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Marchionne may stay with FCA until 2020

We might get to see Sergio Marchionne and his vast array of sweaters in the auto industry for even longer than expected. The FCA CEO suggested last year that he would retire from the automaker when its current five-year plan was complete in 2018. Now, he has tentatively extended that point out to at least 2020. "I can do this for another five years if you push me, right? Beyond that, I ain't gonna do it, and I don't want to," he said to Automotive News. That would give Marchionne a 16-year career at the top from joining Fiat in 2004 to possibly leaving FCA in 2020. Although, take the CEO's statement with a grain of salt because he has made multiple statements about the timing for his retirement. In 2012, Marchionne said he would only remain in charge until 2015, which is, well, now. Those five years might also go quite quickly because Marchionne is a busy guy with the Ferrari IPO, the attempted merger with General Motors, implementing FCA's five-year plan, and many other projects. He's already considering the next CEO, though. "My purpose in life is to find the Kuniskises of the world, the Manleys, the Biglands, the Palmers," Marchionne said to Automotive News, referencing the heads at Dodge, Jeep, FCA North America, and the company's chief financial officer, respectively. "I told them, 'One of you is going to do what I do one day. I don't know who that is, but one of you is going to do it.'" News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Paul Sancya / AP Photo Chrysler Dodge Fiat Jeep Sergio Marchionne FCA fca us Mike Manley reid bigland tim kuniskis

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is more expensive than the Dodge Demon

Jeep has finally released pricing for its crazy, all-wheel-drive, Hellcat-powered Grand Cherokee, and it's seriously expensive. It starts at $86,995. That's a full $2,000 more than the limited-production, 840-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. For 140 fewer horses, and a quarter-mile time that's 2seconds slower (11.6 seconds vs. 9.6), you'll spend more money. Then again, the Grand Cherokee can do things the Demon and the Hellcats can't. It's got more space than any of them, meaning you can carry quite a bit more. It's capable of towing up to 7,200 pounds of stuff. It also has all-wheel drive, which means you have a little extra traction in bad weather, and you have the opportunity to do spectacular four-wheel burnouts. And of course, the Trackhawk is still fast and capable by any measure. It's only a tenth of a second slower to 60 mph than the Challenger Hellcat Widebody. It also comes with massive Brembo brakes, with the largest front rotors fitted to a Jeep, to haul it down from 60 mph in a claimed 114 feet. Each corner features 295-mm tires that Jeep claims let the Trackhawk generate 0.88g circling a skid pad. If the Trackhawk sounds like just the absurd performance machine you've been waiting for, you'll be able to put your order in soon. Dealers will accept orders starting Aug. 10, and the vehicles will start arriving at dealer lots toward the end of the year. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk View 45 Photos Image Credit: Jeep Jeep SUV Performance

NHTSA closes investigation into Jeep Liberty fires

The investigation that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened into the Jeep Liberty in October 2013 has been closed. NHTSA received two (!) complaints about fires starting in the driver's door, thought to be caused by the master power window switch. The initial estimate was that 80,000 Libertys could be roped into a possible recall, but according to a report in the Detroit News the agency examined records for 425,000 Chrysler products that used the same window switch, including the Dodge Nitro and Chrysler Town & Country minivan.
After canvassing 265 warranty claims related to the master switches, NHTSA concluded that the rate of fires compared to the "large population of vehicles" was rather low, and that there was no trend pattern behind the few issues it did find. Perhaps with that, and the closure of the trailer hitch investigation, the Liberty can finally rest in peace.