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FCA: great finances in US, not so much elsewhere

(Adapted from an article by Hans Ensing)

In spite of the serious COVID situation, the US automotive industry achieved excellent results by means of stringent efficiency measures in production and extended application of the Internet in the sales network.

Although total FCA-US sales of 507,351 units were down about 10% compared to the previous year, far better results were achieved thanks to a…

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Luxury Ram, Mopars win in Texas, Stellantis logo, new books, and more

Luxury Ram, Dodge and Ram win over Texans, new books, and more

Stellantis has launched its new logo, which symbolizes the company’s 14 brands and, in their words, “the diverse professional backgrounds of its employees working in all of the regions.” The Latin root of Stellantis, stello, means “to brighten with stars.” From the company’s PR poets:

the visual representation of the spirit of optimism, energy and renewal of a diverse and innovative company…

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Durango Hellcat about to go on sale (maybe not for long)

The Durango SRT Hellcat, to be made solely for one model year (2021), is about to go on sale. The most powerful SUV ever made, the 710-hp Durango has run a certified 11.5 second quarter mile, stock, and 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. The price is a hefty $81,000 plus destination; sales open tomorrow (Friday, November 6). Past runs of such vehicles have sold out quickly.

The entire Durango lineup, from V6…

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Meet the Jeep Gladiator Top Dog

It’s just a concept, but you can buy many of the parts today.

The Jeep Gladiator Top Dog is an “online-SEMA” concept truck, made for “passionate mountain-bike enthusiasts” which uses nearly 200 of Mopar’s Jeep Performance Parts. The K-9 Blue concept replaces the cargo box with a custom PCOR flatbed storage system, including drawers on both sides for supplies; interior shelving; exterior light…

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Jeep’s SEMA tease Aftermarket parts show SEMA is being held online this year; FCA will be there with at least one concept showing off Jeep Performance Parts.

New union agreement shows future for minivans, big cars

FCA announced today that it has signed a new three-year deal with Canada’s Unifor union, which includes up to $1.6 billion in investments and 2,000 new jobs.

When Chrysler was created in 1924 (and when Chrysler Corp. was created in 1925), Maxwell already had factories in Canada; the Windsor plant in particular has been known for producing high-quality vehicles. Currently it only makes the…

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Ram out-pickups Chevy, Challenger #1?, and other Q3 takeaways

Ram dealers reportedly can’t wait for a refurbished Warren Truck plant to come back on-line, because there’s a large pent-up demand for the Ram 1500 Classic. Allpar forum members agreed that the Classic still beats the similar-price competition at Chevy and Ford, while the new Ram 1500 “DT” made at Sterling Heights is ideal for those who are willing and able to spend a bit more.

GM had a good…

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Employees created new FCA US app—first available to Ram TRX

Employees at FCA US have pitched and developed a new app which gives customers an “immersive experience” for learning more about their new car or truck. The first people to benefit from it will be buyers of the supercharged 2021 Ram 1500 TRX.

The app was suggested by a team of employees during FCA’s first ever “Pitch Night;” they developed it as well, likely creating a far better experience than…

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Former Ram chief engineer Michael J. Cairns

Born in June 1962, Michael J. Cairns died on September 7, 2020, only 58 years old. Known as a “hard worker, selfless beyond measure,” Mike was a gifted engineer and leader.

Mike Cairns agreed to be interviewed by Allpar in February 2015, when the company was launching its Laramie Limited luxury truck. It was a revealing interview; Mike was enthusiastic and positive about pretty much everything,…

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What’s new for ’21? The big list of changes

FCA has been releasing some of its bigger updates as separate stories, but now that we have the full list of what’s changed, maybe it’s time to look at everything at once.

Jeep

Our biggest story is really Jeep, since every continuing model seems to be getting upgraded, in some cases quite seriously. FCA has been trying to move Jeep a bit upmarket for a while, despite the Renegade, and it seems…

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Updated 2021 Durango prices—including one-year-only Hellcat

Add the $1,495 destination charge to all prices (continental US).

The 2021 Dodge Durango will start at $31,765 — in rear wheel drive, SXT form. That includes some hefty upgrades from the 2020s, including a new exterior (front fascia, LED projector headlights for both low and high beam, LED daytime running lights, new grille, rear spoiler, and wheels). Inside, Durangos get a new cockpit with a new…

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Is this the new Grand Cherokee?

The folks at oddly-named boutique site AutoBison have come up with a rendering of the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which they claim was created based on leaked photos.

If AutoBison is correct, the Grand Cherokee will give up its long-held “curvy” design for something more along the lines of the original XJ—or, for that matter, a current Chevy Suburban or prior-gen Range Rover. The site’s writers…

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Slant six reborn as performance engine

The infamous slant six was born with a whisper, not a roar, but it dominated a new NASCAR compact-car racing series for the life of the series before retiring, or so it seemed, to decades of slow-but-steady daily drivers.

Gill Welding modified this Offenhauser manifold, including a modern V8 throttle body, for slant six performance.

Some have claimed that the slant six was originally meant to be…

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FCA Q2: profits in North America, losses everywhere else

In the second quarter of 2020, FCA, hit like everyone else by COVID-19, saw shipments fall by 63%, to 424,000. The company lost €0.9 billion before interest and taxes—losing €1 billion all together (both net loss and adjusted net loss).

North America was the one bright spot, with a €39 million profit (adjusted earnings before interest and taxes, or adjusted EBIT) even though sales were down by…

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Stellantis may be butt of jokes, but new tech may surprise some

While the uninspiring corporate name Stellantis has brought up numerous jokes — mostly centering around its pharmaceutics-like sound — the two groups have announced some fairly impressive technology in the works.

Americans can’t buy 4xe Jeeps just yet, but FCA, on both sides of the Atlantic, has been hard at work on advanced hybrid-electric systems. PSA, which already has some sophisticated…

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Sources: a new 2022 Dakota really is coming, but it’s not what you would think

The first Dodge Dakota was engineered for Chrysler, under contract; the second was almost revolutionary, a surprisingly comfortable truck with a good ride, capable handling, and a choice of V6 or V8 engines. The final model was based on the Ram pickup, rather than created on its own platform; it faltered in the market and was dropped after the 2011 model-year. Even as it launched, there were…

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New Jeep book delves into Wagoneer, Gladiator, Comanche, and Scrambler

Enthusiast Books has made a new Jeep book for pre-order: an illustrated history of the Jeep Wagoneer, Gladiator, Comanche, and Scrambler, written by Allpar’s founder.

The new book will be shipped starting on September 1, 2020, but is available on Amazon for pre-order now. It is also available at a slightly lower price on Bookshop.org.

To quote the blurb:

The Wagoneer and its companion, the…

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