Dodge Ram 2500 Slt on 2040-cars

Auto blog

FCA goes all-in on Jeep and Ram brands on cheap gas bet

It's no surprise that as SUV and truck sales remain strong in the wake of unusually cheap gas, Jeep and Ram sales are taking off. What is a surprise is that FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne thinks that cheap gas will be a "permanent condition," and feels strongly enough about it to change up North American manufacturing plans. Jeep appears to be the biggest beneficiary of the product realignment. In addition to increasing the sales estimates for the brand worldwide upwards to 2 million units a year by 2018, the brand will get a flood of investment for new product and powertrains. Consider the Wrangler Pickup to be part of the salvo, as well as the Grand Wagoneer three-row announced in 2014 as part of the original five-year plan. The Wrangler four-door will get at least two new powertrains, a diesel and mild hybrid version, in its next generation. That mild hybrid powertrain may utilize a 48-volt electrical system like the one that's being developed by Delphi and Bosch – which the suppliers think will be worth a 10 to 15 percent fuel economy gain at a minimum. Down the road, in the 2020s, the Wrangler could adopt a full hybrid system. The diesel powertrain is planned for 2019 or 2020. The Ram 1500 is also pegged to receive a mild hybrid system, again potentially based on 48-volt architecture, sometime after 2020. Lastly, Jeep and Ram will take over some of the production capacity of existing plants. The Sterling Heights, MI, plant that builds the Chrysler 200 will now build the Ram 1500; the Belvidere, IL, facility that produces the Dodge Dart will take over Cherokee output; the big Jeep facility in Toledo, OH, will be used for increased Wrangler demand. In 2015, according to FCA's numbers, car and van demand went down by 10 percent, but SUV demand went up 8 percent and truck demand 2 percent. Considering that these are high-margin vehicles, FCA can't ignore the math. FCA also won't build any new factories to supplement production to meet demand, but instead are reshuffling production priorities. Think of it this way: FCA is gambling on cheap gas being a permanent part of our lives, at least into the 2020s. By doubling down on SUVs and trucks, the company stands to win big, unless a spike in gas prices changes the landscape. FCA isn't talking about a Plan B, so they're all in. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

The 2018 Dodge Demon sounds like nothing else on the road

The Dodge Demon seems to have a torque problem, if making too much to easily contain can be considered a problem. In order to keep all that twist under control, the Demon has a new torque reserve launch system that works all sorts of engineering black magic to build boost without overloading the rear tires and brakes. That system, combined with the sticky Nittos and the fancy new suspension, should lead to some pretty spectacular 60-foot and 1/4-mile times. The way the system works is relatively straightforward. A bypass valve on the supercharger closes, "prefilling" the blower. In order to balance revs and torque, the computer can adjust fuel flow and spark on individual cylinders. The torque reserve kicks in when Launch Mode is initiated and the engine is turning at least 1,000 rpm. The goal is to reach peak boost quicker while efficiently putting down power. The side effect is a distinct exhaust note, which Dodge admits may make it seem like the Demon is broken. That seems to be the root of the "If you know, you know" tagline that the automaker has been using since the first teaser. Those interested can even download a ringtone, which might make it seem like you have a blown-out speaker on your phone. You can get a brief taste in the latest teaser video. In addition to the new info on the Launch Mode, Dodge released a couple of new teaser images. We briefly glimpsed one of these last week. It's a shot of the Demon's performance pages. The number 757 has appeared before, and all the talk of torque leads us to conclude that this is the Demon's torque output. The number 815 was seen in a separate teaser (shown below), which we feel may be the horsepower rating. If those numbers are correct, that would mean an increase of 108 horsepower and 107 lb-ft of torque, totally reasonable numbers given all the Demon's modifications. The license plate photo is another equation or code. This one, 3.9+221=405, is just as cryptic as the others. Look for more news and hints at ifyouknowyouknow.com in the weeks leading to the Demon's reveal. Related Video: Related Gallery Dodge Demon Teasers View 17 Photos Dodge Coupe Performance supercharger dodge demon dodge hellcat

FCA recalls 210,000 new Jeeps and Dodges due to a brake issue

FCA is recalling some 210,000 vehicles in the U.S. and elsewhere over a possible braking issue. On this occasion, the recall is made less complicated by the fact that about one-third of the affected vehicles are so new, they still reside on dealer lots, making them easy to tally up and put right. The recall concerns 2018 Dodge Journeys, 2019 Jeep Cherokees and 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravans and 2018-2019 Jeep Compasses. Most were built in spring 2018, and the recall is related to a brake system component that failed to meet FCA specifications. Further information available on the NHTSA website details the issue, saying that insufficiently coated rear brake caliper pistons may cause gas pockets to form in the brake fluid of very new vehicles. This in turn can reduce rear brake performance — bubbles in brake lines are not desirable. FCA underlines that the brakes still function, but stopping distance can be affected. As a remedy, the brake systems are inspected and re-bled. The recall is slated to begin on Sept. 28. In addition to 154,337 vehicles in the United States, the recall concerns 19,066 units in Canada, some 900 in Mexico and some 35,500 vehicles on other markets. Related Video: Image Credit: AOL Recalls Dodge Jeep Minivan/Van SUV FCA