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Widebody Challenger Hellcat spotted with no camouflage

Well this is a mightily mysterious muscle car. One of our photographers caught this Dodge Challenger out testing without any camouflage. At first glance it looks like an SRT Demon, since it has the same widebody flares and front spoiler of the hellacious Challenger. However, the hood is from a garden-variety Hellcat (as if such a thing existed...), the rear spoiler has an SRT Hellcat badge, and the wheels don't come from the kitty or the Hellspawn. We have two theories as to what this SRT mishmash may be. Our first is that this is perhaps a next-generation Hellcat that takes advantage of some of the Demon's developments. It could have a more potent engine under the hood, perhaps with the extra fuel pumps and air-conditioned intercooler, along with the Demon's beefier driveline. It would be a way to keep the Hellcat relevant, and a way for people who might miss out on the one-year-only Demon to get the next closest thing. Our other theory is that this is an all-wheel-drive Hellcat. The wide fender flares and chin spoiler appeared on an all-wheel-drive Challenger concept before they made their way to the Demon. And with the introduction of the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, we know that Mopar has an all-wheel-drive system that can handle the grunt of the 707-horsepower Hellcat mill. If an all-wheel-drive Hellcat is in the cards, it would be another way to keep the Hellcat line fresh without too much investment, and would be a treat for fans of the old all-wheel-drive concept. It would also probably be a great seller here in snowy Michigan. Oh, and it would certainly post some amazing 0-30 acceleration times. Related Video:

Will the Chrysler 300 go front-wheel drive?

FCA chief executive Sergio Marchionne hinted last week that the strapping rear-wheel-drive Chrysler 300 sedan could go front-wheel drive for its next generation using the underpinnings from the Chrysler Pacifica minivan. Speaking at the Pacifica's production launch in Windsor, ON, Marchionne said, "this plant and this architecture is capable of making the 300 successor, the front-wheel, all-wheel-drive successor," Reuters reported. Perhaps realizing he appeared to be announcing a dramatic shift in product strategy, Marchionne backpedaled in response to a follow-up question, noting only that the Ontario factory is "capable" of making the sedan. "It's capable. It's not a commitment," he said, according to Reuters. The 300 is currently built in Brampton, ON, alongside the mechanically similar Dodge Charger and Challenger. The platform, known as LX in enthusiast circles, is an evolution of Mercedes-based chassis pieces that date to the DaimlerChrysler era. Marchionne's comments didn't cover the Dodges and left a lot open to interpretation. The 300 could switch to front- and all-wheel-drive and focus on a more civilized, elegant ride character, leaving the Charger and two-door Challenger as traditional rear-wheel-drive muscle cars. That strategy would further differentiate the Chrysler and Dodge car lines. Additionally, the Charger's RWD platform makes it a popular police vehicle, and both Dodges are offered in top trim as 707-horsepower Hellcats. Switching to front-wheel drive would seemingly complicate both of those endeavors. Rumors have also swirled that Alfa Romeo could contribute RWD underpinnings for Dodge. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2015 Chrysler 300 View 92 Photos Design/Style Chrysler Dodge Off-Road Vehicles Performance Sedan chrysler pacifica

FCA, Ford idle plants due to semiconductor shortage

DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford and FCA will become the latest automakers to idle production facilities due to a semiconductor shortage. Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky will idle for a week, borrowing a down period from later in the year to compensate. Per Automotive News, FCA is idling its Brampton facility in Ontario, Canada, and one other site which has not yet been identified.  Louisville Assembly is the production site for the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs; Brampton Assembly produces the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger for FCA.  A Ford spokeswoman, who declined to identify the semiconductor supplier, confirmed the temporary shutdown to Reuters. In this, FCA and Ford join Nissan and potentially Honda in idling production in the wake of the shortage, which also hit Volkswagen late last year. The shortages are being blamed on consumer demand for silicon after production slowdowns resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. Volkswagen said it had to adjust production schedules in China, Europe and North America to compensate.  Nissan said it planned to reduce production of the Note, a hybrid electric car, at its Oppama Plant in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan, but did not give details of the scale of the output cut. The Nikkei newspaper reported that Nissan would slash its Note production at Oppama to about 5,000 units in January, from an initially planned 15,000 units. "A global shortage of semiconductors has affected parts procurement in the auto sector. As a result of this shortage, the Oppama Plant in Japan will adjust production in January, reducing production of the Nissan NOTE," Nissan said in a statement. (This article contains reporting from Reuters.)     Auto News Plants/Manufacturing UAW/Unions Chrysler Dodge Ford