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Chrysler recalling over 280k minivans because airbags may deploy on wrong side

Chrysler has issued a recall for some 2013 Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan and Ram C/V Tradesman vans built between May 10, 2012 and June 7, 2013. These vehicles may have a software error that would cause the wrong side (opposite side) airbags to deploy in a crash. With this defect, a left-side impact would cause the right-side airbag to deploy, etc.
The recall affects 281,500 vehicles in total: 224k in the US, 49,300 in Canada, 2,900 in Mexico and 5,300 in other locations. Chrysler will notify owners of effected vehicles, and reflash the offending occupant restraint control module to resolve the issue. Scroll down to read the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration press release.

The Dodge Demon sheds some weight in pursuit of speed

The Dodge Demon teaser train isn't stopping until it hits New York City. In case you need a reminder, the upcoming Demon is the more pedestrian Hellcat's stripped-down and hopped-up sibling that promises to be built for the sole purpose of traveling a quarter-mile mile quicker than any of its rivals. The weekly video rollout on www.ifyouknowyouknow.com continues with the latest sneak peak, "Reduction." While there were early rumors that the Demon may pack an all-wheel-drive system and in turn gain enough grip to rotate the Earth underneath it, Dodge and SRT look to be going down a simpler route. The press release reveals the Demon is 200 pounds lighter than the standard Hellcat. It's unclear where all that weight is coming from, but at nearly 4,500 pounds, the Challenger Hellcat could stand to go on a bit of a diet. The video hints at adjustments to the wheels, steering, suspension, and brakes, as well as some modifications to the car's interior. Don't be surprised if the Demon is a bare bones stripper model with no back seat, no A/C, and no radio. Who needs music when you have 2.4-liter supercharger and a 6.2-liter Hemi V8 making sweet love under the hood? Related Video: Image Credit: FCA Design/Style Marketing/Advertising New York Auto Show Dodge Coupe Future Vehicles Special and Limited Editions Performance dodge demon dodge hellcat

Killing the Dart and 200 might lower FCA's fuel economy burden

Killing the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 could allow FCA US to take advantage of an intriguing quirk in the next decade's fuel economy regulations. By increasing its ratio of trucks versus cars, the automaker might not need to worry so much about hitting the more stringent efficiency rules. At first thought, it might seem harder for an automaker with a ton of trucks to meet the government's mandated 54.5 mile per gallon corporate average fuel economy for 2025. However, every company doesn't need to hit that lofty figure, according to The Detroit Free Press. The exact target varies by the product mix between trucks and cars. "While passenger car and light truck categories have separate CAFE targets, it's still true that more trucks versus cars in a company lineup means a lower combined CAFE target," Brandon Schoettle, Project Manager Sustainable Worldwide Transportation at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, told Autoblog. "While passenger car and light truck categories have separate CAFE targets, it's still true that more trucks versus cars in a company lineup means a lower combined CAFE target." FCA US' current product blend has 80 percent pickups and CUVs, which means the company stands to benefit from a lower fuel economy target. It might not seem entirely fair environmentally, but this is a great move from a business perspective. The new CAFE rules aren't set in stone, according to The Detroit Free Press, but potentially taking advantage of the regulation is just one more reason to cut the Dart and 200. Modern crossovers also aren't gas guzzlers like older SUVs, which could make it easier to hit the fuel economy target. "Utilities offer practicality and versatility that cars do not, and now, built on car architectures, they do not penalize consumers on fuel economy as they once did," AutoTrader Senior Analyst Michelle Krebs told Autoblog. Schoettle warns that FCA is still making a gamble by killing the small sedans. "Depending on the previous sales volumes and how much these vehicles might have exceeded their specific CAFE targets, it's possible that these cars helped earn CAFE credits for FCA that they could bank for future use," he said. "Future sales breakdowns [car vs.