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Chrysler has named Jim Press as a president and vice chairman, CEO Robert Nardelli said Thursday.

Press, former president of Toyota Motor North America, was the first non-Japanese person to be appointed to Toyota's board of directors in the company's history. He was appointed to the board in June, after working at Toyota for 37 years.

Press' resignation from Toyota is effective September 14. That same day, Shigeru Hayakawa, the current Toyota Motor North America vice president and managing officer, will become president, according to Toyota.

Press leaves Toyota to serve under Chrysler's Nardelli, alongside Tom LaSorda, who is also a vice chairman and president at Chrysler.

"Part of my new responsibilities will be strengthening and energizing the dealer body. This is something I was passionate about at Toyota and will be passionate about at Chrysler," Press said in a statement.

Press will be responsible for "North American and international sales, global marketing, product strategy, and service and parts" for Chrysler, while LaSorda will be responsible for "manufacturing, procurement and supply, employee relations and global business development and alliances."

• Brampton, Ontario plant will begin production in the spring of 2008
• Plant will become Chrysler Group's first to build four different models
• DaimlerChrysler's commitment to Canada continues
• Countdown begins for highly-anticipated sports coupe

Toronto, Ontario -

DaimlerChrysler announced today that the all-new 2008 Dodge Challenger will be built at its Brampton Assembly Plant near Toronto.

"It's good news that the Dodge Challenger will be added to the Canadian production line-up," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO of DaimlerChrysler Canada. "Quickly bringing desirable new products such as the Dodge Challenger to market is critical to keeping our plants humming, and our dealerships busy."

The Brampton plant also produces Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Magnum and works on three shifts. The Windsor (Ontario) Assembly Plant also works on three shifts and produces Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country minivans as well as Chrysler Pacifica. Production of the Dodge Challenger will begin next year and preparations to ready the plant are already underway.

"Brampton is our first plant to demonstrate the ability to build four models on one line," said Frank Ewasyshyn, Executive Vice President - Manufacturing, Chrysler Group. "As we continue to expand our new model line-up and further implement our flexible manufacturing strategy, other facilities will also have this capability."

Lean manufacturing and product development strategies also allow the Chrysler Group to bring new models, like the Dodge Challenger, to market more quickly. First revealed as a concept vehicle at the North American International (Detroit) Auto Show in 2006, it was announced this past summer that the 2008 Dodge Challenger would be going into production in 2008.

Riding a wave of fan anticipation, a new clock will be on display along with the Dodge Challenger concept car to count down to the unveiling of the production version of the car at the Chicago Auto Show next year. Today, the count-down clock shows 358 days.

"Our speed to market means that Challenger production is now measured in only days," said George Murphy, Senior Vice President - Global Marketing, Chrysler Group. "The ability to quickly react to ever-changing consumer tastes is a competitive advantage for the company."

It will be just a little over two years from Dodge Challenger's concept car introduction to the time it will be available in dealerships.

The company has already seen passionate response to the Dodge Challenger with its bold, powerful and capable attributes. Challenger content received a total of 1.5 million visits on the Dodge.com website in 2006 and 20,000 potential customers have asked the company for more product information regarding the car.

The production version of the 2008 Dodge Challenger will be true to both its historical and modern concept car roots as a two-door, HEMI® V-8 powered, rear-drive vehicle. It will be the first coupe built on Chrysler Group's highly successful large car platform which includes the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum.

Source: DaimlerChrysler Media Services

Auburn Hills, Mich. -- Call it America's Ultimate Sports Car versus America's most agile jet fighter. Or Viper versus Viper. Either way, it was a breathtaking contest of 500 horsepower against high-flying afterburner thrust, as the new 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10 challenged the United States Air Force's Lockheed Martin F-16 "Viper" in acceleration trials at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Ariz.

Coverage of the event, held this past spring as part of the annual Luke Days air show, aired on TBS Superstation's "Ripley's Believe It Or Not!" on Saturday, July 13th at 9 am.

The challenge pitted the all-new Dodge Viper against an F-16 jet in a side-by-side, standing-start, half-mile drag race on parallel air base runways, accelerating to the speed at which the jet became airborne: approximately 150 mph. The Dodge Viper covered the course in around 15 seconds.

The event featured two battles with pre-production versions of the 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10 convertible challenging the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, and two more with a prototype 2003 Dodge Viper Competition Coupe against another F-16 Viper. For the latter, DaimlerChrysler's PVO team tapped more horsepower and clad their Viper in racing slicks, while the USAF countered with takeoff runs at full afterburner.

"Driving the new Dodge Viper against the Air Force's finest was really an incredible experience," said Herb Helbig, Senior Manager, Vehicle Synthesis, Performance Vehicle Operations (PVO) at DaimlerChrysler Corp. "We're proud of the Dodge Viper's performance capabilities, and this was a chance to race for bragging rights against one of the few things capable of matching the Viper's acceleration," said Helbig.

• Bold, aggressive styling brings Dodge heritage to mid-size segment
• Available all-wheel-drive, sport suspension, and performance steering accentuate Avenger's on-road attitude
• Fuel-efficient powertrain options deliver excellent 30 mpg on the highway and flex-fuel engine availability
• Innovative technologies make life easier and safer
• With a starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $18,895, priced $1,605 below the comparable outgoing Stratus with $985 more content

The Dodge brand is running on all cylinders, introducing the 2008 Dodge Avengerâ??an all-new mid-size sedan that combines bold, aggressive Dodge styling with innovative interior features, high-levels of safety and reliability, exhilarating performance and excellent fuel efficiency of 30 miles per gallon (mpg) (32 mpg based on 2007 EPA fuel economy standards).

Avenger also is the Dodge brand's first mid-size car to offer all-wheel-drive capability combined with a sport-tuned suspension, performance steering and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Traction Control, all of which combine to give Avenger its on-road performance attitude. And with a starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $18,895 (including a $675 destination charge), the all-new Avenger is priced $1,605 below the comparable outgoing Stratus with $985 more content, including standard side-curtain and front-seat-mounted side air bags, Chill Zoneâ?¢, theft alarm and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, to name a few.

This all-new mid-size sedan also marks a milestone in the Dodge brand's car renaissance. From Viper to Caliber and every segment in between, Dodge now offers an extremely competitive car.

"The all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger continues the Dodge brand's product offensive and will bring even more buyers into the Dodge brand showroom," said George Murphy, Senior Vice Presidentâ??Global Marketing. "Just as the Dodge Charger, Magnum, Caliber and Nitro have sparked new interest in the Dodge brand in their respective segments, the Dodge Avenger brings that assertive attitude and bold styling to the competitive mid-size sedan segment. There's just nothing else like it on the road."

The 2008 Dodge Avenger will be available in U.S. dealerships in the first quarter of 2007 and in global volume markets, in both left-hand and right-hand drive, by mid-2007. Four models will be offered in the United States: Dodge Avenger SE, Dodge Avenger SXT, and Dodge Avenger R/T, and a first for Dodge in the mid-size segment, Dodge Avenger R/T AWD (late availability).

Bold, Aggressive Dodge Styling
The 2008 Dodge Avenger builds on the bold, aggressive styling, performance, and excitement of the Dodge Charger.

"The all-new Dodge Avenger brings Dodge brand American muscle car heritage into the global mid-size car segment," said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice Presidentââ?¬â??Design. "Avenger does for the global D-segment what Caliber has done in the global C-segmentâ??it offers a unique alternative to the competition."

From the front, there's no mistaking Dodge's heritage in Avenger's aggressive exterior lines. The brand's signature crosshair grille and large, modern quad headlamps housed in black add to Avenger's menacing glare. The Dodge Avenger's chrome grille with black texture accentuates the vehicle's serious, almost sinister appearance. A stamped formation carries the vertical lines of the crosshair grille over the hood.

Avenger's side profile shares more family traits with the Dodge Charger. Muscular rear shoulders, large wheels and tires and a sleek rear spoiler embody the Dodge brand attributes of bold, powerful and capable. Avenger's long greenhouse is created by black appliqu�©s on the B-pillars, which make this mid-size sedan look like it's pouncing forward, even when it's at a standstill.

From the rear, large, expressive taillamp modules placed at the corners frame the deck lid, which includes a sleekly integrated, finely tuned body-color spoiler. This spoiler and chrome-tipped dual exhaust outlets communicate the performance capability of the Avenger R/T's 3.5-liter engine.

The all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger rides on a 108.9-inch wheelbase and 61.8-inch track, which adds to its athletic stance, improves ride quality and stability and maximizes crush space in the engine compartment. Overall, Avenger is 1.2 inches wider and 4 inches taller than the vehicle it replaces.

Impressive Interior Makes Bold Statement
Graphic design elements, which set the new 2008 Dodge Avenger's exterior design apart from the competition, also are evident throughout the vehicle's spacious interior.

