Jeep launched the European Gladiator in 2021; the pickup was exclusively diesel-powered, a position which was already somewhat difficult when it was launched, and which has increasingly become untenable. Diesel sales have been falling in Europe since the Volkswagen scandal spread to other automakers, with its place apparently taken by hybrids and full-electric cars. The latter finally overtook diesels recently.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) recently issued the whole vehicle theft loss report for the 2020 through 2022 model years and the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is officially the most stolen car in the United States. According to this report, the Hellcat Charger is 60 times more … Read more
Ford is recalling its 2023 “Super Duty” F-250 and F-350 pickups because the left rear axle shaft may break, which can cause loss of power or vehicle rollaway. The recall affects 41,555 trucks in the US. Ford is also recalling the 2023 Edge because the right-side headlight is too bright; and the 2023 Explorer because the turbo oil line may be damaged. Ah, one more Ford recall: various Ford and Lincoln vehicles from 2018 to 2023 (Navigator, Aviator, Transit, Bronco) may lose their rear view camera image.
Speculation. When I read about the STLA Medium platform and saw the segment breakdown, one of my first thoughts was the return of the small Mopar performance vehicles. The article mentioned the Neon, Stratus, and Sebring, but my mind went straight to the return of the Dodge Dart.The last Dodge Dart had a great deal … Read more
The 2024 Grand Caravan continues, but only in Canada, where it is a lower-cost version of the Pacifica. For 2024, new colors are the opposing Baltic Grey and Red Hot.In the United States, changes range from clever to minor:Emergency vehicle alerts in UConnect give drivers cluster and touch-screen notices of active fire trucks, ambulances, and … Read more
UConnect (or “Maserati Intelligent Assistant”) is adding some new features in the 2024s.Hybrid-electric (and future battery-electric) vehicles have dynamic range mapping which, when the navigation system is used, can predict range on particular roads with existing traffic. It provides alerts if recharging will be needed and shows available stations. Charging schedules can be managed in-car … Read more
Early this morning, we brought you the news of the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, but since receiving a few questions about the rest of the lineup, we have put together this quick piece detailing the engine options and trim levels for the roomy SUV. In short, very little has changed for the 2024 model year … Read more
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and Charger SRT Hellcat might be gone from the 2024 lineup, but Dodge announced today that the 710 horsepower Durango SRT Hellcat is still available for 2024, giving members of the Brotherhood of Muscle a chance to buy a new supercharged Hemi for at least one more year.
The 2024 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is mostly unchanged from 2023, and still includes the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8. With 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque, the Durango Hellcat is the “most powerful SUV on the planet,” boasting a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds, quarter mile time of 11.5 seconds, and a top speed of 180 miles per hour. The quick-shifting 8-speed automatic and advanced all-wheel-drive system make these acceleration numbers easily repeatable; it is also a fine SUV for wet or snowy conditions, making it the perfect Dodge Hellcat vehicle for year-round use.
Jeep® is celebrating 70 years of extreme off-roading this summer. 450 Jeep enthusiasts and their families and friends, driving 125 Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators, celebrated with a special event on the Rubicon Trail’s seven-decade anniversary.Jim Morrison, senior vice president and head of Jeep North America, wrote, “Conquering the Rubicon Trail is tangible proof that these … Read more
The first Chrysler PHEV, the Pacifica, was not quite as large a success as the Wrangler 4xe system; but it provided a remarkably fuel-efficient minivan and beat Toyota’s Sienna Hybrid to the punch by years. The Windsor (Ontario) plant which makes all Chrysler minivans has now produced the 100,000th PHEV, nearly seven years after production … Read more
Today, Jeep announced that the 2024 Compass would have standard 4×4, rather than keeping a base front-drive model. A single engine is available, the 2-liter turbo with 200 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, both claimed as best in class; it is hooked up to an eight-speed automatic.The top trim model adds semi-autonomous driving, parking … Read more
The five millionth Jeep Wrangler has been sold to a customer in Camden, New Jersey: a 2023 4xe Rubicon 20th Anniversary. Jeep is rewarding the customer with $5,000 in Jeep Performance Parts and a lifetime of Jeep Wave benefits.The first Wrangler, which followed the long-selling “Civilian Jeep” CJ series, launched in 1986 as a 1987 … Read more
Today, Ram announced the 2024 Ram 1500 TRX Final Edition, the last Ram to have the “Hellcat” supercharged 6.2 liter V8 engine.
It will apparently not be the final TRX, as Tim Kuniskis, head of Dodge and Ram, said or wrote, “This current chapter…
This past weekend, the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) headed to Summit Raceway Park in scenic Norwalk, Ohio for the All-American Nationals and it was a great weekend for the Dodge Challenger Drag Pak teams in the Holley EFI Super Cars class. That class, which had a full field of 16 competitors for eliminations, was … Read more
Stellantis has been sending what some would call mixed signals lately, creating a brand new twin-turbo I-6 engine at the same time as it invests heavily in two North American battery plants (a promised third one was not yet been sited). In point of fact, the company is following its previously announced strategy of selling both internal-combustion and electric vehicles in the US, Canada, and Mexico—a strategy expected to see a 50/50 sales ratio of the two vehicle types in the calendar-year 2030.
Stellantis had no entries in this past week’s recall list, though a massive investigation last week may come back to haunt them. In the meantime, recalls ran the gamut from engine failures in the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas to BMWs which stay silent rather than chiming when the driver fails to attach their seat belts—a problem … Read more
