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Jeep and Alfa Romeo join the already exotic Italian police force

Police departments in Italy are blessed with some of the most iconic cop cars on the planet. Where else will you see a pale blue Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 emblazoned with "Polizia" on the road? FCA decided they couldn't let Lamborghini steal the show and have handed over the first Jeep Renegade and Alfa Romeo Giulietta to the Police Academy in Rome. FCA is also loaning two Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloces that will join the two Giulia Quadrifoglios medical cars that are already in service. The Renegade is an four-wheel drive Italian-spec model with a 2.0-liter, 120 horsepower inline four-cylinder engine that we don't get in the United States. The current Giulietta is a small-hatchback that isn't sold in America. On the other hand, the new Giulia and its 280 horsepower turbocharged inline-four and the Q4 all-wheel drive system goes on sale next month. In polizia guise, it's one of the most formidable and beautiful pursuit vehicles on the road. FCA is no stranger to police cars and supplies Dodge Charger Pursuits to fleets all across the US. We spent some time in one a while back and learned all the pros and cons of driving a black and white cruiser. Related Video: Featured Gallery FCA Italian Polizia Cars View 10 Photos News Source: FCA Alfa Romeo Jeep SUV Off-Road Vehicles Police/Emergency Performance Sedan police car alfa romeo giulia jeep renegade

Jeep Wrangler JK's exit interview: brilliant, flaws and all

The engineers at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Jeep's current steward (and there have been many), have to be sweating bullets as they ready the forthcoming, long-overdue replacement for the Wrangler. It's the brand's icon, its most recognizable vehicle, and the reason Jeep enjoys such success today. Most brands use their flagships to lure shoppers who will then take home a more practical, pedestrian model. Think about the relationship between Corvettes and Malibus in the Chevy showroom. For Jeep, however, the Wrangler is a business unto itself: Nearly one in four Jeeps sold new last year was a Wrangler. That's a lot of pressure as Jeep gears up to replace the current model, codenamed JK, which has been on the road since 2007. I took a Wrangler into the woods to ponder it all. The Wrangler lineup starts around $26,000 but climbs rapidly from there. At the upper end of the spectrum sits the Rubicon Hard Rock, which builds on the already capable Rubicon's locking differentials and electronic front sway bar disconnect with a host of styling goodies. At $43,325 as tested, the Hard Rock is no cheap trail toy. Wranglers have gotten more comfortable and capable over the years, but driving one is still an exercise in compromises. Luxury here means durable leather upholstery and a lot of bass from the stereo. The driving experience is of the "well, it's better than it used to be" variety on pavement. The rational buy in this segment is the Toyota 4Runner Trail, which goes off-road almost as well as the Jeep and does everything else way better. But nobody takes home a Wrangler because it makes sense. It's a middle finger extended in the direction of conformity while fording the river of beige Corollas between home and office. You don't need a Wrangler, but you probably want one. That's why Jeep sold more than twice as many Wranglers as Toyota did 4Runners last year – and the 4Runner sells well. Wrangler sales aren't slipping, but increasingly stringent emissions and safety standards are signs of the inevitable forward march of progress – and so Wrangler must change with the times. Simple ways to improve the Wrangler are obvious: An updated interior with a modern infotainment system, user-selectable traction control modes tailored to specific terrain conditions, an eight-speed automatic, better aerodynamics, and a lot of weight-saving aluminum are inevitable.

The origins of the Jeep Wave | The Exposition

Jeep culture is tight-knit community of passionate enthusiasts with plenty of interesting stories and traditions, like the Jeep Wave. But how did the Jeep Wave start? Episode 2 of The Exposition looks at some theories behind the origin of this driving ritual. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] Get behind the wheel of a Jeep, and you'll hopefully notice the other Jeep owners waving at you as you pass by. It's kind of cool actually, but one thing we couldn't help wonder is, where and how did this wave start? If you've never heard of the Jeep Wave, don't worry, you're not alone. For example, my friend James - that's James. Back in 2013 he bought his first Jeep. Like many new young Jeep owners, he had no idea about the wave. He quickly caught on, though. [00:00:30] So where did it start? Oddly enough, I was only able to find three pretty convincing theories. Theory One - The wave started in WWII as a way for soldiers to acknowledge each other while driving by on patrol. Theory No. 2 - The wave began after the war. Which also makes sense. Since civilian Jeep owners were most likely returning veterans who already appreciated the car, the wave was a way to acknowledge each other's service. [00:01:00] Theory No. 3 is the wave started much later, in the 70s when off-roading really took off. Kind of a way to salute a kindred spirit out looking for adventure. Now, there is an unspoken rule of who waves first. The rule is, the younger Jeep always salutes the older one. Or if you have a stock Jeep you must wave to a modified Jeep first. These are interesting theories, but one thing's for sure, the Jeep wave is a unique tradition. The next time you drive a Jeep, be sure to wave as you pass another by. Related Video: Jeep Automotive History Ownership SUV Off-Road Vehicles Classics Videos