Carefully matched grains and low gloss levels contribute to Avenger's rich-looking interior surfaces. The instrument panel top pad and center stack feature a Franklin grain with low-gloss finish to match the defroster grille, driver cubby and Dodge logo on passenger side surrounds. From the cluster bezel to climate control knobs, circles are a primary graphic element repeated throughout the Dodge Avenger's interior.

Taking a cue from the Dodge Ram name, the Avenger's center stack features a V-like ram's horn shape that surrounds the gated shifter bezel and serves as a design focal point. Avenger's center stack features dual heating and air conditioning vents. A large opening below the vents provides room for either the standard AM/FM/CD radio or the available cutting-edge MyGIG� Multimedia Navigation/Audio/Entertainment/Communication system. On vehicles equipped with the UConnect® Hands-free Communication System, phone buttons are packaged in the radio control head for easy access and a clean, streamlined appearance.

Unique to Dodge Avenger in the mid-size segment is Chill Zoneâ?¢, a chilled beverage storage bin that is standard on all Avenger models. Housed in the passenger side upper instrument panel, the bin can hold and chill as many as four 12-oz. beverage cans.

Avenger's interior provides comfortable seating for the driver and as many as four passengers. Drivers sit 2.5 inches higher than they did in Dodge's previous mid-size sedan, giving them a command-of-the-road seating position. The interior cabin also is extremely spacious with 100.9 cu. ft. of room, which is an additional 7 cubic feet of interior passenger volume compared with the vehicle it replaces. There are 2.5 inches more headroom, 1.2 inches more shoulder room and an inch more hip room in the front seat. Luggage volume in the trunk is a competitive 13.35 cubic feet.

All-wheel Drive, Sport Suspension, and Performance Steering Accentuate Avenger R/T's On-road Attitude
The Avenger R/T also is the Dodge brand's first mid-size sedan to offer all-wheel-drive capability (late availability). Avenger's all-wheel-drive system, available on models sold in the United States, works on demand, driving only the front wheels until power to the rear wheels is needed. All-wheel drive also is used on dry pavement between speeds of 25 and 65 mph to enhance handling during performance driving. This system provides added traction on snow, ice and other low-traction surfaces without having to be switched on and off. All-wheel drive, combined with a sport-tuned suspension, performance steering and ESP with Traction Control, all combine to give Avenger R/T its on-road performance attitude.

Powertrain Options Deliver Excellent Power, Fuel Efficiency and Flex-fuel Availability
Three engine options power 2008 Dodge Avengers sold in the United States: the new standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder World Engine, an available flex-fuel 2.7-liter V-6 engine and an available 3.5-liter V-6 engine coupled with a new six-speed automatic transaxle with Auto Stick.

The 2008 Dodge Avenger SE and SXT feature a standard four-cylinder engine that rivals the best in the mid-size car segment when it comes to fuel economy. Avenger's 2.4-liter World Engine with dual variable valve timing delivers fuel efficiency in the city of 21 mpg (24 mpg using 2007 EPA standards), an excellent 30 mpg on the highway (32 mpg based on 2007 EPA standards), as well as smooth, quiet operation. Mated to a four-speed automatic transaxle, this new engine provides a 15 percent increase in horsepower (173 horsepower vs. 150 horsepower) and an 8 percent improvement in fuel economy compared with the 2.4-liter engine it replaces.

The Dodge Avenger SXT features an available Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) 2.7-liter V-6 engine that provides value- and performance-conscious consumers the power of a V-6 engine with a price that compares with the competitions' four-cylinder engines. Avenger's 2.7-liter V-6 engine produces 189 horsepower and 191 lb.-ft. of torque, providing more low-end torque (at an rpm 850 lower) compared with the 2.7-liter engine it replaces. This 2.7-liter V-6 engine achieves 19 mpg in the city (22 mpg based on 2007 EPA standards) and 27 mpg on the highway (30 mpg based on 2007 EPA standards). It also can operate effectively on any blend of gasoline and fuel-grade ethanol up to E-85.

Dodge Avenger R/T and R/T AWD sedans sold in the United States feature a standard 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 235 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque coupled with a new six-speed automatic transaxle that comes standard with Auto Stick. The combination of the upgraded 3.5-liter V6 engine and six-speed automatic transaxle delivers excellent performance and fuel efficiency, as well as smooth, quiet operation.

