The Jeep Cherokee, body code KM, has long been in Stellantis’ list of body codes, but there has been no official talk of the new vehicle. The KL version left production last year. The Jeep Wagoneer S is to arrive midyear, being built in Toluca, Mexico. Given body code KM49, it is clearly sharing quite a … Read more
Stellantis has announced that it is consolidating U.S. business centers from 9 to 6, laying off 30 people, to “strengthen its dealer support,” according to Reuters. The layoffs may or may not have been connected to the consolidation. Stellantis told Reuters that they were not driven by a need to cut staff. The company claimed … Read more
Stellantis did wel lin Europe in the first quarter of 2024, with a 5.4% sales increase and market share rising from 18.3% to 19.2% for the quarter. Stellantis also has a 30% total share on commercial vans, and 14% on battery-electrics—despite its CEO’s frequent litany of complaints about electric cars. Electric car sales rose by … Read more
It was a week for mildly odd recalls as 2023 Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyons were brought back for over-tightened front wheel hub bolts, 2022 Jeep Cherokees, came back for broken turn signals, and 2024 Chrysler Pacificas, including Voyagers, had an early recall for unintentional deactivation of traction control. 2024 Hyundai Santa Fes could have obstructed rear … Read more
Today’s eclipse will introduce a new Jeep Gladiator package, the Nighthawk, which adds $5,295 to the list price but brings a black highlight (lowlight?) package, all-terrain tires, and front and rear Dana 44 axles among other options. It’s available as an add-on to the base Sport model, with a total list price of $43,190 and … Read more
Ram is keeping V8s in some of its trucks—but only the BGE version, which is the 6.4 liter “truck Hemi” used in the Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups, and its chassis cabs.
The news comes today as Stellantis North America released its list of active plants. This listing confirms that the Saltillo Engine facility is the only source of Hurricane twin turbo engines…
As the Sterling Heights plant slowly ramps up 2025 Ram 1500 production, the first Rams since the 1950s to have no V8 option, it’s time to look back on the first quarter sales—from the final year of Hemi-powered Ram 1500s. GM is generally the leader in big pickup sales, combining Chevrolet and GMC. In the … Read more
Jeep (or as FCA calls it, Jeep® Brand) has breathlessly announced the new Tuscadero color, “back by demand” as it is “offered for the first time” for $895 in the US or, oddly, $695 in Canada. The color, a “deep and intense chromatic magenta,” was used in 2021, garnering over 30,000 sales; hence the “return” … Read more
Through the auto industry, during days of shortage, it was tempting for companies to jack up prices, since their dealerships were slapping on $5,000 and higher premiums for each new car sold. The difference between Stellantis and others is that they were too slow to cut the prices back again when demand fell to normal … Read more
The former Chrysler, FCA US, reported a 10% drop in first-quarter 2024 sales compared with the first quarter of 2023—despite a 2% gain in Jeeps. At Chrysler Canada, sales fell by 20%, from 40,073 to 32,197; every marque but Alfa Romeo fell, and the existing Giulia and Stelvio both fell by double digits, to just … Read more
2023 Jeep Gladiators are on sale again as the company tries to sell off the remaining off-road trucks, four months into 2024. The web site text talks of a 13% discount, while the site description, used by search engines and social media, refers to 15%—which is what Jeep was providing in February. The Gladiator was originally conceived as a specialty vehicle, with sales estimates of—based on one insider’s statements from long before it actually hit production…
The team at ISeeCars.com gathering selling prices on over 16 million vehicles to find out which have the highest markups over list (MSRP) from January 2023 to January 2024. While it may come as a shock to many Dodge buyers, neither the Charger nor the Challenger were in the list of the Top 20 most heavily marked up vehicles for 2023.
Dodge is starting a new marketing campaign for the Hornet R/T, proclaiming the importance of torque by using a man explaining engine power measurements to his inner child. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhBxBUv_YBA[/embedyt] Meanwhile, Chrysler is marking the first year of its partnership with the Autism Society of America, to support autistic drivers. Insert jokes here. Meanwhile, GM … Read more
Recently, we posted a story on thousands of Stellantis layoffs. The reactions on social media were mostly knee-jerk slams of President Biden, the UAW, and “woke.”The people posting on Facebook couldn’t be expected to know that the layoffs were in Italy; they didn’t even read the entire headline, much less go to Stellpower to read … Read more
According to rumors in Auburn Hills, a second engine is planned for these trucks. It, too, would be an inline six-cylinder, but engineered specifically for truck engines. The new engine is rumored to be larger—3.7 liters—and to have a more traditional design, other than an odd 30° tilt. A source within Engineering told us that it was tilted over to make room for accessories on the side so that it could fit into smaller engine bays; and to provide space for a better air path, increasing its efficiency.
This week’s recalls were dominated by Ford again, with one recall affecting one vehicle (with two nameplates) at Chrysler. 2024 Mustangs may have leaking fuel lines (yet another fire risk); 2023 Bronco Sports and Mavericks have bad tires; and 2023-24 Transit tires may rub against the wheel liner.