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Texan finds creative way to clear highway fast lane

Few things are as infuriating as someone driving slow in the fast lane. A Jeep driver from Texas found himself in just such a predicament near Fort Worth, and came up with a creative way to urge the offending lane-blocker to get a move on. Machine, a YouTuber and off-road enthusiast from the Lone Star State, posted some dashcam footage to his account back in March which showed him stuck behind a slow driver. He was attempting to pass a slow-moving bobtail Peterbilt tractor when he got hung up by a white Ford Econoline squatting in the passing lane. On his YouTube page, Machine stated that the van, which apparently belonged to a plumbing company, was traveling along between 60 and 70 miles per hour along a stretch of highway with a stated speed limit of 70 mph. Confronted with the slow-moving van blocking the left lane, and traffic in the right lane, Machine called the number on the back of the Econoline and politely asked him to get out of the way. In the Econoline, the passenger picked up and was momentarily confused as Machine asked him to ask his driver to move out of the lane and let traffic pass. The van sped up, passed a tractor-trailer, and got out of the way, much to the relief of the traffic behind him. According to CBS news, 38 states have laws on the books to punish slow drivers squatting in the passing lane. In five of those states, the fine is upwards of $1000, and 22 states classify it as a misdemeanor. Related Video: News Source: YouTube, CBS News Auto News Humor Weird Car News Ford Jeep Driving Safety Minivan/Van SUV Commercial Vehicles wrangler passing lane

2018 Jeep Wrangler to get full-time four-wheel-drive option

It appears the next-generation Wrangler will take another small step to modernization and civility. JL Wrangler Forums reports that the new Wrangler is showing up on dealer computers along with a variety of options. One of them is the inclusion of a full-time four-wheel-drive system called Selec-Trac. This means that it will be possible to simply leave the Wrangler in four-wheel drive all the time, without worrying about damaging it when pavement is dry, much like the all-wheel-drive systems on most modern crossovers. This might concern Wrangler purists, but there are a couple of reasons not to fret. For one, although Jeep doesn't have a Selec-Trac system on the market to compare to right now, the old Selec-Trac system offered on the Jeep Liberty had a low-range for off-roading, so this one probably will, too. For another, only one kind of Wrangler will offer this feature, according to JL Wrangler Forums. The Selec-Trac system will only be available on the four-door Wrangler Unlimited Sahara, the version that's arguably the most luxurious, and the body-style with the longest wheelbase. All the others will only have the classic selectable four-wheel drive. There is another interesting feature noted in the JL Wrangler Forums collection of information. Apparently the four-cylinder engine will have a combination starter and generator driven by a belt. This is interesting, because the only other car we've seen with such a component is the new Audi A8. In that application, the belt-driven starter and generator is used for smoother, faster starting and stopping to save fuel. We would guess the Jeep's system works in a similar way, though likely without the support of a 48-volt electrical system. We will likely know more when the new Wrangler makes its debut, which is expected at the L.A. auto show this year. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Jeep Wrangler Spy Shots Related Gallery 2018 Jeep Wrangler Hood Spy Shots News Source: JL Wrangler ForumsImage Credit: KGP Photography Jeep SUV

Watch the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Hellcat blast off

It's all but official. Jeep will produce a Hellcat version of the Grand Cherokee with crazy horsepower. We mean crazy. Today, our spy shooters have captured video footage of this demonic creation. It's pretty short, but you can see a dark Grand Cherokee launch with vigor and then brake hard to a halt. We think we detect the whine of a supercharger amid the commotion. Jeep boss Mike Manley has said on video that the JGC Hellcat will arrive before the end of next year. Specs aren't known, but it seems likely that the Jeep Hellcat will share the blown 6.2-liter V8 used in the Charger and Challenger Hellcats. We've also heard rumors the Trackhawk name could be used for this vehicle. In those applications, the beastly Hemi pumps out 707 manic horsepower. Really, why wouldn't you do this? Jeep sales surged 22 percent around the world last year to 1.2 million, the brand's best year ever. Clearly, Jeep decided it was time to add an extreme performance vehicle. Jeep already sells an SRT model that pumps out 475 hp, so adding a top-end Hellcat seems logical. And a Hell of a lot of fun. Related Video: