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway.

Cabin Amenities and Features

The 2014 Chevrolet Impala is sold in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels. Seating surfaces range from cloth for the LS, cloth/vinyl for the LT and perforated leather for the LTZ. Microfiber-trimmed seats are available for LT and LTZ models.

The centerpiece of the Chevrolet Impala is its Chevrolet MyLink interface with it security keypad. Its a secured storage system too, one that can only be accessed with the driver’s personal identification number (see PIN This 2014 Chevrolet Impala). Thus, both the personal information you have stored on the computer screen and the personal items you have squirreled away can remain safely out of harm’s way.

Store valuables inside the center stack.

Find New Roads Campaign

The “Chevy Runs Deep” ad campaign is now dead, replaced by a “Find New Roads” initiative rolled out in Jan. The Impala is part of that campaign which includes a special lease offer of $279 per month for 36 months with $2,799 due at signing for an Impala LT with a V-6 engine. That deal is important as it can make this all-new, five-passenger front-wheel-drive sedan easily available to more consumers.

Photos courtesy of General Motors Company.