Here at LotPro.com, a few of us really old dudes can remember the seventies when cars took on such otherworldly hues as lime green, ultra violet and harvest gold. It was the decade of discos and shag carpeting, and not a whole lot of us here are sad that it’s gone.

Nonetheless, the Dodge boys are hell-bent on heaping another layer of nostalgia onto both the Dodge Challenger R/T as well as its brother on steroids, the SRT8 by announcing an exclusive production run of both muscle cars in the classic Plum Crazy Pearl Coat exterior color.

Stripes too!

“The new Plum Crazy R/T Classic and SRT8 feature more than just memorable blast-from-the-past design cues and HEMI engines; both models exude the very core of Dodge Challenger’s roots,” said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Car Brand and Senior Vice President–Product Design, Chrysler Group LLC. “Our new Plum Crazy limited-edition models pay homage to Challenger’s heritage while delivering the passion and excitement Dodge fans and customers demand.”

For those Mopar fans out there who need to know: Yes, this is the same paint color as those classic Dodge pony cars as the company has delved into its paint code archive for this production run. For even more style, the color can be ordered with your choice of traditional matte black or new bright white dual-wide R/T body-side stripes.

Not to be outdone, the SRT8® will come standard with Plum Crazy performance seats with a Plum Crazy accented seat stripe (optional Katzkin leather seat sets will be available in multiple color and piping combinations through Chrysler’s Mopar® parts division for those owners interested in putting their rides further over the top).

Pricing and production

Ordering is to commence immediately while limited production on both Merlot-inspired vehicles will begin in late November at Chrysler’s Canadian assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario.

Suggested retail pricing (including $725 destination) for the 2010 Challenger R/T is $35,140, while the Challenger SRT8 model will fetch $44,155.00.

Generating excitement

At LotPro.com we realize that it isn’t hasn’t been that often, lately, that we get to report on any positive news coming from the Pentastar down the street. Aside from the Dodge Challenger and its iconic Jeep brand – including the new Grand Cherokee, scheduled to go on sale next year, most of Chrysler’s fleet is showing its age. Add to that the fact that the new offerings from its latest owner Fiat are nearly a year away and you have the specter of a company that is currently, for all intents and purposes, treading water.

But if the latest news from Auburn Hills is any indication, Chrysler is determined to make the most of what it currently has and this includes the vehicles it plans on displaying at this year’s SEMA show, scheduled to run from November 3rd until the 6th in Sin (what happens in, stays in) City, Nevada.

Here are the rides Chrysler will display:

Mopar Dodge Challenger 1320 Image Vehicle

Chrysler calls this particular exercise “exploring a street-legal Drag Pak Challenger.” Sounds fun to us.

Named for the 1,320 feet on a quarter-mile drag strip, this one-off Challenger features a 426 Hemi® V-8 that generates 556 horsepower and 540 lb-ft. of torque. Equipped with long-tube headers and a free-breathing exhaust system, electric outlets allow exhaust gasses to bypass the muffler system. Power to the pavement is supplied by a six-speed manual transmission via a Dana 60 differential with a selectable ARB locking mechanism.

Mopar police wheels (widened for the rears) are clad with Mickey Thompson street-legal drag radials, with all this power kept in place by four-corner Mopar adjustable coil-over kit. To ensure this Challenger is no shrinking violet, the 1320 is adorned with Acidic Hue, a non-metallic yellow paint and trimmed in matte black graphics.

Performance is enhanced by lightening the body with the following carbon-fiber components: bulged hood with Hemi scoop, front spoiler, and grille panel/headlight surround. And while the interior has been stripped of the rear seat, center console and radio, it also sports Dodge Viper seats, sports steering wheel and Hurst shifter.

Dodge Ram Bianco

The color may be vanilla, but the Ram Bianco is anything but. The extensive modifications to what was once a Ram 1500 Sport include a body kit, specially modified fender flares, hard tonneau and lowering kit, with everything, including the Mopar 22” wheels, painted using several coats of Arctic Ice pearl.

A cold air intake and dual exhausts add to the 5.7-liter Hemi’s performance, while the interior receives white and black Katzkin seats with matching door trim, Piano Black and Arctic Ice accents as well as a Kicker audio system.

