Social media is abuzz with an Australian site’s story, “Jeep confirms death of the V8 engine,” posted on July 23. Since most readers don’t go past the headline, though, they are missing a key point: Jeep is not saying that V8s are going away any time soon. The quote in question was Christian Meunier, global … Read more
The Chrysler Pacifica has had a tough sales year, due to parts shortages, while the new Toyota Sienna has surged ahead. Good Housekeeping has, though, rated the Pacifica PHEV above the Sienna, which is only available as a hybrid starting with 2021. While they preferred the Sienna’s gas mileage, they really liked the Pacifica’s space and … Read more
Last night, a black 2021 Ram 1500 TRX became the first to crack into the 10-second barrier on a quarter mile drag strip. While other owners have recorded 10-second quarter mile times on phone apps, this is the first TRX to run 10s on a sanctioned drag strip with a proper laser-based timing system. We … Read more
Stellantis released three stories recently, one noting that the company had arranged for a $12 billion credit facility—always handy, one showing CEO Carlos Tavares on tour, and another announcing that Stellantis’ design facilities are available for consulting by companies inside and outside of the automotive business. The second part takes a little explanation. Automakers often … 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
If you own a 2020-2021 Dodge Challenger or Charger, or a Chrysler 300, you may have one of 21,258 vehicles (in the USA—there are a couple thousand more in the rest of the world) whose windshields may come out during a crash. Recall Y47 (NHTSA 21V516000) has the dealers take out the windshield and reapply … Read more
This past weekend, the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series headed to Colorado for the Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals Presented By Pennzoil. This year hasn’t been as great as past years for the Don Schumacher Racing team, coming into the race at Bandimere without a win in Funny Car or Factory Stock Showdown. The team’s … Read more
Stellantis’ Chief Technology Officer (CTO) will be Nedžad Curić (Ned Curic), starting on August 30, 2021. Ned is currently a vice president of Alexa Automotive, an Amazon company using Android; he built up Amazon’s automotive business and technology from 2017 to 2021. From 2015 to 2017, he was an executive vice president at Toyota Connected; … Read more
At the temporary end of a road near Chrysler’s own Trenton engine plant stands the Feldman dealership. It’s not famous, but it carries Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, and, now in a differently-styled but connected wing, Jeep. Chrysler, Dodge, and Ram are all done up in the millennium styling theme insisted upon by the late Sergio Marchionne, … Read more
The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is the Hemi-powered off-road that many Jeepers have been asking for over the past few decades and with 470 horsepower, the call for V8 power was answered in a very proper manner. The Rubicon 392 is a high performance beast, serving as the most exciting factory-built Wrangler I have ever … Read more
Last month, we introduced you to the Xtreme Recon package for the Jeep Wrangler, which gives the legendary SUV the best off-road specs in the segment. At the ongoing Chicago Auto Show, the price of the Xtreme Recon package was part of the Jeep news onslaught. Giving your new Jeep Wrangler the best approach angle, … Read more
The 2022 Jeep Compass was introduced yesterday at the Chicago Auto Show with some changes that should go a long way in helping to draw more customers to the compact SUV. On the outside, we have the relatively basic, evolutionary changes that we would expect from a mid-cycle refresh, but the interior changes are substantial, … Read more
The Jeep Wrangler is not for everyone, but it has always been a perfect version of itself. Dating back to the 1960s when it was known as the CJ, the “original Jeep” has always been the most off-road capable production vehicle on the road while also offering the open-air freedom like no other vehicle on … Read more
There are few new vehicles sold in the world with a more iconic exterior design than the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator. Both of these vehicles showcase an overall shape that has been in place for decades, dating back to the very first military Jeeps. This includes the boxy design and the flat, vertical windshield which … Read more
Today, Ram introduced a new BackCountry Edition of the popular Ram 1500 Big Horn and Lone Star, which will be shown this week at the Chicago Auto Show. Ram chief Mike Koval Jr. wrote, “Ram 1500 BackCountry will resonate positively with customers who live an active lifestyle,” thanks to its robust off-road features. The 2022 Ram 1500 … Read more
Toyota has a brand new Sienna minivan this year, and while it comes only as a hybrid and starts at a higher cost than the Voyager, many buyers will find it to be the only game in town. Honda still makes the Odyssey, and Kia the Carnival, but Chrysler’s Pacifica/Voyager are down for the count … Read more