When Dodge started selling rear wheel drive cars with 485 horsepower, then 707, then 840 horsepower, traction at the rear wheels became a major issue. One answer was Launch Control, which limited tire slip so you could get fairly consistent results every time—even if they weren’t quite what a professional driver could do. Launch Control … Read more
Two days ago, a group of FCA US gained a patent on their fuel-saving alternator system. Some have wondered, while struggling for every last erg of power from their engine, if there was a way to automatically cut power-sucking devices just for those few seconds. Chrysler had already set up a clever system to cut … Read more
Even as the Stellantis CEO argues against battery-electric vehicles in global media, Stellantis is doubling down on its plan to make money from recycling batteries and other car components by creating a new position: Senior Vice President of Circular Economy. The first SVP in this role will be Alison Jones, who is currently in charge … Read more
Volkswagen did not make many waves when it purchased Navistar, the truck and diesel engine maker created from the ashes of Harvester International. Then, though, Volkswagen watched Ford’s success in reviving two dead nameplates—Ranger and Bronco—making a sub-brand of the Bronco; and they watched Rivian introduce a new SUV, the R1S, which awed reviewers with its … Read more
The Jeep Wagoneer with rear wheel drive and the base 5.7 Hemi engine is rated at 16 mpg city, 22 highway. Going to four wheel drive drops those numbers to 15 city, 20 highway—which, incidentally, is roughly the same as a 1990 Wagoneer with the four-liter six cylinder pushing out roughly half the power. Move … Read more
The 2022 Grand Wagoneer was unanimously voted a winner in the 2022 Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX awards. Editor Drew Winter wrote, “The sheer artistry of the Jeep® brand’s lavish new interiors is breathtaking. The Grand Wagoneer easily earns its way into the six-figure SUV club on the power of its interior design.” Editor Christie … Read more
Last week, we posted a story on Stellantis’ hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), which are mainly being developed in Europe; but reader RustyDodge reminded us that heavy duty Rams have another path they can follow. Cummins, maker of Ram heavy duty pickups’ acclaimed diesel engines, has for years been working on hydrogen, natural gas, and electric … Read more
Battery-electric cars (BEVs) are in the works for most segments, but would they work for heavy duty trucks? Ram seems to think not; while a BEV Ram 1500 is coming, to join Rivian’s, Ford’s, and Chevrolet’s light-duty battery-electric pickups (in order of production), their EV Day presentation pointed to a different path for the Ram … Read more
A Fox affiliate in Michigan recently issued a story about the death of a mechanic during a Jeep’s oil change—and how the mechanic’s family was suing the owner of the Jeep, rather than the dealership. The original story implied that the Jeep was defective, with the writer noting that it leaped forward when the clutch … Read more
FCA US is recalling a number of 2021-2022 SUVs with V6 engines because the EGR valve may stick open. The recall only affects the V6 engine. Only vehicles made from August 21, 2021, to November 24,2021 are affected. The fault is in the EGR valves, supplied by BorgWarner, and the symptom is power loss. There have … Read more
Stellantis reported its global sales and revenues for the first quarter of 2022 this morning. Net revenues were up to €41.5 billion (1 € = US $1.05 = $1.35 CDN), up by 12% from the first quarter of 2021. The company credited higher net sales prices (reduced incentives), more profitable vehicle mix, and better exchange rates; … Read more
Stellantis’ Free2Move subsidiary has signed a deal to buy the car-sharing company Share Now from Mercedes and BMW. Buying the three year old company will add 14 European cities and 10,000 vehicles—albeit ones made by competitors—to Free2Move’s 2,500-car fleet. The move is part of Stellantis’ “Dare Forward 2030” strategy, which has a goal of earning … Read more
Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and a number of other dignitaries, Stellantis officials, and Unifor union reps unveiled a major investment in Canadian factories and R&D facilities. Together, these will keep thousands of jobs in Canada, adding a number of research positions and restoring, if all goes well, second and third … Read more
Not only is Stellantis going to keep the Windsor and Brampton plants in Canada open—the company is investing $2.5 billion in enabling EV production and building a pair of R&D centers in the country. Canada has long given Chrysler a higher market share than any other country, including the United States, which is Chrysler’s birthplace … Read more
Two years ago, Mopar Minivans, the first biography of the Chrysler minivan which went deeply into the origin story, hit the stands. It was succeeded a year later by a revised version which went up to the Pacifica, The Rise and Reinvention of Chrysler Minivans. 2022 brought a revisiting of the Mopar Minivans book, Mopar … Read more
While the European market has been hit by the same supply issues as everyone else, there has been some good news for Stellantis, the continent’s second largest player. Stellantis nabbed the first quarter’s “best selling car in Europe” title with the Peugeot 208; overall, five Stellantis vehicles, all but the Fiat Panda from the Peugeot … Read more