Pentastart Engine Reachs Huge Milest

Millionth Pentastar engine produced today

Posted on January 27th, 2012 • by Bill Cawthon

Just 18 months after production kicked off, the millionth Pentastar V-6 engine was assembled today at the Chrysler Group’s Trenton, Michigan, Engine Assembly Plant.
“The Pentastar engine is a cornerstone of Chrysler Group’s effort to reinvent its business model with world class quality products. This award-winning engine is proof that the Company is transforming it products to meet the needs of our customers,” said Brian Harlow, Vice President, Head of Powertrain Manufacturing, Chrysler Group LLC. “To build one million of anything, and in an impressively short amount of time, is a significant achievement. But to do it with such a high degree of quality is a testament to our skilled and dedicated workforce at both Trenton South and Saltillo engine plants.”
The 60-degree, V-6 engine, the most advanced six ever produced by Chrysler, is offered in 11 Chrysler Group vehicles. The all-aluminum Pentastar is standard or available on the Chrysler, 200, 300 and Town and Country; Dodge Avenger, Challenger, Charger, Durango, Journey and Caravan. This year, it’s also standard on the Jeep Wrangler.
Just recently, the Pentastar V-6 repeated as one of the “10 Best Engines” following evaluation and testing by editors of Ward’s Automotive magazine.

Wrangler Production Increasing

Chrysler boosting Wrangler production

Writing in Automotive News, Larry Villequette reports that Chrysler and union officials representing workers at the Toledo Supplier Park plant have agreed to a plan increasing Jeep Wrangler production by 90 units per day.
Under the agreement, 25 workers on each of the two ten-hour daily shifts will be reassigned from non-production jobs to positions on the assembly line. This will allow the addition of about five vehicles per hour to the schedule. The plant currently builds about 700 Wranglers per day.
U.S. Wrangler sales jumped 30 percent last year and inventory levels have remained tight. According to numbers released today, the Toledo plant produced 62,798 Wranglers and 102,368 Wrangler Unlimiteds in 2011.

Special Order Being Picked Up

Customer Picks Up a Moab Industries outfitted 2012 Jeep Wrangler

Here are some photos of the extreme Jeep one of our customers had outfitted all the way out in Arizona:

Sales Numbers December 2011

FIAT CHRYSLER ITALIAN SALES – DECEMBER 2011 AND 12-MONTH
Brand	Dec-11	Dec-10	Change	2011 Total	2010 Total	Change
Alfa Romeo	3,049	3,831	-20.41%	58,148	51,900	12.0%
Chrysler	4	103	-96.12%	696	1,493	-53.4%
Dodge	4	17	-76.47%	42	2,527	-98.3%
Ferrari	13	25	-48.00%	570	685	-16.8%
Fiat	22,758	29,568	-23.03%	363,017	450,793	-19.5%
Jeep	645	369	74.80%	7,878	3,618	117.7%
Lancia	5,243	5,636	-6.97%	84,856	86,946	-2.4%
Maserati	21	21	0.00%	414	499	-17.0%
Fiat Group	31,737	39,570	-19.80%	515,621	598,461	-13.8%

Jeep Wrangler Wins SUV of the Year From Autobytel

Autobytel 2012 SUV of the Year Winner: 2012 Jeep Wrangler

When it comes to tackling any terrain put in front of it, the go-anywhere Jeep Wrangler has always been the ultimate SUV, but with the addition of a new powertrain for 2012, this iconic off roader was an easy choice for the Autobytel 2012 SUV of the Year. Available in two- and four-door configurations, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler now comes with a more powerful Pentastar V-6 engine that gives drivers a good mix of power and fuel economy. Whether its equipped with the hard or soft top, the Jeep Wrangler allows for easy open-air driving, and, like its predecessors dating back to 1941, the 2012 Wrangler can still be enjoyed with the windshield folded down and the doors removed.