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2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Long-Term Update | Serenity now!

If you're an Autoblog regular, you probably know that I'm a person who loves all things automotive that make loud noises, handle like go-karts, and generally send my heart rate through the roof. I mean, I keep advocating for carmakers to add a performance version to just about every model lineup. But I've been developing an appreciation for vehicles that simply make life easier and let you decompress, such as our long-term 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. I haven't always felt that way. Early in its stay, I frequently avoided taking the Pacifica if I could, mainly because I was turned off by the numb steering and roly-poly nature. Yes, it's a minivan, but I couldn't stop thinking about the Honda Odyssey that came through, which I discovered to be surprisingly nimble. It also packed the sweet sounding V6 in our Honda Ridgeline that I've previously raved about. But then other Pacifica strong suits started to come through. The hybrid powertrain may not be exhilarating, but it's wonderfully quiet. That's to be expected when it's primarily running on the electric motor, but when its V6 engine kicks on, the noise is well-muffled. Road and wind noise is nearly non-existent, too, so whether you're tooling around town or cruising on the highway, nothing is interrupting your tunes, podcasts, talk radio or simple silence. The interior is a lovely place to be, too. Enormous windows, a panoramic sunroof and low sills make this one of the airiest cabins I've been in. And the light color of the upholstery and plastics amplifies the open feeling. After a long, cold Michigan winter, this rolling sunroom is welcome. It also provides superb visibility, making the Pacifica a breeze to maneuver. It's really easy to get inside, too; it has most of the height of a crossover, which takes care of not having to bend down, but it has a much lower floor, so you also don't have to climb up to get in. To cap things off, the Pacifica's ride is excellent. While there's more body roll than I'd like, it glides right across nasty bumps and potholes. And it does so without the heaving and pounding of heavy crossovers and SUVs. It feels more like a luxury sedan. Basically, the Pacifica is ideal for transporting you through life with a minimum of fuss. And so anytime I've had a long stressful day, I'll be looking for the keys to ours.

Wish you had a world-famous auto exec give your commencement speech? Watch this

We've seen some pretty great commencement speeches over the years. There was Steve Jobs' incredibly inspiring Stanford address in 2005, John Stewart's insightful speech to the graduating class of William and Mary in 2004 and Steven Colbert's hilarious 2011 address at Northwestern, but automotive executives aren't strangers to honorary degrees. Former General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner spoke at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2011, and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne recently gave the keynote at Walsh College's 100th Commencement Ceremony. The executive knows a thing or two about success and following one's beliefs to fulfillment.
"I constantly encourage my co-workers at Fiat and Chrysler to go beyond the cliche and the conventional to try new approaches and change perspective each and every day," Marchionne said. "I exhort them not to repeat the same things, the same approaches, and I remind them they are indeed free. The freedom I am talking about is something inside you. It is determined by how open minded you remain, how receptive you are to the new and to the different, to the infinite possibilities that present themselves even if you don't go looking for them or could never have imagined. Being free means that you have the strength not to be conditioned by what others want you to do or by what may seem to be the easiest choice."
Amen to that. You can check out the brief press release on the address below as well as a video of a few highlights from the speech.

2014 Ram Power Wagon is bigger and badder than ever [w/video]

"The 2014 Ram Power Wagon fills a need for those who travel into extreme terrain for rescue or recreation." - Reid Bigland
More, more, more. That's the philosophy behind the latest Ram Power Wagon. The extra-brawny, Ram 2500-based pickup is back for 2014, and naturally, it's even more extreme than its predecessor.