Revamped Dodge Lineup Makes Big Gains in Total Quality

SIMSBURY, Conn., Sept. 5, 2012 — While the number of problems reported in a vehicle is an important indication of quality, another significant factor is how satisfied drivers are with the overall ownership experience. The Strategic Vision Total Quality Index (TQI) takes both into consideration, painting the bigger picture for consumers interested in purchasing a new vehicle. In the recently released 2012 TQI, Dodge was the most improved brand compared to last year, boosting its score by 3 percent, one of the most substantial increases in the study's history.

Strategic Vision has presented its TQI since 1995, measuring how closely the experience of driving a vehicle matches customer desires. For the 2012 ratings, the auto researcher calculated responses from more than 45,000 buyers who purchased 2012-model-year vehicles between September and December 2011. After all the surveys were evaluated, the 2012 Dodge Charger rose to the top of the Large Car segment, besting competitors like the Nissan Maxima and Volkswagen CC.

"The Charger is a muscle car that the whole family can enjoy, offering classic style, comfortable seating and high performance," said Stewart Gilling, general sales manager of Connecticut Dodge dealer Mitchell Chrysler Dodge Ram. "It fulfills the desire for engaging acceleration and head-turning looks, yet it is also a viable family sedan that is reliable and spacious enough for the kids."

Featuring a sloping roofline, LED racetrack taillights and a four-quadrant crosshair grille, the Dodge Charger's sporty looks are matched with impressive performance that comes from either a 292-horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 or a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine that churns out 370 horsepower. Despite its hard-hitting exterior, the Charger shows a softer side in its cabin, offering a standard sound-dampening acoustic windshield, as well as options like an 8.4-inch touchscreen interface and Nappa leather seats.

While the Charger was significantly updated for the 2011 model year as part of Dodge's five-year revamp plan, a major lynchpin of the brand's transformation is the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart. Recently named one of the Top 10 New Cars for 2013 by Total Car Score, Dodge's compact car continues to earn positive reviews, and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment has joined in on the buzz by partnering with Dodge for a summer-long contest. In addition to sending 12 winners and their guests to the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on Sept. 21 and 22, the contest will present a grand-prize winner with a new Dodge Dart customized by international recording artist Pitbull.

The public has been invited to enter the iHeartRadio Dodge Dart contest by test-driving a Dart by Sept. 16, either at their local Dodge dealership or at one of the 11 Road to Las Vegas music events that were scheduled nationwide this summer. The three remaining events will take place in Baltimore on Sept. 7, Brooklyn on Sept. 8 and Denver on Sept. 16.

"Based on the buzz surrounding the Dart's arrival, shoppers already have many reasons to come in and test-drive a model for themselves, and this contest is just icing on the cake," added Gilling. "One of the coolest things about the Dart is how many ways it can be personalized, and we love showing our customers all the different colors and trims they have to choose from."

About Mitchell Chrysler Dodge Ram:
Part of the Mitchell Auto Group that has served Connecticut customers since 1922, Mitchell Chrysler Dodge Ram is driven to provide the highest quality of service to local drivers. Their extensive inventory of new and used Chrysler, Dodge and Ram models is backed up by an elite service department staffed with expert technicians who provide prompt and thorough repairs. For the best automotive experience before, during and after a sale, turn to Mitchell Chrysler Dodge Ram. Browse their entire inventory at www.chryslerdodgeram.com or take a test drive in person at their dealership, located at 416 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, CT. They can also be reached via phone at 888-794-2439 and found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MitchellChryslerDodgeRam.