Fort Worth, Texas, May 2, 2008  -  Members of the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) named the 2009 Dodge Journey "Family Car of Texas" at the 2008 Spring Challenge, the organization’s annual passenger-car competition. More than 60 vehicles from various manufacturers entered the event, all vying for a top award from 40 of the TAWA journalists on hand.

“With 61 vehicles competing in various categories, the new Dodge Journey is the worthy recipient of our first Family Car of Texas award. This award speaks loudly about the design and capability of this vehicle”, said Harold Gunn, President – Texas Auto Writers Association. “The many storage options had several of our members remarking, ‘Finally a place for all my stuff!’"

“It is a great honor to have the Texas Auto Writers Association recognize the all-new Dodge Journey for this significant award,” said Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Brand, SRT and Motorsports Global Marketing. “With more innovative interior features than any vehicle in its class, this honor highlights Dodge Journey’s family-friendly leadership in the crossover segment.”

Now available at Dodge dealers nationwide, the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey redefines the expanding mid-size crossover segment, offering seating and cargo versatility, safety and security, child friendliness, great all-weather driving capability, best-in-class fuel economy (19 city / 25 mpg highway) and a best-in-class starting price of $19,985.

Designed from the ground up, Dodge Journey combines the versatility of a large sport-utility vehicle with the efficiency of a passenger car. With bold, capable styling, perfect proportions and an innovative interior design, Dodge Journey is the right-sized crossover for people who want the prestige of an SUV and the functionality and utility of a minivan.

Utilizing the Dodge brand’s successful family vehicle formula, Dodge Journey incorporates unique seating and a best-in-class storage system, creating a spacious and flexible interior ready to handle life’s ever-changing challenges. With the simple turn of a single lever, the available Tilt ‘n Slide™ seven-passenger seating system quickly folds the second-row seat cushion upward and slides the entire seat forward, allowing third-row passengers easy in-and-out access. Two available integrated child booster seats, a first in the mid-size crossover segment, quickly pull out from the second-row seat cushion, eliminating the need to transport bulky child seats into the Journey. Spacious storage bins, including Flip ‘n Stow™ front-passenger concealed storage, Chill Zone™ glove box beverage cooler and dual in-floor bins with washable liners in the second row offer quick storage and increased passenger comfort.

Dodge Journey offers a variety of innovative technologies that make life easier. A cutting-edge MyGIG™ multimedia system provides the driver and passengers 3-D navigation with real-time traffic monitoring, an integrated 30-gigabyte hard drive to store music and pictures, and an auxiliary audio jack to play any MP3 player. Additional features including SIRIUS Satellite Radio, ParkView™ Rear Back-up Camera, UConnect® hands-free communication that is Bluetooth® compatible, a UCI for iPod connectivity, and rear DVD entertainment with two wireless headphones, make every day a driving pleasure.