Hemi V8’s fate and Hurricane volume—two questions answered

Mopar engines, Hemi V8 and/or Hurricane

Two questions have been floating around Mopar circles: is the Hemi really gone, and how can they make enough of the new six-cylinder “Hurricane” engines for Ram pickups, Jeep Grand Cherokees, and Dodge Chargers?The answers are intertwined. Over the years that the Saltillo, Mexico plant has made Hemi V8s, they slowly phased in using flexible … Read more

Ford closely copying Camp Jeep at car shows, taking NYC focus

Bronco Off-Roadeo at New York Auto Show

The New York region has traditionally been Jeep’s greatest strength in sales, but you’d never know it from the New York Auto Show at the Javits Center. Once neglected in a desolate land of taxi repair shops, in an island of subway-inaccessibility, the show is now right by the tourist attraction/residential complex Hudson Yards, with … Read more

Chrysler Tipton plant up for sale

ZF 9-speed automatic

With the nine-speed automatic no longer a hot product for Chrysler cars and minivans, Stellantis is selling the plant that made them for years, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal. Production actually ended in June.The Tipton Transmission Plant, which only started production ten years ago—in April 2014—is on a 103-acre site with three buildings (plant, … Read more

Glass roof, G-Meter, donut mode: Diving into 2024 Dodge Charger standard features and options

New wheels for the all-new Dodge Charger feature center caps with the Fratzog logo.

Dodge has released a preliminary spec sheet on the Dodge Charger Daytona—the electrically powered, 400V BEV which is to be made before the gasoline-powered Charger, the four-door sedan, and the 800V BEV. All wheel drive is the only option.It’s important to keep in mind that Dodge may be holding something back for future release; and … Read more

2024-2025 Dodge Charger: Brief FAQ

Two-door 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack

A number of questions have been coming up regarding the 2024-2025 Dodge Chargers released yesterday; most of these can be answered using information we already have.Q. How much will they cost, and what fuel economy do the gasoline cars have?A. We don’t know yet. Don’t expect the base Charger Hurricane Six to match the base … Read more

Ram Professional’s new generation of full-lifespan service

Ram Professional infographic

Following Stellantis’ strategy of full service over the vehicle’s full lifespan, Ram is launching its second generation of Ram Professional commercial solutions at the 2024 National Truck and Equipment Work Truck Week show. The Ram Professional program covers all Ram vehicles, which the company claimed had the lowest cost of ownership in every segment.Ram Professional … Read more

Mopars may not support next-gen Apple CarPlay

Apple CarPlay

Apple will be launching a more fully-featured version of CarPlay later this year, letting owners use climate control, rear view cameras, and tire pressure gauges without leaving the system; it will also include charging status for EVs. There are other features as well, such as turn-by-turn directions in the gauge cluster.Support for CarPlay, as with … Read more

Jeep announces Safari; new Jeep Beach series

2024 Wrangler and Gladiator Jeep Beach models

As Jeep prepares for the 58th Easter Safari at Moab, where it launches new concepts and new performance parts, the marque is also launching new “Jeep Beach” models. These are partly an incentive for customers to move up to the 4xe system, which provides 21 miles of electric range at 49 MPGe; they can also … Read more

New direction, product for Fiat

Fiat concepts

As Dodge prepares to launch its new Challengers and Chrysler continues to figure out its mission, Fiat has announced the launch of a new vehicle every year until 2027. Fiat and Dodge owner Stellantis announced that the new product was made possible by Stellantis’ new global platform, presumably meaning STLA Small, which is based on … Read more

Mercedes, BMW recalls overshadow Mopar parking brake adjustments

2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee special edition car

Last week, NHTSA announced numerous recalls for passenger cars, including one to properly adjust the parking (emergency) brakes of the 2023 Dodge Charger and Challenger and the 2023 Chrysler 300. Only around 2,000 vehicles are affected, globally, and since buyers tend to leave automatic transmissions in Park (and manual transmissions in first or reverse)—and since … Read more

Why the 2025 Ram 1500 has no Hemi

2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten

The 2025 Ram 1500 recently arrived as the first Dodge/Ram pickup in decades to have no V8 engine. Some on social media claimed these were the first of their kind to have no V8 option, which is true for Ram but not for Dodge. Dodge Brothers, after all, were all four-cylinders when the brothers were … Read more