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Why the Detroit Three should merge their engine operations

GM and FCA should consider a smaller merger that could still save them billions of dollars, and maybe lure Ford into the deal. Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne would love to see his company merge with General Motors. But GM's board of directors essentially told him to go pound sand. So now what? The boardroom battle started when Mr. Marchionne published a study called Confessions of a Capital Junkie. In it, Sergio detailed the amount of capital the auto industry wastes every year with duplicate investments. And he documented how other industries provide superior returns. He's right, of course. Other industries earn much better returns on their invested capital. And there's a danger that one day the investors will turn their backs on the auto industry and look to other business sectors where they can make more money. But even with powerful arguments Marchionne couldn't convince GM to take over FCA. And while that fight may now be over, GM and FCA should consider a smaller merger that could still save them billions of dollars, and maybe lure Ford into the deal. No doubt this suggestion will send purists into convulsions, but so be it. The Detroit Three should seriously consider merging their powertrain operations, even though that's a sacrilege in an industry that still considers the engine the "heart" of the car. These automakers have built up considerable brand equity in some of their engines. But the vast majority of American car buyers could not tell you what kind of engine they have under the hood. More importantly, most car buyers really don't care what kind of engine or transmission they have as long as it's reliable, durable, and efficient. Combining that production would give the Detroit Three the kind of scale that no one else could match. There are exceptions, of course. Hardcore enthusiasts care deeply about the powertrains in their cars. So do most diesel, plug-in, and hybrid owners. But all of them account for maybe 15 percent of the car-buying public. So that means about 85 percent of car buyers don't care where their engine and transmission came from, just as they don't know or care who supplied the steel, who made the headlamps, or who delivered the seats on a just-in-time basis. It's immaterial to them. And that presents the automakers with an opportunity to achieve a staggering level of manufacturing scale. In the NAFTA market alone, GM, Ford, and FCA will build nearly nine million engines and nine million transmissions this year.

Detroit 3 to implement delayed unified towing standards for 2015

Car buyers have a responsibility to be well-informed consumers. That's not always a very simple task, but some guidelines are self-evident. If you live in a very snowy climate, you generally know a Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Camaro might not be as viable a vehicle choice as an all-wheel drive Explorer or Traverse, for example. If you want a fuel-efficient car, it's generally a good idea to know the difference between a diesel and a hybrid. But what if it's kind of tough to be an informed consumer? What if the information you need is more difficult to come by, or worse, based on different standards for each vehicle? Well, in that case, you might be a truck shopper. For years, customers of light-duty pickups have had to suffer through different ratings of towing capacities for each brand. For 2015 model year trucks, though, that will no longer be a problem. According to Automotive News, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler Group have announced that starting with next year's models, a common standard will be used to measure towing capacity. The Detroit Three will join Toyota, which adopted the Society of Automotive Engineers' so-called SAE J2807 standards way back in 2011. The standard was originally supposed to be in place for MY2013, but concerns that it would lower the overall stated capacity for trucks led Detroit automakers to pass. Ford originally passed, claiming it'd wait until its new F-150 was launched to adopt the new standards, leading GM and Ram to follow suit. Nissan, meanwhile, has said it will adopt the new standards as its vehicles are updated, meaning the company's next-generation Titan should adhere to the same tow ratings as its competitors. While the adoption of SAE J2807 will be helpful for light-duty customers, those interested in bigger trucks will still be left with differing standards. There is no sign of the new tow standards being adopted for the heavy-duty market.

Mopar Dodge Challenger special edition celebrates a mod decade

Despite the current Dodge Challenger hitting the age of 11 this year, it continues to be a top seller for the brand. One of the reasons for its popularity is its customizability. FCA acknowledges this with the just-revealed, limited-edition Mopar 2019 Dodge Challenger celebrating its factory-backed performance parts and accessories straight from the its own in-house parts division. For 10 years, Challenger owners have benefited from upgrades directly from Chrysler’s Mopar division. This has been a big deal because tuning a car often required aftermarket parts, which could jeopardize factory warranties. But with upgrades directly from original equipment manufacturers, such a risk was eliminated. “Over the last decade, weÂ’ve customized an impressive group of vehicles with exclusive Mopar performance parts and accessories that our enthusiast customers crave,” said Mark Bosanac, head of Mopar Service in a statement. “This year weÂ’re commemorating our tenth Mopar build with another unique and collectible Dodge Challenger, which continues to be the modern muscle car every bit as beloved today as the first-generation vehicle was 50 years ago.” The 2019 Mopar Dodge Challenger starts life as R/T Scat Pack model. Under the hood sits a 392-cubic inch (6.4-liter) Hemi V-8 with 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque with the choice of a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. But Mopar sweetens the deal by adding a performance cold-air intake, strut tower braces to improve structural rigidity and handling, as well as strut caps and braces painted in silver for eye candy whenever the hood is popped. ItÂ’s only available in two hues, Pitch Black or White Knuckle, and comes with a variety of bespoke interior and exterior upgrades. They include special Mopar Shakedown graphics and blue striping from the front fascia all the way back to the rear decklid spoiler. Completing the look is a set of 20x9-inch forged aluminum wheels wrapped in Goodyear P245/45ZR20 performance tires and the optional shaker hood package made standard. Sales commence next month with a starting price of $45,835.