Make Your Own Mad Max Interceptor From a "Ferrari"

A toy Ferrari hacked together with kitchen and office equipment makes for one wicked balcony toy. More »

200 MPH Nitro Powered Radio Controlled Car

We really studied this video with a close eye, because it does not make any sense in a space v. time kind of way. Here's the set up, a sleek, long bullet of a radio controlled car powered by nitromethane, attached at the hip by a cable to a central spike and running around a circular track. Odd certainly, but you can't argue with the results. You can watch the effect of centripetal force elongate the wire as the speed increases. We're totally on board till about till about the 55 second mark — that's when things just get ridiculous. And yet the flag waves normally, the bugs fly around at the same speed and there is no evidence of accelerated video shenanigans. Wow, that's fast. [Youtube]

Oregon Trail Remake Ditches Wagons for SUVs, Hybrids And... Umm, Wagons

The cult classic game, Oregon Trail, has finally received a much needed update. Thule Trail is an independent game still utilizing the same style of graphics, but an updated story line that involves a cross-country trip to a music festival in a variety of cars including the Honda Insight, Dodge Nitro or an old Volvo station wagon, rather than a 19th century cross country trip of settlers in a rickety wagon. More »

SEMA 2007: Ford Boss 500 to Burn Nitro

Ford and Force Racing unveiled the first new entry into the nitro burning hemi engine field in modern times. The crew developed the engine using space age analytical tools, beefing up the main bearing journals and surrounding webbing to help keep the crank and pistons from windowing the blue anodized block. Force Mustang Funny Car driver Mike Neff will be the first to huff the good stuff through the blower, with Robert Hight and Ashley Force phasing in the mill in their own Mustangs after nitro scientists John Medlin and Austin Coil fine tune the 8000 horsepower nitro burner.

Chrysler dealer mailing takes a really tough tone. And by tough, we hope they don't mean they'll have a Dodge Nitro shoot them with force lightning. [Freep]

Dodge Dog-Gate Continues, Fake Puppy Snuff Viral Vid Still Available On Internet

Chrysler Group PR main-man Jason Vines dropped a press release yesterday claiming he's working hard to get the Dutch viral video of a dog being electrocuted by the Dodge Nitro SUV off of YouTube. The only problem is it doesn't look like it's doing a lot of good. Actually, if you do a simple search of the popular pop video site for the words "Dodge Nitro Electrocuting Dog", you'll find there's still a copy up there. Gasp! In fact, the video's seeped out of the corporate-capitulating confines of GooTube, and moved to other places on the interwebs — even finding its way onto a mainstream media site like the Detroit Free Press, attached to Tim Higgins article this morning. Double Gasp! We've no idea where else you might find it — oh, wait, what's this I see after the jump? Double Dog Gasp! More »

Dodge Nitro Kills Dog, Makes Us Cry A Little

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Chrysler Recalls 80,000 Wranglers, Nitros

The woes keep on coming. CerebusChrysler DaimlerChrysler is recalling 2007 Jeep Wranglers and Dodge Nitros because an electrical glitch could cause the vehicle to stall. True, both of these vehicles share the family 3.7-liter V6, but the Liberty remains unaffected because it uses an older, glitch-free ECM. While a recall of 80,000 vehicles is just large enough to merit coverage, we're mostly posting this because of the following:

The automaker said the power interruption could lead to a short engine stall, but said the engine would immediately restart if the vehicle was in motion.

Sounds like a fuel-saving feature to us. – Jonny Lieberman More »

Chrysler Execs to Sebring, Nitro: Drop Dead

Apparently, the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Nitro are such crap, even Chrysler executives can't muster the requisite team spirit to defend them. Well, maybe not crap, per se. How about "embarrassing misses." And let's face it, these two are indeed the most embarrassing misses since Betty Ford (you'll get that joke later). Those and other descriptors turned up on an Internet Q&A among Chrysler employees who feel the company turned out two losers that are behind competitors on nearly all major categories, from design to drivetrain to fuel economy to noise and vibration. According to the online convo, the company hit a competitive target that underestimated where competitors would be when the cars were released. Yoinks. – Mike Spinelli More »

Jalopnik Review: 2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 2WD, Part 3

Why You Should Buy This Car: Looks matter to you most of all. It's impossible to lose in the mall parking lot. You and three of your adult friends go out to eat a lot, and want to do so in comfort. Armored car side metal makes you feel safe and/or secure. You just love sitting up high. That commercial gets you every time, "Rainbows and seashells and blue skies above — now is the time for love. Look around and what do you see? A beautiful world!" The 20" shiny chrome rims are pretty blingtastic. Oh, we're back to looks, aren't we? More »

Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 2WD, Part 2

Exterior Appearance **** More »

Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 2WD, Part 1

Recently, a friend and I stood staring at the massive, awkward fascia of a Dodge Nitro, trying to make heads and/or tails of it. The otherwise monumental Crossfire motif of the grill was, in fact, dwarfed by the bulging bumper and drooping ground effects. "I think I think it's ugly," I said, unsure as I've ever been about a car. "Yeah, well, I'd rather have [the Nitro] than that," my friend said, pointing to a wholly anonymous Honda CRV parked nearby. He raised a fair and solid point; I hadn't even noticed the Japanese cute-ute sitting not more than 20 inches away. "Or that" he exclaimed, gesturing toward a Lexus RX330, one of the flashier eyesores in the lot. Again, he was right. Based on nothing but aesthetic considerations, the Nitro beat both of those dull-as-eggs class leaders, pants down. More »

Nothing On This World Left To Tune: Startech Takes On The Dodge Nitro

Must be why the Chrysler-tuning side of BRABUS decided to go underground to seek the next vehicle to Startech-stamp. Because oh look, they came up with the tunneling lack-o-cute, the Dodge Nitro. And really, you just know it's gonna be a killer tune job when the second paragraph of the press release touts the vehicle's new hotness as being "a more homogeneous transition between front and rear wheel houses." Nothing says cool to us like homogeneity. But hey, at the very least they've boosted the diesel version of the next Jeep Liberty from the stock power output of 140 hp to a SD3 performance kit boost-enabled 180 hp. Torque output pops up a similar percent increase — but still only hits 266 lb-ft. Not bad, but we'd rather take the 420 out for a torque-y spin instead. Full gallery below and the release is after the jump. – Ray Wert More »

Ad Watch: Chrysler, Dodge And Jeep Look To Stem Sales Losses With Crappy Satellite Radio Deal

Yes, we know Sirius sucks compared to XM — but, free satellite radio's free satellite radio, and considering the lease deals the folks at the Chrysler Group are now reported to be offering, I feel like it's almost a pity deal. So pony up your $185 or whatever per month, and you too can save a starving automaker — remember, leasing a Commander, Aspen or Durango can help to feed, clothe and pay for college for the entire family of one engineer in Auburn Hills, MI. Do your part. Two more commercials, one for Chrysler and one for Jeep, can both be found below the jump. [Addendum: Sirius doesn't actually suck compared to XM — the comparison was made to accentuate the Chrysler Group's loan deals. Sirius is a very fine satellite radio system, and hey, they've got Howard Stern — and who doesn't love Howard, right? That is all.]– Ray Wert More »

Chrysler Group's Marketing Man Makes You Wonder: "Hey Joe, Is It Time To Go?"

The recent (and steeply sloping) sales and revenue downturn over at the American side of the German-American hybrid has caused folks to speculate whether the muckety-mucks running the day-to-day show under Chrysler Group CEO Tom "two shakes a day" LaSorda over in the Auburn Hills, MI HQ have been making the wisest of choices. Of LaSorda's executive squad, no washroom key carrying member of the team's being talked about in hushed tones more than Joe Ebehardt, the sired-in-Stuttgart exec veep in charge of Chrysler Group sales, marketing, service and probably some other stuff too. We've heard all manner of stories surrounding the main marketing and sales stud at the Chrysler Group — everything from shouting matches with dealers to botched marketing decisions regarding creative — but recently it's become a crescendo of crap — reaching heights that force even those of us in a permanent half-drunk state to start asking questions like "Hey Joe, what do you know, how come Chrysler's sales can't seem to grow?" Let's take a closer look at what we've heard, plus some of our own analysis, after the jump. More »

Ad Watch: The Dodge Nitro — Now With Twice The Time, Twice The Heaviness Of The Original Commercial

Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to show you the new 30 second BBDO NY spot for the Dodge Nitro, with a hint we'd seen a bigger version of this breaking-through-the-earth ad over the weekend. Well, we've now got the big and anything but cute 60 second Nitro "Planet" spot, and here it is — but other than being a bit more funny (I dunno why I find walking Moai funny, but whatevs), I've still got no idea what the message is. But the more burning question for us is — who the hell is playing cards in Hell with the two demons? Is that Gary Marshall? – Ray Wert More »

Ad Watch: The Dodge Nitro's So Heavy, Man

You may have seen this ad already — a 60 second version of the spot above debuted on Sunday — and much of the ducats spent went to showing the commercial on CBS NFL, Fox NFL Sunday, NASCAR racing on NBC and "Law & Order" on TNT. But apparently the commercial, which is supposed to reflect "the masculine, bold design of the Nitro" won't just be airing where you'd be expecting guys to be. Mark Spencer, the senior manager of Dodge's marketing and global communications also plans for the ad to run on "Desperate Housewives" and "Crossing Jordan", because, More »

Exclusive 2006 SEMA Preview: Dodge Nitro's Bringing The Paneling To Carry The Shingles, Tools And Nails

We'd seen one early sketch last month — the same time we saw the early sketch on the big HEMI Nitro purple people eater we've already thrown to you power-hungry wolves out there — and now we've got more pics and more deets for this SEMA SkunkWerks surprise from the boys n' girls at the Chrysler Group. It's got a 3.7-liter, 12-valve, SOHC V6 pushing out 210 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque (not quite the HEMI Nitro's 360 hp, but enough for a bit of go). It's definitely got a bit of "hot rod" flavor — or maybe a bit of surf wagon style. Either way, it's got modern flair due to the hand-fabrication and modifications made to the bodyside aperture, and it's got a very clear Mopar theme going on with the unique rear compartment with custom storage bins and a sliding load floor beefier than the normal "load-n-go" found on the average Nitro. Strap on some one-off Alcoa-forged 20" wheels wrapped in big ol' BF Goodrich g-Force 265/50VR20's and you'll make any delivery person's day. Full gallery via the link below. – Ray Wert More »

Exclusive 2006 SEMA Preview: Yeah, This Dodge Nitro's Got A HEMI

Remember that HEMI-powered Dodge Nitro we showed a quick sketch of last month — the one Edmunds told us was going to be ready to show as a one-off at SEMA? We told you the vitals last time:

The modified 5.7-liter V8 [HEMI] will be paired with a Tremec five-speed, Brembo brakes and 22-inch Alcoa wheels (can't wait). The paint job will be a black-purple metallic (also known as blackberry), with a two-tone interior in black and slate gray, with four bucket seats lifted from the its Viper sibling.

Well, we can now confirm all of that's correct — and on top of the gallery we've linked to below from our secret undercover mission into the heart of Auburn Hills, we can add to that the following additional details — it's also got Yokohama tires (285/35R22) and Kicker subs in the trunk. Also, it's really pucking furple. – Ray Wert More »

Ad Watch: Dodge Tries To Jump Start Its Heart With The Nitro SUV

Welcome to badge-engineering that actually makes a vehicle look like something totally original — enter, the Dodge Nitro. The small SUV that says "anything but Jeep Liberty." And also, we're pleased to welcome you to some special advertising goodness from the folks at BBDO Detroit — makers of some of our other fave Dodge commercial goodness. In this little commercial Dodge's trying to show just how "electric" this SUV is. It's currently hitting the airwaves via a decent chunk of change spent to market it during the World Series — specifically the first four games. That means you've got one more opportunity to check out the ad on the tube yourself, or else you're stuck with the above "mini" version. – Ray Wert More »

Dodge to Show Panel Nitro Workup at SEMA

Panel van, sedan delivery, cruising wagon, whatever you call a squareback without windows, Dodge's Nitro Panel Wagon prototype — which it plans to show at SEMA — is squarely in that category. Once mainly the province of flower shops, bakeries and grocery slingers, the windowless utility car gained popularity in the custom-crazee 1970s as a cheap nookie den for the vanless. Now, the Mopar gang is planning to show up Chevrolet's HHR Panel Van in style, if not production. One question: Where's the porthole window? – Mike Spinelli More »

SEMA Preemie: Dodge's Hemi-Powered Nitro Show Truck

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Less than Liberty: Dodge Nitro Priced

Holy Toledo! (that's a production facilities joke, you're get it later). Dodge released pricing info on its new Nitro small SUV. The Liberty-based soft roader will undercut its Jeep cousin, with a base MSRP of $19,225 for the two-wheel-drive SXT ($20,735 for 4WD); the midrange SLT starts at $22,635 ($24,145 4WD). At the top of the range is the 255-hp R/T, for which there's no Liberty equivalent, at $25,310 ($26,990 4WD). Tack on $660 to these numbers for shipping and handling. The '06 Liberty ranges in price from $21,290 to $26,190. More »

MyGig Has A Hard Drive, How About Yours?

One of our biggest beefs with most car stereos is the inability to hook up our beatiful black Video iPod. Unless it's got an aux input, the tangle of wires and fm transmitters we normally need to connect our tunes to our ride gets real old, real fast — especially when you're hooking up with a gal in the front seat and she starts to try to get in close — and gets caught in the wires or jams her elbow into your transmitter. Talk about a total mood-killer. Well, Chrysler has hit a new bar in trying to provide a way for us to get the Burt Bacharach tunes to drive the ladies wild pumping through our speakers. It's the MyGig — a 20GB hard drive embedded in the dashboard for ripping CDs, storing navigation data and all sorts of other fun stuff — including the necessary aux input. You'd expect this type of a system in a $40,000 luxury car — but you can have this in the new $25,000 Chrysler Sebring — as well as two other vehicles in the price range (the upcoming Dodge Nitro and the Jeep Wrangler) Check it all out after the jump. More »

