1975 Dodge Charger on 2040-cars

Auto blog

25,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango SUVs recalled over brake feel

Chrysler has announced that it is recalling over 25,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs from several markets over concerns about brake feel under hard braking. The affected models are from the 2012 and 2013 model years, although the actual dates of production aren't available. 18,700 are in the US, while 825 are in Canada, 530 are in Mexico and a further 5,200 outside of North America.
According to a statement, Chrysler was informed of the issue by a component supplier for the Ready Alert Braking system, which primes the brakes in anticipation of an emergency stop. A component in the system was restricting the flow of brake fluid too much.
As Chrysler is quick to point out, the way the brakes functioned was in compliance with regulations and there are no reported cases of drivers losing braking power. Instead, the issue rests with what Chrysler calls a pedal feel that "was not consistent with customer expectations." So it would seem Chrysler is being proactive and fixing a problem not because there's a legal issue at work, but simply because it doesn't feel the way the manufacturer wants it to. Well done.

FCA inline-six rumored to be real, headed for Jeep Wagoneer

In September, Allpar reported that that clues being dropped at Fiat- Chrysler headquarters, in the carmaker's factories, and on engineer resumes pointed to the development of an inline six-cylinder engine. The site has just proclaimed the rumor is reality, writing that the straight-six, "turbocharged to meet or beat 5.7 Hemi power ratings, with a smoother torque curve, is on the way." The motor's first outing is expected to be either the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, debuting perhaps next year, or the Jeep Wagoneer, debuting in 2020 or 2021. "Tornado" is the purported codename for the power plant said to be just under three liters in displacement, expanding the family begun with the Global Medium Engine 2.0-liter turbo codenamed Hurricane. Engine bay constraints and a long use horizon mean engineers won't simply add two more cylinders to the GME, however. Allpar says the brief is to keep the Tornado GME-T6 — the alphanumeric for "turbocharged six" — no more than three inches longer than the Tigershark 2.4-liter four-cylinder. That means "major design changes" that could include a space-saving head, more closely spaced cylinders, and no cylinder liners. An FCA division called Comau could be called on for its "SmartSpray" plasma lining technology. Allpar muses that the standard version of the engine for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram could get a single twin-scroll turbocharger. Performance trims for Alfa Romeo and Maserati could get different heads and maybe twin turbos, an SRT version might also get both those tweaks. History shows that the Italian versions would make changes to the block, as well. Even so, the Tornado would be less expensive than any Ferrari-supplied V6. A straight-six would put FCA in company with current adopters BMW and Mercedes-Benz, future users like Jaguar, and perhaps Aston Martin. The engine would span the widest range of use cases in the U.S. carmaker's portfolio, though. Potential applications include being a base engine for Ram trucks, serving double duty as a base engine and 5.7-liter Hemi replacement for the Dodge Charger and Challenger, working in the high-end Jeeps, and as a properly hot trim — with Ferrari-designed heads — in the luxury Italian sports cars. The Alfa Romeo Giulia begs for just such motivation to fill the gap between the 280-hp, $42,695 Ti Sport RWD and the 505-hp, $73,700 Giulia Quadrifoglio RWD. And a twin-turbo inline-six in a Maserati Alfieri would stack up nicely with the Germans.

Angry teen drives Ram pickup into Walmart after argument with girlfriend

Caleb Wilson, a 19-year-old from Eldoarado, Texas, went shopping with his 18-year-old girlfriend at the Walmart in San Angelo, Texas, just after midnight Thursday morning. Wilson and his girlfriend apparently got into an argument that they carried into the parking lot after leaving the store. A female bystander, concerned for the girlfriend, went outside and convinced the girl to go back into the Walmart. Wilson waited in his 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup just outside the store. When the woman and the girlfriend went outside a little later to see if Wilson had left, Wilson hit the gas and drove into the Walmart, trying to run the two women over. Just as police arrived, Wilson turned his truck around and sped out. He crossed the parking lot, colliding with a parked, unoccupied Toyota Camry, and finally came to a stop at a Murphy USA gas station at the edge of the lot. Police noticed fuel leaking from the Ram, and another bystander noticed sparks from something dragging along the asphalt. Police got Wilson out of the truck, after which he briefly resisted arrest, then took Wilson to the hospital for mental health evaluation, where he remains. Police believe he was under the influence of an intoxicant. Incredibly, neither the women nor any of the store's customers were hurt. That wasn't for lack of trying on Wilson's part, though - the teenager rammed his way past the bakery, produce, frozen food and canned veggies sections before finally reaching the cereal aisle. One shopper said she heard screaming and was sure there was a gunman in the store, before realizing it was a man in a vehicle. Wilson stopped two aisles away from where the shopper hid. Another customer said Wilson spent several minutes burning rubber inside the store, as store employees helped customers hide and get out. Security cameras caught the rampage, and San Angelo police estimate he did $500,000 in damage. Wilson has been charged with suspicion of first degree felony criminal mischief and two counts of aggravated assault with deadly weapon. Repair crews worked overnight to fix the damage. After "an employee pep talk," the Walmart opened again at 9:30 am. Related Video: News Source: Go San Angelo Auto News Weird Car News Dodge RAM Truck Videos dodge ram 2500