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Jeep teases its Easter Safari Wrangler concepts

Every year ahead of the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Jeep shows off some wild concepts based on Jeep products. They usually don't make it to production, but they do get the fans very, very excited. If you'll remember last year, the company showed off a Hellcat-powered Wrangler concept called the Trailcat and some retro-inspired pickups, like a neo-Forward Control and one resembling the classic military Kaiser M715. This year, we're getting a sneak preview of two of the concepts Jeep will be showing off. Details are sketchy and the images aren't very revealing, but such is the way of teasers. Let's start with the Switchback, which appears to be a Wrangler Unlimited that features metal doors with large cutaways in them. They look like a cross between factory metal half-doors and the tubular trail doors that are a popular aftermarket add-on. It also appears to feature a bumper-mounted winch and a special top with a roof basket. The second concept is the Quicksand, which appears to be a two-door Wrangler with cut-down fenders, a roll cage, and no B-pillar aft of the door. Could it be a dune buggy of sorts, a Jeep analogue to the Baja Bugs or Meyers Manxs so popular in the 1960s and 1970s? It's hard to tell, but all will be revealed soon. Related Video:

Jeep readying 2018 and 2019 Wrangler recall for bad frame welds

According to documents posted to the JL Wrangler Forums, Jeep is readying a recall for an unknown number of 2018 and 2019 model-year Wrangler SUVs. The issue revolves around the track bar mount, which on some vehicles is shearing off where it is welded to the frame. Since some affected vehicles may be unsold on dealer lots, the automaker has issued a corresponding stop sale. A Jeep spokesperson confirmed to CNET that there have been no reported accidents related to the issue, and Jalopnik reports that Jeep will inspect roughly 18,000 vehicles for the defect, though it believes only around 720 will be affected. As of the time this story was published, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had not yet posted this recall to its website. There have been a total of five recalls for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, including one for a steering shaft that could separate due to improper welding. One 2018 Jeep Wrangler owner in North Carolina posted a video to YouTube, seen above, showing track bar mounts that have completely sheared away from the vehicle's frame. These broken welds may cause severe steering degradation and "can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning," according to a dealer notice that was posted to the JL Wrangler Forum. That owner has said Jeep is replacing his Wrangler, but it's not clear if other vehicles are being replaced or repaired. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Stellantis to offer electric versions of most of its European lineup by 2025

Newly merged automaker conglomerate Stellantis will offer electric versions of almost all of its European lineup by 2025, it said on Thursday, as the auto industry faces regulatory pushes in Europe and China to accelerate the shift to zero-emission cars. Formed in January by the merger of France's PSA and Italian-American group Fiat Chrysler, Stellantis is the world’s fourth largest carmaker with 14 brands including Opel, Jeep, Ram and Maserati, and like its peers faces an investor community keen for a road map to an electric lineup to rival Tesla . Speaking during Stellantis' first annual shareholders meeting, Chief Executive Carlos Tavares said that in 2021 the carmaker expects sales of electrified vehicles — that is, both plug-in hybrids and fully electric models — to more than triple to over 400,000 units in 2021. By 2025, electrified vehicles should make up 38% of European sales, a huge jump from the 14% of sales it expects in 2021. Tavares said by 2030 electric models should make up 70% of European sales and 35% of U.S. sales. He said Stellantis will use four electric platforms for passenger vehicles across its 14-brand empire — small, medium and large sizes for cars, and "frame" for high-margin SUVs and pickup trucks. Sweden's Volvo said this month its lineup would be fully electric by 2030, and Ford Motor Co said in February its lineup in Europe would be too. BMW has said at least 50% of its car sales should be fully-electric models by 2030. Sales of electric and plug-in hybrid cars in the European Union almost trebled to over 1 million vehicles last year, accounting for more than 10% of overall sales. Green Alfa Romeo Fiat Jeep Maserati Citroen Lancia Opel Peugeot Vauxhall Electric Hybrid Stellantis