Dodge Goes Big, Leads in Tactical Technology: Laptop-sized 12.1-inch Touchscreen Display Integrates Law Enforcement Systems and Innovative Uconnect Technology on 2016 Charger Pursuit Models

•Segment-first integration of law enforcement data systems with 2016 Dodge Charger Pursuit's field proven, easy-to-use and award-winning Uconnect touchscreen system

•Designed for police use, Uconnect's familiar and intuitive interface allows for quick toggling between vehicle controls and nearly every plug-and-play police-designed computer system

•Uconnect 12.1 is more than five times larger than Dodge Charger Pursuit's standard Uconnect 5.0 system

•Segment's largest Uconnect 12.1-inch touchscreen built-in to Dodge Charger Pursuit's instrument panel helps law enforcement officers keep their eyes on the road, not to the side

•Focus on safety and security: unlike third-party solutions that require a bulky console-mounted computer screen, all-new Uconnect 12.1 does not obstruct front-driver and passenger air bags or interfere with occupant space

•Tactical equipment: Uconnect 12.1 undergoes Dodge Charger Pursuit's rigorous field testing and engineering requirements, and is backed with a 3-year/36,000-mile factory warranty

•Available through FCA Fleet Operations, the 2016 Dodge Charger Pursuit with Uconnect 12.1 touchscreen display will be available for ordering in January, with production starting in March

September 11, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Dodge Charger Pursuit is going tactical in a big way for 2016, offering the heroic men and women who protect us with the all-new, and segment's largest, Uconnect 12.1-inch built-in touchscreen that enables a segment-exclusive integration of law enforcement computer systems with the easy-to-use and award-winning Uconnect touchscreen system.

'As America's high-performance police vehicle, Dodge Charger Pursuit is going big for 2016, offering a massive, Uconnect touchscreen system that streamlines a law enforcement officer's computer system with our easy-to-use Uconnect system – on an all-new laptop-size 12.1-inch touchscreen display,' said Tim Kuniskis, President and CEO - Dodge and SRT Brands, and Vice President - Fleet Operations, FCA - North America. 'Designed and tested to Charger Pursuit's stringent test requirements, our all-new Uconnect 12.1 system is the latest piece of tactical hardware that is neatly integrated into the instrument panel for a mobile command center that could only be delivered from Dodge.'

All-new and police-exclusive Uconnect 12.1

Designed exclusively to give law enforcement officers the upper hand, the all-new Uconnect 12.1 touchscreen system provides a fully integrated and exclusive approach to Dodge Charger Pursuit's mobile command capabilities.

Compared to the Dodge Charger Pursuit's standard 5-inch display, the all-new Uconnect 12.1 features a 12.1-inch high-resolution touchscreen display that is more than five times larger in the center of the instrument panel. Uconnect 12.1 is ergonomically located and provides a large 1024 by 768 pixel display of Uconnect radio and vehicle controls, as well as the ability to toggle to a law enforcement officer's computer via a menu bar at the top of the screen.

In addition, Charger Pursuit's new Uconnect 12.1 system can split the touchscreen to display the familiar and award-winning 8.4-inch (640 by 480 pixels) Uconnect interface. Designed to be intuitive, Dodge Charger Pursuit's cockpit includes redundant vehicle controls, such as radio and climate, located below the Uconnect system, while the driver can also use the switches on the back of the steering wheel, voice commands, the touchscreen display or the redundant knobs and buttons to control a bevy of vehicle options.

Designed for ease of integration and operation, the Uconnect 12.1 features a plug-and-play solution (Ethernet) to connect an officer's mobile computer out of sight in the Dodge Charger Pursuit's trunk. Uconnect 12.1 was also engineered and tested to work with an officer wearing gloves, plus extreme operating conditions as low as -40°C and as hot as 85°C.

For added upfit equipment control and capability, the 2016 Dodge Charger Pursuit's Uconnect 12.1 also provides a fourth auxiliary button, adding to the three steering-wheel mounted auxiliary buttons managed through the Vehicle Systems Interference Module (VSIM). This elegant wiring solution makes installation of upfit equipment easier, as the system is capable of providing the appropriate power, ground and fusing for a variety of LED, lighting, siren, computer, modem or camera systems.

Designed with feedback from Dodge Law Enforcement's 19-member Police Advisory Board

The development of the 2016 Dodge Charger Pursuit's all-new Uconnect 12.1 touchscreen system was a team effort, combining the expertise of Fiat Chrysler Automobile's law enforcement vehicle design, engineering, fleet and Uconnect teams, plus its 19-member Police Advisory Board (PAB) to answer the call for an integrated mobile command center solution.

Safety and security are the top priority when designing new tactical equipment for the Dodge Charger Pursuit. Uconnect 12.1 was conceptualized from the vehicle's team of law enforcement specialists, as well as feedback from the field. Advancements in law enforcement have put highly effective new tools in the hands of police. Laptop computers with data protection protocols have replaced two-way radios for the transmission of sensitive information, such as crime scene details and suspect identities. Police vehicles are jam-packed with additional displays, mounting brackets and keyboards that not only compromise comfort, they pose a risk to officer safety in the event of a collision.

Initial feedback found that a traditional, center console-mounted laptop or screen positioned between driver and front passenger often added dangerous impact points or could even interfere with airbag deployment during a crash. In addition, these third-party upfit solutions were considered distractive to the officer's outward vision and line-of-sight. Last, the ergonomics designed into the vehicle's controls and even touchscreen displays were hindered by the installation of these bulky devices.

The Dodge Charger Pursuit's team of law enforcement specialists saw a clear opportunity to adapt the easy-to-use Uconnect interface for the benefit of police officers and their mobile technologies. In 2012, the team provided Uconnect 12.1 system prototypes in the Los Angeles Police Department's Dodge Charger Pursuit test vehicles. And now, the all-new Uconnect 12.1 system is ready and available to all 2016 Dodge Charger Pursuit customers.

Uconnect 12.1 includes the latest upgrades for 2016

The all-new Uconnect 12.1 leverages the strengths and continued improvements of the Uconnect touchscreen family. Innovative features on the segment's largest touchscreen include, Bluetooth connectivity for mobile devices, Bluetooth streaming audio, ParkView rear back-up camera, SD Card slot, plus USB and auxiliary ports.

'As technology continues to evolve, the next wave of Uconnect features and services is in constant progression and our latest Charger Pursuit application with our massive 12.1-inch touchscreen display is just a taste of our in-house capabilities to expand and integrate different technologies for our customers,' said Joni Christensen, Head of Uconnect Marketing. 'This is a great opportunity to adapt our easy-to-use Uconnect system to benefit law enforcement officers, making it even easier to keep their hand on the wheel and eyes on the road.'

Uconnect 12.1 is introducing new features that include the all-new Drag and Drop menu bar, Siri Eyes Free and Do Not Disturb features, which can be viewed via the 12.1-inch touchscreen. •Drag and Drop Menu Bar: Dodge Charge Pursuit customers now can simply drag their favorite feature or service icon from the apps menu and move them to their Uconnect system's main menu bar.

•Siri Eyes Free: Via the voice button on the steering wheel and compatible with an Apple iPhone 4s or later, with Siri Eyes Free drivers can speak natural language voice commands to send text messages, play music, set reminders, place phone calls and access turn-by-turn directions. Drivers simply push and hold the voice recognition button on the steering wheel until the Siri Eyes Free screen appears on the touchscreen and they can hear the audible tones.

•Do Not Disturb: Drivers of the Dodge Charge Pursuit who prefer not be interrupted with phone calls or text messages while driving can choose to turn on the new 'Do Not Disturb' and 'Reply with Text Message' feature. Located within the Uconnect system's phone screen, once enabled with the push of a button or via voice command, the Do Not Disturb icon will route all incoming mobile calls to voicemail and suppress text messages. If the driver chooses to enable the Do Not Disturb feature, they also have the ability to send a default or customized response once a call or text message is received.

About 2016 Dodge Charger Pursuit

Dodge brand recognizes that the heroic men and women who protect us must be equipped with the best-performing pursuit-rated vehicle, loaded with tactical equipment and technology. And for 2016, the Dodge Charger Pursuit – America's high-performance police vehicle – delivers with world-class safety and security, technology and pursuit-rated hardware, all while offering 370 best-in-class horsepower, factory-installed Mopar upfit packages and the segment's most advanced all-wheel-drive (AWD) system for maximum tactical performance, all-weather traction and fuel-efficiency.

About Dodge Brand

The Dodge brand is America's mainstream performance brand. With the purification of the brand and consolidation with SRT, Dodge is getting back to its performance roots with every single model it offers. The Dodge and SRT brands offer a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out within their own segments. Dodge is the 'mainstream performance' brand and SRT is positioned as the 'ultimate performance' halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.

