In a major expansion of its "uConnect" suite of in-car technology, Chrysler will offer a new service that turns vehicles into wireless hotspots.

Similar technology is available from third-party vendors, but Chrysler's application--like its Sirius Backseat TV--is the first of its kind offered directly by a major manufacturer. Reports from the wires indicate the service will be dubbed "uConnect web" and will be one part of a rebranding of all Chrysler in-car technology under the "uconnect" banner.

The Web services will enable passengers to hook in with laptops and cell phones to retrieve data like e-mail and web pages. The hardware will be sold as an aftermarket add-on through Mopar.

Chrysler's bundle of in-car tech will also expand with uconnect tunes, which lets the car's audio system control Apple iPods; the system's hard drive, which also can store navigation system maps, has a large hard drive to store music, photos, and other data.

Bluetooth connections and Sirius radio and TV will also be bundled into the uconnect brand.

With the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid off to a slow sales start, Chrysler is trumpeting the fact that its new hybrid SUVs are nearly $8,000 less from the get-go.

The 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid and the Chrysler Aspen Hybrid go on sale in August. This morning, Chrysler said the Durango flavor of the hybrid would be priced from $45,340, including destination charges. The Aspen? It's $45,570 including destination. If you're interested in one, Chrysler also points out that the vehicles may quality for a tax credit of $1,800.

The Chrysler hybrid SUVs use a version of the same two-mode hybrid system that GM uses in the Tahoe Hybrid. Total power output is 385 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Chrysler adds that it expects to see a 40 percent improvement in city fuel economy and a 25 percent overall boost, but didn't release final EPA figures. Expect those final figures to come in around 20/20 mpg, compared to the same figures for the Tahoe Hybrid with four-wheel drive.

TheCarConnection.com gets our first crack at the hybrids this week in Boston. Stay tuned for blogs and photos from the first drive of the Durango and Aspen Hybrids--and for our full review coming soon.

With today's announcement from Auburn Hills and Tokyo that Chrysler and Nissan would trade product for product, the speculation on more deals between the automakers grew louder.

Earlier this year, the two automakers outlined the basics of the deal, which had Nissan producing a compact car for Chrysler to sell in South American markets. That car was to be based on the Versa compact on sale already in the U.S.

But as times change, so do plans -- and today's word from Chrysler and Nissan is that in addition to the original pact, Nissan would also supply Chrysler with a "fuel-efficient small car based on a unique Chrysler concept and design." This car will also be sold in North America, the duo added. Bloomberg also reports that car is due in 2010.

So what is it? Nissan has long sold an older version of its Sentra in Mexico and could rebadge that car for Chrysler to also sell in Mexico, but there seems to be some harmony building for a compact car that could replace the Caliber/PT Cruiser/Jeep Patriot and Compass range as well as the next Sentra/Rogue/Versa trio. But the key detail here was that the new Chrysler car would be built by Nissan in its Oppama, Japan factory -- which could make it a smaller entry distinct from the Sentra lineup entirely. Possibly a coupe, a production version of the Urge concept car? Most likely, as Chrysler seemed to hint at in an afternoon conference call, is a car spun from the next Nissan March compact due in two years' time.

At the other end of the deal, it seems Nissan's days building full-size trucks in Mississippi are coming to a close. Nissan will receive a version of the Dodge Ram to sell in the U.S. starting in 2011. That vehicle will be built in Chrysler's Saltillo, Mexico plant, leaving Nissan's factory in Canton, Miss., free to build commercial vehicles as the Japanese automaker said it would last week.

Left unmentioned is Nissan's Armada full-size sport-utility vehicle, based on the Titan pickup. Nissan had previously said it would move the Infiniti QX56 production back to Japan, but hasn't said a word on the fate of the Armada. With slow sales and a big seven-passenger crossover coming next year, it's possible the Armada name will simply die, along with Nissan's vision of taking on Chrysler, Ford and GM in the full-size truck market.

And left completely in the open -- is Chrysler the American partner that Nissan's been looking to add to its global alliance with Renault?

Tell us what you think - and what you know about the Armada's future and the upcoming Chrysler-badged Nissan.

Chrysler has announced a recall of its Sebring and Dodge Avenger sedans.

The recall affects 212,347 cars outfitted with tire pressure monitors. All are 2007 and 2008 models, the Associated Press reports.

The recall, posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on its Web site, says that the vehicles involved could have faulty electrical connectors in the tire-pressure system. Corrosion could lead to a short circuit, which in turn could cause battery problems, difficulty in starting the engine, and stalling.

Chrysler says they've received nine reports of stalling, but none of accidents or injuries.

Most of the recalled vehicles were sold in the U.S. Starting in mid-April, Chrysler will re-seal the monitors or replace them free of charge.

Chrysler’s supporting soldiers in Iraq by paying for their phone calls home.

The company's charitable arm announced today that it has donated $100,000 to the Freedom Calls Foundation, which provides video and audio calls for soldiers stationed abroad to family members back home. The main goal of the foundation is to help improve the morale of the soldiers that are stationed in Iraq.

In November of 2007, Chrysler donated money to The Freedom Calls Foundation to help families connect with soldiers free of charge during the holiday season. It's been so popular, Chrysler extended its commitment through the end of 2008.

The latest $100,000 donation will support videoconferencing technology provided by the Foundation. The conferencing will be available at auto shows in various cities around the country including Detroit, Las Vegas and New York.

Frank Fountain, president of The Chrysler Foundation, said in a release that, "The Chrysler Foundation’s contribution helps to lift the morale of the men and women in uniform who are serving our country in Iraq, and bring together family members who otherwise would be separated.”

John Harlow the Executive Director of Freedom Calls Foundation said, “Nothing means more to military families than the opportunity to communicate with deployed loved ones and we are proud with Chrysler’s help to be able to make these vital services available to them.”

Currently, Freedom Calls manages more than 2,000 calls a month (around 1.5 million minutes) for military families to converse with their overseas family.