Cherokee plant drops another 400 jobs

2019-2021 Jeep Cherokee

In another sign that the semiconductor shortage isn’t ending any time soon, partly due to damaged fabrication plants in Texas and Asia, Stellantis is cutting 400 more jobs at the Belvidere plant in Illinois, starting January 14. The company will try to provide jobs for the laid off workers as they become available in other … Read more

Meet the World’s First 7-second Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye

James Golden Dodge Challenger Redeye 7.904

Late last month, James Golden piloted his F8 Green Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye down the track in just 7.904 seconds, making it the first 7-second quarter mile pass by a Redeye car. Of course, Golden’s Challenger Redeye is heavily modified, as is any production road car that has been massaged to run in the … Read more

What the Return of Direct Connection is All About

1977 Direct Connection

Yesterday, Tim Kuniskis unloaded a ton of information on the Mopar world as part of the Never Lift Business Plan and we briefly talked about each program, with special emphasis on the return of factory performance packages. We mentioned that these packages would be marketed under the Direct Connection name through Power Broker dealerships, but … Read more

Yes, “Stellantis and You” is the name of their new EU retail online shop

Stellantis & You

How to name a retail shop where you can buy new and used cars, arrange for service, rent a car, or buy aftermarket parts, for Peugeots, Fiats, Alfa Romeos, Maseratis, Citroëns, Opels, and Jeeps? Obviously, it seems, stellantisandyou.com is the perfect name for Stellantis’ retail services, at least in 11 countries in Europe and in … Read more

In-House Tuning Kits to Add around 100hp to Dodge Hellcat Cars

Hellraiser Pulley

This morning, Tim Kuniskis introduced the world to the Never Lift program, which included the first details of the reborn Direct Connection program. Back in the 1970s, Direct Connection provided high performance parts for Mopar owners who wanted to go faster than they could in stock form. Back then, the Chrysler Corporation helped Dodge owners … Read more

Dodge Formally Introduces the Never Lift Two-Year Plan

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye

During the media preview day for the 2021 Roadkill Nights event in Metro Detroit, Dodge boss Tim Kuniskis briefly teased the “Never Lift” plan. Back then, Kuniskis explained that the Never Lift plan would be based on a calendar which would essentially preview the brand’s big news over the course of the next two years, … Read more

Michigan: Mopar plant odors due to “improperly installed equipment”

Jefferson North (2017)

Michigan’s Department of Environmental Protection has released a page with details on the-former-Chrysler’s plant permits and violations. Some plants have recent violations, including the Detroit Assembly Complex née Jefferson North (pictured below from 2017) and Mack Engine I and II (combined recently into Mack Assembly). Violation notices were issued in September, October, and November related … Read more

Police: explosion at Windsor plant seems deliberate

pacifica at Windsor body shop

An explosion and fire yesterday at the Windsor Assembly Plant, which makes Pacifica, Caravan, and Voyager minivans, has been confirmed by police, who said it appeared to be intentional. Arson investigators found a “suspicious package that detonated,” according to the CBC. A Stellantis spokesperson said that the space has been cleared, and work appears to … Read more

Dodge bringing back Direct Connection, adding another performance program

direct connection

In the 1960s and 1970s, people who wanted to race their Plymouth, Dodge, and Chrysler cars could buy the parts Chrysler Corporation supplied to professional racers—through the aptly named Direct Connection, Mopar’s way to directly connect Joe Sixpack to race-equipment engineers. Chrysler started taking racing seriously a little late, but then 1962 Max Wedge engine … Read more

Ram, Jeep garner Truck/SUV of Texas awards

All-new 2022 Grand Wagoneer Series III

The Jeep Wagoneer swept its categories in the Texas Truck Rodeo, winning the top prize (SUV of Texas) as well as the Full-Size Luxury SUV and Full-Size SUV categories. Perennial winner Ram 1500 took Full-Size Pickup Truck, while Ram 2500 Power Wagon walked off with Heavy Duty Pickup Truck. The Ram TRX nabbed both Luxury … Read more

Stellantis bought a bank

Stellantis has finalized its purchase of First Investors Financial Services Group and renamed it to Stellantis Financial Services US Corporation.  The move provides Stellantis with a foundation for a full-service captive finance arm, which historically has been more profitable than actually making cars. David ZatzDavid Zatz started what was to become the world’s biggest, most … Read more

Pedregon Wins in Vegas, Capps Nearly Locks Up a Mopar Title

Capps-Cruz Dodge Charger Finals

This past weekend, the funny car teams of the NHRA big leagues rolled into Las Vegas for the Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals Presented By Pennzoil – the second-to-last stop on the 2021 season schedule and the second-to-last event on the road to the championship. Dodge Chager Hellcat Redeye funny car driver Ron Capps came into this … Read more