2002 Dodge Durango Slt Plus Sport Utility 4-door 4.7l Low Mileage 46k on 2040-cars

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Dodge Viper saved from crusher by students, but will it last?

The saga of the Washington state community college hoping to keep its allegedly pre-production Dodge Viper out of the maw of the crusher is going strong. Not only does the school still have the car, but there's a chance that the college might even get to keep it.
The whole situation flared up in March when the South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, WA, received a notice from Chrysler Group that requested that the school's Viper be destroyed. The automaker had loaned the muscle car to it about a decade ago to use for educational purposes in its auto tech classes. With the Dodge growing long in the tooth, "it is unlikely that these vehicles offer any educational value to students," the company said in its press release on the matter.
However, the college balked at destroying its Viper, despite the fact it had signed a contract with Chrysler Group to do so. The school further claimed that its car was incredibly special because it was a pre-production example and just the fourth one made back in 1992. Although, as we pointed out at the time, the photos of the school's vehicle showed a coupe that looked like a newer Viper GTS.

Hennessey's Dodge Challenger Hellcat cranks out 1,032 hp

Enthusiasts know the Dodge Challenger Hellcat produces 707 horsepower. It's one of the modern muscle-car era's iconic numbers. But for some, that's not enough. Enter Hennessey Performance. The Texas tuners loaded the Hellcat with a twin-turbocharger that works with Dodge's supercharger to boost output to 1,032 hp and 987 pound-feet of torque. Yes, that's an engine dyno rating, not at the rear wheels, but still! It's a little more complicated than a bolt-on booster. Called the HPE1000, the turbo kit has stainless steel headers and down pipes, billet aluminum compressor wheels, and a high-flow air system. There's also an an improved fuel pump, and the engine and chassis are specially calibrated. You also get numbered plaques signed by John Hennessey himself and the engine tech who builds your mill. All of this helps get your Hellcat to 60 miles per hour in 2.7 seconds, and it can do the quarter mile in 9.9 seconds at 142 mph. The Hellcat and it's 6.2-liter blown Hemi V8 are not for the faint of heart. Hennessey makes this Dodge downright demonic. Related Video: Related Gallery 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat View 23 Photos Image Credit: Hennessey Performance Dodge Coupe Performance

Marchionne on Alfa's US return, Dodge Dart's powertrain weakness and minivan plans

As a reporter covering an auto show, the one opportunity you never want to miss is going to the Sergio Marchionne press briefing.
"This undertaking to bring Alfa back is a one-shot deal... We are not going to do this twice."
There just aren't that many real characters left in the auto industry. Marchionne, who sits atop both Chrysler and Fiat, is not only one of the smartest execs in the business, but also the most frank. Herein, a sample of the quotable always-sweatered executive: