Horace and John Dodge, manufacturers of bicycles and automotive parts, founded the Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicle company in 1914. Their first vehicles were a touring car, a roadster and a four-door sedan. By 1917, the company was making trucks and cars used as staff vehicles and ambulances during the First World War. Dodge was sold to Chrysler Corporation in 1928. After 1945, Dodge introduced the Power Wagon truck, Hemi-powered Coronet and the Royal Lancer; with dealer-installed air-conditioning.

The Dodge Dart and the Custom 880 were popular cars in the 1960s. The Dodge Charger, one of Dodge's most iconic vehicles, made its debut. The muscle car featured a fastback roofline, hidden pop-up headlamps and a full-width taillamp panel. The Challenger, a pony car was also introduced in 1970. The turbulence of the 1970s triggered off by the oil crisis; saw Dodge's fortunes, plummeting. With the aid of government loans, Dodge managed to make a recovery and introduced the Caravan. This car was spacious, functional, targeted families and was the forerunner of the minivan segment. The V10-powered Viper roadster and an all-new Ram pickup were the popular models of the 1990's. Today, Dodge is a division of DaimlerChrysler, the German owner of Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler. The company's lineup features coupes and sedans, minivans, SUVs and trucks.

Dodge Avenger ($18,590-$25,270)
The 2008 Dodge Avenger comes in SE, SXT, and sporty R/T and R/T AWD models. SE and SXT come with a 172-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine. A 190-hp 2.7-liter V6 is optional for SXT. R/Ts have a 235-hp 3.5-liter V6. R/T AWD models have all-wheel drive, and other Avengers are front drive. The 2.4 and 2.7 get a 4-speed automatic transmission, the 3.5 get a 6-speed automatic.

Dodge Caliber ($13,850-$22,435)
The 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 joins SE, SXR, and R/T models. All use a 4-cylinder engine and come with front-wheel drive; R/T is available with all-wheel drive. SE and SXT get a 148-hp 1.8-liter engine with a 5-speed manual transmission. These models are available with CVT and get a 158-hp 2.0 engine. All R/Ts have a 172-hp 2.4-liter. The SRT4 gets a turbocharged 285-hp 2.4 and a 6-speed manual.

Dodge Charger ($21,325-$36,355)
For 2008, Chargers come in base SE and R/T trim levels. An SXT package is also offered. Rear-wheel-drive is standard, but SXT and R/T models are available with all-wheel-drive. The Base SE and the SXT is powered by a 250 horsepower (hp) 3.5-liter (L) V6 engine. The R/T receives a 5.7L HEMI V8 producing 340 hp and 390 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque. The Daytona R/T rates 350 hp with a 5.7L HEMI V8 and 390 lb-ft of torque .The SRT-8 comes with a 6.1L HEMI V8 engine that generates 425 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. All models have a five-speed automatic with an AutoStick feature.

Dodge Dakota ($17,200-$31,100)
The 2008 Dodge Dakota pickup truck comes in two body styles. Extended Cabs have a 6.5-ft cargo bed and Quad Cab crew cabs have a 5.3-ft bed. Under the hood is a standard a 210-hp V6. A 302-hp 4.7-liter V8 is new for 2008. The V8 comes with automatic transmission; the V6 comes with manual or automatic.

Dodge Durango ($26,405-$37,410)
The Dodge Durango made its debut as a midsize SUV for the 1998 model year. Modeled on the lines of the Dakota pickup, Durango is a traditional truck-type SUV with seating configurations for five, seven, or eight. For 2008, Dodge Durango gets a more powerful V8 engine. It is available in SXT, SLT, Adventurer, and Limited trims. A 210-hp 3.7-liter V6 engine powers the rear-drive SXT and SLT versions. All other models, including AWD models, receive a new 303-hp 4.7-liter V8. A 335-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is optional on all but the SXT; Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System cylinder deactivation features on the Hemi V8. Standard transmission is a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed automatic. All models get rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive.

Dodge Grand Caravan ($20,420-$32,370)
The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan is offered in Grand Caravan model in SE and SXT trim levels. All Caravans now get a V6 with 3.3-liter and 3.8-liter engines. New for 2008 is a 251-hp 4.0-liter. The 3.3 V6 teams with a 4-speed automatic transmission. The 3.8 and 4.0 engines use a 6-speed automatic.