Spy Photos: 2007 Dodge Nitro

As we get closer and closer to the reveal date of the newest member of the Dodge family we're starting to get more and more reports of the Nitro out in the wild, often times without the ubiquitous fascia obscura. Despite (or due to) the efforts of Chrysler's engineers — our enterprising spotters in the wild have been snagging shot after shot including these pics which would make even Priddy proud — taken by our man with the cam in Arizona — Tim. Dunno who he had to bribe to get 'em — but feast your eyes on this cousin of the Jeep Liberty with a set of crosshairs in the front. More »

Spy Photos: Dodge Nitro & Jeep Compass

Jonathan of How Bourgeois has the eye of a hawk and a quick finger on the shutter button. He caught the Jeep Compass and Dodge Nitro rolling around in minor disguise, tentatively taking baby steps out into the wild world of Metro Detwa. Jonathan also notes the low-profile tires on the Nitro and posits that it could possibly be the SRT version of Dodge's Liberty sibling. More »

Jalopnik Precast: Top Gear's Corruption of Drivers, Super Bowl Ads, BMW X5

Today, Spinelli and Farago discuss a Scottish cop's distaste at Top Gear's glorification of fast driving, the battle between GM and Ford for the real Super Bowl ring (as in that of cash registers), spy video of the next-generation BMW X5 and the new Dodge Nitro set to debut in Chicago. All that and an obligatory Jill Wagner reference. Pow! More »

Dodge Reveals Nitro Models Ahead of Chicago Intro

Dodge let fly this morning with more info its new, Jeep Liberty-based small SUV set for an unveiling in Chicago this week — one year since the concept version had its closeup in the windy city. The Nitro, which will be Dodge's first non-Mitsubishi small ute will come in three flavors: Dodge Nitro, Dodge Nitro SLT and Dodge Nitro R/T, the first tiers getting a 3.7-liter SOHC V6 producing 210 hp and 235 lb.-ft. of torque, and the R/T getting a new 4.0-liter V6 producing 255 hp and 275 lb.-ft. The R/T Also gets a new performance suspension and 20-inch tires and chrome-clad aluminum wheels — a package that's optional on the SRT. SRTs and higher will get a riff on the Stow 'n Go seating system (found in Chrysler's minivans), called Load 'n Go, a cargo floor that slides 18 inches rearward for loading and unloading. More to come on this one. More »

Holy Toledo: DaimlerChrysler Commits to Dodge Nitro

DaimlerChrysler is investing $600 million in its Toledo North Assembly Plant, which will host its first non-Jeep assembly — the Liberty-based Dodge Nitro SUV. The plant will be expanded by 160,000 square feet and get a team of 150 new robots, all in the name of increasing the plant's flexibility to multiple products can be produced at the same time. Additional improvements will be made to the Toledo South plant, where a larger Jeep Wrangler will be built. More »

Spy Photos: 2007 Dodge Nitro, Close to Production

What's the point of spy shots when you already know what a car is going to look like, you ask? Different air vents! Of course! A slight change in air-vent design sets apart the production Nitro from the concept model, which has been making the rounds at the world's auto shows of late. Shame on you for missing that. More »

Dodge Nitro Set for Ignition in 2007

Ok, smart guy, what explosives-related headline would you have gone with? (Yeah, we tried the heart-medication angle too, and couldn't make it work.) Dodge confirmed the rumor that most car watchers considered a sure thing — it's planning to add the Nitro to its line of SUVs, below the Durango, in 2007. The Nitro's based on the Jeep Liberty, but has enough stylistic differences to give it its own character. Boris Karloff's character to be exact. More »

Frankfurt European Premiere: Dodge Nitro Concept

Americans first saw the Dodge Nitro concept at the Chicago Auto Show earlier this year. Now Europeans are getting a dose of Dodge's take on the Jeep Liberty, and judging from the bemused half-smiles and disaffected side-glances, we'd say they freaking love the thing. Auto news outlets are saying the Nitro is close to production in the US, meaning it could be a 2007 model at the earliest. More »

Spy Photos: 2007 Dodge Nitro SRT8?

The Car Connection speculates on a new, V8-powered Dodge Nitro. Apparently, according to sources, the SRT-tuned version of Dodge's new small SUV — kin to the Jeep Liberty — is on the same development schedule as the base model. The question is, will it have some kind of upclocked version of the 3.7-liter V6, or will a Hemi be shoehorned into the lil' rocker's engine bay? Time, or more deeply embedded spies, will tell. More »

Spy Photos: 2007 Dodge Nitro

MPH posted spy shots of Dodge's upcoming Nitro SUV, which will share its blocky comportment with the Nitro concept (pictured) Dodge introduced at this year's Chicago auto show. In actuality, it's a Dodgier version of the Jeep Liberty, with a face only a torch-wielding mob could love. C'mon, we kid. More »