Dodge Phoenix Reviews

Owners of luxury European models and are up to four times as likely to be caught breaking the law compared to Japanese or Korean makes.Analysis of SAPOL and Transport Department figures shows Mercedes drivers are by far the worst in the state, recording 0.824 fines per vehicle in 2014/15.This compares to the least-fined of the large manufacturers, Isuzu with only 0.186 fines per car.Experts at a loss to explain the bias against luxury cars, and police have denied they give the drivers special treatment.Some of the more expensive vehicles are capable of extremely rapid accelerationIt is the first time the figures have become available because of a Weatherill Government reform called "open data", in which government departments are forced to release large amounts of information on their websites.RAA Senior Manager Road Safety, Charles Mountain said the nature of luxury cars, rather than driver behaviour may be to blame."Modern vehicles, particularly some of the more expensive vehicles are capable of extremely rapid acceleration and insulate the driver to such an extent that it may mask a driver's perception of speed," he said."Irrespective of the vehicle being driven, whether it be a luxury import or a reasonably priced runabout, it is important for their safety and that of other road users that they drive to the conditions and abide by the prevailing speed limits on the roads on which they are travelling."The type of vehicle doesn't determine if police take action, it is based on the nature of the offendingWhen asked a series of questions about the issue, SAPOL issued a one line response: "The type of vehicle doesn't determine if police take action, it is based on the nature of the offending".While Holden drivers amassed the most fines in 2014/15 with 72,847 there are 239,804 Holdens on the road.In comparison, Mercedes drivers were hit 13,157 times for only 15,959 registered vehicles.Only two non-luxury brands were in the top ten and six in the top 20 fined-per-registered-car for 2014/15.Other than Holden, which was the eighth most fined vehicle on the road, none of the large-volume, inexpensive makes is in the top 25 of most fined vehicles.There are some exceptions however, with the low-volume Dodge and Proton makes ranking second and third, Ferrari ranking thirty fourth and Jaguar thirty eighth.One of the cheapest vehicles on the road, the Chinese Great Wall is ranked highly at sixteenth.(Make - fines per car - total fines)1 Mercedes - 0.824 - 13,157 2 Dodge - 0.377 - 3183 Proton - 0.356 - 2684 Renault - 0.350 - 11495 Saab - 0.346 - 3886 Range Rover - 0.345 - 3517 Audi - 0.326 - 20748 Holden - 0.316 - 72,8479 Mini - 0.313 - 33110 Fiat - 0.309 - 31011 Daewoo - 0.305 - 147512 Jeep - 0.313 - 227013 Lexus - 0.293 - 95114 SsangYong - 0.289 - 21415 BMW - 0.284 - 503216 Great Wall - 0.284 - 290

Based on the topline Journey R/T, the Blacktop has a gloss black front fascia, headlight housings, split-crosshair Dodge grille and exterior mirrors. Our favourite is the one with a full black body, but it's also offered in other colours, the red and black edition looks pretty good as well.In American talk Dodge Journey is a minivan. It comes with either two or three rows of seats and the ability to carry up to seven adults. Four adults and three children is a more realistic load, but that's not unusual in this class.The second row seats three and can slide back and forward to let you juggle either legroom for those in the back or vary the people/luggage space ratio. Entry and egress to the third row seats isn't too bad, but those who are getting on in years may find it a struggle at times. Foot-room in rear isn't particularly good, again suggesting the area is really best left to kids.Though it's relatively large by Australian standards, the Dodge Journey is easy enough to driveThe second and third row seats each sit slightly higher than the one/s in front, giving good visibility for those occupants. Some drivers' rearward vision is restricted by the higher rear seats and their large headrests. So make sure to adjust the door mirrors to fill in the blind spots.There are plenty of stowage areas for various items, including two bins under the rear floor, one in the floor of the rear compartment. The backrest of the front passenger seat folds down leaving a work area for a laptop, etc.Though it's relatively large by Australian standards, the Dodge Journey is easy enough to drive, though forward-side visibility is hampered by large windscreen pillars that sit a long way forward of the driver's seat.As the Dodge Journey R/T on which the Blacktop is based is an upmarket machine it comes with satellite navigation, leather trim, heated front seats, keyless entry and start, a reversing camera as well as rear parking sensors, automatic headlights.The multimedia system uses an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The second-row overhead 9.0-inch video screen with wireless headphones is a big hit with the junior travellers.A turning circle of almost 12 metres can make manoeuvring in carparks a real problemPower comes from a V6 petrol unit with 206kWr and 342Nm, transmitted through a six-speed automatic.Handling is competent enough, but there's not a lot of interest for the sporty minded person. Unless the driver does something really silly they aren't likely to get into trouble.A turning circle of almost 12 metres can make manoeuvring in carparks a real problem, the aforementioned visibility problems could aggravate this.Journey's safety items include multi-stage driver and front-passenger airbags, active anti-whiplash front seat head restraints and an Electronic Stability Programme (ESP).The Journey is a versatile vehicle that's packed with practical featuresDodge Journey is built in Mexico to a reasonably high standard. It has a good paint finish and panel fit, but the trim materials aren't always as neat and accurate as in Japanese and Korean vehicles.The Journey is a versatile vehicle that's packed with practical features. The Blacktop adds excitement so those who need to carry more than the average number of people and who enjoy an active lifestyle may find it fits the bill nicely.Dodge Journey is now on sale and has a recommended price starting at a pretty reasonable $38,500.You may also like to consider the Fiat Freemont. A close cousin to the Dodge Journey it has styling changes that give it a more Italian flair. (Chrysler / Dodge is controlled by Fiat these days after getting into serious financial difficulties during the GFC.)

