2002 Dodge Durango R/t Sport Utility 4-door 5.9l on 2040-cars

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Consumer Reports says these are the worst new cars of 2014

Consumer Reports has announced its annual list of worst vehicles, a cringe-inducing contrast to its list of top vehicles. Ignominiously leading the way in 2014 is Chrysler, which has a staggering seven models listed.
Jeep nearly sweeps the small SUV segment by itself, with its Compass, Patriot and 2.4-liter version of the new Cherokee, while the only midsize sedans listed by CR were the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger. The new Dodge Dart and the Dodge Journey round out CR's condemnation of Chrysler.
Ford is taking heat as well, with the Taurus, Edge and their counterparts from Lincoln all listed as the worst vehicles in their respective segments. Toyota doesn't fare much better, with its Lexus IS, Scion iQ and tC also making the list.

Mustang, Camaro, Challenger gallop onto USPS pony car postage stamp set

Some of America's most iconic cars are about to be immortalized on postage stamps. A new set by the U.S. Postal Service will celebrate the the golden era of pony cars, featuring five classic examples of Detroit iron. Each one is beautifully illustrated in oil-on-canvas style, with subjects in motion and sunlight glinting off the chrome, and would add a nice touch to any first-class letter. The pony car segment was all about (relatively) small, sporty alternatives to the full-size land yachts of the 1960s. They typically came equipped with 6-cylinder engines or small-block V8s. The category was named after the Ford Mustang, hence  the name. Some, though, argue that the Plymouth Barracuda, which was launched a couple of weeks before the Mustang, is the first. Luckily, the Falcon-based Mustang's distinct styling generated a sales sensation, or we might be calling them fish cars. Appropriately, one of the featured cars is a Mustang. But it's not just any Mustang. The 1969 Boss 302, seen here resplendent in Bright Yellow, was created for the hotly-contested SCCA Trans-Am racing series. One of its main rivals would have been the 1969 Chevy Camaro Z/28, also created specifically for the series, and is included in the set in Fathom Green. Representing Auburn Hills in the set is a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T in Plum Crazy, while Southfield's American Motors gets a nod with an AMC Javelin in Big Bad Orange. The Mustang's platform cousin, a 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7, is portrayed in a gorgeous Burgundy Poly that almost looks incomplete without Neko Case on the hood. It's not the first time the USPS has honored America's rich car culture on its stamps. In 2013, it issues a series of muscle car stamps with the help of Richard Petty. That set featured a 1966 Pontiac GTO, 1967 Shelby GT-500, 1970 Chevelle SS, 1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda and, of course, a 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona. Another set in 2016 featured classic pickup trucks. Going further back, a 2008 release had chroed and finned automobiles of the 1950s and a 2005 release featured sporty American cars of the same era. The pony car stamps will debut on August 25 at the Great American Stamp Show in Sacramento, California in partnership with the American Philatelic Society. The public is free to attend the dedication ceremony, but you must RSVP first. After that, they will be available at local post offices and on line at the USPS store.

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon sheds seats and insulation to drop weight

You've probably already heard that the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon will be lighter than the Hellcat Challenger – to tune of more than 200 pounds. What you probably don't know is that the Dodge team did it by dropping most of the seats, along with a few other tricks. The Demon loses 113 pounds by making the front passenger seat with its seatbelt (58 pounds) and back seat (55 pounds including restraints and floor mats) optional, which accounts for a large chunk of the weight loss compared to the Hellcat. The Demon also has unique 18-by-11-inch wheels, which are 16 pounds lighter than the Hellcat's, a manual tilt/telescope steering column instead of the powered one, which loses four pounds, and an 18-pound loss thanks to removing 23 noise, vibration, and harshness parts (the Demon will not be a quiet car, to say the least). Another 20 pounds is lost removing the trunk interior trim and spare tire. Still, the Demon gains 17 pounds thanks to the wide fender flares that accommodate the massive drag radials, which also add 3.5 inches to the car's width. For reference, the lightest Hellcat weighs 4,448 pounds with a manual transmission, and the automatic-equipped car comes in at 4,455 pounds. The Demon will be revealed in April before the New York Auto Show, and Dodge will continue to tease its latest satanic muscle couple weekly until then. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.