The 2008 Dodge Avenger R/T's six-speed automatic transaxle provides quicker standing-start acceleration than a four- or five-speed transaxle because of its numerically higher first gear ratio. A more robust differential with increased torque capacity enhances launch performance by requiring less torque management, electronically limiting the torque that is available during the initial stages of standing-start acceleration. Smaller steps between ratios also make for a smoother, quieter ride, as the engine speed doesn't change as often with each shift. In addition, more ratio choices, more appropriate ratios for quicker acceleration and a lower overall top gear ratio provide a quiet ride and improved fuel economy at highway speeds.

Innovative Technologies Make Life Easier and Safer
In addition to Dodge Avenger's bold, aggressive design and functional interior, this all-new mid-size sedan also features a slew of new technologies unique in the segment.

"The 2008 Dodge Avenger heats up the mid-size car competition with several cool technologies," said Tom Loveless, Directorââ?¬â??Dodge Marketing and Global Communications. "From an available one-of-a-kind chilled beverage storage bin in the instrument panel to a heated/cooled cupholder and heated cloth seats, Avenger offers features buyers will really warm up to."

Many unique features set Dodge Avenger apart in the extremely competitive mid-size car segment. These features include:

• Chill Zoneâ?¢â??a storage compartment in the top of the instrument panel that holds up to four standing 12 oz. beverage cans. Depending on ambient temperature and air conditioning settings, the bin can keep beverages cool
• A heated/cooled front cupholder that keeps cold beverages cool and hot beverages warm. The system heats to 140 degrees Fahrenheit or cools to 35 degrees Fahrenheit
• YES Essentials® Fabricâ??an easy-care, soil-repellent and anti-microbial textile that protects seats from stains, odors and discoloration
• Heated cloth seats
• An available DVD rear-seat entertainment system that includes AM/FM stereo radio with MP3 capable CD/DVD player, six-disc CD/DVD changer and SIRIUS® Satellite Digital Audio Radio
• Light-emitting Diode (LED) interior lighting with high-focus white lights that provide directional lighting in both the front and rear seats
• MP3 play capability on all audio systems

The 2008 Dodge Avenger also features MyGIGâ?¢, a cutting-edge information, entertainment and safety navigation audio system that raises the bar on in-vehicle communications. This best-in-class, next-generation navigation radio features a 6.5-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) Display with a touch-screen panel that can support 65,000 colors, providing a three-dimensional appearance to graphics and animation, as well as multiple font sizes and styles. The MyGIG system follows voice-activated commands and includes many new features for music, sound, movies and personalized picture displays, including:

• A 20 gigabyte hard disc drive that includes Music Juke Box for organizing music and pictures on the hard drive
• Universal Serial Bus (USB) that provides both MP3 connectivity and downloading of WMA, MP3 and JPEG files onto the hard drive
• Gracenote® database installed on the hard drive, which provides song identification, including composer, artist and title
• Playlist creation capability to provide easy access to files
• Voice memo recording, which allows a message up to 3 minutes long to be recorded using the microphone integrated into the rearview mirror
• Radio screen, which can display movies (when vehicle is not in motion)
• SIRIUS® Satellite Radio, which provides customers with more than 125 channels of the best music, entertainment and information coast-to-coast, 24 hours a day. This includes 100 percent commercial-free music, as well as sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic and weather
• UConnect® Hands-free Communication System that uses Bluetooth® technology to provide voice-activated wireless communication between the occupants' compatible cell phones and the vehicle's onboard receiver. The hands-free option promotes safety, freedom, value and flexibility

Safety Features and Structure Combine to Protect Vehicle Occupants
Safety and security are a top priority among mid-size car buyers in the United States, and the all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger offers a unique combination of class-leading safety features that are designed to keep occupants both safe and secure. Avenger's safety cage is constructed with dual-phase, high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel components designed to protect occupants in all driving situations. Avenger's extremely strong safety cage is complemented with a combination of standard safety items demanded by buyers in the mid-size segment, including:

• Advanced multi-stage front air bags
• Side-curtain air bags
• Front-seat-mounted side air bags

Anti-lock brakes and ESP with Traction Control also are available on the 2008 Dodge Avenger.

Hitting the Bulls-eye
The all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger will compete in the largest, most competitive segment of the U.S. passenger car market: the 1.9-million-unit-a-year standard mid-size segment, which accounts for approximately 11.4 percent of the total car and truck industry and approximately 31 percent of the passenger car market. Highly fluctuating gas prices and new model offerings suggest the market will see future growth, and with its bold Dodge design, value price, solid standard equipment and innovative features, the new Dodge Avenger is ready to pounce when traditional mid-size car buyers are drawn into Dodge dealer showrooms, looking for what only Avenger can offer: pure Dodge attitude in an affordable performance package.

