2016 Jeep Wrangler Custom on 2040-cars

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Chrysler recalls 350k vehicles over ignition switches

Chrysler has announced a recall covering 349,442 vehicles due to ignition switches that can either become stuck or move without warning. All of the affected vehicles are from the 2008 model year, and were built before May 12, 2008.
The automaker has learned that ignition keys on some vehicles "may not fully return to the 'ON' position after rotation to the 'START' position during engine-startup," the company said in a statement. Additionally, "an ignition key may not fully return to the 'ON' position after rotation to the 'START' position and may inadvertently move through the 'ON' position to 'ACCESSORY' or 'OFF.'"
Chrysler says it is unaware of any related injuries, and notes that while reduced braking, engine or steering power is possible in such instances, the airbags are not affected. The later stands in contrast to General Motors' recent rash of high-profile recalls, and it's an important distinction that Chrysler (understandably) felt necessary to call out in bold print in its press release.

The Jeep Yuntu is a plug-in hybrid SUV just for China

The Shanghai Auto Show has been host to a heaping helping of hybrids this year, and we have yet one more to share with you. Jeep created this Yuntu SUV Concept, and it features a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Interestingly, Jeep has very little to say about it, and didn't even provide hypothetical performance figure, apparently because it's just a concept. About the only thing Jeep did tell us was that the Yuntu was designed with a focus on Chinese consumers' tastes, also citing that the SUV segment is the fastest growing in the country. While the design may have been targeted at Chinese buyers, we think the Yuntu would find fans in the US, too. It mixes cues from both the Compass and the Renegade. The roof treatment, with a thick, upright, body-colored D-pillar and black roof come right from the Renegade, as does the generally boxy aesthetic. From the Compass comes the slim seven-slot grille and horizontal headlights. The inside has no parallels to the current Jeep line. It's a light, airy place with plenty of pale woods. The dashboard is effectively all screens, and the few buttons and switches present have a unique copper finish. It's far more futuristic and modern than any Jeep on sale right now. As for what this Yuntu means for the Jeep brand, there are a few possibilities. It could simply be a styling exercise that indicates where Jeep is headed in the future. These future design cues could be applied either to China-specific versions of current vehicles, or they could also appear on vehicles in other markets such as the US. It's also entirely possible that this concept is a preview of a new SUV designed just for the Chinese market. Jeep could do this fairly easily and affordably by putting a toned-down version of the Yuntu's design on the Cherokee platform, which is already built by FCA's Chinese partner, GAC. This wouldn't be the first time a car company created an SUV just for the Chinese market, either. Mazda did it with the CX-4, so Jeep certainly could, too. Related Video:

FCA tries to block sale of Mahindra Roxor, says it's too Jeep-like

This week, FCA filed a complaint intended to stop the sale of the new Mahindra Roxor, claiming the Indian-built off-roader looks too much like a Jeep, particularly the original Willys Jeep from the 1940s. Automotive News reports that FCA is worried about both the Roxor's design and the undercutting of Jeep Wrangler sales with a new, foreign-built model. Late last year, Mumbai-based automaker Mahindra & Mahindra announced it was investing $600 million in a production facility in metro Detroit. It's actually just miles from FCA's corporate headquarters in Auburn Hills. Mahindra & Mahindra plans to start selling EVs in the U.S. and has been spied testing prototype vehicles for the U.S. Postal Service. Roxors are built in India, with the parts shipped to the U.S. for final assembly. The new diesel-powered Roxor isn't road-legal in the U.S. because of safety and emissions regulations. It has a top speed of just 45 mph, so it won't be competing with the Wrangler when it comes to mass-market sales. That said, FCA has a point when it comes to the looks — though years ago, Mahindra actually licensed the design for the original Jeep. It's unclear where that license currently stands. Related Video: