Pacifica to stick with two shifts, planned cuts canceled

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 plant … Read more

Dodge Hornet: Compliance Vehicle or Rebirth of the SRT4?

Neon SRT4 engine

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.

Cry Havoc and let loose the supercharged Ram TRX

2023 Ram 1500 TRX Havoc Edition

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.

2023 Dodge Challenger and Charger Production has Begun

2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock

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: Please, please, please get your Dodge and Chrysler airbags replaced!

2008 Dodge Challenger SRT

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. 

Next-gen muscle and the case for performance crossovers

Dodge Charger Daytona Banshee

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.

Hello, STLA Medium? Belvidere plant and the 2025 tax breaks

Belvidere plant

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.

Info on How to Order a 2023 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack with a Manual Transmission

Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Interior

Last week, we talked about the fact that the 6-speed manual transmission is not yet available for order for the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, even though several outlets ran stories claiming otherwise. If you missed that piece, click here for more detail on ordering a supercharged Challenger with a clutch pedal.That piece proved to … Read more

Charger/Durango police car shifter-assembly recall

2022 Dodge Durango police pursuit car (squad)

A rather small number of Chargers and Durangos may slip from Drive to Neutral unexpectedly, possibly causing a crash, according to NHTSA recall 22V866. The problem is a shifter assembly which was not properly heat treated, and the solution, unsurprisingly, is replacing the assembly…

Goodbye, Cherokee: Belvidere plant being idled “indefinitely”

Belvidere plant

Earlier this year, Stellpower noted that the Cherokee would be leaving in mid-2023. It seems mid-2023 is coming early this year, with Stellantis choosing to idle the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois on February 28, 2023. That is the only factory making Cherokees—and Cherokees are all the factory makes.The news was just reported by Automotive … Read more

Mopar Flashback Friday: Introducing the New 1968 Dodge Charger

1968 Dodge Charger

The Dodge Charger was introduced as its own model line for the 1966 model year, and while the ‘66 and ‘67 models sold well enough, the debut of the second generation for the 1968 model year really led to the boom in popularity for the legendary nameplate.As we all know, the second generation Charger, offered … Read more