The results are in and a host of new SUVs have made the cut. Joining the list for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick Award recipients are the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the 2011 Kia Sorento, and the 2010 Toyota Highlander and Venza.

Chrysler is recalling 25,265 Dodge Caliber and 71 Jeep Compass models due to faulty throttles that may become stuck, in a manner similar to the infamous Toyota gas pedals that lead to a number of motorist deaths and injuries.

Running 9 seconds in the quarter mile is quite a feat for any sports car. It takes come serious modifications to get a Toyota Supra or Chevy Corvette to go that fast. And just recently we reported on th e first Nissan GT-R to break the 10 second barrier. So imagine how surprised we were to hear of a 9-second SUV. That’s right, a Jeep SRT8 has gone down the quarter mile with the quickest time of 9.658 and the fastest mph of 146.72.

The high performance version of Jeep’s Grand Cherokee, the SRT-8 sports a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 that pushes out 420-hp and 420 ft-lbs of torque from the factory. Stock 0-60 is under five seconds with a top speed of 150-mph. But hey, that means absolutely nothing for this SRT-8 that’s pushing close to the factory top speed in less than 10 seconds and in a mere quarter of a mile.

Built by Lewis Performance Machine, the SRT-8 sports a 426-stroker built to handle 1500 AWD horsepower. Details are naturally a little hard to find, but the owner reports the obvious: upgraded fuel system, drive line and rear end. He does let the public know that a 75-shot of NOS is used to help get the Jeep off the line while the trans brake and 2-step is still being tested. The beast is tuned by Johan at Diablo and rolls on Nitto NT05Rs on the stock rims.

The video after the jump shows the SRT-8 running a 9.87, which the owner claims is on 13 psi and the 75 shot. The 9.659 was with 16 psi and the 9.658 was at 19 psi with the boost tube blowing off. Naturally the Jeep SRT-8 had a lot more in it, given that its 9.658 pass was at a lowly 139.36 mph vs the 146.72 it hit with the 9.659 pass.

It should only be a matter of time before the SRT-8 hits Orlando Speedworld again, so we’ll keep you guys up to date if they enter the record books with an 8 second pass.

Make sure you check out the video after the break!

[Source: JeepGarage]

The 2011 Grand Cherokee is the first new model Chrysler has introduced since emerging from bankruptcy protection and there’s a lot riding on it. As the flagship Jeep, it’s received a lot of attention from Chrysler’s engineers and the folks in the marketing department was to make sure it also receives a lot of attention from you. So they’ve gone out and done a whole series of photoshoots of the new SUV driving through rivers and up mountains. (What did you expect?)

It may cost more money to purchase and fill up, but SUVs , trucks and mini-vans are cheaper to insure. This information is coming from a recent government report that based its findings on the fact that some vehicles cost less to fix, and therefore reflects how much it will cost to insure.

Chrysler is recalling 40,000 2010 Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, Charger and Ram, Jeep Commander and Grand Cherokee vehicles due to a faulty ignition system.

Jeep‘s 2011 Grand Cherokee is one of the most important products for what is arguably Chrysler’s strongest brand. The new 2011 model represents a move upscale for the Grand Cherokee, but the base price will rise  to $32,995, a fair bit more expensive than its main rivals, the Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Traverse, which start at $29,280 and $29,224 respectively.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is a vehicle commonly driven by backwards-hat types, who like to blast loud music and cut you off indiscriminately, as well as ostentatious chairmen of multinational corporations. With a new Grand Cherokee premiering in 2011, a void will be left in the lineup for those who aspire to the heights of a Mercedes-Benz ML63 or BMW X5M, but can’t afford the fairly steep price tag.

In the final installment of our tail-end winter off-road series, we find ourselves behind the wheel of the Jeep Patriot. Like the Compass, the Patriot is a car-based design, utilizing a version of the same GS unibody architecture and therefore incorporates all-independent suspension and shares the same front-drive powertrain, namely the 2.4-liter 172-horsepower, four-cylinder engine and CVT transmission. (A 158-hp 2.0-liter motor and five-speed manual gearbox are new for 2010). However, given its position in the Jeep brand hierarchy, the Patriot is also designed with a bit more off-road capability in mind than the Compass. As a result, it’s available with two four-wheel drive systems. Needless to say, we elected to test both.

When it comes to four-wheeling; there are a handful of vehicles that have garnered a reputation above the rest. In modern times, one of them is the Jeep Wrangler. So, presented with an opportunity to take the latest version off-road not only in mud, but snow and ice too, how could we resist?

Depending on where you live, this past winter was either very mild, or very wild (folks in the Mid-Atlantic states and the Northeast, we’re talking about you). Now that spring has arrived, the white stuff is on the retreat, but before it disappeared entirely, AutoGuide got the chance to go four wheeling in it, behind the wheel of a 2010 Jeep Compass Limited.