From muscle cars to compact cars, minivans, crossovers and full-size SUVs, the Dodge brand's full lineup of 2015 models deliver best-in-class horsepower, class-exclusive technology, unmatched capability and a slew of cool features, such as LED headlamps, Dodge signature racetrack tail lamps, dual exhaust, 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment centers and 7-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) customizable gauge clusters, to name a few. For the 2015 model year, customers will be able to drive the new 2015 Dodge Charger and Challenger, as well as the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and Charger SRT Hellcat. The Dodge brand lineup also includes the 2015 Dodge Dart, Durango, Grand Caravan and Journey, including the new Crossroad model, and its flagship, the Dodge Viper.

by Dodge

The Dodge Charger was produced from 1966 through 1978, 1983 through 1987, and again beginning in 2006. Since its inception, the impressive performance and stylish bodies made the Charger an instant success. During its introductory year, 37,344 examples were produced.

The Dodge Charger was based on the Dodge Coronet platform, but with a fastback roofline. The headlights were retractable which resulted in a sportier appearance for the vehicle. The interior had four bucket seats with the rear seats able to be folded down that provided ample space for cargo. Under the hood was a 318 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine that produced 230 horsepower. Optional was the 361 and 426 cubic-inch Hemi, available in various configurations. The 426 Hemi produced 425 horsepower and would set the buyer back $1000, a considerable cost considering the base price was $3122. Only 468 of the Hemi option were purchased.

In 1967 Dodge added the 440 cubic-inch Magnum to the Charger model line. With 375 horsepower, it was a cheaper option than the Hemi, easy to tune, and came standard with the R/T package. The 318 cubic-inch was still the standard option with the 426 Hemi the top-of-the-line producing 45 horsepower and 490 foot-pounds of torque. The production total for the Charger in 1967 was around 15,000 with 118 of those selecting the Hemi engine.

The 1968 Charger was redesigned, now with hidden headlights and a curvy body. The design was a success and sales soared to over 92,000 units. The Hemi option was available, with around 470 buyers opting for the option. The R/T package was a popular option with 17,665 buyers. The standard on the R/T performance package was the 440 Magnum engine producing 375 horsepower. Many argue that 1968 was the most appealing muscle car of all 1960's era.

For 1969, Dodge decided to make only minor improvements to the Charger. The grille now had a chrome center divider. Two new Charger models were available. The Charger 500 was a performance machine with some styling cues similar to the Dodge Coronet. The big news was the Dodge charger Daytona which is easily identified by its larger vertical tail stabilizer and front nose extension. With just over 500 examples of the Daytona produced, the $4000 vehicle was available with either the Hemi or the 440 engine.

The Charger was redesigned in 1970 and became available in new colors. The SE version added leather seats and an electric sliding sunroof. Dodge introduced the 440 Six Pack which featured three Holley two-barrel carburetors and produced 390 horsepower. In total, there were just over 10,300 Chargers sold in 1970 with 42 of those sales including the 440 Six Pack and 116 opting for the Hemi.

The muscle car era was coming to a close. Government safety regulations, emission controls, and insurance premiums were beginning to force manufacturers into detuning their engines. This was the last year for the mighty Hemi engine, which retained its 425 horsepower rating. The 440 cubic-inch engine was now rated at 370, down by 5 horsepower. The 440 Six Pack also lost five horsepower. The Charger was redesigned and lost a few inches at the wheelbase. Available in SE and R/T trim, it now shared a body with the Super Bee. This body-style design lasted until 1974.

The Rallye was the performance model for the Dodge Charger for the years 1972 through 1974. The Rallye was equipped with the detuned 440 cubic-inch engine with four-barrel carburetors, hydraulic lifters, and five main bearings. The result was 280 horsepower for the years 1972 through 1973. In 1974 the horsepower dipped to 275.

For 1973, Dodge offered the base 318 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine, now rated at 255 horsepower. The 440 was producing 255 horsepower while the 440 Six-Pack produced 330 horsepower. The decrease in horsepower was due to the detuning to comply with government safety and emission regulations and because horsepower was no longer being quoted in terms of gross output but rather in terms of net output. The suspension was reworked resulted in a quieter and more comfortable ride.

The Charger's appearance became sportier in 1974, with minor aesthetic changes and larger quarter windows. The 318 V8 was rated at 175, the 440 V8 produced 280, and the 440 Six Pack produced 330 horsepower. The engine choices remained the same for 1974 but it would be the final year for its sporty persona. In 1975, Dodge repositioned the Charger as a luxury vehicle. They introduced the Charger SE, a near-clone of the Chrysler Cordoba. The SE came equipped with lots of standard equipment and a 360 cubic-inch engine producing 180 horsepower. The slant-six 318 and 400 were available in various configurations. The 360 fitted with a four-barrel, instead of the standard two-barrel carburetor, would increase the horsepower to 200.

In 1978, Dodge replaced the Charger with the Magnum which was basically a name change because the Magnum was identical to the Charger SE. The Charger name has reappeared in recent times, a tribute to the muscle-car phenomenon of the 1960's. The name was also used in the 1980's on the Dodge Omni.

L-Body

The Charger was brought back in 1981 as a performance package on the Omni 024 (and Plymouth Horizon TC3), called the Charger 2.2. The Charger 2.2 option may have improved the styling and performance of the Omni, but it was nothing like the Charger of the 1960's. The Charger 2.2 was given a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine that produced 85 horsepower. A hood scoop and a rear spoiler added to the performance look but did little to improve the overall performance. The aesthetics were updated in 1982, improving upon the performance persona with the addition of side scoops mounted behind the front wheels.

The base engine, a 1.7-liter unit that produced 70 horsepower, was produced by Volkswagen. In 1983, Volkswagen ceased the production of the engine. A new engine was found at Peugeot. Upon the addition of the new engine, Chrysler renamed the Omni 024 to Charger.

In 1984, quad headlights were added to the Charger making it easier to distinguish from its sibling, the Omni.

In 1987 production ceased for the Charger, Turismo, Omni, and Horizon.

Shelby Charger

In 1983 Carroll Shelby made modifications to the Charger that included both mechanical and aesthetic improvements, increasing the performance of the vehicle. All major aspects of the vehicle were updated, including the suspension, brakes, steering, engine, and transmission. The front-end was modified and racing stripes traversed the entire length of the vehicle. In its first year, over 8200 examples were sold.

In 1984 the engine was again addressed, this time horsepower improved by around 5. An automatic transmission became available, as did a new red exterior paint color. The other colors available were black with silver stripes, blue with silver stripes, and silver with blue stripes.

In 1985 an MPFI turbo-charged was installed, raising horsepower to nearly 150. Little was changed in the following years with production ceasing in 1987 after nearly 16400 examples of the turbo-version produced. 1,000 of the last Dodge Shelby Chargers were purchased by Carroll Shelby and converted them into the Shelby Charger CLHS. The vehicles were rebadged with the Shelby logo replacing the Dodge logo. Using Knoi adjustable shocks and struts, the suspension was greatly improved. The tires were improved Z-tires and the intercooler and components of the Turbo II engine were installed. All were painted in black.

2005 Charger

source: Dodge

One of the biggest names from the muscle car era – powered its way out of its storied past and onto the stage at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Charger coming off the line and out of garages create a new reputation for the Dodge legend, featuring a modern design to back up its 21st-century muscle car power, sports car handling, and cutting-edge technology.

With a 250-horsepower High Output V-6 engine or the optional 340-horsepower HEMI® engine powering large 18-inch rear wheels, the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger races into the car market with bold, provocative styling and substance without losing the convenience of a modern sedan.

The all-new 2006 Dodge Charger features rear-wheel drive with near 50/50 weight distribution and advanced technologies that offer a superb ride and responsive handling in all surface and traction conditions.

The Multiple Displacement System (MDS) on the Dodge Charger's HEMI engine seamlessly deactivates four cylinders in just 40 milliseconds – quicker than a blink of an eye – when full V-8 power is not needed, improving fuel economy by up to 20 percent. The HEMI engine with MDS completed more than 6.5 million customer-equivalent miles through the Chrysler Group's development and durability testing.

After a 30-year absence, Charger returns to the track beginning in February 2005. The historic Dodge Charger nameplate returns to NASCAR Nextel Cup competition as the successor to the race-winning Dodge Intrepid race cars of 2001- 2004, and to the storied Dodge Charger race cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s that earned several national championships.

Following the adage that 'racing improves the breed,' motorsports competition has long been part of the Dodge heritage. From engineering labs in Auburn Hills, Mich., to shop floors in Charlotte, N.C., Dodge, its teams and its dealers live the philosophy it takes to be successful in the ultra-competitive world of racing.

by Dan Vaughan