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MotorWeek relives '80s coupes with Dodge Daytona, Ford Escort EXP

Get ready for a wave of nostalgia and the rapid realization of the huge progress in performance cars over the last 30 years. For its latest Retro Review, MotorWeek takes a look back at two, front-wheel drive coupes from the '80s that seem to have entirely vanished from the roads today. Both the 1986 Dodge Daytona CS and the 1986.5 Ford Escort EXP were considered affordable, sporty options in their day, but the passage of time hasn't been kind to either of their specs. The Daytona certainly looks the part of a performance machine with a body that's reminiscent of other '80s coupes, like the third-gen Chevrolet Camaro. However with 146 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque from a 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, acceleration wasn't exactly a strong suit. MotorWeek complained about copious torque steer, as well. The optional CS suspension upgrade package on this Daytona was apparently a nod to Carroll Shelby who was working with Dodge at the time. If anything, the Escort EXP withstands the test of time even worse. As a two-seat coupe, you might have expected Ford's engineers to really turn up the performance to fit the sporty image that the exterior conveyed. That didn't really happen, and depending on which model buyers ordered, they got either 86 horsepower with a 1.9-liter engine or the "high-output" version of that mill with 108 hp.

2015 Dodge Viper GTC available in 25 million no-cost combos with 1 Of 1 bespoke program

What's the one thing no car can have too much of? Here's a hint – it's not power. It's not efficiency, either, or technology, or even safety. It's exclusivity. It's one reason Rolls-Royce has become a legend building absolutely bespoke motor vehicles, and it's the reason Dodge, of all companies, is offering a new GTC trim level for its Viper supercar. Now, you might be asking what's so special and exclusive about a trim level? Well, in the Viper GTC's case, it gives owners access to a catalog of 8,000 shades of paint for the exterior, 24,000 "hand-painted" custom stripe patterns, 10 different wheel options, 16 interior trims and no fewer than six aerodynamic packages. That results in 25 million different configurations for the 645-horsepower snake. Most shockingly, the customization choices come at no additional cost on the GTC model. And it's only the start. Ordering a GTC will enroll customers in a unique VIP program called Viper Concierge, which according to Dodge, "offers an exclusive point of contact throughout the custom Viper build process." In other words, buyers will be given the means to stay right on top of their car's production, through the 140-to-160-hour painting process, which itself will be fully documented with pictures and through a mobile-friendly website, to the actual construction of their GTC. The Concierge process will start with the ordering stage, which will include Dodge sending customers a paint chip showing the owner's custom choosing, which they can confirm or refuse. Shortly thereafter, Dodge will send buyers a 1:18-scale "speed-form" replica in their chosen custom colors, once again to confirm or deny the build. Once the buyer's color and option selection is locked-in, that car becomes a one-of-one Viper for that year – no other buyer will be permitted to build a Viper to the same specifications. The concierge service also grants access to the Viper Ambassador Owner's Portal, where orderers can track their car's build process, receive weekly updates and share their excitement with (jealous) friends and family. And once the car is complete, it will be fitted with a custom dash plaque identifying its bespoke provenance – the owner can choose to have their name put on the badge, the car's nickname, or whatever they wish (Dodge will also ship each Viper with a second blank plate to include if the original owner sells the car).

Dodge Durango could get eTorque mild hybrid system in 2020

The 2020 Dodge Durango appears slated to get a mild-hybrid powertrain option. That's the word from moparinsiders.com, which unearthed the news from documents relating to contract negotiation between the FCA and the UAW. Although the documents give no further details, it's a pretty safe bet that we're talking about Chrysler's eTorque mild-hybrid system, which was introduced on the Ram 1500 pickup and has since been extended to the Jeep Wrangler. Currently, the Wrangler offers the eTorque system on the 2.0-liter inline-four and the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, both on the Sahara model only, while the Ram 1500 makes the mild-hybrid system standard with the 3.6-liter V6 and an option with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. The V6 eTorque powertrain makes 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque (Ram) or 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet (Wrangler). The Wrangler's four-cylinder eTorque is good for 270 horses and 295 lb-ft. The V8 version in the Ram is good for 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. In all cases, the eTorque system does not increase peak output over the standard version of the gasoline engine. The mild-hybrid system does provide a minor fuel-economy boost. In the Wrangler, the 3.6-liter with eTorque has EPA city estimates that are 1 mpg better than without the system. On the Ram's V8, eTorque adds 2 mpg city and 1 mpg highway. (The 2.0-liter sees no improvement in its EPA ratings.) It's not known whether the Durango will add eTorque to its V6, or V8, or both. Either engine could do with a fuel-economy boost, as the V6 is EPA rated at 19/26 mpg city/highway (RWD) and 18/25 mpg (AWD), while the V8 version has estimates of 14/22 mpg. Related Video: