2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel on 2040-cars

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Stellantis is open to putting a gas engine in its EVs to meet demand

With the EV segment caught in a tug-of-war between market demand and government regulations, carmakers are having to adapt to avoid losing both money and sales. Stellantis is keeping every option on the table, including putting a gasoline engine in its electric models. Natalie Knight, the chief financial officer for Stellantis, made the announcement while presenting the carmaker's first-quarter shipment and revenues results. She cited the Jeep Wagoneer S as an example: Unveiled in January 2024, it will go on sale with an electric powertrain, but the brand hasn't ruled out expanding the lineup with a gasoline-powered model later on, according to Wards Auto. It could be a hybrid, or it might not get any type of electrification. The call will depend on whether there is "a clear demand for that in the market," the executive said. Compare that with comments from new Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa, who has said hybridizing the Wagoneer S isn't in the cards — but making a PHEV version of the all-electric upcoming Recon, however, might be. "I don't want to ignore the fact that we want to stay close to the consumer, and if we see there's an opportunity with those models that we introduced as BEVs first, we'll look into that," Knight said. Stellantis plans to launch 25 new models globally in 2024, and 18 of those will go on sale with electric power. However, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll remain electric-only throughout their production run. The brands that live under the Stellantis umbrella can build a gasoline-powered version of an EV with relative ease because many of the cars in the group's portfolio ride on a multi-energy platform. For example, the new Dodge Charger (pictured) will go on sale with an electric drivetrain later in 2024, but the range will grow with the addition of a 3.0-liter straight-six in 2025. Across the pond, the Jeep Avenger (a small, hatchback-like crossover not designed with our market in mind) was hyped as an all-electric model when it made its debut in 2023, but it quietly gained a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain in early 2024. The city-friendly Peugeot 208 is offered with piston or battery power, too. One of the next electric recipients of a gasoline engine might be the new-to-us Fiat 500e. The retro-styled hatchback has exclusively been available as an EV since it went on sale in Europe in 2020, but executives are reportedly looking at turning it into a hybrid due to slow sales.

Chrysler recalls small number of 2013-2014 cars and trucks over engine debris

Chrysler is recalling a small number cars over issues with their 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines. The recall, which affects 522 examples of its 2013 Dodge Avenger and Chrysler 200 models, as well as 2014 Jeep Compass and Patriot CUVs has to do with potential debris in the balance shaft bearings.
The abrasive stuff can cause the oil pressure to drop, which could lead to the engine stalling or outright failure. This situation could at best leave drivers stranded and at worst lead to a crash.
Chrysler will begin notifying owners, who will need to report in to have the balance shaft module replaced. All repairs are naturally free of charge. Scroll down for the bulletin from NHTSA.

New Dodge Charger SRT Widebody likely teased in brief video

This morning, we saw a new, extremely brief teaser for a new version of the Dodge Charger SRT. We don't know exactly what the car is, but rumors and spy shots suggest that the big sedan could be getting the same treatment as the multiple Dodge Challenger widebody models. The teaser of course cuts just before you can see anything truly telling, but there are a few details we can glean. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long for the full reveal. The car appears to be painted B5 Blue, one of a number of knockout colors in FCA's portfolio. Through the cover we can see that the car gets the upgraded grille that we saw last summer. A pair of inlets helps feed more air into the engine bay. The lower intakes on the front bumper appear to be all new and much larger than anything else we've seen on the Charger so far. It's unclear what exactly that means, but it does give an already bold design an even more aggressive appearance. Over the past couple of years, Dodge revealed widebody versions of the Challenger R/T Scat Pack, Hellcat, Hellcat Redeye and the widebody only Dodge Demon. Each car is faster and more powerful than the last. The bulging fenders allow for a revised suspension setup, wider wheels and tires and a wider track for more stable handling. It makes an already big car even bigger, though you do get genuine improvements when it comes to performance handling.