GM has good JD Power Dependability year; Mopars mixed; Ford, VW much worse

2023 J.D. Power Dependability

GM had a very good J.D. Power Dependability report, which is based on reported problems per vehicle over three years. (It is reported as problems per hundred vehicles to avoid having people make jokes about “two and a half problems per car.”) Stellantis brands were a mixed bag, with Dodge coming in above average, Ram and Jeep at the average, and Chrysler down in VW-Jaguar-Mercedes territory. Ford had an absolutely awful year.

The last new straight sixes, in ads: slant vs Hurricane

No old maid (slant six ad)

In the early 1920s, Dodge was a four-cylinder car despite its premium market position; Chrysler was launched with a single straight-six; and Maxwell, like its replacement (Plymouth), was also four-cylinder only. Times changed and all three brands featured a range of straight-six engines and V8s, with four-cylinders and straight-eights forgotten and V6 engines ignored. The … Read more

2022 SEMA Show Dodge and Mopar Wrap-Up

Hellephant C170 Crate Engine

The 2022 SEMA Show was an interesting one, with attendees reporting huge crowds and massive amounts of exhibitors even though both Ford Motor Company and General Motors opted to not participate in the world’s largest showcase of automotive aftermarket parts. However, Dodge made the most of the big crowds and the focused spotlight, showing off … Read more

Stellantis Dominates 2022 SEMA Show Awards

Gold Surge concept

Each year, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas showcases the latest and greatest items from every corner of the automotive industry for both new and old models. Each year since 2010, the SEMA Show awards have recognized the “top trend-setting vehicles that represent the best business opportunities in the automotive aftermarket” … Read more

Dodge has Big Plans for the Hurricane Inline Six Engine

Hurricane Inline-Six Engine

We have been talking for years about the Hurricane inline-six engine family; with the arrival of the new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, those long-rumored engines have finally come to production.

In the huge Jeeps, both the standard and high-performance variants of the 3.0-liter Hurricane engine provide substantial power, making them reasonable alternatives to the Hemi V8 engines which are also available in luxury Jeeps…

Direct Connection Introduces Three New Hellephant Crate Engines

Hellephant Crate Engine Series

Mopar shocked the world a few years back with the introduction of the Hellephant crate engine. Measuring 426 cubic inches and fitted with a 3.0-liter IHI supercharger, this engine offered 1,000 horsepower on pump gas, but only 100 units were sold during the initial run, making them nearly impossible to get. Seeing the popularity of … Read more

Limited Edition Dodge Durango Celebrates 85 Years of Mopar

Mopar '22 Dodge Durango

Earlier today, Mopar introduced the 12th edition of their in-house branded vehicles featuring an array of aftermarket parts on a company, with the Moparized Dodge Durango being transformed into the Mopar 22. Based on the Durango R/T AWD, this SUV features unique appointments inside and out, creating an an aggressive, menacing package that is limited … Read more

Chevy, Ford and Toyota Top Drag Racing Teams All Use Hemi Engines

Dodge Charger Funny Car NHRA Hemi

A few months back, I attended the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Ohio, where I got to spend the day in the Tony Stewart Racing garage area. While there, I got to watch the teams of Matt Hagan and Leah Pruett as they prepared for their first track action of the … Read more

Quality chief to run North American engineering

CTC HQ

Jessica Lafond, the former leader of STLA North American engineering technical centers, is leaving the auto industry. She is being replaced by Mark Champine, head of North America customer experience since 2021 and head of quality since 2018, is being promoted to lead North American engineering technical centers. He reports directly to Harald Wester, head of … Read more

Deeper into the Trenton Engine Plant changes

Pouring concrete at Trenton Engine

Recently, Stellantis announced that it would be consolidating the manufacturing part of Trenton Engine in the South plant and likely using the North plant for materials handling and possibly other purposes. Today, we will go into some of the details. First, though, it is important to note that Trenton Engine has two buildings, North and … Read more

Preregister for MSHS HEMI’nsanity, Get an Invite to Dodge Speed Week Debuts

Dodge Challenger

Back on June 23rd, the Dodge announced that the brand would host several days of new product debuts during the week leading up to the Woodward Dream Cruise. Dodge Speed Week technically runs for more than a week, beginning with the media preview for Roadkill Nights on Friday August 12 and including Roadkill on the … Read more

Mopars have most APEAL, JD Power says

2022 JD Power APEAL study for Mopars

Dodge has again claimed the top mass-market-brand spot in the J.D. Power APEAL study, which considers “performance, execution, and layout.” That makes Dodge the first domestic brand to get the #1 mass-market ranking for three years in a row. Ram was #2 for the third consecutive year, and the Ram 1500 was judged the best … Read more

HEMI’nsanity is a Must for the Ultimate Woodward Dream Cruise Experience

Dodge Challenger Hellcat

The Woodward Dream Cruise is an amazing event, with tens of thousands of muscle cars cruising up and down Woodward Avenue in Metro Detroit and all sorts of displays in the parking lots along the way. For Mopar fans, the Modern Street Hemi Shootout parking area in Pontiac, along the Dream Cruise route, has been … Read more

The Official Mopar Blog Gets a Redesign

The Mopar Blog

The Mopar Blog is not new, but the official brand website recently received a full redesign that makes it easier to use and more interesting to enthusiasts of both old and new models. The website includes five key sections – Culture, From the Garage, News, Learning Center and On the Track – each of which … Read more