2011 Dodge Charger,2011 Chrysler 300 production will begin in Ontario

The launch of the all-new 2011 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger demonstrates how far this company has come in 18 months, said Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne. The next-generation Charger comes standard with Chrysler's new 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine producing 292 horsepower and allowing 0-100 km/h accelerations in 6.5 seconds.

The start of production has been done during a ceremony attended by Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler Canada CEO Reid Bigland, the Ontario Minister of Finance Dwight Duncan, Brampton Mayor Susan Fennella and CAW President Ken Lewenza.

Chrysler's CEO was in Ontario Friday to launch a series of bulky sports cars, but experts say the company's future is in more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Chrysler Group LLC chief executive Sergio Marchionne travelled to Brampton, Ont., to launch the production of the 2011 Chrysler 300, 2011 Dodge Charger and Dodge Chalenger--Chrysler needs to prove it can make and sell small cars.

Chrysler’s biggest competitors, Ford and General Motors, have already underscored their commitment to so-called greener cars, especially as growth in consumer vehicle demand slows to about 2%.

Chrysler does have one of the country’s top-selling crossovers in the relatively fuel-efficient Dodge Journey--Chrysler was the No. 3 automaker in the country last year by sales, after Ford and GM. Nearly eight in 10 minivans sold in Canada last year belonged to the Chrysler family.