2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport Rhd on 2040-cars

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Detroit automakers observing 8:46 of silence to mark Juneteenth

GM Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing Gerald Johnson, right, talks with employees at the Fairfax Assembly & Stamping Plant in Kansas City, Kansas. (file photo - GM)     All three Detroit automakers are observing Juneteenth, a day commemorating the end of slavery, on Friday by observing 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence, among other companywide efforts to advance the causes of social and racial justice and equality. Juneteenth marks the date, June 19, in 1865 when Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, arrived at Galveston, Texas, and announced the Civil War had ended and enslaved African Americans were to be freed. President Abraham Lincoln had officially ended slavery more than two years prior via the Emancipation Proclamation, but Union forces didn't reach Texas until that time, so there was virtually no enforcement. The 8:46 timestamp is significant because it was the length of time that a police officer in Minneapolis knelt on the neck of George Floyd during an arrest, ultimately killing him and sparking waves of protests across the U.S. and overseas. Autoblog asked automakers about their plans to mark Juneteenth, what they were doing to advance the cause of social justice for Black people, and how many African Americans they employ in both blue- and white-collar jobs. We heard back from GM, Ford, Fiat Chrysler and Honda but not from Nissan and Toyota. General Motors GM’s U.S. workforce is 17.2% Black and 69.2% white, according to its most recent corporate Diversity and Inclusion Report. GM's total global employment is 173,000, and it says women and minorities represent 40% of its team of corporate officers. For reference, the Census Bureau says African Americans make up 13.4% of the U.S. population of roughly 328 million people. White people constitute 76.5%. As previously reported, GM planned to pause production at its factories on each shift today and observe silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. The company will also have a digital countdown clock atop the GM's headquarters in Detroit for the moment of silence. Additionally, Chairman and CEO Mary Barra has said she will lead a new Inclusion Advisory Board made up of people from within and outside GM to suggest areas for change and hold the company to its commitments to fight injustice and racial inequality.

FCA goes all-in on Jeep and Ram brands on cheap gas bet

It's no surprise that as SUV and truck sales remain strong in the wake of unusually cheap gas, Jeep and Ram sales are taking off. What is a surprise is that FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne thinks that cheap gas will be a "permanent condition," and feels strongly enough about it to change up North American manufacturing plans. Jeep appears to be the biggest beneficiary of the product realignment. In addition to increasing the sales estimates for the brand worldwide upwards to 2 million units a year by 2018, the brand will get a flood of investment for new product and powertrains. Consider the Wrangler Pickup to be part of the salvo, as well as the Grand Wagoneer three-row announced in 2014 as part of the original five-year plan. The Wrangler four-door will get at least two new powertrains, a diesel and mild hybrid version, in its next generation. That mild hybrid powertrain may utilize a 48-volt electrical system like the one that's being developed by Delphi and Bosch – which the suppliers think will be worth a 10 to 15 percent fuel economy gain at a minimum. Down the road, in the 2020s, the Wrangler could adopt a full hybrid system. The diesel powertrain is planned for 2019 or 2020. The Ram 1500 is also pegged to receive a mild hybrid system, again potentially based on 48-volt architecture, sometime after 2020. Lastly, Jeep and Ram will take over some of the production capacity of existing plants. The Sterling Heights, MI, plant that builds the Chrysler 200 will now build the Ram 1500; the Belvidere, IL, facility that produces the Dodge Dart will take over Cherokee output; the big Jeep facility in Toledo, OH, will be used for increased Wrangler demand. In 2015, according to FCA's numbers, car and van demand went down by 10 percent, but SUV demand went up 8 percent and truck demand 2 percent. Considering that these are high-margin vehicles, FCA can't ignore the math. FCA also won't build any new factories to supplement production to meet demand, but instead are reshuffling production priorities. Think of it this way: FCA is gambling on cheap gas being a permanent part of our lives, at least into the 2020s. By doubling down on SUVs and trucks, the company stands to win big, unless a spike in gas prices changes the landscape. FCA isn't talking about a Plan B, so they're all in. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

Jeep Wrangler Red Rock concept brings Moab to SEMA

Among the concepts that FCA is showcasing at SEMA this year, the Jeep Wrangler Red Rock concept has been decked out with accessories from both the Mopar and Jeep catalogs. The concept is based on the existing Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock edition, but has been taken even further in for this show truck. It pays tribute to the Red Rock 4-Wheelers club and the Easter Jeep Safari it hosts every year in Moab, UT. The Red Rock concept rides on a 2-inch lift kit with 17-inch beadlock wheels shod with 35-inch all-terrain tires. It also has differential covers, a reinforced swing gate and wheel mount, a power winch, LED headlamps and fog lights, and an onboard CB radio. To help it crawl those rocks, it boasts electronic locking differentials, a Rock-Trac transfer case, and Dana 44 solid axles front and rear. Visually setting this concept apart are such special touches as a power-dome hood, red tow hooks front and rear, new rock rails, a color-keyed grille with low-gloss inserts, low-gloss bumpers, and of course the requisite special badging. Inside it's been done up in brown leather with silver accents and a special grab-handle plaque. This particular version will remain a showpiece only. So if you want to see it, you'll have to head to the show floor in Vegas this week. However Jeep is committed to undertaking a production run of 50 examples with many of the same special touches to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Easter Jeep Safari next year. Related Video: Jeep® and Mopar Introduce Wrangler Red Rock Concept at SEMA Show - New Wrangler Concept features array of Mopar and Jeep® Performance Parts - A serialized 50-unit special-edition production Wrangler – inspired by the Red Rock Concept – will be built as a tribute to the upcoming 50th Moab Easter Jeep Safari - Based on Wrangler Rubicon Hard Rock edition - Wrangler Red Rock Concept features Amaretto Brown Katzkin leather seats with silver accent stitching and a "Red Rock" embroidered seat back logo - Aftermarket Jeep Performance Parts two-inch lift, 35-inch BFG K02 all-terrain tires, commemorative Red Rock appearance package give Jeep Wrangler Red Rock Concept a unique and rugged presence November 3, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Jeep® and Mopar have teamed up to create the Wrangler Red Rock Concept vehicle that will be showcased at this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas.