2010 Chrysler Town And Country on 2040-cars

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Recharge Wrap-up: Fiat 500X EV spotted? Senators request biodiesel increase

A group of 32 senators is asking the EPA to approve increased biodiesel volumes in the Renewable Fuel Standard. Delays in approving the RFS for 2014 forward is causing problems for the fuel produces affected by the law. "EPA's delays are endangering our industry," says Imperium Renewables CEO John Plaza. "Biofuel facilities around the nation are sitting idle, workers are being laid off, and some producers have been forced out of business entirely." Producers feel the EPA is underestimating domestic biodiesel production, and are concerned about importing fuel from Argentina. Read more in the press release below. Fiat Chrysler will help Israel develop a natural gas vehicle. The automaker, along with Iveco and Magneti Marelli, signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel's Prime Minister's Office as part of the Israel Fuel Choices Initiative. They are also considering extended research and development relationship with Israeli companies for alternative fuels and smart mobility. Israel seeks to become a hub for alternative fuel technology. Read more at Hybrid Cars. Spy photos suggest Fiat might build an electric 500X as a compliance car for California. The photos, sent by a reader to Green Car Reports, show a camouflaged Fiat 500X that appears to lack a tailpipe, suggesting it could be an EV. It was photographed on its way to Chrysler's SRT Engineering Center, which builds specialized, low-volume vehicles. The gas-powered 500X debuted in North America at the Los Angeles Auto Show last fall, so camouflage seems a bit unusual at this point if it's just a standard powertrain. It's possible the car could be sold mainly in California to comply with the state's zero-emissions requirements for automakers. Read more and see the photos at Green Car Reports. 32 U.S. Senators urge EPA to approve increased biodiesel volumes Imperium Renewables applauds Senators' action SEATTLE, Feb. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A bipartisan group of 32 U.S. senators, including Washington state's Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to move quickly in approving strong biodiesel volumes under the nation's Renewable Fuel Standards. The senators expressed concern about the agency's delays in implementing the RFS standards for 2014, 2015 and 2016, noting that the delays have created tremendous uncertainty for the U.S.

Fiat Chrysler's profit boosted by Ram and Jeep in North America

MILAN/DETROIT — Fiat Chrysler took the market by surprise by sticking to its full-year profit guidance on Wednesday after a strong performance from its Ram pickup truck in North America helped it defy an industry slowdown. Chief Executive Mike Manley, in FCA's first earnings release since a failed attempt to merge with France's Renault, also left the door open to that or other deals. "We are open to opportunity," Manley said on a call with analysts. "I have no doubt why there still would be interest in it," he added, when pressed on what it would take to revive talks with Renault. Manley declined to comment further. FCA last month abandoned its $35 billion merger offer for Renault, blaming French politics for scuttling what would have been a landmark deal to create the world's third-biggest automaker. Manley said a merger was not a must-have and Fiat Chrysler's business plan was strong. The company said it remained confident its adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) would top last year's 6.7 billion euros ($7.5 billion). Given disappointing forecasts from other automakers this earnings season, FCA's confirmation of the outlook sent Milan-listed shares in the Italian-American automaker, whose other brands include Jeep, up over 4%. A broad-based auto sales downturn has rattled the sector, forcing FCA's competitors — including Renault, Daimler and Aston Martin — to cut their sales forecasts after second-quarter results, while U.S. carmaker Ford gave a weaker-than-expected 2019 profit outlook. Japan's Nissan, a long-term partner of Renault, said it would cut 12,500 jobs by 2023 after its earnings collapsed. In the second quarter FCA's adjusted EBIT totaled 1.52 billion euros, versus analysts' expectations of 1.43 billion euros, according to a Reuters poll. FCA's U.S. shipments were down 12% in the second quarter but the group said that the successful performance of its Ram brand resulted in an enhanced share of the large pickup truck market of 27.9%, up 7 percentage points from last year. Adjusted EBIT margin in North America rose to 8.9% from 6.5% in the first quarter, thanks to strong demand for the heavy-duty Ram and the new Jeep Gladiator pickup. Chief Financial Officer Richard Palmer also said FCA expected to report up to 10% margins in the region in both the third and fourth quarters.

Chrysler 100 hatchback caught cruising around Santa Monica

A coming hatchback said to be called the Chrysler 100 has been caught on video traipsing around Santa Monica by Autoblog reader Zach Dillman. Still wearing the scrapyard assemblage of Alfa Romeo Giulietta body panels as it was when spy photographers began capturing it last summer, its arrival date is still a question mark: some outlets have reported that it will go on sale this year, others have said it won't be in showrooms until 2016.
In fact, quite a few questions remain. Based on Fiat's Compact US Wide (CUSW) platform that supports the Dodge Dart and expected to be about the same size, the 100 is thought to be a small premium hatchback that will be priced above the Dart and below the Chrysler 200, with the idea that it can challenge the Ford Focus and Hyunda Elantra at the value end and the Buick Verano and Acura ILX at the premium end. Word is that there will be no sedan version.
It looks like there'll be plenty of gewgaws inside, with buttons for Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning and a button to toggle the traction control.