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2019 Dodge Durango GT Blacktop | Blacked-out family hauler

We recently spent a day at FCA's Chelsea Proving Grounds here in Michigan, and after we had had a little too much fun driving the new 2019 Dodge Durango Pursuit, we took a ride in the updated Durango GT. New for 2019, the GT gets a new front fascia borrowed from its R/T and SRT brethren. It also gets standard LED fog lamps. The optional performance hood is inspired by the SRT model, with a single air duct and two heat extractors. In the rear. In addition to its updated styling, this tester was equipped with the Blacktop package, which gives the sporty new flair a menacing edge. It had glossy black wheels (20-inchers) and mirrors, and blacked-out badges on the exterior. At the rear, it had dual exhaust with bright tips. Inside, out tester featured carbon fiber accents, paddle shifters and a trailer brake control. The Dodge Durango GT is still powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. It's available in rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations, and can tow up to 6,200 pounds. It shifts gears via an eight-speed automatic transmission. RWD models get 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and AWD models suffer one mpg across the board. Our brief drive reconfirmed what we already knew about the Durango. It's a fun SUV that feels macho yet comfortable. For a vehicle that size, it really is fun to drive, and Dodge did a great job of making it feel like a lifted Charger. It's got plenty of room for the whole family, but you won't have to check your soul at the door. Have a gander at the video above, and be on the lookout for more videos coming from our day at FCA's proving grounds.Related Video:

Fiat Chrysler and the UAW reach tentative labor deal

DETROIT — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union on Saturday announced a tentative agreement for a four-year labor contract, a boost for the automaker as it works to merge with France's Groupe PSA. Italian-American Fiat Chrysler and PSA, the maker of Peugeot and Citroen, last month announced a planned $50 billion merger to create the world's fourth-largest automaker. The tentative agreement with Fiat Chrysler, which is subject to ratification by the union members, follows contracts that the UAW already concluded with Ford Motor Co and General Motors Co. The deal with GM followed a 40-day strike in the United States that virtually shuttered GM's North American operations and cost the automaker $3 billion. The UAW on Saturday said the contract with Fiat Chrysler included a commitment from FCA to invest $9 billion, creating 7,900 new jobs over the course of the four-year contract. Of the $9 billion, $4.5 billion was announced earlier this year, to be invested in five plants and creating 6,500 jobs. Detailed terms of the tentative agreement were not released, but they are expected to echo those under the new contracts with GM and Ford, as the UAW typically uses the first deal as a pattern for the others. "FCA has been a great American success story thanks to the hard work of our members," UAW acting President Rory Gamble said in a statement. "We have achieved substantial gains and job security provisions for the fastest growing auto company in the United States." Ratification is not a sure thing. Rank-and-file UAW members at FCA in 2015 rejected the first version of a contract. In addition, a lawsuit related to a federal corruption probe could also raise doubts among union members about the terms agreed. The federal corruption led GM to file a racketeering lawsuit against FCA, alleging that its rival bribed union officials over many years to corrupt the bargaining process and gain advantages, costing GM billions of dollars. FCA has brushed off the lawsuit as groundless. Under the UAW's deal with GM, the automaker agreed to invest $9 billion in the United States, including $7.7 billion directly in its plants, and to create or retain 9,000 UAW jobs. Ford's contract included commitments to invest more than $6 billion in its U.S. plants and to create or retain more than 8,500 UAW jobs. The deals with GM and Ford also created a pathway to full-time employment for temporary workers and left healthcare insurance coverage unchanged.

Mopar Dodge Challenger special edition celebrates a mod decade

Despite the current Dodge Challenger hitting the age of 11 this year, it continues to be a top seller for the brand. One of the reasons for its popularity is its customizability. FCA acknowledges this with the just-revealed, limited-edition Mopar 2019 Dodge Challenger celebrating its factory-backed performance parts and accessories straight from the its own in-house parts division. For 10 years, Challenger owners have benefited from upgrades directly from Chrysler’s Mopar division. This has been a big deal because tuning a car often required aftermarket parts, which could jeopardize factory warranties. But with upgrades directly from original equipment manufacturers, such a risk was eliminated. “Over the last decade, weÂ’ve customized an impressive group of vehicles with exclusive Mopar performance parts and accessories that our enthusiast customers crave,” said Mark Bosanac, head of Mopar Service in a statement. “This year weÂ’re commemorating our tenth Mopar build with another unique and collectible Dodge Challenger, which continues to be the modern muscle car every bit as beloved today as the first-generation vehicle was 50 years ago.” The 2019 Mopar Dodge Challenger starts life as R/T Scat Pack model. Under the hood sits a 392-cubic inch (6.4-liter) Hemi V-8 with 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque with the choice of a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. But Mopar sweetens the deal by adding a performance cold-air intake, strut tower braces to improve structural rigidity and handling, as well as strut caps and braces painted in silver for eye candy whenever the hood is popped. ItÂ’s only available in two hues, Pitch Black or White Knuckle, and comes with a variety of bespoke interior and exterior upgrades. They include special Mopar Shakedown graphics and blue striping from the front fascia all the way back to the rear decklid spoiler. Completing the look is a set of 20x9-inch forged aluminum wheels wrapped in Goodyear P245/45ZR20 performance tires and the optional shaker hood package made standard. Sales commence next month with a starting price of $45,835.