Mopar is now selling WiFi-capable 240-volt chargers for owners of Jeep® 4xe vehicles and the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV; available in plug-in or hardwired versions, they can provide a full charge in a little over two hours, around six times faster than 120V chargers. Adding WiFi gives owners the ability to monitor and control charging via … Read more
It’s got eight speeds. It was engineered by ZF, originally, and was modified by the friendly Mopar powertrain engineers. It’s able to handle a lot of torque, and can have an integrated electric motor. It’s the brand new, fourth-generation ZF 8-speed, dubbed 880RE. The first eight stands for eight forward gears; the second is a … Read more
Numerous outlets recently reported, in breathless headlines, that the Dodge Challenger is being killed, based on a recent interview with Tim Kuniskis. However, the story is not that simple. In fact, the Dodge leader said that the Hellcat Charger and Challenger would be leaving in 2023. Most likely, that simply means that the Hellcat will … Read more
Lithium-ion batteries have been miraculous for laptops, phones, and watches, but have some issues in cars. The next generation, many believe, will be solid state batteries, which use a solid electrolyte material to provide greater range and increased safety. Factorial Energy has developed what they believe to be a breakthrough in solid state battery technology; … Read more
According to Automotive News, Stellantis is hedging its LG bets by forming an alliance with fellow South Korean battery-maker Samsung SDI; both will make batteries for North American Stellantis vehicles. Samsung SDI makes EV batteries in South Korea, Hungary, and China; it counts BMW and Ford as clients. The plant location is still under review, … Read more
LG, whose batteries are perhaps best known for causing a $2 billion GM recall, is Stellantis’ joint venture partner for a North American battery plant. The well-publicized LG gaffe may have helped Stellantis negotiators quite a bit. The new plant is to start pumping out car batteries in early 2024, with an annual capacity of … Read more
Stellantis is finally making an eight-speed automatic that can be used in hybrid-electric and gasoline-powered vehicles; at the moment, the “4xe” hybrids use ZF-built transmissions. The changes, which affect three plants near or in Kokomo, Indiana—one casting plant and two transmission plants— will cost around $229 million. The eight-speed transmissions Chrysler builds are modified to … Read more
Ram, probably the main profit driver of Stellantis in North America, has been increasingly popular thanks to its “new-plus-old-generations” sale strategy. In the future, though, electric power may be the key to success; and Ram is apparently set on staying relevant, without losing its character. The cutaway in the Ram EV Day presentation shows a … Read more
Head of design Ralph Gilles revealed in a recent video that Stellantis North America (SNA) is planning eight new electrified vehicles within the next five years. These will include: A luxury sedan with a long range An “all conquering” muscle car, which has been teased An SUV hitting the “heart of the market” A “very … Read more
Dodge is expected to announce a new powertrain on July 8, with many believing there will be a battery-electric or serious-hybrid version of the Charger and Challenger on that date. The rationale is Dodge chief Tim Kuniskis’ statement that “we will have some pretty interesting stuff [on] July 8” to Muscle Cars and Trucks, on … Read more
“Who killed the electric car?” asked a movie, some years ago, implying that General Motors deliberately destroyed the rebirth of electrics. The movie ignored Chrysler’s epic electric car program of the same time—a program which sold cars, rather than leasing them, and was something of a success. Made in Plymouth and Dodge versions, the EPIC … Read more