Super-sized Dodge Ram pick-ups are coming to Australia in a top-secret deal that will see experts from Holden Special Vehicles complete the conversion from left to right-hand-drive.It's the first time a full-size US pick-up will be sold in Australia with manufacturer backing since the iconic Ford F-Series pick-up was dropped locally in 2007.Ram pick-ups will go on sale in Australia and New Zealand by the end of this yearFiat Chrysler Automobiles' global head office has awarded exclusive rights to a local distributor who will convert Dodge Ram pick-ups for Australia.Industry sources say the parent company of Holden Special Vehicles, the Walkinshaw Group, which can undertake contract work outside of General Motors, has been closely involved in the engineering process."We will not confirm or deny any other partners other than Fiat Chrysler Group globally," said Clyde Campbell, the former boss of Fiat Chrysler Australia who is now the distributor for Fiat and Chysler vehicles in New Zealand and is heading up the Dodge Ram deal.Mr Campbell said his company had chosen "a conversion and engineering partner who provides unrivalled engineering excellence to world-class standards" and who have "an impeccable reputation on a global level in both the motor racing and automotive industries."The vehicles are expected to start from $120,000Mr Campbell confirmed Ram pick-ups will go on sale in Australia and New Zealand by the end of this year.Price and details are yet to be announced but the vehicles are expected to start from $120,000, before more affordable models follow.The biggest of the Dodge Ram pick-ups coming to Australia can carry more than 3 tonnes in the ute tub (versus the current category maximum of 1 tonne) and tow more than 7 tonnes (versus the current category maximum of 3.5 tonnes).Mr Campbell said the vehicles will meet "all government requirements for full volume certification".Translated, that means the vehicles will meet the same standards as mass production vehicles; most vehicles converted by smaller operators locally do not meet these mass production standards.Clearly there is demand for this type of vehicle, both in private and fleet salesUtes are now the third biggest category in Australia and four of the Top 10 vehicles are workhorses.The Toyota HiLux has been our top-selling vehicle outright more than a dozen months since April 2008."Clearly there is demand for this type of vehicle, both in private and fleet sales," said Mr Campbell.Dodge Ram is expected to target the mining industry, which needs heavy duty utes, and grey nomads, who want to tow large caravans."Until now, the only way to own one of these vehicles in Australia was through a low volume aftermarket conversion," said Mr Campbell."Our vehicles are being developed with the full blessing of Ram and the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles global group."Mr Campbell said his company had been working closely with engineers in the US to build a vehicle that is "as close to a factory right-hand-drive vehicle as it possibly can be without having run down the production line".

Joshua Dowling road tests and reviews the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat in the US.

Pat Dougherty to head Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Australia.Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has announced Pat Dougherty will become the group's next Australian CEO and President, taking over the role from Veronica Johns who announced her departure on Tuesday.Dougherty has been with the North American arm of FCA for over 30 years, and moves into the role on December 1, from his current position of Vice President of Mopar, the parts and service division of FCA.Prior to this, he was the Head of Fleet Sales, Network and Operations and Head of Fleet Sales in North America.Veronica Johns tendered her resignation from FCA in August of this year citing personal reasons, but her departure was only made public earlier this week.Ms Johns’ two-year tenure at the top of FCA Australia saw not only record sales, but also a dramatic shift in the treatment of women within the company’s Australian arm.John Kett, Corporate Vice President of FCA and General Manager, APAC Operations said the company will look to continue down the path Ms Johns crafted."We need to continue our focus on sustainable growth across all of our brands and imperative to this will be the further development of our after-sales business to ensure that FCA is one of the most customer-focussed automotive companies in the market," he said.

