FCA Canada: Made-in-Canada Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Challenger Lead Segments in J.D. Power 2017 APEAL Study™

  • Made-in-Canada Chrysler Pacifica ranks highest among Minivans in its maiden year
  • Made-in-Canada Dodge Challenger ranks highest in Midsize Sporty Car segment for fifth time in seven years
  • Dodge Durango and Made-in-Canada Charger rank second and third in segments respectively
  • Chrysler brand is industry’s most improved brand
July 26, 2017 , Windsor, Ontario -  Two FCA US LLC vehicles led their segments in J.D. Power’s 2017 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study™. For the fifth time in seven years, the Brampton, Ontario-built Dodge Challenger ranked highest among all vehicles in the Midsize Sporty Car segment.

In addition to being the highest ranking Minivan in the J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Initial Quality StudySM (IQS), the Windsor, Ontario-built Chrysler Pacifica led its segment in this year’s APEAL study. This back-to-back J.D. Power honour was only achieved by seven other models in the entire industry.

The Dodge Durango and Ontario-made Charger also performed well in the APEAL study, ranking second and third in the Midsize SUV and Large Car segments respectively.

Additionally, the Chrysler brand is the industry’s most improved brand with a 41-point improvement in the brand’s score from last year’s study. 

“We’re pleased to see results like this as they reflect our commitment to quality, which is evident not only with new product launches like the all-new Chrysler Pacifica, but also in mainstay vehicles like the well-regarded Dodge Challenger, which captured its fifth APEAL honour in seven years,” said Scott Garberding, Head of Quality. “My colleagues and I are focused on not only launching new vehicles with industry innovations and segments firsts but also consistently improving vehicles in our existing product portfolio.”

The APEAL Study, now in its 22nd year, measures how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on customer evaluations of 77 vehicle attributes of new 2017 model year vehicles. Customers are surveyed after 90 days of ownership at the same time as J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study (IQS). According to J.D. Power, the most appealing vehicles have greater owner loyalty, command higher transaction prices and spend less time on dealer lots before purchase.

About the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica reinvents the minivan segment with an unprecedented level of functionality, versatility, technology and bold styling. Re-engineered from the ground up on an all-new platform, the Pacifica delivers class-leading gasoline and hybrid powertrains to the minivan segment. With more than 100 available safety and security features, the all-new Uconnect Theatre rear seat entertainment system, and a full array of comfort and convenience technologies, the Chrysler Pacifica is a no-compromises minivan ideally suited for today's families and has earned its spot as the most awarded minivan of the year.

The Pacifica Hybrid takes this revolutionary vehicle a step further with its innovative, advanced hybrid powertrain. It’s the first electrified vehicle in the minivan segment and achieves an estimated 2.6 Le/100km (109 MPGe) in city driving and 53 kilometres of all-electric range.

About the 2017 Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger is the most powerful muscle car ever. The 2017 Dodge Challenger SXT, with its standard powerful and fuel-efficient Pentastar V-6 engine and TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission, delivers 305 horsepower and an estimated 7.8 L/100 km (36 mpg) on the highway. The Dodge Challenger R/T with the high-torque 5.7-litre HEMI® paired with the TorqueFlite eight-speed or six-speed manual transmission delivers up to 375 horsepower. The 392 HEMI delivers 485 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque.
 
New for 2017, Dodge brings back the Challenger T/A to the naturally aspirated Dodge 5.7-litre and 392 HEMI lineup. Features include a new active exhaust system, wider wheels, performance tires, cold-air induction components, including new SRT Hellcat-inspired driver and passenger side “Air Catcher” headlamps featuring unique LED-illuminated T/A logos. Available hood pins are designed to highlight the Dodge brand’s cultivation of its storied performance history. The Dodge Challenger T/A 392 adds six-piston Brembo front brakes. The SRT 392 features adaptive damping suspension and SRT Drive Modes. The Challenger SRT Hellcat with its 707-horsepower supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V-8 engine is the most powerful and fastest muscle car ever.
 
About the 2017 Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is the world’s only four-door muscle car. Its rear-wheel-drive architecture enables a model lineup highlighted by extensive performance-driven powertrains with the latest technology under the hood and behind the wheel – further building on the Dodge brand’s promise to deliver American performance machines with world-class power, efficiency, technology, authentic materials and standout styling. New for 2017, Dodge builds on its heritage, introducing new Charger Daytona models designed to deliver more performance and heritage-inspired styling to the naturally aspirated Dodge 5.7-litre and 392 HEMI lineup.
 
The innovative TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission is standard on every Dodge Charger model. New for 2017, Active Exhaust is now standard on all HEMI V-8 models. The Charger also offers a full range of fuel-efficient and powerful engine options. The award-winning 3.6-litre V-6 Pentastar engine delivers up 7.7 L/100 km (37 mpg) on the highway. The legendary 5.7-litre HEMI V-8 on the R/T and Daytona delivers 370 horsepower. The 6.4-litre HEMI V-8 punches out a best-in-class, naturally aspirated 485 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque in the R/T Scat Pack, Daytona 392 and SRT 392 models. For ultimate performance, the 6.2-litre supercharged Charger SRT Hellcat delivers 707 horsepower, 650 lb.-ft. of torque, a top speed of 328 km/h, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)-certified, quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.0 seconds on street tires and 0-60 mph in the high 3-second range, making it the quickest, fastest and most powerful sedan in the world.
 
About the 2017 Dodge Durango
The 2017 Dodge Durango’s combination of uncompromised utility, advanced technology, class-leading towing (7,400 lbs. with the HEMI® V-8) and driving range, confident driving dynamics and aggressive styling make it the three-row Dodge Charger of the SUV segment. The Durango features Engine Stop-Start (ESS) technology, an emission-lowering and fuel-saving feature that is standard on models powered by the 3.6-litre Pentastar V-6 engine.
 
2017 Dodge Durango vehicles are available with an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen radio and feature Drag and Drop menu bar, Siri Eyes Free, Do Not Disturb and SiriusXM Tune Start, a feature that starts songs from the beginning when switching between pre-set satellite radio channels. Additionally, Durango offers consumers more than 60 available safety and security features, including standard all-speed traction control and electronic stability control (ESC), which improve overall vehicle handling and performance both on- and off-road.
 
FCA Canada
Founded as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925, FCA Canada Inc. is based in Windsor, Ontario, and celebrates its 97th anniversary in 2022. FCA Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of FCA, a North American automaker based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. FCA Canada has approximately 440 dealers that sell Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo products, as well as SRT performance products. The company also distributes Mopar and Alfa Romeo parts and accessories. In addition to its assembly facilities, which produce the Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Chrysler Voyager and Chrysler Grand Caravan (Windsor) and Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger (Brampton), FCA Canada operates an aluminum casting plant in Etobicoke, a research and development centre in Windsor, and has sales offices and parts distribution centers throughout the country.  
 

Contact Information

LouAnn Gosselin
Office: (519) 973-2253
Cell: (519) 984-2600
Bradley Horn
Office: (905) 821-6156
Cell: (416) 702-6022
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