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Dodge's divisive splitter guards are now pink and might become black

There is an infinite amount of real problems out there in the world, but for some reason, one of the most dividing issues in the car community relates to a piece of protective plastic on cars. Yes, splitter guards. Since the plastic parts were introduced to SRT variants of the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger for 2015, the enthusiast community has been split like a '63 'Vette on the merits and aesthetics of not removing them. Originally, the protectors, which are there to protect the splitter while the car is in transit to dealers, were yellow, which contributed to their popularity. But Dodge has now shifted that color to pink, as Car & Driver reported and Autoblog confirmed.  On one side, upset purists beg they be removed from the cars. They were only put on to protect the vehicles' lower front fascias during shipping and handling, and if left on too long, they will collect dirt and grit and damage the new paint. SRT lead designer Mark Trostle is included in this camp and is quoted saying, "I wish they would take them off." On the other side, there are people who enjoy the contrasting look and see it as a way to stand out or be different.  "Yes, they are designed to be removed before delivery," said Tim Kuniskis, global head of Alfa Romeo and head of passenger cars for Dodge, SRT, Chrysler, FIAT, FCA for North America, in an email to Autoblog. "But today, they have their own Facebook page, and many of our performance enthusiasts have active debates on whether to keep or remove them. Some owners say they are even selling them in the aftermarket!"  The Facebook page he speaks of is called "Hey Pal, You Forgot To Take Your Splitter Guards Off." The private group was started on April 11, 2019, and as of this writing, it is 11,855 members strong. With FCA recently changing the guards to pink, that number will likely continue to grow. "Obviously, they weren't part of the original design," Kuniskis said. "We started with yellow guards and shifted to pink, but they are still so popular that we may shift them yet again to black. Wherever we land, this is another example of how our customers are passionate about every part of their Dodge muscle cars — from the high-horsepower engines that power Charger and Challenger to the splitter guards designed to protect them, so we expect the conversation to continue."  Yellow, pink, black, purple, rainbow, whatever. People will like what they like and hate what they hate. Just do you, and keep the negativity away.

Dodge Demon's deliverer? FCA files for 'Angel' trademark

We've driven the Dodge Demon, and despite its satanic overtones and 840 freakin' horsepower under the hood, the car is actually quite well-behaved. At least it didn't bite our head off or drag us into any sort of inferno. Still, Dodge might be looking to balance its lineup with something with a bit more righteous, as FCA has filed for a trademark of the moniker "Angel."... According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, FCA filed the application on July 17, 2017, and it applies to "Motor vehicles, namely, passenger automobiles, their structural parts, trim and badges." Essentially, that's all the information we have to go on at this point. It could mean that Dodge is planning to further capitalize on the Demon name by creating another variant, or a completely different car. But what's the opposite of the Demon? Could it be a more road-friendly version of the drag-focused Demon? (And wouldn't that just be a Hellcat Widebody with more power?) Maybe it's a performance hybrid, as FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne recently said that the automaker would electrify half its fleet by 2022. For now, we can merely speculate as to what the Angel would be. And you can, too. Get at it in the comments section, below. And while you're at it, what name do you think FCA should trademark next, and what sort of car would that be?Related Video: Related Gallery 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon: First Drive View 37 Photos News Source: US Patent and Trademark Office via FCA Authority Auto News Chrysler Dodge Future Vehicles Performance FCA trademark dodge demon

Man crashes car through store window, says he needs a beer

Police body cameras captured a chaotic scene at a Cleveland-area convenience store after a man drove his car through the front of the store and barricaded himself in a walk-in cooler. According to WJW, the Convenience Mart in Rocky River, Ohio, had just closed in the early hours of May 7 when a black Dodge Challenger barreled through the security bollards at around 40 miles per hour and crashed through the front window. Police arrived to find the car parked in the store with its hazards on, the store clerk trapped beneath debris, and no driver. The clerk told officers the driver got out, told the clerk that he needed a beer, then wandered into the walk-in cooler. Officers found the driver barricaded inside the cooler. A tense standoff ensued with the agitated, confused man, who dared the cops to shoot him. Police learned he was suffering PTSD-related issues from his military service and job with the Federal Protective Service. "The conversation he was having with the police was deranged, consistent with somebody who was going through a mental crisis," RRPD Chief Kelly Stillman told WJW. Eventually, an officer was able to use a taser on the man, who put up a fight but was eventually subdued. He faces charges that include DUI and reckless driving. Thankfully, the store clerk escaped relatively unscathed. His life was saved by a deli case that absorbed the impact of the car and sheltered him from falling debris. "Had the car been over a couple more feet, he was hurt, it could have been serious bodily injury, even possibly death. I mean that's a four, five thousand pound automobile coming at 30, 40 miles an hour. He was lucky, very lucky," said Chief Stillman. Related Video News Source: WJW Auto News Dodge cleveland challenger