Fix for Jeep 2.4 engines may reach other cars

2.4 liter engine oil drinking

For years, some buyers of 2.4 liter engines have been afflicted by oil use. Not all the engines had problems, which was even more puzzling; manufacturing tolerances are extremely tight, so how could it be that one person would do oil changes every ten months or 10,000 miles and never have to add any, while … Read more

Dodge Avenger, 2008-14: Now a family sedan

2011 Dodge Avenger

The original Avenger was a Hillman—and since Hillman became Chrysler Europe, re-using the  name was perfectly fine. The first Dodge Avenger was a two-door coupe, based on the Mitsubishi Galant platform. For the 2008 model year, the old four-door, midsized “cloud-car” platform was replaced by a new JS platform, based on the Mitsubishi GS platform, … Read more

Chrysler crusader likely to win his battle

frank rhodes

Frank Rhodes, Walter P. Chrysler’s great-grandson, has been battling to save the Chrysler brand for years. Chrysler has been battered and abused since the 1970s; its upscale image was diluted with thinly disguised Plymouths, and then the brand was starved of new product—the always-in-the-future Portal and Americanized Grand Commander notwithstanding. The 300 went from being … Read more

Craigslist find: 1955 Chrysler Windsor

Chrysler is down to just one traditional car now, but at one time they had a reasonably full lineup, from the Windsor up to the 300 letter-car. The Windsor was introduced back in 1939, to be one level up from the base Royal model; it started roughly where the top DeSoto left off, while the … Read more

Dodge Hellcat Production Totals for the 2020 Model Year

2020 Dodge Charger

Based on information posted online, the Dodge brand produced 6,543 Challengers and Chargers with the supercharged Hellcat Hemi during the course of the 2020 model year. This figure does not come from FCA but rather, an inside source who has responsible for all in-depth Hellcat production numbers over the past five years. In other words, … Read more

The All-New Jeep Grand Cherokee L Debuts with Three Rows of Seating

All-new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve (left) and All-new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland (right)

This morning, the Jeep brand took the wraps off of the long-rumored three-row Grand Cherokee, but this is not simply the current SUV with an extra row of seats. The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is all-new and it is far more than just a few more seats. Rebuilt from the ground-up, the Grand Cherokee … Read more

Canadian sales take a dive

Wrangler Rubicon 392

FCA Canada had a very bad 2020, taking hits almost across the board. As in the USA, the Gladiator, in its first full year, was a bright spot; sales more than doubled, going from 1,950 to 4,481. However, Jeep took a bigger hit in Canada than the USA, dropping by 22% overall; as in the … Read more

Chrysler US sales for a strange 2020

FCA US sales dropped by 17% in 2020, compared with 2019. Every brand but Alfa Romeo fell, with Fiat dropping to less than half of their already poor sales. Ram made it through with the least damage, falling by 11%; by comparison, GM truck sales rose, and Toyota trucks fell by around 3%. The ProMaster … Read more

Jeep trying to punch out of Indian niche

GME 2-liter turbo Wrangler built in Toledo

Jeep has less than a 1% market share in India, where former Willys licensee Mahindra makes inexpensive vehicles that look remarkably like the Wrangler and other popular 4x4s. Jeep’s drive to increase sales is not helped by its global premium-brand strategy. To try to change their current status as a rare niche vehicle, FCA is … Read more

Modern Street Hemi Shootout 2021 Season Preview

MSHS

While many racing associations canceled their 2020 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the crew from the Modern Street Hemi Shootout series managed to hold their entire season. They had to make some date changes to work around local emergency restrictions on crowd-based activities, but in the end, Dan VanHorn and his team were able … Read more

2009 to 2020 Dodge Journey: platform-sharing bargain crossover

2017 Dodge Journey crossover

2009: Journey Introduction Trying to fill the need for a car-like, compact-to-midsize SUV, the Dodge Journey first appeared at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show; it was launched as a 2009. Using a platform and some styling shared with the Dodger Avenger, the Journey was obviously taller, with a longer wheelbase—shorter than its cross-brand predecessor, the … Read more

What’s new for 2021?

1963 wagoneer

Jeep is finally set to sell the Grand Wagoneer and Wagoneer in the second quarter; based on the Ram, as the original Wagoneer was created with the Gladiator pickup, it should set new standards of luxury for Jeep, while, hopefully, maintaining strong off-road capability and durability. Jeep is also getting a brand new Grand Cherokee … Read more