2015 Dodge Grand Caravan Sxt on 2040-cars

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Diesel Power finds the ultimate modified oil-burner

For nine years, Diesel Power magazine has run the Diesel Power Challenge, this year's grindfest being "a week-long torture test that features seven events, nine trucks, 8,000 horsepower, and nearly 15,000 pound-feet of torque." The road to being crowned "the most powerful truck" starts with a dyno run, and then continues through the completion of a CDL-style obstacle course, an eighth-of-a-mile drag race while towing a 10,000-pound trailer, a quarter-mile drag race without a trailer, a fuel economy test in the mountains and finally a sled-pulling test through a 300-foot-long packed-mud pit.
What kind of trucks get into such a fight? Last year's winner, for instance - who upgraded his truck this year to prove he didn't "luck into the win" - drives a 2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty with a 6.4-liter Power Stroke V8 upgraded with a custom intake, Elite Diesel triple turbos and a two-stage nitrous system. Another competitor has a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 powered by a 5.9-liter Cummins inline-six, upgraded with Garrett turbos, dual-stage nitrous, a seven-inch exhaust stack and twin fans built into the bed to cool the Sun Coast Omega transmission. The numbers on that truck: 1,255 horsepower, and 2,063 pound-feet of torque at the wheels. Naturally, as the image above might suggest, things don't always end well.
You'll find all five videos covering this years challenge below. A scene in the dyno video sums it all up perfectly: a competitor leaves his nitrous on too long and the crew is treated to some ominous poppings, he leans out the window, throws both hands up and shouts, "Amer'ca!"

2020 Dodge Journey loses trims and colors, adds equipment

Update: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that all-wheel-drive was available on the Journey. It has been discontinued for the 2020 model year. The text has been changed to reflect this. The 2020 Dodge Journey sticks with the formula that's served it for its entire 11-year lifespan so far, which is to say nothing more than incremental changes will usher in the new year. The lineup shrinks by half, the SE and GT trims going away, leaving the SE Value and Crossroad trims. The end of the Journey GT means the end of the 283-horsepower, 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 for the Journey, the two remaining models powered by the 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque shifting through a four-speed automatic. The SE Value sits on 17-inch steelies with wheel covers, the Crossroad rides on 19-inchers, and both models turn the front wheels only; the option of all-wheel drive has left the building. Both trims add new standard equipment, Rear Park Assist included on both, the Crossroad acquiring a sunroof. The color wheel for exterior hues loses two options, Destroyer Grey and Verde Oliva, leaving seven choices. The SE Value interior retains its choice of black or tan cloth, the Crossroads sticks with black only. SE Value and Crossroad will offer an option called the Popular Entertainment Group that installs different equipment depending on trim. For the SE Value, that will add a power driver seat, premium cloth seating, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, tri-zone temperature control, Uconnect Voice Command with Bluetooth, a 12-month subscription to SiriusXM Radio, interior observation mirror, and security alarm. On the Crossroad, the same package means navigation, heated front seats and steering wheel, six premium speakers and subwoofer, remote start, a universal garage door opener. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but with the 11-year-old Journey selling itself as a value proposition — it's right there in the name — we don't expect much change from the $24,740 price of the 2019 SE Value.

Dodge Hellcats change their stripes for 2016

If you've been on the fence about ordering up a new Dodge with Hellcat power, this might just provide the extra incentive you were looking for. Starting this month, Dodge is offering a new stripe option, exclusive to its most powerful muscle cars. The SRT Hellcat stripes are now available to order on the top-of-the-line, 707-horsepower versions of both the Charger and Challenger. The dual full-length stripes run all the way up from the front lip, over the grille, up the hood, accentuating the NACA duct, along the roof, down the trunklid, across the rear spoiler, and down the rear bumper. They feature a carbon-fiber texture, and can be ordered with any of eleven colors for an extra $995. Along with the stripes, Dodge has also announced that it is extending the availability of the exclusive Plum Crazy color – which was originally scheduled to expire at the end of December – for another month. The throwback hue can be ordered on Charger and Challenger models ranging from the SXT through the R/T models all the way up to the SRT 392 and Hellcat. 2016 CHALLENGER AND CHARGER SRT HELLCAT MODELS EARN EXCLUSIVE STRIPES, DODGE EXTENDS PLUM CRAZY PAINT - All-new SRT Hellcat dual exterior stripe design adds even more Dodge attitude to 2016 Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat models - SRT Hellcat-exclusive dual full-length carbon-fiber pattern stripes provide a customized-from-the-factory look - Dealers will start taking orders for Hellcat stripes in January 2016 - SRT Hellcat dual stripes have a U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $995 - Dodge is answering enthusiast demand for Plum Crazy exterior paint with an additional one-month run of the legendary and limited-edition high-impact hue January 8, 2016 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - For more than a year, Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat models — the fastest and most powerful muscle cars ever with 707 supercharged HEMI® horsepower each — have stormed roadways and drag strips with acceleration blasts to 60 mph in the low 3-second range, generated more than 61 million sensational YouTube video views around the globe, enabled an entirely new generation of Dodge enthusiasts and now for 2016 have been rewarded with their very own Dodge performance stripes.