Jeep Wrangler Overland

The Overland is Chrysler’s vision of the ultimate moveable campsite. One can almost hear the driver shouting as it flies across the desert, “RV! We don’t need no stinking RV!”

Cargo capacity for the Overland is increased by eighty-sixing the rear seats in favor of a large, flat, rubberized utility floor, while the cargo rack has been augmented with the addition of a two-person ARB Simpson II roof-mounted tent plus touring awning.

Clearing the occasional pesky boulder has been accomplished through the addition of an AEV Nth Degree 3-inch lift package and Full Traction rear sway bar. This customization makes the necessary room for aggressive 35-inch tires mounted to 17-inch Mopar off-road wheels.

With desert duty in mind, an AEV heat-reduction hood has been added and, to make those occasional river crossings safer, an AEV snorkel kit is also part of the package.

Jeep Lower Forty

Last, but certainly not least, the Jeep Lower Forty looks akin to something out of a Mad Max movie. With the goal of achieving additional ground clearance without altering the center of gravity of a production Wrangler Rubicon and sans a lift kit, the design team resorted to removing a great deal of the original vehicle’s sheet metal in order to augment the standard wheel/tire combo with 20” forged aluminum alloys and 40-inch x 13.5 inch tires.

Three inches were chopped from the windshield frame and a 10 degree rake was added. The front and rear fender flares are both 1” wider and located 4” wider than the stock body. A new carbon-fiber hood with power dome and drop-down “Jeep”-logoed tailgate top it all off.

On the inside, a new custom roll cage was tied directly to the frame rails and the spare tire relocated to the cargo floor. The console and instrument panel were color-matched to the Red Eye No. 3 exterior paint, while the seats received Katzkin leather skins while the carpeting was removed and replaced by spray-in truck-bed liner.

Mechanicals for the Lower Forty include a 5.7-liter Hemi mated to a Getrag 238 six-speed manual along with a Dana 44 front and Dana 60 rear axles.

It’s no secret that many of us here at LotPro.com find the idea of the average family riding around in a heavily-optioned, leather-lined, extended cab four-by-four pickup truck to be close to be the ultimate in absurdity. The closest thing most of these “air haulers” will come to off-roading is accidentally jumping a curb and riding over the well-manicured flower bed of the local shopping mall. But with the price of a gallon of gas averaging less than $3.00, many urban cowboys are once again thinking of parking a pickup in front of their own suburban Ponderosas.

What’s more, the domestic automakers desperately need the profits they reap from truck sales to fuel their R&D efforts in what they see as the soon-to-be burgeoning small car segment. And with the Asian automakers re-trenching after a very much less-than-successful assault on the full-size truck segment, the American manufacturers are poised to regain a significant share of the truck market.

Finally, to reiterate what we stated last year, there still are, and will continue to be, legitimate markets for pickups in the U.S., which is also why Ford’s latest award is so important: the biggest market for pick-em-ups in America is Texas.

2009 Truck of Texas

Everybody knows that Texas is big. But few living outside the state can really grasp just how big it really is. If you’re traveling from Beaumont in the east to El Paso in the west, you’ll cover almost 840 miles. That’s further than Salt Lake City to Los Angeles and only 50 miles less than driving from Rome, Italy to Paris, France. And remember, the whole time you’re covering all that prairie; you’re still in the same state!

Texas is also big into oil drilling, oil refining, cattle ranching, farming and construction. Knowing that, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist (although if it did there are plenty of those types to be found at the Johnson Space Center, which is just south of Houston) to see why most pickup owners in Texas are serious about their rides. Texans, in fact, are so big on trucks, that in 1992, the Texas Auto Writers Association™ founded the “Texas Truck Rodeo. ™”

This year, the “Truck Rodeo” was held October 15-18 in San Antonio, Texas with testing at the famous Knibbe Ranch. For three days 41 members of the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA™) drove 44 trucks and SUV’s in a true “working ranch” setting. In addition to the journalists, more than 60 automotive industry executives attended the event. Winners were honored in various categories, with the overall winner receiving a silver cup “traveling trophy” along with the honor of being named “Truck of Texas” and “SUV of Texas”.

According to TAWA president Harold Gunn, “’ Truck of Texas’ is really the most important award of its type in the industry. We love trucks down here, and we really use these vehicles everyday. And since we spend so much time in our vehicles, for us it’s not just about how the horse feels being towed, but how your butt feels sitting in the truck, too.”

Results of the 2009 Texas Truck Rodeo

For the seventh consecutive year, a Ford truck took top honors – this year it went to the 2010 F-150, led by the SVT Raptor Supercab. Ford also won Outstanding Feature, while Ford’s lineup of trucks also won Truck Line of Texas.

Here is a complete list of winners:

Truck of Texas – 2010 Ford F-150

SUV of Texas – 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL 350 BlueTEC

CUV of Texas – 2010 Cadillac SRX 2.8 Liter Turbo

Truck Line of Texas – Ford

Outstanding Feature – Ford Work Solutions

Full-Size Pickup Truck – 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Supercab

Mid-Size Pickup Truck – 2010 Dodge Dakota Crew Cab TRX4

Luxury Pickup Truck – 2010 Ford F-150 King Ranch SuperCrew

Heavy Duty Pickup Truck – 2010 Dodge Ram 3500

Full-Size Sport Utility Vehicle – 2010 Ford Expedition King Ranch

Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle – 2010 Toyota 4Runner Trail Edition

Compact Sport Utility Vehicle – 2010 Jeep Patriot Limited 4X4

Full-Size Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle – 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL 350 BlueTEC

Mid-Size Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle – 2010 Lexus R450h

Luxury Crossover Utility Vehicle – 2010 Cadillac SRX 2.8 Liter Turbo

Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle – 2010 Subaru Outback

Mid-Size Crossover Utility Vehicle – 2010 Lincoln MKX

Full-Size Crossover Utility Vehicle – 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost

The Bottom Line

LotPro.com would like to thank Harold Gunn for his help in furnishing the details for this article and, once again, a tip of the Stetson to Ford for a job well done.

The four hours and forty-eight minutes of Le Mans

To say conditions at this year’s Petite Le Mans at Road Atlanta were horrendous would be an understatement. And while the duel between the Audi Sport Team Joest and Team Peugeot Sport was certainly evident in qualifying, many race fans were left to wonder who might’ve come out on top if the weather had been more forgiving and the cars had been allowed to complete the entire race.

Weather for the practice laps was marked by intense heat as the thermometer topped out at 85 degrees and extremely high humidity. On Wednesday, the first day of practice, the track surface had very little grip even in the early afternoon due to heavy rains the previous day. Audi suffered two mishaps in practice on Wednesday and Thursday as both Luhr and Werner put their R15 into the weeds which necessitated a new monocoque for the number 1 car on Wednesday night.

Other than a brake problem on their number 7 car in the early going, Peugeot encountered no such issues and, in fact, was able to test both cars with a combined equivalent of close to 1,000 miles.

Qualifying

Qualifying day saw air temperatures reach 91 degrees, while the temperature of the track surface was measure at 104 degrees. At the end of the day, Peugeot had both 908 HDi FAP cars on the front row with the number 7 car on the pole ahead of the number 8 car.

Audi, meanwhile, placed both R15 TDI’s in the second row, with the number 2 car in the third spot and the number 1 car in fourth, just 28 thousands of a second behind.

Race day

Not once in 11 years has the Petite Le Mans been run in such unfavorable conditions. The warm-up session had to be delayed due to rain and the cars were forced to line up on the grid immediately after only a few warm-up laps had been completed and for Audi, it only went downhill from there.

After dominating the race in the early going (McNish and Capello led for 163 of the first 168 laps), both Peugeots were able to get by the Audi under the yellow flag when McNish spun the Audi minutes after the two hour mark. Shortly thereafter, it began to rain in earnest and race officials parked the cars in pit lane.

The rain abated and the cars returned to the track, but this time there were no position changes between Audi and Peugeot. Then the rain returned and the race was red flagged for safety reasons at the 4 hour and 48 minute mark with the cars remaining in the starting block for nearly four hours waiting for a re-start that never happened.

Final Results

Here are the final results of the 2009 Petit Le Mans:

1. (2) Stephane Sarrazin, France; Franck Montagny, Brignoles France; Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (1, P1), 184.
2. (1) Pedro Lamy, Lisbon Portugal; Nicolas Minassian, England; Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (2, P1), 184.
3. (3) Allan McNish, Scotland; Rinaldo Capello, Italy; Audi R15 TDI (3, P1), 184.
4. (4) Marco Werner, Germany; Lucas Luhr, Germany; Audi R15 TDI (4, P1), 182.
5. (6) Nicolas Lapierre, France; Romain Dumas, France; Olivier Panis, France; Oreca 01 AIM (5, P1), 181.
6. (26) David Brabham, Australia; Dario Franchitti, Scotland; Scott Sharp, Jupiter, FL; Acura ARX-02a (6, P1), 180.
7. (28) Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, NY; Guy Smith, England; Lola B09 86 Mazda (7, P2*), 177.
8. (22) Jaime Melo, Brazil; Pierre Kaffer, Germany; Mika Salo, Finland; Ferrari F430 GT (1, GT2), 170.
9. (16) Tom Milner, Leesburg, VA; Dirk Mueller, Germany; Joerg Mueller, Germany; BMW E92 M3 (2, GT2), 169.
10. (21) Wolf Henzler, Germany; Dirk Werner, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (3, GT2), 169.
11. (15) Oliver Gavin, England; Olivier Beretta, Monaco; Marcel Fassler, Switzerland; Corvette C6.R (4, GT2), 169.
12. (18) Patrick Long, Oak Park, CA; Joerg Bergmeister, Germany; Marc Lieb, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (5, GT2), 169.
13. (8) Marino Franchitti, Scotland; Butch Leitzinger, State College, PA; Lola B09 86 Mazda (1, P2), 168.
14. (19) Johnny O’Connell, Flowery Branch, GA; Jan Magnussen, Denmark; Antonio Garcia, Spain; Corvette C6.R (6, GT2), 168.
15. (25) Seth Neiman, Burlingame, CA; Darren Law, Phoenix, AZ; Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, CA; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (7, GT2), 162.
16. (14) Tom Sutherland, Los Gatos, CA; Tomy Drissi, Hollywood, CA; Matt Bell, Los Altos, CA; Chevrolet Riley Corvette C6 (8, GT2), 157.
17. (7) Jon Field, Dublin, OH; Clint Field, Dublin, OH; Lola B06/10 AER (8, P1), 152.
18. (20) Ian James, England; Dominik Farnbacher, Germany; Panoz Esperante GTLM Ford (9, GT2), 152.
19. (12) Bryan Willman, Kirkland, WA; Tony Burgess, Canada; Chris McMurry, Phoenix, AZ; Lola B06/10 AER (9, P1), 144, Accident.
20. (13) David Murry, Cumming, GA; David Robertson, Ray, MI; Andrea Robertson, Ray, MI; Doran Ford GT MK 7 (10, GT2), 142.
21. (11) Luis Diaz, Mexico; Adrian Fernandez, Mexico; Acura ARX-01B (2, P2), 139.
22. (10) Klaus Graf, Germany; Sascha Maassen, Germany; Greg Pickett, Alamo, CA; Porsche RS Spyder (3, P2), 136.
23. (23) Bryan Sellers, Centerville, OH; Dominic Cicero, Portland, OR; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (11, GT2), 136.
24. (5) Gil de Ferran, Brazil; Simon Pagenaud, France; Scott Dixon, New Zealand; Acura ARX-02a (10, P1), 136.
25. (17) Bill Auberlen, Hermosa Beach, CA; Joey Hand, Sacramento, CA; Andy Priaulx, Germany; BMW E92 M3 (12, GT2), 133.
26. (24) Joel Feinberg, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Chris Hall, Daytona, FL; Dodge Viper Comp Coupe (13, GT2), 129.
27. (9) Jonny Cocker, UK; Robert Bell, UK; Paul Drayson, London, UK; Lola B09 60 Judd (11, P1), 123.
28. (27) Hideki Noda, Japan; Jose Manuel Balbiani, Argentina; Dion von Moltke, Coral Gables, FL; Radical SR9/AER (12, P1), 0.
29. (29) Adam Pecorari, Aston, PA; Gunnar Van der Steur, Chesapeake City, MD; Robbie Pecorari, Aston, PA; Radical SR9 AER (4, P2), 0.
30. (30) No drivers; Jaguar XK

All images courtesy of Audi of America

The Best of Detroit

As we stated in yesterday’s article on LotPro.com, the years 1955 to 1970 are looked upon as the golden age for many followers of the sport of drag racing. During this time, big corporate sponsorships were the stuff of dreams and most drivers who raced also had full-time jobs that helped support their passion for the sport.

In addition to the six vehicles mentioned on Monday, here are the seven more that appeared at the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance this past Sunday:

1963 Pontiac Catalina 421 Super Duty

This particular 1963 Pontiac Catalina 421 Super Duty was among a select number of Pontiacs (there were only 14 produced) that were dubbed “Swiss Cheese” vehicles. The name came from the fact that the perimeter frame had approximately 120 holes punched in the side sections and the side of the box section was also removed.

With a factory shipping weight of only 3,308 pounds, the body featured aluminum panels on the fender, hood, trunk and bumpers. Factory rated horsepower was 420, but the engine blue printed out at well over 500 horsepower.

This particular Catalina was raced out of the venerable Royal Pontiac dealership in Royal Oak, Michigan (which was to become famous for the Royal Bobcat Pontiac GTO). Driven by Jim Wangers, it went on to win the B/FX class at the U.S. Nationals.

1963 Ford Galaxie Factory Lightweight

Ford’s answer to the Pontiac “Swiss Cheese” vehicles was the “Factory Lightweight.” Built in Atlanta and L.A., on the Galaxie line, the bodies were modified with aluminum panels and the interiors featured little in the way of luxury – no heater, no radio, and no frills. A very few of these lightweights featured Ford’s high-performance 427 engine.

1963 Chevrolet Impala Z-11

The Impala Z-11 was Chevy’s answer to the need for more horsepower and lighter cars in 1963. Chevrolet produced 57 of these vehicles that featured a modified 409 cubic inch engine that, in different variations, produced anywhere from 340 horsepower up to 425 horsepower.

Like its counterparts at Ford and Chrysler, this particular Chevy had no radio, no heater and no sound deadener and, like the Ford Galaxie, it was assigned an RPO (Regular Production Order) number (RPO Z-11), although it took more than signing on the dotted line to buy one of these specials.

1965 Plymouth “Color Me Gone”

A number of things took place in 1965 that were to profoundly change drag racing in the United States. That year, the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) created a factory experimental class that had less restrictive rules. The resulting Altered Wheelbase cars became the ultimate production-based muscle cars that would eventually bridge the gap between the Super Stock cars of the early ‘60’s and the Funny Cars that would emerge years later.

Chrysler eventually built 6 Dodges and 6 Plymouths and sold them to teams like the Ramchargers, Dick Landy and Roger Lindamood. Lindamood, in particular, won the 1964 Nationals and is a hall of fame driver.

1965 Mercury Comet “Dyno Don Nicholson”

Dyno Don Nicholson began racing in the 40’s and 50’s and was one of a select few drivers that helped propel the sport from a hobby to big business. Along with Jack Chrisman, The Ramchargers, Dick Landy and Gas Rhonda, he experimented with altering wheelbases, fuel injection, supercharging, big slicks and super duty transmissions.

His “Mercury Cyclone” was one of the most successful cars of its era and the car’s altered wheelbase, flip top and engine configuration led to the name “Funny Car” that is still used in drag racing today.

1968 Plymouth Barracuda “Ron Mancini Car”

By the 1960’s, all the major manufacturers were taking part in the “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” racing wars. In 1968, the Hurst Performance Center in Madison Heights, Michigan assembled 75 purpose-built cars specifically for drag racing. The new “Hemi” powerplant helped propel these cars to many NHRA victories.

This particular 426 Hemi Plymouth Barracuda was built by the team of Mike Dawson and Ron Mancini with the help of Gratiot Auto Supply and ran SS/AA.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle “Red Alert”

Beginning in 1970, General Motors dropped its self-imposed rule of restricting mid-size cars to engines with less than 400 cubic inches of displacement. The LS6 package included a 454 cubic inch engine that produced 450 horsepower that resulted in quarter mile times in the low to mid-13 second range.

