Some time ago, we posted a story on Stellantis’ hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). That is one path forward for areas where battery-electric vehicles aren’t practical, but it’s likely Ram heavy duty pickups will have another option: Cummins 6.7 liter B-type diesels hydrogen engines.Cummins, a pioneer in diesel engines (having run them at the Indy 500), helped … Read more
FCA US was planning to let buyers “drive on sunshine,” according to a trademark filed last year.The company applied for the “drive on sunshine” trademark for “Charging stations for electric vehicles” on March 31, 2021. On May 11, 2022, a bit more than a year later, they abandoned the trademark after the U.S. Patent and … Read more
Creating a new hybrid-electric transmission (with integrated electric motors) brings up some problems and opportunities; one of the more prosaic ones is the humble parking pawl, that little bit of metal that keeps the car or truck from moving when the transmission is in Park.Typically, a notched wheel on the output shaft locks up the … Read more
Stellantis is investing around €33 million in upgrades to the Auburn Hills and Orbassano test centers. In Auburn Hills, a wind tunnel is being upgraded to have a moving ground plane. The successful Dodge Truck NASCAR effort involved, among other things, renting a moving ground plane wind tunnel. This project will cost nearly €30 million, … Read more
The NHTSA announced three new Ram and Jeep recalls today. None have caused crashes to date, but all have the potential to do so. The numbers reported below are all for United States sales only, but recalls are generally global.Recall 22V407 affects around 120,000 Ram 1500 and 2500 pickups and Ram 3500 chassis cabs (GVWR … Read more
We rarely talk about private vehicle sales, but it is rare that a legitimate low-8-second Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye hits the open market. However, that is the case here, as the gorgeous 2019 Challenger Redeye shown here, currently owned and driven by Brian Felter has run 8.0s in the quarter mile and it is … Read more
For many moons, Ken Block served as a brand ambassador of sorts for Ford Motor Company, often plugging the F-150 Raptor, but the original Hoonigan has moved onto the far-more-powerful Ram 1500 TRX. Block helped to tease the debut of the new Sandblast Edition TRX and after that new appearance package was introduced, the legendary … Read more
Sterling Stamping, which is next to the Sterling Heights Assembly truck factory but supports other plants as well, has around 2,000 hourly workers and 200 salaried workers—but that is apparently going to change. Stellantis confirmed to WXYZ of Detroit that “there will be indefinite layoffs” effective June 20. The goal is to “operate the plant … Read more
The 2022 Jeep Compass has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for 2022. There is only one rating above that, Top Safety Pick Plus. There is one caveat: the rating is only for models with LED projector or reflector headlamps when paired with high-beam assist.The Compass had the highest … Read more
Stellantis announced today, as part of an unrelated press release, that it was dropping out of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association “by the end of this year.”Most of the press release concerned a “freedom of mobility forum” planned for 2023 to “bring together a diverse pool of experts” to work on “clean, safe, and affordable” … Read more
We talk a great deal about the shockingly quick quarter mile times turned in by all of the Hemi-powered modern Mopars, but we rarely bring any attention to the folks racing Pentastar-powered cars. While the vast majority of modern Dodge buyers who want to go racing opt for a V8, the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 has … Read more
Hurricane engines, following a trend set by European designs, do not have a dipstick. Instead, an electronic sensing system warns drivers when the oil level falls.The change was likely made for three reasons: most drivers no longer check their own oil anyway, given the lack of leaks and burning in most modern cars, and many … Read more
For the seventh year in a row, Roadkill Nights by Dodge will be held in Pontiac, Michigan, and while the event technically takes place at the M1 Concourse road racing facility, the main attraction is the legal street racing program that is held on Metro Detroit’s famous Woodward Avenue.“We are marking the seventh year of … Read more
Yesterday, we brought you the formal introduction of the 2022 Ram 1500 TRX Sandblast Edition, with all but one key detail. The Ram Trucks website states that the Sandblast Edition will be available in limited quantities, but the press release doesn’t state just how many. The limited production Ignition Edition earlier this year was held … Read more
From his prison cell, where he resides after a conviction for sexual assault and rape, former producer Harvey Weinstein is suing FCA US for $5 million because, three years ago, his Jeep flipped over. He claims he has been “catastrophically injured and rendered paralyzed” and remains in pain due to the event.Weinstein claims he was … Read more
Last week, off-road racing legend Ken Block teased a new Ram truck and today, that new Ram was formally introduced as the 2022 TRX Sandblast Edition. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as the Ram Trucks consumer site seemingly posted the new package early – then removed it – but it is the … Read more
