2000 Dodge 2500 3/4 Ton Contractor Van on 2040-cars

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Dodge pulls New Girl and The Office stars for new Dart spots

Dodge is hoping that a heavy dash of humor helps it move some more units of the Dart with a hilarious ad campaign called Don't Touch My Dart. The spots star actors Craig Robinson, best known for his role as Darryl on The Office, and Jake Johnson from New Girl as neighbors and friends playing a game of one-upmanship over Robinson's new car. Johnson is envious of the ride and just wants to touch it.
The ads are pretty funny if you're a fan of somewhat absurdist humor, and Robinson has just the right amount of over-the-top seriousness to really make the commercials work. They have kind of a Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote vibe with Johnson constantly in inept pursuit of what he wants, but he clearly isn't getting it.
The first four spots in the campaign are already online, but according to Dodge this is just the beginning. The company says that it's planning about 24 different versions of these ads in various lengths to play on TV and online. You can check out the ads titled First Scratch, Birdhouse Police Garage Door and Voice Touching below, along with the brand's release about the new ads. There's also a pretty good gag on its YouTube page with Robinson protecting his Dart.

Jeep Wrangler 4xe's hybrid powertrain: Could it be headed to other FCA products?

On its own, the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid is a big deal for the brand and the model line. It's the most powerful and most efficient Wrangler by significant margins, and it doesn't give up the off-road capability that makes the Wrangler so special. But another great thing about this hybrid powertrain is its potential to be transplanted into other FCA vehicles. Just to recap, the layout of the Wrangler's hybrid powertrain, front to back, is as follows: engine, clutch, electric motor, clutch, transmission. The engine is the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that's a standalone engine for the Wrangler. The transmission and electric motor are sort of one unit, with the motor and clutch replacing the torque converter of the transmission. And the transmission itself is the ubiquitous eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. Its transmission code name is 8HP75PH. The ZF eight-speed is available in every FCA product with a longitudinally-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, with variations in the amount of power and torque it can handle. Not only that, but the Ram 1500 and 2500 and the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator all have powertrains that utilize the non-hybrid version of the 8HP75 transmission specifically. Even the gear ratios for that transmission as well as the 8HP70 used in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango, Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 are nearly identical to those in the 8HP75PH. And a Fiat-Chrysler representative confirmed that the transmission portion of the hybrid drivetrain is basically carry-over from the regular 8HP75. So a transplant could be a relatively simple process. As for which of these models would be the most likely to receive the hybrid powertrain first, the Jeep Gladiator and Ram 1500 would seem like good bets, since they likely have the most similar transmissions, and the Gladiator in particular because of its closely-related underpinnings to the Wrangler. Both are also highly profitable trucks that sell well and could justify the development costs of adapting another powertrain. And in the case of the Ram, there's the impending F-150 hybrid to think about. Although Ram isn't going after a fully electric model, a PHEV could be a nice middle ground. A potential limiting factor would be whether the hybrid powertrain would be sufficiently robust to handle heavy payload and towing demands, particularly over longer periods.

Dodge recalls 173 Chargers and Challengers for front wheels that don't fit correctly

Dodge is recalling 173 Challengers and Chargers because they’re equipped with an incompatible front wheel and brake package. All the vehicles are 2019 model year cars built between May 28 and September 25 this year, according to the official NHTSA documents. The wheels donÂ’t provide enough clearance from suspension and brake components, Dodge says. ThereÂ’s a chance that the tireÂ’s inner sidewall will make contact with the steering knuckle. When the tire hits the steering knuckle, it could end up damaging the tire, causing a “sudden loss of tire air pressure.” This, of course, is not what you want out of a tire. Predictably, FCA says this could result in a crash without prior warning. To fix the problem, your local Dodge dealer will be installing the wheels that shouldÂ’ve been equipped on the car in the first place. FCA continues: “Also, for customer satisfaction, replace the rear wheels to match the front wheels.” We were wondering if the rear wheels would come into play here, and it looks like Dodge wonÂ’t be leaving anyone out to dry with mismatched front and rear wheels. The wheels in question are described as “Mid Gloss Black Wheel.” Check your window sticker (or wait for the official mailing) to see if you have those wheels on your Charger or Challenger. Unfortunately, FCA doesnÂ’t detail which trims of Charger and Challenger are affected in its recall notice. The company also makes it clear that this recall is due to “an engineering release error” and not a wheel defect. This particular wheel and brake package shouldÂ’ve never been offered as an option from the factory. Look out for a notice in early December, as FCA says it will begin notifying owners around December 13 this year. As of now, there are no reported injuries or accidents due to the issue.