2012 Dodge Challenger Srt-8 on 2040-cars

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Dodge brings Charger Widebody 'concept' to Spring Fest

Last week we asked if an Instagram user had really seen a Dodge Charger Widebody cruising suburban Detroit. The answer is yes, he had. Dodge brought its Charger Widebody concept to Spring Fest 14, a celebration of everything built on Chrysler's LX platform. Note the use of the word "concept," and a Fiat Chrysler spokesperson telling journos, "We are taking a Charger design concept to Spring Fest to gauge feedback from the huge Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Chrysler 300 enthusiast base that attends the California event each year." Mark Trostle, head of design for Dodge and SRT, shared a few snaps of the Charger Widebody to Instagram. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Now ignore the word "concept." Of course a thing isn't done until it's done, but two years ago a thread on Charger Forums mused on a Photoshop of the sedan as a widebody. User ResumeSpeed chimed in to say, "Rear is not accurate as it's being revised. 2020 model year. Two Charger WB models: Hellcat and 392 Scat Pack." Fast forward to February of this year when Mopar Insider said its sources confirmed a thick-hipped Charger R/T Scat Pack and Hellcat with "drastically different looking front and rear fascias." Then, earlier this month, Allpar received a slide from what looks like an internal Dodge presentation explaining the "2020 Dodge Charger Hellcat Wide Body." The sedan in the slide looks almost exactly like the "concept." And now this. They even designed it with the Dodge Durango SRT grille treatment, which seems like a logical part of that 2020 revision. Giving the Charger a nip and tuck, a little more tire, and a $6,000 surcharge similar to the Challenger Widebody makes too much sense to merely toy with and then file away. Check out this video for a complete walkaround, and stay tuned.

Dodge Journey and Fiat Freemont engine-cover recall affects 350k CUVs

FCA is recalling 349,731 examples of the 2011-2015 Dodge Journey and Fiat Freemont worldwide to better secure their engine covers. Of these affected vehicles, there are 144,416 in the US, 43,679 in Canada, 46,231 in Mexico, and 115,405 elsewhere. About 10 percent of them are also still at dealers, according to the automaker. Only models with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine are affected by this campaign. According to the company, the engine covers on these vehicles can be dislodged, and this can pose a fire risk if the loose part comes in contact with hot exhaust components. Warning signs of this happening include a noise under the hood, burning smell or a light on the instrument panel. The problem was discovered after three incidents on rough roads in Chile, and there was one minor injury there. According to FCA US spokesperson Eric Mayne to Autoblog, there have been eight occurrences of this issue reported in the US, but these were all related to "heat damage." There have been no reported injuries here. To fix the problem, dealers will install new engine-cover retainers on the affected models. These repairs will begin in August. As always for recall repairs, owners won't be charged. Statement: Engine Cover July 22, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is voluntarily recalling an estimated 144,416 crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) in the U.S. to better secure their engine covers. Engine covers in certain vehicles may become dislodged. If they come in contact with exhaust components, it may pose a fire risk. This condition was discovered during an FCA US investigation of three incidents in Chile. In each case, the vehicle had been driven extensively on unpaved or uneven surfaces. The Company is aware of a single related injury, described as minor. Affected are 2011-2015 Dodge Journey and Fiat Freemont CUVs equipped with 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engines. FCA US will install upgraded engine-cover retainers in these vehicles. The remedy will be available when customer notification begins next month; service will be performed free of charge. Vehicles equipped with six-cylinder engines are not affected. Additional Journey and Freemont populations also are subject to this campaign. They comprise an estimated 43,679 vehicles in Canada; 46,231 in Mexico; and 115,405 outside the NAFTA region. Of the 349,731 total vehicles subject to this campaign, approximately 10 percent remain in dealer hands.

FCA and Cummins named in diesel emissions class-action lawsuit

Chrysler is now the first United States-based carmaker to be sued for allegedly skewing emissions results. In a move that sounds eerily similar to the troubles of European manufacturers, Chrysler is claimed to have hid diesel engine characteristics causing emissions as much as 14 times higher than permitted by regulations. According to Bloomberg, the lawsuit alleges that Chrysler, together with its diesel engine partner Cummins, has concealed the nitrogen oxide output of certain Ram vehicles produced between 2007 and 2012. The NOx pollutants were meant to be broken down in a process called regeneration in the truck's NAC system, or NOx Absorption Catalyst, which predated the 2013-introduced SCR, or Selective Catalytic Reduction system. By design, the NAC captures and stores NOx emissions, converting them to nitrogen and oxygen through a catalytic process. The lawsuit claims the Cummins engine's system has a limited capacity to store the emissions, and as a result the pollutants escape, increasing emissions, worsening fuel consumption and wearing down the catalytic converter. The later, cleaner SCR system uses a urea-water injection, and it gradually replaced the NAC on Cummins 6.7-liter engines, as it was first implemented in 2011 and made standard in 2013. As Bloomberg notes, the model years of Ram trucks involved in the lawsuit predate the earliest Volkswagen "Dieselgate" models by two years. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 500,000 truck owners, accuses Chrysler and Cummins of fraud, false advertising and racketeering. As an underlying motive, the filing mentions a 2001 change in EPA emissions standards. Announced to become effective in 2010, the EPA requirements drove Chrysler and Cummins to try and reach those already by 2007. However, the NAC system is said to have fallen short of these goals, and the filing claims that Chrysler and Cummins chose to "rig" the engines instead. The affected vehicles predate the 2014 merger of Chrysler and Fiat. FCA US has released a statement regarding the lawsuit, saying it will contest the lawsuit "vigorously". News Source: BloombergImage Credit: Getty Editorial Government/Legal Green Chrysler Dodge RAM Emissions Diesel Vehicles FCA cummins diesel