2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited on 2040-cars

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Ram and Jeep diesel emissions allegations spur class action lawsuits

This shouldn't come as a surprise. Last week, the EPA issued a notice of violation to FCA after it determined that Jeep and Ram installed eight undisclosed auxiliary emissions control devices on diesel vehicles. Since then US law firm Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC and Canadian firm Sotos LLP have launched class action suits on behalf of owners. These latest lawsuits are unrelated to a previous class action suit brought against FCA and Cummins over NOx emissions in 2007 to 2012 Ram models. The violation notice – and the subsequent lawsuits – covers 2014 to 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 models equipped with the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6, a total of about 104,000 vehicles in the US. The EPA says that while the emissions control devices aren't necessarily illegal, installing them without disclosing them to the EPA is, as they produce more emissions in real world use than in testing. Skirting certification in this way might be a violation of the Clean Air Act. FCA could see fines of up to $45,000 per vehicle, depending on the outcome of the EPA investigation. FCA denies that these are cheat devices, and has proposed software updates to bring the vehicles into compliance. As for the lawsuits, Heninger Garrison Davis says that "Fiat Chrysler marketed those vehicles as environmentally friendly with enhanced fuel efficiency, better performance, and lower emissions. Although the diesel vehicles were successfully marketed as 'clean,' their environmentally-friendly representations were deceptive to consumers." The suit seeks an undisclosed amount of compensation for owners of these vehicles. In Canada, Sotos LLP is seeking $250 million in damages on behalf of owners. This suit, filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, also claims deception on the part of FCA, "resulting in losses and damage" to owners. These are similar claims to group actions against Volkswagen with regard to its diesel emissions cheating scandal. While VW is fixing or buying back many of the affected vehicles, the company is defending itself against some suits on behalf of owners, saying it expects " no decline in the residual values of the affected vehicles as a result of this issue." Don't be surprised if FCA mounts a similar defense.

Ward's releases 10 Best Interiors list for 2014

While we're still a ways off from the automotive awards season proper, where things like North American Car and Truck of the Year, Motor Trend's Car of the Year and Car and Driver's Ten Best are named, that doesn't mean there aren't trophies being handed out to deserving automakers. Ward's 10 Best Interiors being one of them.
As the name might imply, the magazine focuses on the very best interior treatments in the US market. Whereas some awards purposely exclude extreme, high-dollar offerings, Ward's considers them - the only requirement is that a vehicle has a "new or significantly redesigned interior."
Ward's offered up the list of winners in simple, alphabetical order, and it only seems fair to do the same:

2019 Jeep Renegade teased with taillight photo

We've seen a number of 2019 Jeep Renegade prototypes running around lately, and now we know when we'll finally see all the ways the little crossover SUV has been updated: June 6. It will make its debut at the Turin Motor Show. Before then, Jeep did reveal a couple of details, including the above shot of the new taillight design. Though the taillight is very similar to the current version, particularly in how it's still square with a distinct "X" motif in center, it has a few differences. The thick black surround of the current model is gone entirely. It makes way for dark-tinted red plastic to wrap all the way around, and it has indentations that echo the X in the center. That center X isn't all a reverse light anymore. It's now part of the taillight's internal design. Only a small white square in the middle is now for the reverse light. Aside from small styling changes on the lights, Jeep also announced powertrains for the European version of the Renegade. It will be available with at least three gasoline engine options. There will be a roughly 120-horsepower 1.0-liter three-cylinder, and two versions of a 1.3-liter four-cylinder making 150 horsepower or 180. Jeep didn't mention anything about a diesel or a hybrid, the latter of which we expect based on previous spy shots. In the U.S., the Renegade is available either with a 160-horsepower turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder or a 184-horsepower 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder. We would assume at least the 1.3-liter engine will make it to the U.S., considering its similar power output to current numbers. Related Video: