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Ford, Stellantis workers join those at GM in ratifying contract that ended UAW strikes

DETROIT — The United Auto Workers union overwhelmingly ratified new contracts with Ford and Stellantis, that along with a similar deal with General Motors will raise pay across the industry, force automakers to absorb higher costs and help reshape the auto business as it shifts away from gasoline-fueled vehicles. Workers at Stellantis, the maker of Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles, voted 68.8% in favor of the deal. Their approval brought to a close a contentious labor dispute that included name-calling and a series of punishing strikes that imposed high costs on the companies and led to significant gains in pay and benefits for UAW workers. The deal at Stellantis passed by a roughly 10,000 vote margin, with ballot counts ending Saturday afternoon. Workers at Ford voted 69.3% in favor of the pact, which passed with nearly a 15,000-vote margin in balloting that ended early Saturday. Earlier this week, GM workers narrowly approved a similar contract. The agreements, which run through April 2028, will end contentious talks that began last summer and led to six-week-long strikes at all three automakers. Shawn Fain, the pugnacious new UAW leader, had branded the companies enemies of the UAW who were led by overpaid CEOs, declaring the days of union cooperation with the automakers were over. After summerlong negotiations failed to produce a deal, Fain kicked off strikes on Sept. 15 at one assembly plant at each company. The union later extended the strike to parts warehouses and other factories to try to intensify pressure on the automakers until tentative agreements were reached late in October. The new contract agreements were widely seen as a victory for the UAW. The companies agreed to dramatically raise pay for top-scale assembly plant workers, with increases and cost-of-living adjustments that would translate into 33% wage gains. Top assembly plant workers are to receive immediate 11% raises and will earn roughly $42 an hour when the contracts expire in April of 2028. Under the agreements, the automakers also ended many of the multiple tiers of wages they had used to pay different workers. They also agreed in principle to bring new electric-vehicle battery plants into the national union contract. This provision will give the UAW an opportunity to unionize the EV battery plants plants, which will represent a rising share of industry jobs in the years ahead.

2018 Dodge Durango Pursuit SUV is the tall arm of the law

Dodge is adding to its police car portfolio with the 2018 Durango Pursuit, a specially-prepped police version of the automaker's SUV. Available with an optional 360-horsepower Hemi engine, the Durango Pursuit comes with everything you'd expect in a truck built to protect and serve. We'll try to avoid too many Blues Brothers cop car references but, yes, this Dodge includes some serious "cop shocks" and that aforementioned "cop engine," among many other modifications. The Hemi engine produces 360 horsepower and 390 lb. ft. of torque, all of which is routed to an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time AWD system. According to Dodge, this is the most popular powertrain fitted to the existing Charger Pursuit police car. The brakes have been strengthened and are capable of bringing the Durango Pursuit from 60-0 mph in 134 feet. The Durango Pursuit also adds a two-speed transfer case, which should prove handy when bad guys try to escape by venturing off road. "Unofficial testing results at the Michigan State Police 2018 model-year vehicle evaluation event created such a stir among law enforcement agencies that we simply had to find a way to build this vehicle," said Steve Beahm, Head of Passenger Car Brands, Dodge/SRT, FCA North America. Despite the apparent buzz around this police vehicle, Dodge has said the Durango Pursuit V-8 AWD will only be available "for a limited time." And as you've already guessed, you have to be in law enforcement to place an order for one — sorry to disappoint. Other notable features of the Durango Pursuit include 8.1 inches of ground clearance, a tow rating of 7,200 pounds, heavy-duty oil cooler and water pump, 220-amp alternator, a spare tire mounted beneath the rear of the truck to free interior space, a spotlight wiring prep package, along with trailer sway control. Dog lovers will be pleased that K-9 units have been taken into consideration, too. The Durango Pursuit is available with a tri-zone climate control package, to make certain badge-wearing four-legged constables remain comfortable while fighting crime. Related Video: Dodge SUV Police/Emergency police car

2020 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak comes solely with supercharged power

The Dodge Challenger Drag Pak has returned for 2020, five years after the last one arrived, and two years after it began development. And while in many ways it looks like past Drag Paks, there are a number of tweaks that should make this the fastest and most capable factory drag car yet from Mopar. Unlike the last model, only a supercharged 354-cubic-inch (5.8-liter for the imperically challenged) V8 is available. Mopar says it's more powerful than its predecessor, though exact horsepower wasn't given. It did confirm that the previous car was capable of a stunning 1,200 horsepower. The engine is coupled solely to a three-speed automatic transmission with a manual shifter. 2020 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak View 17 Photos Supporting the massive engine are many chassis, suspension and driveline enhancements. The independent rear suspension and axles are gone in favor of a solid axle from Strange and a four-link suspension. The front remains stock except for double-adjustable Bilstein shocks. The engine is mounted to a subframe member that's beneficial both to weight distribution and center of gravity. The car gets high-performance brakes and custom Weld Racing wheels with "DRAGPAK" engraved on them. The interior features a welded-in roll cage certified for quarter-mile times as quick as 7.5 seconds. Helping keep the car planted without increasing drag too much are front and rear spoilers from the road-going Challenger, a new addition compared with the previous car. Every Drag Pak car also comes standard with a wheelie bar and parachute. Dodge will only build 50 of these cars, and they'll only be offered as race cars that aren't legal for the street. The cars will be eligible for competing in sportsman classes in NHRA and NMCA drag racing series. Pricing and availability hasn't been set yet, but will be revealed sometime next year.