Since the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept debuted back at the Speed Week event in Pontiac, Michigan, that muscular battery electric vehicle has been the focus of all speculation on the future of the Dodge brand. We know that the current Charger will be discontinued after 2023 and it seems like the sexy BEV – … Read more
UConnect has long been a competitive advantage for Chrysler, then FCA, and now (some) Stellantis vehicles; but as Apple and Google cut into the automakers’ turf, it might not be as large an advantage in the future. UConnect has generally been the top-rated, or at least one of the top-rated, telematics systems, albeit with some … Read more
In battery-electric vehicles, it’s common to have two motors, one for the front wheels and one for the rear wheels; but Stellantis may be the first to have patented a disconnection system for electric cars, to increase range. The idea allows for wheels to continue to generate power from braking, but to only be driven when needed, for the ultimate in electric-vehicle efficiency.
When Dodge first introduced their plans to offer the next generation Charger Daytona as an all-electric vehicle, the brand didn’t provide any performance numbers, but they did say that it would beat the current Hellcat cars in every performance metric. That essentially means that the Dodge EV would be able to cover the quarter mile … Read more
It has been reported by multiple outlets and confirmed by the Jeep brand that the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is not available in the 2023 Grand Cherokee in its shorter, two-row form. The only engine available in the “Build and Price” feature on the Jeep website for the Grand Cherokee is the 3.6-liter V6, although the … Read more
This week, no Stellantis vehicles were included in the NHTSA’s weekly roundup of recent relevant recalls. The same can’t be said for other automakers, with Mercedes perhaps having the most embarassing-sounding recall: the S500 can have an “insufficiently attached dashboard.” In addition, GLE and GLS models may have a loss of steering, AMG G63s can … Read more
The Windsor, Ontario plant which makes Chrysler Pacifica minivans will stay on two shifts, according to a recent company announcement, dropping plans to cut one shift. The minivan, sold in gasoline and PHEV forms, has varied in popularity over time, and the plant itself has had numerous temporary shutdowns due to parts shortages. The Windsor … Read more
In Hornet R/T spec, the Dodge crossover manages a combined peak hp rating of 285hp and 383lb-ft of torque from a 1.3L turbo engine. With just the gasoline engine, peak power is 260hp.
To put that into perspective, the last SRT4 (2.4L) produced 285hp and 265lb-ft of torque; the Pentastar V6 in the Charger and Challenger puts out 292hp and 264lb-ft of torque.
Jeep® is bringing back the Wrangler High Tide and Wrangler Jeep Beach special-edition models to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Jeep Beach in Daytona Beach, Florida. The 2023 Jeep Wrangler High Tide will be open for orders this month with deliveries expected “to arrive in time for next April’s Jeep Beach week.” The cost is … Read more
The 2023 Ram 1500 TRX Havoc Edition, in Baja Yellow, will provide a paint color that matches the performance of the TRX’s 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI® V-8 engine. It starts with the TRX Level 2 Equipment Group and adds Baja Yellow, 18-inch black beadlock-capable wheels, a dual pane panoramic sunroof, spray-in bedliner, cargo tie-downs, bed step, and cab-mounted LED brake light.
Production of the 2023 model year Dodge Challenger and Charger is officially underway at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Canada, marking the “beginning of the end” for the final year of the current Mopar muscle cars. Word of 2023 production first surfaced online last week, but on Friday, a Dodge representative confirmed that production of the new model year Challenger and Charger had started at the Canadian plant.
FCA issued an “urgent need for service” to recalcitrant Mopar owners who are apparently refusing to get their old and increasingly dangerous airbags replaced.
While Chrysler used far fewer Takata airbags than most other major automakers, they did use them in numerous cars. In this case, the company is urgently asking owners of 2005-2010 Chrysler 300s and Dodge Magnums, Challengers, and Chargers to let their dealers know they have the cars. The dealers will then tow them to the dealership.
The automotive world is going through a metamorphosis as we move into the EV Era. We are going to see may more electric models from all of the brands, including the Mopars.
Another trend that is quickly rising, especially in the American performance car segment, is adding “sub-brands” using the performance-car names. Ford has the Mach E crossover and GM will have Camaro and Corvette sub-brands, with a crossover Corvette. Dodge has not yet announced something of this nature, though Jeep has a luxury Wagoneer sub-brand.
Dodge recently shocked many with the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Banshee EV concept at Speed Week, a massive, noisy muscle coupe that received a lot of feedback, both positive and negative, from Mopar enthusiasts and many outside of the Mopar world alike. The big coupe is genuinely a standout in both looks and sound, but it operates in a rapidly shrinking market.
We have been getting lots of questions lately pertaining to the launch of the Build and Price feature for the 2023 model year Dodge Challenger, Charger and Durango, but sadly, we do not know for sure when that information will go live. Fortunately, the Ram Trucks website does have the Build and Price section for … Read more
Jeep sales have dropped in Europe, from 119,379 so far in 2021 to 91,331 so far in 2022, bringing market share from 1.1% to 0.9%. For Stellantis as a whole, sales are down from 2.2 million to 1.9 million, year to date; market share has dropped from 20.3% to 18.6%.
Stellantis announced recently that it would idle the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, which makes Jeep Cherokees, on February 28, 2023. While Stellantis blamed the idling of Belvidere on multiple factors, including COVID-19, the microchip shortage, and electrification, a gap between the build-out of the existing Cherokee and its replacement was inevitable. U.S. Cherokee sales for the first nine months of 2022 were just 30,852, nowhere near enough to justify its existence when the Compass and Grand Cherokee were reasonable bookends.
A set of Illinois tax breaks targeting EV production will go into effect in 2025, and that is likely when the plant will reopen to make new vehicles based on STLA Medium or STLA Large.