Lancia to live on with models built in America

 by: Zach Bowman

Motor Trend reports that Lancia isn't headed for the scrap heap after all. Chris Brown, a spokesperson for Chrysler, told MT the automaker will live on and continue to manufacture its Ypsilon hatchback in Italy. The remainder of the brand's vehicles will be built in America by Chrysler. What's more, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has said future Lancia models will be co-developed with Chrysler. That's a big shift from what we heard last week. As you may recall, the German site Automobilwoche reported the sun was poised to set on the Lancia brand for good, due in part to economic woes in Europe.

Under the rumored plan, Fiat would then push Maserati farther downmarket to help fill the gap. As it turns out, Marchionne was simply talking about further platform sharing between Fiat and its profitable American brand. That means we can likely expect to see more Lancia-badged Chryslers prowling the streets of Europe very soon.

Dodge announces Blacktop packages for 2013 Avenger, Challenger, Charger

 by: Steven J. Ewing

Dodge first introduced the decidedly sinister Blacktop package on the 2012 Charger V6 sedan, but today, the automaker announced that it will be expanding this option group to a few other models for 2013. The Avenger sedan, Challenger R/T coupe and Charger R/T V8 sedan will all be available with the optional darker appearance package beginning in December of this year.

For the Avenger, the Blacktop pack adds a gloss black grille, dark-tinted headlamp bezels, a body-colored rear spoiler and unique 18-inch gloss black aluminum wheels. And if you don't want to go for the full-on murdered out black car approach, Dodge will offer the Blacktop package on Avengers painted in red, white, tungsten and silver, as well. Here on the 2013 Avenger, the Blacktop treatment adds $595 to the car's MSRP, and can even be had with additional options like the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, premium audio system and navigation – for some extra coin.

The Challenger Blacktop starts as an R/T coupe with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and adds unique appearance touches like 20-inch gloss black wheels, a blacked-out grille, blacked-out fuel door and a new matte graphite body stripe with red accents. Blacktop models also come standard with the Challenger's Super Track Pak, adding Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, higher-performance brakes, a better steering ratio, monotube shock absorbers and three-mode stability control. Ticking the Blacktop option will add $1,995 to the Challenger R/T's bottom line.

Finally, Dodge is expanding its Blacktop package to include the Hemi V8-powered Charger sedan, and the same sort of sinister treatment is found therein. Available in a host of colors, the Blacktop option retails for $1,795 on the Charger R/T and includes the same sort of blacked-out treatment as the other models, as well as Beats Audio and a sport mode with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Supreme Court stays sale of Chrysler to Fiat

By: Damon Lavrinc

The sale of Chrysler's assets to Fiat have been delayed by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg after three Indiana state pension funds lost their case in New York and filed papers with the highest court the land. Early reports indicate that this is only a temporary stay, with Ginsburg saying the sale is "stayed pending further order." Chrysler's lawyers have said the stay could cause the deal with Fiat to go under.