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NHTSA probing Ram recall pace, communication

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that it's looking into Chrysler Group's handling of a pair of recalls affecting roughly one million Ram pickup trucks. Reuters is reporting that the regulatory agency is focusing on the availability (or lack thereof) of parts and "poor communications" from the automaker in its investigation.
"Customers have been advised in accordance with the regulations governing recalls," Chrysler spokesman Eric Mayne told Reuters via email. "We are continually replenishing our supply of replacement parts. Chrysler Group regrets any inconvenience our customers may have experienced."
NHTSA disagrees, arguing that the recalls, which affect 972,000 trucks from 2003 to 2012, are being delayed by the lack of parts.

Ringbrothers 1969 Dodge Charger Defector is a mean green machine

The 1969 Dodge Charger is one of the most recognizable cars ever built. Its debut at the peak of the muscle car era, sleek bodywork, and roaring Hemi V8 represented everything that was wonderful about American cars from the 1960s. It was fast, loud and moved like a greyhound off the line in search of that mechanical lure. Ringbrothers, the shop behind cars like the De Tomaso Pantera "ADRNLN" and t he Chevy Chevelle "Recoil," have unveiled its latest project - the 1969 Dodge Charger "Defector". Like most Ringbrothers projects, a first glance doesn't show much more than some wheels, new paint and a different ride height. Like any good custom car, the devil is in the details. The Defector falls into the restomod category, meaning it has classic looks but has been updated with modern parts and technology. This is the first time the shop has done a Mopar product, and they wanted to knock it out with the first attempt. While it may look stock, the bodywork has been significantly altered. Compared to a standard '69 Charger, the trunk lid is two inches shorter and the wheelbase has been increased by three inches. That means the car has new rockers and new quarter panels. The car was then painted in a BASF color called "Greener On The Other Side." It wears a black vinyl roof and a black stripe around the rear. The stripe and grille both sport the Ring Brothers logo. The car rides on 19-inch HRE wheels and uses Baer brakes with six-piston front calipers. The new rear subframe comes from Detroit Speed. The ancient steering rack has been replaced with a new rack and pinion unit. We assume this means it won't steer like a drunken hippo in a mudslide. Like the exterior, changes to the interior are subtle. It looks stock, but the seats wear new upholstery and the dash has been fitted with an Alpine stereo with a touchscreen display. The new steering rack is fitted with a nice Nardi steering wheel. The most modern update rests under the hood. In place of the old V8, Ringbrothers have swapped in a new 6.4-liter Hemi V8. It's the same one you'll find in any number of modern Mopar products. It's been tuned by Wegner Motorsports and exhales through a new Flowmaster exhaust system. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Watch these Super Bowl car commercials [UPDATE]

On Sunday, February 3, the New England Patriots take on the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Some will watch because of the storyline of the old-school dynasty facing off against the new-school wunderkinds, but a large chunk of people will solely be watching for the commercials. Lucky for those who slot into the latter category, many of the manufacturers release their super bowl ads ahead of time, or have simply opted to release the commercials only online. Scroll down to see what car companies have already shown their cards. Audi Audi goes the comedic route in its clip for the Big Game. It starts with a grandpa showing his grandson a gorgeous Audi e-tron GT tucked away in a garage before he's shaken awake. Turns out he was just choking on a cashew in his cubicle at his boring job. Dodge Dodge does what it knows: create enough smoke to punch more holes in the ozone layer. Set to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia (the Super Bowl is in Atlanta, get it!?), a Challenger SRT Hellcat widebody, Charger SRT Hellcat, and Durango SRT are seen ripping through a city, leaving a trail of rubber crumbs in their wakes. Genesis Genesis has not yet released a commercial prior to the Super Bowl, but it is the official luxury vehicle of the NFL. Because of this, Genesis is hosting a fan experience for 10 days before the game. It will showcase the brand's cars, offer games, and have photos opportunities and autograph days. Hyundai Jason Bateman alert! Hyundai is one of the few companies to hook a major celebrity for its advertisement, and the casting is perfect. Bateman plays a doorman who takes people to various terrible events in life, including root canals, the middle seat, and shopping for a car. The ad centers around Hyundai's Shopper Assurance, which is Hyundai's new method for car shopping. Jeep An old 1963 Jeep Gladiator finds its strength in the crusher and transforms into a a new 2020 Gladiator, with a firm declaration that the nameplate is officially back. Kia Through Kia's commercial, a young boy wonders out loud what it'd be like if the millions spent on Super Bowl commercials were used to help others.