Fiat will cut u to 5,000 jobs at its Italian plants by moving production of several Alfa Romeo models to North America. According to a report by Automotive News Europe, the cuts will affect three Italian plants. Parent company Fiat hasn’t released the specific details, but it is expected that the models slated to be built in North America are the 159 replacement, 166 replacement and a new mid-size crossover.

A company doesn’t usually send out a press release to announce production of a new engine, but these days Chrysler can use all the good press it can get. And good press this most certainly is, as the new Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 marks the first real step in the rebirth of Chrysler.

The new V6 engine will significantly reduce overall costs as Chrysler will replace seven different V6 engines currently used across the company’s lineup with this one motor. Chrysler also claims it will reduce fuel consumption by at least 25 percent. Power output will also increase considerably, with 280-hp and 260 ft-lbs of torque available from the V6 when it debuts later this year in the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Afterwards, it’s slated to arrive in the new mid-size D-Class models, mated to a six-speed Dual Dry Clutch Transmission (DDCT).

But the best news of all is confirmation that Chrysler has built the engine to be compatible with more advanced technologies, meaning that in the future it will get Fiat’s Multiair variable valve timing, direct-injection and turbocharging.

Previously it was thought this technology might only be used in pricey European models (Alfa Romeo perhaps?), but the fact that Chrysler thought to mention it speaks volumes. Perhaps, the company is looking to follow after Ford’s EcoBoost plan and bring a Turbo Pentastar V6 to market as a V8 alternative?

Official release after the jump:

Fiat has announced an agreement with Russian automaker Sollers to bring its newly-acquired Jeep brand to Russia. Two automakers have formed a partnership that will see Sollers produce Jeep models in Russia, where there is significant demand for small SUVs.

You’ve likely heard a lot about Toyota’s woes over the past several months and there’s one automaker who couldn’t be happier to be out of the hot-seat – Chrysler. While sales are only down three percent so far this year, over half of Chrysler’s sales have been to fleets, which is never a positive sign and simply kills a car’s resale value.

It appears as though the full list of 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee options and pricing has leaked onto the net via the folks at Jeep Garage. Unveiled at last year’s New York Auto Show, the truck is expected to be in dealerships later this year, with orders as early as June.

Pricing will start at $31,480 for a 4×2 Lardeo, while a top-level Overland 4×4 will run a more significant $45,770.

The base engine for the new Grand Cherokee will be Chrysler’s all-new Pentastar V6, making 280-hp and 260 ft-lbs of torque, 90 percent of which is available from 1800 rpm. In the Grand Cherokee, this amounts to an increase of 33 percent more power and 11 percent more torque than the outgoing V6 model.

Some standard and optional highlights include push-button ignition, bi-Xenon headlights, LED lights, power tilt and telescopic steering, Adaptive Speed Control and two different transfer cases.

Notably absent from the list is any mention of an SRT model.

Follow the link or see after the jump for all the detailed standard features, options and pricing.

[Source: Jeep Garage]

Full specifications after the jump:

With the Jeep Grand Cherokee set to launch later this year as a 2011 model, Chrysler’s Jeep brand is adding a new Liberty trim level as well as two new option packages for the Wrangler. Officially debuting at the Detroit Auto Show are the Jeep Liberty Renegade, Jeep Wrangler Mountain Edition and Jeep Wrangler Islander Edition.

Chrysler has just unveiled its strategy that will see a more than 25 percent improvement in fuel economy by 2014. The five-year plan will see significant use of Fiat technology and engines, with smaller engines, six-speed dual clutch transmissions, as well as the use of turbocharging and direct injection technology. Chrysler will also continue to explore electric car technology, with a hybrid Ram expected this year, while a plug-in hybrid Ram 1500 will begin fleet testing.

For a company that isn’t holding a press conference at the Detroit Auto Show, Chrysler sure has a lot of new products to display. Along with a display of Fiats and a rebadged Lancia, Chrysler’s Jeep brand will showcase three new special edition models: the Jeep Liberty Renegade, Jeep Wrangler Mountain Edition and Jeep Wrangler Islander Edition.

Baring a miracle, Honda will pass Chrysler to become the fourth largest automaker by sales in the United States for 2009. Due mostly to Chrysler’s dramatic month over month sales decreases, Honda has managed to pull ahead of the American automaker with a healthy lead of roughly 200,000 units. As as no automaker managed to sell more than 200,000 vehicles in the month of November, the likelihood of Chrysler making up the difference during the last month of the year is essentially impossible.

Last week Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne set out a long-winded plan for the future of the American automaker and how its future will be closely tied to its new Italian parent company. There was a lot to digest at the seven hour press conference and so we thought a model by model breakdown would be helpful and would shed some light on what appears to be the general plan to eliminate old Chrysler products and replace them with new Chrysler Group-branded Fiat models. So let’s start with Dodge…

The Mopar performance department at Chrysler went all out in building the Mopar Jeep Lower Forty, which is designed to deliver serious off-roading – just the way Jeep drivers like it. Starting life as a two-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, the gear-heads at Mopar decided to add on a set of 20-inch Mopar wheels and 40-inch tires, while keeping the car’s center of gravity as close to stock as possible. In order to do so, some serious body modifications were necessary, including moving much of the chassis higher into the vehicle. As a result, almost three inches had to be removed from the windshield, while the one-inch wider fender flares now sit 4-inches higher.

A week ahead of a planned Fiat/Chrysler press conference in which Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of both automakers, was to outline the future of Chrysler, much of the information has been revealed in an in-depth report in the Wall Street Journal. But before we get to the new products that the Italian-owned automaker is planning to bring into the North American marketplace, it’s time to learn the fate of the vehicles being axed. And judging from the list, it appears as though Fiat is intent on moving its products in and Chrysler’s products out.

Two of the highlights at Chrysler’s Mopar themed SEMA booth this year will be from Jeep and both are suited to some serious off-roading. First up is the Mopar Jeep Lower Forty, which started life as a two-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. The gear-heads at Mopar decided to add on a set of 20-inch Mopar wheels and 40-inch tires, while keeping the car’s center of gravity as close to stock as possible. In order to do so, some serious body modifications were necessary, including moving much of the chassis higher into the vehicle. As a result, almost three inches had to be removed from the windshield, while the one-inch wider fender flares now sit 4-inches higher.

Chrysler only has one product set to launch in all of 2010 and now one of its 2011 vehicles is in jeopardy. The all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee may be delayed due to a parts dispute with the company’s former owners at Daimler.

In a brief statement, Chrysler has announced that the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) is now entirely owned by the U.S. automaker, with both former partners, Mitsubishi and Hyundai, having sold their parts of the company.

This may sound like a dull bit of business news, but it could most certainly have a big impact on some of the coolest engines on the planet. Sure, the engines that originated from GEMA have found there way into less exciting vehicles like the Chrysler Sebring, but the same engines have also been the backbone of cars like the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (pictured above) and Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.oT. The high-powered Caliber SRT4 also used a version of a GEMA engine.

Three basic engines have come out of GEMA with displacements of 1.8, 2.0 and 2.4-liters, many of which were fitted with turbochargers and superchargers to make as much as 300hp.

There is no word if the end of the GEMA partnership could affect future Hyundai and Mitsubishi powertrain developments, but you can be sure the decision had a lot to do with Chrysler’s new Fiat ownership.

Official release after the jump:

Chrysler’s deputy CEO Jim Press is planning to quit his post before the year’s end, reports the Wall Street Journal.

According to a report from the Pentastar nuts over at AllPar, Chrysler will be dropping its lifetime powertrain warranty on almost all of its vehicles. But it’s not all bad news.

In a bid to get inventory moving out of showrooms in a hurry, Chrysler has decided to offer a new incentive program that would double the value of the government’s cash-for-clunkers program.

Big granite boulders two feet thick stack up as only one of many stair-stepping barriers to our four-wheeling progress on a definitive off-road track for Jeep at Chrysler’s vehicle test facility in Chelsea, Mich.

Now that Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is at the helm of the new Chrysler he is looking at making some changes. For starters, the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Caliber, as well as the Jeep Patriot and Compass may get the axe.

When the U.S. Supreme Court delayed the sale of Chrysler to Fiat yesterday it put the whole contract in jeopardy, giving the Italian automaker the opportunity to walk away if the sale isn’t approved by June 15th. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has, however, confirmed his commitment to the purchase, saying that it would not deter him.

A U.S. Supreme Court judge has delayed the sale of Chrysler to a new Fiat-run company. The move by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg came just before a 4 p.m. deadline set by a New York appeals court would have seen the sale completed.

Those 789 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealers that were cut loose by Chrysler as a part of its bankruptcy and restructuring plan have until June 9th (next Tuesday) to part with their remaining inventory.

According to the latest bankruptcy court filings by Chrysler, the company plans to cut 789 dealerships (one quarter of the current dealer network) in an effort to emerge as a financially viable company.

According to Automotive Leasing Guide, the resale value of a Chrysler vehicle dropped six percent in the week following the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

From start to finish, Chrysler’s bankruptcy proceedings could take as long as two years, according to a Bloomberg report. The article cites an administration official, and says that the initial period of 30 to 60 days for the “quick and surgical” process only refers to the period required to sell the major assets to a new company.

There has been plenty of speculation as to which Fiat vehicles will make it on to North American roads as a result of the merger with Chrysler, but thanks to bankruptcy filings, the mystery has been solved.

Our team over at GMInsideNews is reporting that the judge overseeing the Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings has thrown out the arguments made by the hold-out bondholders. By removing the only objection to the process, the bankruptcy proceedings can now be fast-tracked and the Fiat merger can go ahead.

Before Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 late last week the automaker explored every option, including selling the company to the Chinese and forging partnerships with any other manufacturer that expressed even a remote amount of interest.