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Mopar maneuvers into SEMA with a multitude of modified models

As the aftermarket and performance arm of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Mopar has a duty to extract everything from the company's models that it can, and there's no better place to show all of its work off than the annual SEMA Show.
Dodge really gets in on the act this year with several customs to show off different parts of the brand's performance heritage. Perhaps the most interesting among them is the track-prepped Viper ACR Concept (pictured above). It wears a custom body kit to produce even more downforce, thanks in no small part to a monstrous wing at the back. To shed weight, most of the interior is stripped out, as well. Next up, the Challenger T/A Concept takes inspiration from '70s Trans-Am racing in a livery of Sublime Green and matte black paint. The center scoop in the hood keeps the 6.4-liter V8 fed with cool air, and the special's 20-by-9.5-inch matte black wheels keep it planted in the corners.
Also getting the once-over from Mopar is the Charger R/T. It wears the division's body kit, and under the hood, a cold-air intake keeps the 5.7-liter V8 breathing. The suspension is retooled to hold the road better with a coil-over kit, upgraded sway bars and strut tower braces for the front and rear. The company is also showing off a snazzy blue Charger with a mean look. The final Dodge getting work from Mopar is the Dart R/T Concept with bright, O-So-Orange paint and a matte black hood with a scoop hooked directly to the air intake. The performance-oriented design is finished off with a coil-over suspension and big brake kit, as well.

2017 Chrysler Town & Country shows its 200-inspired face

Chrysler's new Town & Country is expected to debut in the next several months, featuring a new plug-in hybrid powertrain on top of a new look. While we're still short on details about the new propulsion system, a new round of spy photos is giving us a great look at the T&C's modernized aesthetic. In short, think of a puffed up, ultra-versatile Chrysler 200, and you'll have an idea of what the new Town & Country will look like. Spied on what we're guessing is Fiat Chrysler's US headquarters – seeing body shells like this just hanging around the Auburn Hills, MI campus isn't strange, although this does seem like an especially haphazard case – the new van's look is far less upright than the current model. In general, this new vehicle should be sleeker and, dare we say, more compact than the current Town & Country. Alongside the all-wheel-drive plug-in model, our spies report the new T&C will be offered with a 3.2-liter V6, which we're betting was pilfered from the Cherokee, the only other FCA model to use the smaller version of the Pentastar. It's unclear if all-wheel drive will be featured on the ICE-only model. Beyond the class-exclusive PHEV powertrain, our spies report the new van will combat the Honda Odyssey's nifty, built-in vacuum cleaner with a unit of its own. Other innovations will include hands-free side doors – we're guessing these would be some version of the increasingly popular smart tailgates, which simply require a kick of the foot to open. Of course, we'll know all about the new Town & Country early next year, with its expected debut slated for the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. Featured Gallery 2017 Chrysler Town and Country: Spy Shots Image Credit: Brian Williams / SpiedBilde Green Spy Photos Detroit Auto Show Chrysler Green Driving Minivan/Van Hybrid chrysler town and country

Fiat talking with banks about buying rest of Chrysler

All that stands in the way of Fiat's total ownership of Chrysler is a 41.5-percent stake currently held by the United Auto Workers healthcare trust, but according to SFGate.com, Sergio Marchionne is currently trying to raise the capital to complete the acquisition. The article says that a deal could be completed in as soon as 12 months, and the estimate for the remaining stake could cost Fiat SpA around $2.98 billion.
With a goal of completing the deal by the end of 2014, Marchionne is said to be in talks with various banks to help finance some of the deal. According to the report, the banks have indicated a need for a stronger balance sheet, controlled debt and reserve cash.
Two things that don't seem to be on the table to get the deal completed include issuing new shares to raise the capital or selling a stake in Ferrari. Fiat started with a 20 percent share of Chrysler in June 2009, and it raised its stake up to 58.5 percent in January 2012.