In 1969, drag racer Bob Hamilton purchased this Chevelle for his wife as a Valentine’s Day gift and, a year later, turned it into the “Red Alert” drag racer that competed in the NHRA SS/DA class. In 1971, model car company AMT created a model of the car that became their all-time sales leader. “Red Alert” continued to race until 1976 when it was Top Stock Eliminator in 14 out of 16 races.

Reports not exaggerated

To paraphrase Mark Twain, it appears that reports of the imminent demise (or sale) of the Viper brand have been quashed by none other than the Newest Chrysler – reversing a decision that was made by the New (old) Chrysler last year.

As early as August of 2008, then-CEO Bob Nardelli was quoted as saying, “We have been approached by third parties who are interested in exploring future possibilities for Viper.”

An about face

On Friday of last week, however, Chrysler issued a press release announcing that production would continue for the Dodge “halo” car. In addition to the SRT 100 being saved, the latest is indeed good news for the workers at the Chrysler Conner Avenue Assembly Plant – the lone assembly point for the vehicle since 1995 – which will continue to build the fourth generation of Dodge’s iconic sports car.

“The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe,” said Mike Accavitti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Brand. “We’re extremely proud that the ultimate American-built sports car with its world-class performance will live on as the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand.”

Reversal reasoning

With Fiat running the show in Auburn Hills, it appears that the Italians must feel there is a viable market for the Viper brand both here and abroad. Looking at it another way, Dodge’s snake is the lone “halo” car in a company that desperately needs one in times like these – and with new product from parent company Fiat still at least 18 months away, Chrysler needs all the good karma it can get.

Today, Europe

So far, so good. Here at LotPro.com, it seems like the Fiat alliance that created the “Newest Chrysler” (not to be confused with the “New Chrysler”) seems to be going as planned – with the obvious exception of the brand’s continued sales slide.

To that end, most of us here are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Fiat’s small cars on this side of the pond – something that can’t happen soon enough, given the company’s dearth of appealing small cars (a small stable that includes the unfortunate-looking Dodge Caliber).

To that end, fans of the small car and of Chrysler find themselves looking to Europe, where, today, Fiat is bringing the new Fiat 500 C to market.

Fiat 500 C

We’ve written about the new 500 C here before and whether you call it a convertible or a vehicle with the world’s largest cloth sunroof, the fact remains that the latest incarnation of the Cinquecento is nothing short of an instant classic.

“The Fiat 500 C is not merely the open version of the 500,” explains Roberto Giolito, Fiat & Abarth Style Director. “In fact, thanks to the wide range of available versions, this new model is really a whole new car in its own right, with a strong personality inherited from the original 1957 model and an undoubted sentimental value brought to it by so many fans over the years. If, on the one hand, the Fiat 500 C respects the original version, on the other it enriches it with new features which, thanks to stylistic choices, afford each one of us maximum freedom of use.”

Not a chop job

Although the C maintains the same dimensions as its hatchback brethren, the windscreen on the convertible is deeper due to the fact that the upper cross member had to be resized to increase the torsional rigidity of the (nearly) topless body.

The top, itself, is electric and contains a glass rear window as well as the third brake light, which is contained in a color-keyed spoiler and is always visible – whether the top is up or down. With the top closed, the press of a button folds the top back to the rear spoiler position (much like a sunroof), while a second press fully opens the roof (a feature that remains active up to 37 mph). The first step can also be accomplished with the vehicle remote.

Even with a soft top, storage capacity in the trunk is 6.4 cubic feet, nearly the same as the hatchbacks 6.5 cubic feet. And although the top, when folded, intrudes on the trunk opening, when the trunk release is activated, an electronic system automatically lifts the lid a few centimeters to allow the trunk to be fully opened.

Model range

In the U.K., the 500 C starts with the Pop version, which includes seven airbags, ABS and EBD. Also included is A/C, electric power steering, power windows and locks as well as a vehicle remote. All three engines are available and the 1.4-liter 100 hp 16v engine, if chosen, includes ESP stability control.

The Lounge version adds the element of chrome to the side windows, tail pipe, interior door handle inserts, gear lever and front and rear bumpers. Also included is automatic climate control, standard ESP, fog lights, parking sensors, 185/55 R15 alloy wheels and electric outside mirrors.

