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Dodge Demon makes so much torque, it needs stronger driveline parts

Torque is a lovely thing, a sweet and wonderful force that twists and pulls and can help propel a two-ton metal box forward at comical speeds. Torque is also fickle and will bend and break those same metal parts without a second thought, which is why the new Dodge Demon is compensating for its increased torque with some new re-engineered and reinforced parts. And there's software intended to combat wheel hop, which one of the most dramatic ways torque can break stuff. Week 8's video, "Race-hardened Parts," gives a hint towards what all these new parts can do. While we still don't know how much torque the Demon will throw out, we do know it's enough to warrant an upgraded prop shaft, half shafts, and a differential housing. The Challenger Hellcat, which is the basis for the Demon, makes 650 pound-feet of torque already. The new parts will go a long way toward making sure the work from the Demon's engine is properly translated into motion by those Nitto drag radials. The new prop shaft uses high-strength steel, heat-treated stub-shafts, and increases the tube thickness by 20 percent for a 15 percent increase in torque capacity. Additionally, Dodge says the upgraded differential housing allows for a 30 percent increase in torque capacity by using heat-treated A383 aluminum alloy and a higher strength shot-peened gear set. The 41-spline half shafts that deliver 20 percent increased torque capacity through the use of high-strength low alloy steel and 8-ball joints. In addition to the hardware, the Launch Assist software has been tuned to help alleviate wheel hop. Dodge says the Demon is the first factory production car that uses wheel speed sensors to detect hop and momentarily cut torque to compensate. This means a driver can keep their foot planted on the floor while the computer sorts out the traction. Previously, the best solution was to back off the throttle to manually cut the load. Finally, the Dodge Demon will offer a four-point harness mounting bar as an optional accessory. The part will be supplied by Speedlogix and fits in place of the deleted rear seat. Customers can install the bar without having to hack apart their cars to find a proper mounting point. Look for more teasers and info on ifyouknowyouknow.com in the lead-up to the Demon's debut at the 2017 New York Auto Show. Related Video: Image Credit: FCA Dodge Performance dodge demon dodge hellcat

2024 Chrysler Pacifica celebrates 40 years of the modern minivan

While its nameplate is relatively new, the Chrysler Pacifica traces its roots to the model that defined the minivan as we know it today: the Plymouth Voyager. Chrysler is celebrating 40 years of building family haulers by making a handful of small updates to the Pacifica for 2024. Don't expect to find a "40 Years Edition" trim the next time you visit a Chrysler dealer. Changes for the 2024 model year are largely limited to new paint and interior colors. Red Hot and Baltic Gray join the palette, and buyers who order the range-topping Pacifica Pinnacle model can select a new interior color called Sepia. Chrysler has also pared down the Plug-In Hybrid range to two models called Select and Pinnacle, respectively. Customers can add the optional S Appearance, Premium S Appearance, and Road Tripper packages to the base Select trim. The final update for 2024 is minor but important. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system gains an Emergency Vehicle Alert System (EVAS) that warns the driver if it detects an active fire truck, an active ambulance, or "other nearby roadway hazards," according to Chrysler. Chrysler dealers across the nation will begin receiving the 2024 Pacifica in the coming weeks. Moving your family and your stuff for 40 years Plymouth, which Chrysler closed in 2001, built the first Voyager at the Windsor plant in Canada on November 2, 1983. The van went on sale as a 1984 model and became what most historians consider the first modern minivan. The idea of designing a box on wheels tailor-made for families wasn't new: the 1930s Stout Scarab, the original Volkswagen Bus released in 1950, the Fiat 600 Multipla launched in 1956, and the Renault Espace unveiled shortly after the Voyager filled the same void, but it's the Chrysler Corporation's definition of a minivan that stuck. The original Voyager was also sold as the Dodge Caravan (1984) and the Chrysler Town & Country (1990). The three models leveraged a unique set of attributes to stand out from other vans on the market, including car-derived underpinnings (many existing models were related to bulky commercial vehicles), front-wheel-drive, and a sliding door that made the cabin easy to get in and out of. Stow 'N Go seats didn't appear until the 2004 model year, but Chrysler's early vans featured removable rear seats for weekend trips to the hardware store. SUVs and crossovers often get blamed for killing the station wagon, but the minivan arguably started the war.

Bid on the incredible George Barris Supervan in Scottsdale

Barrett-Jackson's upcoming Scottsdale, AZ, auction features the groovy Barris SuperVan, which came from the mind of car customizing legend George Barris. He even autographed the interior. Passengers enter the SuperVan through the hinged windshield, and once inside they can party in style thanks to the roof-mounted disco ball. However, occupants can't get too wild because the massive side windows don't leave much room for privacy. Barris built the van around a 1966 Dodge Tradesman A-100 with a three-speed manual gearbox and a 318-cubic-inch V8. Barris originally called the van the "The Love Machine," and it later had quite a Hollywood career. Its on-screen appearances included the '70s movie SuperVan, and a repainted version served as a Hill Valley Transit bus in Back to the Future II. After his passing at age 89 last year, Barris' creation might see a further boost in value. Barrett-Jackson doesn't offer a price estimate for the SuperVan, but we can't wait to see what this groovy vehicle sells for with no reserve. Collectors already valued Barris' work before his death. For example, his 1960s Batmobile, which was likely Barris' most famous creation, went for $4.62 million at a Barrett-Jackson auction in 2013. Related Video: Lot #1306 1966 DODGE TRADESMAN A-100 BARRIS CUSTOM SUPERVAN Auction Scottsdale 2016 Reserve NO RESERVE Status Available Price Request Bidder Info Lot 1306 Location Tent 7 B - 1 Year 1966 Make DODGE Model TRADESMAN A-100 Style BARRIS CUSTOM SUPERVAN *Includes Buyer Commission Details VIN 24653301 Exterior Color RED/BLUE/SILVER Interior Color RED/BLUE Cylinders 8 Engine Size 318 Transmission 3-SPEED MANUAL Description Lot #1306 - Originally designed by George Barris as "The Love Machine" and reincarnated by Barris for the movie "SuperVan." It was used for many movies and TV shows after that, such as the Hill Valley Transit bus in "Back to the Future II," "Sea Quest" and the 1970 movie "Solar Crisis." The van has been completely restored to its "SuperVan" look and has since been signed by George Barris. Manual transmission. Featured Gallery Barris SuperVan Auction News Source: Barrett-Jackson Dodge Auctions Minivan/Van Special and Limited Editions Classics george barris barris