Avenger is designed to appeal to Generation Xers who are 30-45-years-old, married and have a median income of approximately $60,000. Sixty percent are male, and 40 percent are college-educated. Many have small families with one or two children. These mid-size car buyers are youthful, full-of-life and have active lifestyles. They enjoy challenging themselves at their jobs and with their hobbies. They want a vehicle that is affordable and matches their personality, something with a unique style that offers sporty performance, enhances their self image and is fun to drive. Dodge Avenger, with its bold, aggressive Dodge design, functional interior, innovative features and essential levels of reliability, gives them a car that will impress their friends with its looks and performance.

2008 Dodge Avenger Production
Production of the 2008 Dodge Avenger began in the fourth quarter of 2006 at the refurbished Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly Plant, alongside the Chrysler Sebring and Chrysler Sebring Convertible. Avenger's 173 horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder World Engine is built in the state-of-the art Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) plant in Dundee, Mich. The 2.7-liter V-6 engine and the 3.5-liter V-6 engine are built at the Kenosha (Wis.) Engine Plant.

Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA)
The World Engine is a family of world-class four-cylinder engines produced by GEMA in Dundee, Mich., delivering an exceptional combination of quality, fuel efficiency, refinement and performance. GEMA is owned equally by DaimlerChrysler Corp., Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co. By optimizing the three joint venture partners' strengths, global economies of scale and the latest practices in flexible teams and machines, GEMA aims to set a new benchmark in engine plant productivity.

Dodge Brand
Dodge sold more than 1.4 million vehicles worldwide in 2005. With a U.S. market share of 7 percent, Dodge is the fifth-largest nameplate in the United States and the eighth-largest nameplate in the automotive industry. The Dodge global portfolio includes a range of cars, trucks, minivans and sport-utility vehicles. Dodge Caliber spearheaded the Dodge brand's expansion into volume markets outside North America, followed by the Dodge Nitro, Dodge Avenger and the high-performance Dodge Caliber SRT4.

Source: DaimlerChrysler Media Services.

The new 2007 Charger and Magnum police vehicles may have many would-be racers singing the lead-foot blues. Check most any blog about the Dodge Charger police vehicle and you'll hear tales of unmarked Chargers and Magnums being mistaken for would-be-racers.

Police agencies that have recently added Dodge Charger and Magnum police vehicles have a definite jump on would-be speeders who can instantly recognize the rear tail lamps, profile, and front grille of the Crown Victoria.

Dodge, Chrysler, and Plymouth vehicles dominated police vehicle sales from the 1960s to the 1980s. Today, Dodge continues this strong police heritage as it proudly offers police vehicles with modern muscle and 21st century technology to those who protect and serve our local communities.

Dodge Charger and Magnum, with their rear-wheel drive and available HEMI® power at the pavement, are quickly becoming police vehicles of choice, thanks to outstanding performance, handling, comfort, efficiency, and safety.

Dodge provides rear-wheel-drive balance and control for officers in a variety of surface and weather conditions thanks to many standard safety technologies including; Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with brake assist, All-speed Traction Control System and four-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS).

According to 2006 model-year Michigan State Police and Los Angeles County police vehicle tests, Dodge Charger and Magnum handcuffed the competition in key categories that most police chiefs consider crucial to any police vehicle purchase:

• Best-in-class performance: braking, acceleration, and overall track times*
• Most available horsepower*
• Most available torque*
• Largest standard tires tested (for better road contact)*
• Only police car available with standard electronic stability program with three modes (normal, minimal, and disabled)

The Dodge Charger and Magnum provide law enforcement agencies with powerful police vehicles that are affordable, capable, comfortable, and safe.

So watch out the next time you challenge a Dodge vehicleâ??you just may be playing with blue fire. The bold and aggressive grille filling up your rearview mirror might be the last thing you see before being asked for your license and registration. We're just going to give you a warning today.

* Compared to Ford Crown Victoria and Chevy Impala.

We have just implemented our newest website design this past week to make our dealership stand out as the ultimate in online service.  You will now be able to browse our new and used inventory, schedule an appointment for service, request a part or accessory or even learn about the latest news, vehicles and feature from Chrysler!  We hope to make our presence here in Westerly a lasting one ... Be it in person or online! 

Thank you for visiting us and for allowing us the opportunity to be of service to you!

Sincerely,

Paco Ramirez
Internet Sales Manager