Xenon headlamps with integrated washers, leather interior, Interscope sound system and special 16-inch alloy wheels are stand alone options on both the Pop and Lounge versions. Also on the list is a multifunctional portable navigation system with Bluetooth functionality.

All images courtesy of Fiat

The Walter P. Chrysler Museum

One of the advantages of having the LotPro.com offices in metro Detroit is our close proximity to all the domestic auto companies. Chrysler, in particular, is less than a mile away. Tucked away in a corner of that sprawling complex is the Walter P. Chrysler Museum.

Originally a division of Chrysler, ground was broken for the three-story, 55,000 square foot museum on November 19, 1996 and it opened three years later on October 5th. In 2008, the museum was granted tax exempt status and was incorporated as a public charity.

Sitting on 10 acres at the southeast corner of the Chrysler Headquarters complex, the museum regularly displays more than 70 concept, custom and historical vehicles that represent Chrysler’s heritage in the U.S. auto industry.

Cruise nights

Beginning this Thursday, June 11th, the museum will also host the fourth season of Cruise Nights at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum. And if previous year’s nights are any indication, these bi-weekly events will see hundreds of cruisers as well as an even greater number of spectators.

Here are some of the details:

Cruise Nights are presented by Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge All makes and models are welcome – rain or shine – for food; music; current Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicle displays and more.

Cruise Night highlights for June 11th:

•    After hours viewing of the Museum’s Jeep(R) in the Movies special exhibit, featuring two celebrated vehicles: the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon featured in Paramount Pictures’, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life and the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited that co-starred in the Paramount release, Sahara

•    Enthusiast Avenue, a collection of Detroit area businesses showcasing vehicle maintenance and restoration products, services and more for auto enthusiasts

Special vehicles on display will include:

•    Formula SAE, Oakland University of Rochester, student-built Formula Car that participated in the 2009 SAE Competition at Michigan International Speedway

•    The ENVI-powered Dodge Circuit Electric Vehicle, a two-passenger performance coupe – zero gas, zero tailpipe emissions, zero compromise

Donations and reduced admission prices

Guest donations are welcome and after hours Museum admission is reduced to $1 for children and $2 for adults (regularly $4 and $8, respectively)

Something you won’t want to miss

For those of you who plan on being in the Detroit metro area this summer, Cruise Nights will take place beginning on June 11th and will continue every other Thursday through August 20th. The easiest way to access the museum is to take I-75 to exit 78 and follow the signs.

 All photos courtesy of the Walter P. Chrysler museum and Chrysler LLC

The obvious and not so obvious

Here at LotPro.com, we realize that it doesn’t take a genius to conclude that it’s going to cost you a bundle to insure a sports car like the Nissan GT-R, Dodge Viper or Audi R8. All three are very expensive, very fast, and attract traffic cops in much the same way that Brad and Angelina attract the paparazzi – you can’t miss them and they’re usually good for a money shot (using a radar with the former and a camera with the latter).

What is surprising is the inclusion of the Cobalt SS in the top 20, while Chevy’s big gun, the Corvette, is MIA (demographics may have something to do with it, since Cobalt buyers are younger and more prone to “mashing the foot feed”, as it were). BMW is well represented with the four models (M6, M5, M3 and X6), the most from any single manufacturer. Of the top 20, 14 are sports cars (we take exception to the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class being classified as a “passenger car” and have included it in this category), 4 are large SUV’s, the Cadillac Escalade EXT is the lone truck and, sans the aforementioned SL, the Audi S8 is the lone passenger car.

The results

Insure.com lists the Nissan GT-R at the top of the list, noting that “Owners of the GT-R buy it for power and speed, and their driving habits are often reflected in frequent and expensive insurance claims (insert here the Japanese word for ‘obviously’).” Not far behind is the Dodge Viper, followed by the BMW M6, Ford Shelby GT 500 and, rounding out the top 5, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

Here is the complete list of the most expensive 20:

The bottom 20 for the rest of us

Lacking a payment and insurance budget that might equal the GDP of a small third world country, the rest of us can always aim for the top least expensive vehicles to  insure.

