* Award reinforces Dodge Viper’s position as America’s Ultimate Sports Car and the Dodge brand’s performance leadership

Fort Worth, Texas, May 10, 2010 - Members of the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) named the Dodge Viper ACR (American Club Racer) as “Performance Car of Texas” at the 2010 Spring Challenge, the organization’s annual passenger-car competition.

The Spring Challenge event was held May 3 at Texas Motor Speedway and featured more than 50 vehicles from various manufacturers, all vying for a top award from 40 of the TAWA journalists in attendance.

The Viper ACR was one of only eight vehicles honored in this year’s list of various categories. Automotive media evaluated vehicles in side-by-side comparisons, and the top awards were given based on individual impressions and by secret ballot. The Viper ACR was chosen as top performer on the 1-mile infield road course against several performance vehicles.

“The Dodge Viper ACR is the worthy recipient of our first Performance Car of Texas award,” said Michael Herzing, President – Texas Auto Writers Association and publisher of LetsTalkWheels.com. “By topping some of the toughest competitors in today’s performance car marketplace, we feel this award is a real testament to the Dodge Viper’s superior level of overall performance.”

Introduced in 2008, the Dodge Viper ACR is powered by the venerable 8.4-liter, V-10 engine with 600 horsepower and 560 lb.-ft. of torque, resulting in benchmark performance including 0-60 mph acceleration in less than 4 seconds, quarter-mile time in the mid 11-second range and 0-100-0 mph in 11 seconds flat.

“It is a great honor to see the Texas Auto Writers Association recognize the Dodge Viper ACR for this significant award,” said Ralph Gilles – President and CEO, Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “At Dodge, we’re extremely proud of what the Viper represents within the performance car market, and this award helps us continue to tell the story of America’s ultimate, street-legal sports car.”

About Dodge
Dodge is a full line of cars, SUVs and MPVs that are agile, daring, sensible and inventive. The product line includes the Dodge Caliber, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Journey, Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10.

Dodge introduced two new vehicles for the 2009 model year: the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey, the brand’s first crossover vehicle and the 2009 Dodge Challenger, a modern-day American muscle car. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan-firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold, Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. J.D. Power and Associates further acknowledged this leadership by naming the Dodge Grand Caravan the Most Dependable Van for 2009. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in the minivan segment with unsurpassed fuel economy of 17 city / 25 highway mpg and minivan-first innovations including the segment’s only Stow ‘n Go® and Swivel ‘n Go® seating and storage systems. The 2010 Dodge Journey and 2010 Dodge Avenger (with ESC) also earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.

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There are very few convertibles on the market that feature a usable rear seat. Take away the wallet-squeezing echelons of the luxury car segment and the number of affordable four- and five-passenger convertibles drops to almost zero. Add in the requirement of a retractable hardtop and the field narrows to just one: the 2010 Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible.

The 2010 Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible (MSRP $35,445) looks unmistakably upper market. The automobile’s purposeful face, three-bar grille and projector foglights mark the extent of its ornamentation, as the rest of the car is a pleasingly smooth collection of steel panels and raised creases. What really raises the bar on the vehicle’s style-ometer is its sensational retractable hardtop. This splendid mechanism is an incredibly rare feature on such an affordably priced convertible, and the difference it makes in the overall ownership experience is dramatic. Winter winds and chills are kept at bay by the vehicle’s sturdy steel roof panels, making the Sebring Limited a year-round daily driver even in the most northern of climates or rainiest of regions. In addition, the hard top further enhances the Sebring convertible’s sleek coupe lines. The fully automatic raising and lowering process is elegant enough to attract a crowd while in action and simple enough with the touch of a button inside the cabin or on the key fob that you won’t mind encore performances.

The true test of any convertible, however, comes with the top down, and the Chrysler Sebring Limited does not disappoint. With a swept deck reminiscent of the classic and elegant wooden powerboats of days gone by, the Sebring is as handsome topless as it is when the roof remains in its fixed position. With enough room for four adults to make themselves comfortable on longer trips, the Sebring makes an argument for keeping the roof down on the highway and simply enjoying the sun. Wind noise is kept at a level that doesn’t inhibit conversation between all four passengers, and Royale leather-trimmed seats stand up strong to the type of wear that convertibles are often subjected to by the elements. A windscreen reduces wind noise and turbulence and helps make high-speed driving even more peaceful.

The 2010 Chrysler Sebring Limited convertible distinguishes itself from other Sebring Convertible trims (LX, Touring) in a myriad of ways. Inside the car, tortoise-shell accents combine with power adjustments for the seats and automatic temperature controls to add an extra level of comfort and style all around. The Limited also features heaters for the front two occupants in order to fight off the Fall chill and extend the top-down driving season as much as possible. Chrysler has also given the Limited a standard uconnect™ Multimedia SIRIUS Satellite Radio system, as well as the option of uconnect navigation, uconnect phone and uconnect web features. The latter in particular allows the convertible to be transformed into a hub on the information superhighway, providing 3G broadband Internet service to all passengers. Adding to the list of unique equipment found in the Limited trim is a Boston Acoustics sound system, which includes the Media Center 230 CD/DVD/MP3 entertainment center that can be controlled via voice commands.

Under the hood of the Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible is a powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine that has been tuned to provide 235 hp and 232 lb/ft of torque. The vehicle’s automatic transmission comes with six forward gears, and offers full manual control via Chrysler’s AutoStick function. This last item lets lovers of sporty driving indulge themselves by running through the automobile’s full rpm range, letting the sound of the V6’s exhaust mingle with the wind rushing through the cabin. Fuel mileage for the midsize convertible is rated at 16 mpg in city driving and 27 mpg on the highway.

The 2010 Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible is an exciting, attractive and affordable ticket to a world of top-down fun. Its real-world backseat gives the vehicle a level of practicality not often seen in a drop-top, and its retractable steel roof is the only one to be found amongst any convertible built by a Detroit automaker. The Sebring Limited Convertible is a vehicle aimed at the most exacting of open-air driving enthusiasts.