Many recall the original Dodge Tomahawk concept motorcycle, which ended up being sold with few changes as “rolling sculptures” through Neiman-Marcus during a bizarre period of Mopar history. The motorcycle certainly caught the public imagination, but after the copies were sold off, it seemed like the Viper-powered three-wheeler was forgotten within Auburn Hills. That was … Read more
FCA US’ market share has increased in the first half of 2022, as competitors lost more ground than Stellantis’ US group. So far in 2022, every automaker other than Tesla and Polestar has lost sales, in some cases by rather serious margins (Nissan dropped by 32%, for example). The former Chrysler brands, coupled with slow-selling … Read more
The American automotive industry is in a slump that doesn’t seem likely to end any time soon and with gas prices around the country reaching new record highs every week, big, powerful vehicles with thirsty engines are becoming less desirable to many drivers. Fortunately, there are still plenty of Americans who would rather pay more … Read more
In Canada, a country where Chrysler has traditionally enjoyed its highest market shares, second-quarter sales of Stellantis products rose by 17% over the same period in 2021—and retail sales rose by 18%, showing that the gains were not due to aggressive fleet sales. Overall, for the first half, FCA Canada sales rose by 4% to … Read more
GM had a relatively good second quarter, dropping by just 11% from Q2 2021—which is about half the drop of the US car market as a whole, excluding Ford, which has yet to report it. To a degree this goodness was purchased with the highest incentives—but FCA US was a close second, with both in … Read more
Toyota became a legend for its control of manufacturing quality and supply chains. Stellantis is a new beast, including FCA US, which is notorious among suppliers for its stinginess. On the other end, Toyota also went through years of running on fumes in its engineering departments, while FCA US pushed forward in exciting customers. Who dominated … Read more
Every time a car company puts out its sales figures, there will be some oddball vehicles on there—mainly, cars that have long been discontinued. They might have been used as loaners, or been subject to financial or legal issues, or perhaps even forgotten about—or the dealer may have been stubborn about getting at least what … Read more
FCA US reported a drop in sales for the second quarter (April through June) of 2022, compared with Q2 2021. Fleet sales rose as a percentage of the total, as retail sales fell by 24% and total sales fell by just 16%. Despite this, FCA US actually did well against its peers and may have … Read more
If you are familiar with the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, you know that unfriendly weather is a very real hazard for the legendary event. The Race to the Clouds takes place in Colorado Springs, with this famous stretch of road offering 156 turns over the course of 12.42 miles. The elevation at the starting … Read more
The Trenton Engine plant has two sections, North and South, sharing a parking lot and location near I-75 and MI-85, close to the Detroit River. Since the complex only makes engines and parts which are expected to be phased out, some believed the historic plant’s days were numbered. Instead, Stellantis is planning to spend $25 … Read more
Today, Jeep announced a number of changes to the Grand Cherokee lineup, which is now entirely on the WL platform. The heftiest change is making the 4xe plugin hybrid setup standard on the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, a decision many probably did not see coming. The 4xe provides the power of a V8 (375 hp, 470 … Read more
This morning, Dodge announced a new social media campaign titled “HWY 93” and it is the latest effort by the brand to showcase the enthusiasts who help create “The Brotherhood of Muscle”. In fact, the HWY 93 program will lead to a national advertising campaign later this year titled “The Real Brotherhood of Muscle”. So … Read more
In the past, former Chrysler brands have tended to be either in the top or the bottom of the J.D. Power listings, but for 2022, they are literally all over it. Dodge was just below Buick as the second most reliable car; Chrysler was below even Tesla at the other end of the scale. Indeed, … Read more
When Chrysler was having its renaissance in the 1990s, breaking stereotypes and barriers, Tom Gale was trying to find a flagship car to represent each of the brands. Dodge had the Viper; Jeep already had the Wrangler; and Plymouth would have the Prowler. Chrysler was his one failure; he never nailed down the brand that … Read more
A €50 million equity purchase in Vulcan Energy Resources, making Stellantis its second largest shareholder, will help the Australian mining company expand operations in Germany. The money will be spent on expanding Vulcan’s Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field project, which produces geothermal energy and lithium brine. Moving forward, Vulcan will produce lithium hydroxide without using fossil … Read more
This morning, Dodge announced that the Roadkill Nights event in Metro Detroit will be a part of what the brand is calling Dodge Speed Week – starting on August 12th and finishing up on August 20th – with 3 days of worldwide product reveals in the middle. We don’t know exactly what will be introduced … Read more