2006 Chrysler 300c Base on 2040-cars

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2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid starts at $43,090, or just over $35,000 with a tax credit

Chrysler has announced pricing for its 2017 Pacifica Hybrid plug-in minivan, and with the federal tax credit, it's priced similarly to mid-range vans. The Hybrid Premium starts at $43,990, or $35,590 after the credit, and the Hybrid Platinum starts at $46,090, or $38,590 with the credit. In Chrysler's line-up, these are close in cost to the Touring L and Touring L Plus Pacifica models, as well as mid-level trims on competitors' minivans. The big difference being that the Pacifica Hybrid provides up to 30 miles of electric range on a full charge and an 80 MPGe rating in the city. The Pacifica Hybrid is equipped similarly to the mid-range Pacificas. The Premium trim comes standard with leather seats all around, seat heaters for the front, remote start with pre-conditioning, three-zone automatic climate control, active noise cancellation, 7.3 inch color display in the instrument panel, and the SafetyTec package. This package includes features such as rear park assist and blind-spot monitoring. The Platinum trim adds Nappa leather and front ventilated seats, a heated two-tone steering wheel, 13-speaker sound system, Uconnect Theater rear entertainment, and a programmable key for young drivers (or sketchy-looking valets). At a potential price of just over $35,000, the Pacifica Hybrid is an appealing package, since it's a plug-in hybrid with usable range and loads of space. However, this is the case as long as the tax credit holds out. Once the credit is no longer available, the Pacifica Hybrid will top the line for pricing. At that point, its value proposition will have to be weighed more heavily against its green cred and driving dynamics. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Marchionne: Midsize pickup still not in the cards; Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler could use aluminum

During the Fiat-Chrysler briefings on Tuesday, Reid Bigland, head of Ram Trucks, outlined the new product plans for his brand, including confirmation that an all-new light-duty Ram 1500 will launch in 2017. From there, discussions spun off in two directions, with the main questions being: will Ram build a midsize pickup? And, following Ford's move to extensively use aluminum in its new 2015 F-150, will Chrysler be using this weight-saving material for the next round of its fullsize truck, as well?
"I think there is room for a Ram 1000," Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne (pictured above) told members of the media, saying this is a conversation the automaker has been having internally for several years now. "We've tried this ... we've actually taken it to clinics," Marchionne stated, adding that the "response has been lukewarm."
"I have better use of aluminum in this house than a pickup truck." - Sergio Marchionne

Ten of the greatest Super Bowl car commercials of all time

With an average of over 100 million viewers each year, the Super Bowl always has advertisers bringing out the big guns. And for those among us who don't know the difference between a safety and a touchback, those commercials can be one of the most compelling aspects of the annual ritual. Car companies, in particular, have a long history of making the most of the huge Super Bowl audience by debuting some of the most memorable advertisements that have ever aired on television. So, in preparation for the new batch we'll be seeing this coming Sunday, here's a collection of our favorites from the past. 10. Audi – The Godfather When Audi created this homage to the quintessential gangster movie to promote its newest sports car, the company managed to make a commercial that was simultaneously funny, a little bit disturbing, and most importantly memorable. 9. Maserati – Strike This one might start out slow, but it delivers not only with the wicked sound of the third-generation Ghibli's engine, but with an interesting message about hubris in the auto industry as well. 8. Nissan 300ZX Twin-Turbo – Dream Directed by none other than Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Alien), this dystopian spot has centers around a narrator who explains that in his dream the bad guys are unable to catch him despite their best efforts by way of street bikes, race cars, and supersonic jets. While the twin-turbocharged 300ZX car was certainly a performance powerhouse to be reckoned with in its day, the concept and execution of this one does come off a little bit campy now – but in a good way. Then again, it is a dream, after all. 7. General Motors – Robot This one is unique in that it's genuinely depressing on a profound level. Who would've thought that the simulated suicide of a lovable, anthropomorphic car-building robot who has fallen on hard times could be such a downer? 6. Nissan – With Dad Although the debut season of its new LMP1 racer didn't exactly turn out how the team hoped it would, there's no denying that Nissan's depiction of a strained father-and-son relationship that eventually leads to redemption (and the introduction of the 2016 Maxima) tugs at the heartstrings. 5. Volkswagen – Big Day A surprisingly poignant advert, this one might be low on dialogue but it certainly gets its message across. And just as the dramatic soundtrack begins to lull the viewer into a sense of security, our expectations are upended. 4.