Again, it doesn’t take a Mensa candidate to realize that this list will be populated, for the most part, by small and mid-size passenger vehicles equipped with 4 and 6-cylinder engines. Indeed, the top 5 vehicles are all Korean, with 3 Kia models and 2 from sister company Hyundai. Most of this list is comprised of various and sundry forms of family haulers with minivans (6), passenger cars (6, but really 7 if you include the Rio5 which is a hatchback) and  SUVs (5) accounting for most of the listed vehicles. The remaining two include the Scion xB (almost a minivan) and the list’s only truck, a Mazda (we’re assuming the B-Series).

The list’s biggest surprise, in more ways than one, was the venerable Lincoln Town Car, parked at number 17.

Here is the complete list of the least expensive 20:

How to save more green

Insure.com also had a number of other tips to help you save on your car insurance bill:

•    Trade higher deductibles for lower premiums – but make sure you can afford your deductible in case you crash your car

Cadillac and Hyundai biggest winners

Here at LotPro.com, we see where AutoPacific today released its 13th annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) based on the results of a national survey of over 25,000 new vehicle owners and lessees.

Hyundai Genesis

Noting that the current survey was conducted “in the most challenging auto sales market in years,” the company also announced that “even with the turmoil surrounding General Motors,” Cadillac, for the second year in a row, ranked highest with new car owners and took the Highest Satisfaction Brand award.

Another bright spot in the survey was Hyundai, which climbed 11 places in the overall standings, more than any other manufacturer in the survey, earning itself the Rising Star award for 2009. Not only did the company score more points in 40 of 48 rating categories over last year’s results, two of the Korean manufacturer’s models garnered VSA awards this year in their respective categories – the Genesis for Aspirational Luxury Car and the Sonata in the Premium Mid-size car category.

“These are difficult times, with news of automaker bankruptcies, companies restructuring and dealer closures a daily occurrence,” says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. “Clearly, the dynamics surrounding the Vehicle Satisfaction Award in 2009 are far different from anything we’ve seen in many years. Winners needed to overachieve to earn their awards.”

Honda Fit Sport

Award Winners

The survey focused on buyers of new vehicles that either purchased or leased them during the fourth quarter of 2008 – just as the economic downturn was pummeling the auto industry.

Although the complete list of winners is listed below, it should also be noted that the vehicle that registered the highest overall satisfaction for the reporting period was the Lexus LS – scoring 99 points above the industry average. The highest scoring truck, the Cadillac Escalade, also contributed mightily to that brand’s overall win.

2010 Ford Fusion

Multiple award winners included Toyota with 6 (including 2 for Lexus and 1 for Scion), Ford with 4, (including 1 for the Lincoln brand), Hyundai/Kia with 3 (2 for Hyundai, 1 for Kia) , Chrysler with 2 (1 for the Dodge brand and 1 for its Jeep division) and General Motors with 2 (1 for Cadillac and 1 for its Chevrolet brand).

Other manufacturers on the list are Honda, Land Rover, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Porsche and VW.

2009 Dodge Ram

Highest Satisfaction as a Brand: Cadillac

2009 Rising Star: Hyundai

Passenger Car Categories and Winners:

Premium Luxury Car               Lexus LS
Aspirational Luxury Car          Hyundai Genesis
Luxury Large Car                     Lincoln Town Car
Luxury Mid-Size Car                Lexus ES
Premium Mid-Size Car             Hyundai Sonata
Mid-Size Car                              Ford Fusion
Image Compact Car                  Toyota Prius
Compact Car                               Mitsubishi Lancer
Economy Car                              Honda Fit
Sports Car                                   Porsche 911
Sporty Car                                   Scion tC

Light Truck Categories and Winners:

Large Pickup                                     Dodge Ram 1500
Compact Pickup                                Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Luxury Sport Utility                        Cadillac Escalade
Large Sport Utility                           Chevrolet Tahoe
Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility    Ford Explorer
Mid-Size Sport Utility                      Jeep Liberty
Luxury Crossover SUV                    Land Rover LR2
Large Crossover SUV                       Mazda CX-9
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV Toyota Venza
Mid-Size Crossover SUV                  Volkswagen Tiguan
Compact Crossover SUV                  Kia Sportage
Minivan                                               Toyota Sienna