Veronica Johns oversaw record sales at the Fiat Chrysler Group, and took a unique approach to breaking down the gender barriers.The first Australian woman to head a car company, Veronica Johns -- who earned notoriety for tearing down workshop posters of naked women, as well as record sales -- has announced her resignation as the boss of the Fiat Chrysler Group after almost two years in the role and 16 years with the corporation. Her departure at the end of the year means there will no longer be a woman as the boss of any car brand in Australia. Ms Johns earned the credibility of her industry colleagues after overseeing record sales growth, but she also quickly attracted attention from car dealers after she tore down posters of naked women in workshops during showroom visits. “It does take a certain personality type to cope with men in the car industry,” said Ms Johns. “Thankfully we’ve eradicated any gender issues in our company.” The transition didn’t come easily for some people. “When I started you could still walk into workshops with posters of naked women on the walls. “I ripped them off and threw them in the bin. The (workers) didn’t say much, and I’m sure they probably got them out of the bin after I left. “Women have to work in this environment and that’s what they’ve got to look at. Some people in the industry are blind to it. It’s just accepted as the norm and it shouldn’t be.” Ms Johns, 43, said she’d taken down posters of naked women “about four times” over the past three years, but hasn’t had to do so lately. “We’ve eradicated the gender issues from our business, but it’s still in other parts of the car industry,” said Ms Johns. The Melbourne-based executive says women are in more prominent positions in the car industry globally, but Australia is still catching up. In January 2014, Mary Barra became the first woman to become the global boss of a major car company, as the CEO of General Motors based in Detroit. Only handful of foreign women have run car companies in Australia over the past 15 years. American Judith Wheeler was the first, she ran Chrysler-Jeep in Australia from 2000 to 2003. Germans Jutta Dierks and Anke Koeckler successively ran Volkswagen’s Australian operations from 2007 to 2013. But Ms Johns is understood to be the first Australian woman to have run a large car company in Australia. At the time of her appointment in May 2013, she edged out male rivals from North America who were keen to take up the prime posting. Ms Johns said the car industry -- and car buyers -- would benefit from gender equality. “With modern technology so many cars have so many similar features these days, the biggest difference is how you treat people,” said Ms Johns. “Women are very competitive, and some can be brutal, but I believe we are still more inclined to treat people with kindness and respect. I think that, and the ability to relate to people, comes more easily to women than to men.” Car industry consultant Tony Devers, the former boss of Honda and Suzuki motor vehicles in Australia -- who accurately predicted in 2010, three years before any announcements, that the local car manufacturing industry would close by the end of the decade -- says there should be more women in the car industry. “There’s no excuse, women clearly have the skills and the drive and the passion for the business, but they typically tend to come into the car industry in marketing or human resources roles,” said Mr Devers. “The executives who rise to the top in the car industry have earned their stripes in sales, finance and strategic planning,” he said. Ms Johns will work with the her successor -- due to be announced in the coming days, and likely to come from Detroit -- until the end of the year, when she is expected to announce a new role the automotive industry. Under Ms John’s leadership, the monthly sales of Chrysler, Jeep, Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles increased by 53 per cent as the rest of the industry grew by about 2 per cent. So far this year, sales across all four brands are up 39 per cent in a market that is down 2 per cent compared with the same period last year. When Ms Johns accepted the role to run Fiat Chrysler Group Australia in 2013, she said: “I don’t think it makes a difference if you’re male or female in this business anymore. Good people rise to the top. The car industry is not a man’s world anymore.”

Graham Smith road tests and reviews the used 2007-2010 Dodge Avenger

The site of a former Bunnings store in Hoppers Crossing is being redeveloped into a multi-franchise car dealership. The facility, at 163-179 Old Geelong Rd, will become the new home of Werribee Hyundai and Werribee Chrysler Jeep Dodge Alfa Fiat.Bunnings relocated to a bigger site last year. Wilmac Properties is developing the 26,000sq m site which is expected to be completed between June and September. Hopper Motor Group chief executive Paul Hopper said the existing building would be converted into an automotive service, car storage and car washing facilities over two levels.Two new showrooms will be built in front of it with 250 new and used cars on display, he said. Once completed it will generate about 200 ongoing jobs. 'The project represents one of the most substantial private investments in the area in recent years," he said. 

Fiat-Chrysler is the latest carmaker to reveal its 2013 SEMA concepts, ahead of the Las Vegas aftermarket expo’s official opening next week. The Italian/US partnership will unveil no less than 20 Mopar-equipped concepts from its suite of brands, matching the efforts of fellow US giants Ford and General Motors.Five of these concepts have been teased this week, representing the Jeep, Ram Trucks, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands.Jeep has created the 2014 Cherokee-based Trail Carver, which features a unique decal package and roof basket, mud-terrain tyres, and orange-coloured tow hooks. The interior is covered in Katzkin Amaretto leather, and includes several Mopar optional accessories such as a wireless phone charger.

The Detroit motor show may showcase some of the most stylish and extravagant of the world's upcoming automotive models, but the manufacturers also garnish these four-wheeled objects of desire