Dodge Journey ($19,360-$27,670)
Journey is a car-type SUV which seats five in base trim, and up to seven with the Flexible Seating Group with a 50/50 split third-row seat. Three models are available. The base SE has a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and comes only with front-wheel-drive. SXT and R/T models have a 3.5-liter V6 and are available with front- or all-wheel-drive.

Dodge Magnum ($22,020-$38,105)
The 2008 Dodge Magnum has V6 and V8 engines, rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive. SE models have a 178-hp 2.7-liter V6. SXT versions have a 250-hp 3.5-liter V6. R/Ts have Chrysler's 340-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8. High-performance SRT8s have a 425-hp 6.1-liter Hemi. The 5.7 V8 has Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System cylinder deactivation. All Magnum trims have automatic transmission, 4-speed on SE and rear-drive SXT, 5-speed on the rest.

Dodge Nitro ($19,350-$27,840)
The 2008 Dodge Nitro seats five and comes in SXT, SLT, and R/T models. A 210-hp 3.7-liter V6 is standard on SLT and SXT. R/Ts have a 260-hp 4.0-liter V6. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard on SXT. R/Ts have a 5-speed automatic; a 4-speed automatic is standard on SLT and optional for SXT.

Dodge RAM 1500 ($19,855-$51,810)
The 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 is a large pickup truck offered in 2-door regular cab and two 4-door crew cabs--the Quad Cab and the Mega Cab. RAM 1500 is available with three engines: a 215-hp 3.7-liter V6; a new 310-hp 4.7-liter V8; and a 345-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8. The V6 and 4.7 V8 are available with manual or automatic transmission; the Hemi with automatic only. All Dodge RAMs are available with rear-wheel-drive or with 4-wheel-drive.

Dodge RAM 2500 ($24,340-$43,400)
The Dodge RAM is a three-quarter-ton pickup truck and comes in regular cab and four-door quad cab body styles. A V-6 engine powers the light-duty, while the heavy-duty pickups are powered by V8 engines. RAM 2500 is standard in two-wheel-drive for the Base model and optional for all other trims. Four-wheel-drive configuration is standard for all except the Base trim. The 2500 RAM comes equipped with a 5.7-liter, Hemi V-8 engine producing 345 horsepower and 375 pound-feet torque.

Dodge RAM 3500 ($26,225-$49,615)
The 2008 Dodge RAM 3500 is available in regular, quad cab (crew cab) and mega cab (a jumbo crew cab) styles. The regular cab comes in ST and SLT trims; the quad cab in ST, SLT and Laramie trims; and the mega cab in SXT and Laramie. The RAM 3500 comes standard with a 5.7-liter, V-8 engine. It produces 345 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque. For the V-8, a five-speed automatic transmission is optional and a six-speed manual standard.

Dodge Sprinter Van ($28,400-$41,660)
The Sprinter van is wider, taller and longer, with two new engines, increased cargo and towing capacity. Sprinter 2500 is available in cargo and passenger vans. Sprinter 3500 is available in cab chassis and cargo van. A 154-horsepower, 3.0-liter, V-6 diesel, and the 254-horsepower, 3.5-liter gasoline V-6 CRD turbo diesel engine power the vans.

Dodge Sprinter Wagon ($28,651-$43,400)
The Sprinter comes in 2500 (three-quarter ton) and 3500 (one ton) ratings; however only the 2500 series includes a passenger model. Both models have an independent front suspension, rear leaf springs and power rack-and-pinion steering. It is powered by the 154-horsepower, 3.0-liter, V-6 diesel, and the 254-horsepower, 3.5-liter gasoline V-6 CRD turbo diesel engine. An optional 3.0-liter V-6 gasoline makes 254 hp.

Dodge Viper ($81,090-$85,210)
The 2008 Dodge Viper, a two-seat sports car, comes as a coupe or as a convertible with a manual folding fabric top and heated glass rear window. Vipers have a 600-hp V10 engine, teamed with a 6-speed manual is the sole transmission.