A track-ready Jeep for the performance-minded driver. Think “Grand Cherokee” and all kinds of terms may come to mind. Premium SUV. Capable off-road navigator. Competent towing machine. We should add “road beast” to that list, especially when considering the specialty and high-end Grand Cherokee SRT. The SRT is not a … Read more
FCA’s sales streak should continue with minivans providing an unlikely contribution. Car manufacturers track sales carefully, using monthly statistics to measure progress. Any month-over-month change falling outside of expected parameters can result in a change in strategy, including short-term production output, what incentives are offered to consumers, and a host … Read more
Where is Fiat Chrysler Automobile taking the Ram brand? A large SUV is under consideration, what could bring sales and big profits to this truck-based marque. Ever since Fiat Chrysler Automobiles separated Ram from Dodge to form a distinct brand, enthusiasts have wondered if additional products might eventually join the … Read more
The Fiat brand has this 500X crossover in its portfolio. It must be tough sitting in a meeting of Fiat Chrysler brand heads, especially if your brand is underperforming. Sixty-eight straight months of year-over-year sales improvements puts an enormous pressure on executives to succeed. Sure, the streak will someday … Read more
Pentastar is the name of Fiat Chrsyler’s modern V-6 engine family. The engines are found in more than a dozen models, and power a variety of vehicles. To date, more than 5 million of these engines have been deployed worldwide. The Jeep Grand Cherokee was the first FCA model with … Read more
Rumors of a possible Fiat Chrysler (FCA) alliance with another automaker have been circulating for the past several months. That’s understandable as FCA chairman Sergio Marchionne has iterated that his company’s best chance for long-term survival may be tied with the fortunes of another automaker. Highly-regarded Reuters is one of … Read more
The eastern half of the nation has had quite a winter, with record cold, significant snows and paralyzing ice storms extending deep into the south. Despite the difficult conditions, consumers visited US showrooms in strong numbers, helping to propel February 2015 auto sales in a positive direction. Truck sales paced … Read more
4×4 fun in a Toyota 4Runner. Sixty models came and went in 2014. Those 60 represented my weekly drivers, an array of utility vehicles, coupes, sedans, sports cars, pickup trucks and vans that I had the pleasure (or misfortune) of driving. All joking aside, even the most sedate of the … Read more
Imagining Fiat Chrysler as part of the Volkswagen Collective. Speculation about a possible blockbuster Volkswagen Fiat Chrysler merger has come up again. Last summer, Volkswagen and Fiat flatly denied that they were discussing a merger, despite a high-level meeting between key executives. This week, former Hyundai CEO John Krafcik speculated … Read more
Toyota is saying “good-bye” to its FJ Cruiser in a big way. To mark the end of this utility vehicle’s 8-year model run, it launched a special “Ultimate” edition in Jan. Instead of the usual solid color body with a white roof, this edition features a white grille and Heritage … Read more
There are countless ways to customize a 4×4: lifts, tires, shocks, light bars, armor – and that isn’t even touching on what you can do under the hood. With many modifications, a cursory Google search will turn up some ideas on the best build for a specific type of wheeling. … Read more
By CJ Bantam A twin traction beam (TTB) from a full-size Bronco is an offbeat suspension to include when you’re doing a ’98 Jeep Cherokee XJ Desert Pre-runner build. But it’s even quirkier when the ones doing it are twin brothers. “My brother and I are a lot alike and … Read more
If you are looking for an informal meetup of car enthusiasts, then a Cars and Coffee event is the place to go. This past Sat., I happened upon the local gathering in Cary, NC, featuring more than 100 vintage, classic, exotic, Asian, European and American models. A Chevy Bel Air … Read more
Dodge is R.I.P. At least that is the contention of some followers. Its also the rumor put forth by at least one of the seedier outposts on the Internet, something that SRT boss, Ralph Gilles, has declared will not happen. That being said, the Dodge brand is in transition as are the other … Read more
In a driver’s search for improved gas mileage and more value, the hidden benefits of a manual transmission often get overlooked. Through extensive research, automotive technologists and experts have found that a stick shift can improve gas mileage by a notable two to five miles per gallon compared to an … Read more
Say good-bye to Ally Financial and hello to Chrysler Capital. Earlier this week, the Chrysler Group forged an agreement with Santander Consumer USA Inc. to provide comprehensive financial services to all Chrysler Group and FIAT dealers. The agreement will yield the first loans under the newly minted Chrysler Capital brand … Read more