2000 Dodge Viper Gts on 2040-cars

Auto blog

121k Dodge Darts being investigated over braking problem

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the Dodge Dart due to reports of braking problems. Some 121,000 cars are possibly affected, all from the 2013 model year. According to The Detroit News, NHTSA received 18 complaints about the brake pedal becoming hard to depress on these cars, increasing stopping distance. Drivers reported hearing a "pop noise or an air hissing noise when applying the brake pedal, followed by a hard pedal feel and reduced brake effectiveness," NHTSA told the News. In a particularly terrifying incident, one driver says the Dart's braking system shut down while driving at 50 miles per hour. "I feared for my life. It is one of the scariest things I have ever dealt with," the complaint said, according to The Detroit News. A Fiat-Chrysler spokesperson said the automaker is "fully cooperating" with this investigation.

Junkyard Gem: 1976 Dodge D100, United States Army Edition

Members of the United States military have been driving Dodge trucks since the Army bought its first Dodge Brothers ambulance in 1917, and plenty of third-generation D-series pickups ended up in Army service during the mid-1970s. Most of these were 3/4-ton W200s and D200s (designated as M880s), but today's Junkyard Gem is a 1/2-ton D100 CARGO PICKUP W/CAB, found in a Denver self-service wrecking yard. Eventually, the Army auctions off old vehicles, and that happened to this battered D100 Custom at some point. This truck appears to have started life with Navy gray paint, which was painted over in Army-grade olive drab. Perhaps there was some vehicle-shuffling done by the Pentagon. The most recent layer of stickers shows that this truck's final military job was for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Power came from the legendary Chrysler Slant-6, in this case the 225-cubic-inch version rated at 105 horsepower. Like most fleet vehicles of the last 50 or so years, it has an automatic transmission. You couldn't expect every soldier to be able to work a three-pedal truck, not even way back in 1976. The Rust Monster has taken a few bites out of this truck, enough that its resale value converged with the current price of scrap vehicles. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Better price, mileage and payload than Ford or Chevy!

Stellantis reveals STLA Large platform with EV and ICE support

Hot on the heels of a Jeep Wagoneer S teaser and photos of the prototype next-generation Dodge Charger (or Challenger), comes a reveal and details of what will likely underpin both of them: the STLA Large platform. It's one of multiple Stellantis flexible architectures that will be the basis of its upcoming electric cars, and apparently internal combustion ones, too. Stellantis says the STLA Large platform will be for D- and E-segment cars, crossovers and SUVs. In other words, it will be for midsize and large vehicles. For reference, lengths supported will be from 187.6 to 201.8 inches, and width will range from 74.7 to 79.9 inches. It will be highly flexible, too, with Stellantis claiming significant amounts of adjustability in overhangs, wheelbase, suspension placement and powertrain arrangement. The powertrain flexibility is quite impressive. Front-, rear- and all-wheel-drive layouts will be supported. Single- and dual-motor layouts will be on offer. Internal combustion will be available, too, either on its own or as a hybrid. Apparently engines can be fitted either longitudinally or transversely, too. Battery packs with between 85 and 118 kWh of capacity will be offered, with Stellantis claiming that sedan-style vehicles could have a range of up to 500 miles. The packs will also be available in 400- and 800-volt designs. Stellantis noted also that the platform can "easily accept future energy storage technologies when they reach production readiness." This seems to hint that the company is looking at different battery chemistries and maybe even solid-state batteries that could be added more easily in the future. Furthermore, the platform is designed to handle impressive output. Stellantis says that some models on the platform will have 0-to-62 mph times in the 2-second range. Limited-slip differentials for improved power delivery and wheel-end disconnects for reduced mechanical drag are also on the table for this platform. All of these details fit well with the information previously given for the concept Dodge Charger Daytona Banshee and Jeep Wagoneer S. The former was previewed with both battery voltage architectures and a wide range of electric powertrains with between 456 and 670 horsepower depending on specification and upgrades. And that's just for the 400-volt system; the 800-volt option wasn't detailed. We've also seen photos of the Charger chassis seemingly with provisions for gas engines, likely versions of the Hurricane I6.