Mopar Insiders Articles

Dodge CEO Says New eMuscle Car Should Come Around August! Should Appear Just Before The Woodward Dream Cruise... Dodge//SRT CEO, Tim Kuniskis, recently sat down with Muscle Cars & Trucks (MC&T) to discuss the future of the American high-performance brand. In that interview, Kuniskis talked about the brand’s upcoming concept for its all-new eMuscle car, scheduled to make its official production debut for the 2024 model year. https://moparinsiders.com/dodge-ceo-says-new-emuscle-car-should-come-around-august/

The 2008 Dodge Magnum SRT8 Makes Its Way To Forza Horizon 5: Dodge's HEMI Muscle Wagon Is Now Available... If you are as much of a fan of Forza Horizon 5 (FH5) as we are, then you will be excited to hear that another modern Mopar had been added to the expanded car list this week for those of you who purchased the Forza “Car Pass”. https://moparinsiders.com/the-2008-dodge-magnum-srt8-makes-its-way-to-forza-horizon-5/

Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited (JL) Gets Downgraded In Latest IIHS Side Safety Test! New Test Is Conducted With Faster Barrier And More Weight... The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has re-evaluated 18 midsized SUVs using its new side-impact test. The updated test uses a heavier barrier traveling at a higher speed to simulate the striking vehicle. Instead of using the 3,300 lbs. striking the test vehicle that the IIHS has been using for the past 20 years, the new one weighs around 4,200 lbs., approximately the weight of most modern midsize SUVs. Now, the striking test vehicle also runs at 37 mph, instead of the 31 mph conducted in the tests in the past. Those changes make the crash produce about 82% more energy...

Iconic Chrysler Designer, Robert Hubbach Has Passed Away At The Age Of 83! The Father Of The Dodge Viper GTS Coupe Is Gone... We are deeply saddened to hear, that legendary Chrysler designer Robert (Bob) N. Hubbach passed away last week on Thursday, May 12th, 2022 at the age of 83. Hubbach had a 33 year and 3 month career in the Chrysler Product Design Office (PDO), ranging from December 1967 to February 2001. During that time, he was in charge of the design of several iconic production vehicles and concept cars. https://moparinsiders.com/iconic-chrysler-designer-robert-hubbach-has-passed-away-at-the-age-of-83/

Production Of The Fiat 500, Abarth 595/695, & Lancia Ypsilon To Stop After 2023! Tychy Plant Gets Ready To Produce Next-Gen Electric SUVs... As Stellantis continues to move forward with electrification, the automaker is gearing up for the transition from its current internal combustion engine (ICE) lineup to its upcoming electrified models. This includes the company’s Tychy Assembly Plant in Poland, which currently manufactures a trio of A-segment city cars that include the second-generation Fiat 500, Abarth 595/695, and the Lancia Ypsilon. https://moparinsiders.com/production-of-the-fiat-500-abarth-595-695-lancia-ypsilon-to-stop-after-2023/

Maserati Could Show Off It’s 2023 MC20 Cabrio Super Sportscar On May 25th! Images Hint A Special Camouflage Wrap Teased Back In December... In a post across its social media accounts yesterday, Maserati teased “Go beyond. You will admire the sky in a new way on Wednesday 25 May”. The post included three images of the sky, taken from a low-angle perspective, perhaps from the interior of a vehicle. And although the Italian premium brand has yet to officially announce what it could be, we believe it will be the debut of the 2023 Maserati MC20 Cabrio, the convertible version of its halo super sportscar originally unveiled last year. https://moparinsiders.com/maserati-could-show-off-its-2023-mc20-cabrio-super-sportscar-on-may-25th/

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Named “Future Classic” At 2022 Autocar Awards! 505 Horsepower Sport Sedan, Will Be Remembered As A "Classic"... The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio has been named a winner of the ‘Future Classics’ awards held as part of this year’s Autocar Awards. Run by Autocar and the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu as part of the museum’s 50th-anniversary celebrations, the Future Classics were determined following votes from National Motor Museum visitors and Autocar readers. A pool of five winners was then selected by the experts at the National Motor Museum. https://moparinsiders.com/alfa-romeo-giulia-quadrifoglio-named-future-classic-at-2022-autocar-awards/

AUCTION: Restored Plum Crazy 1970 Dodge Challenger HEMI R/T! Goes To Auction This Weekend... Introduced in late-1969 for the 1970 model year, the Challenger was brought to market from Dodge to compete against the premium pony car efforts from Ford (Mercury Cougar) and General Motors (Pontiac Firebird). While late to the pony car race, the Challenger like its cheaper Barracuda sibling could be fitted with almost any of Chrysler’s engines of the day. https://moparinsiders.com/auction-restored-plum-crazy-1970-dodge-challenger-hemi-r-t/

2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Racks Up Multiple Awards At TAWA Auto Roundup! Electrified Chrysler Minivan Continues To Show Its Skills In The Segment... The Texas Automotive Writers Association (TAWA) is one of the most reputable automotive press organizations in the industry, with a mission to promote quality and accuracy in automotive journalism and disseminate information about the industry. TAWA produces two driving events each year — the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall. Media members enjoy driving and evaluating new vehicles competing for the coveted “Family Vehicle of Texas” and “Truck of Texas“...

Dodge’s MaxxCab Concept Pickup – The First Passenger Priority Pickup Truck! A Trend That Is Coming Back To The Next-Generation Pickups... In the early 2000s, there was a transition going on in the North American pickup truck market. Manufacturers were starting to realize that people were using their pickup trucks for pleasure and the market demanded more light-duty offerings with more cabin room to fit the family. While you could get a four-door crew cab configuration on a few pickup trucks, you usually had to bump up to a heavy-duty pickup to do so. https://moparinsiders.com/inside-design-2000-dodge-maxxcab-concept/

Chrysler’s 12-Year-Old Electrified Sports Sedan, Still Looks Good! Chrysler's 200C EV Concept VS Airflow Concept? Which Would Rather Have? With the Chrysler brand moving towards a fully-electrified lineup by 2028, there are still a number of our readers who feel underwhelmed by the design of the all-new Chrysler Airflow Concept. The Airflow Concept is destined for production for the 2025 model year but is it enough to really catch the attention of potential customers who haven’t considered the Chrysler brand in recent years? https://moparinsiders.com/chryslers-12-year-old-electrified-sports-sedan-still-looks-good/

Meet The All-Electric Chrysler Airflow Graphite Concept! Newest Version Of Airflow Concept, Shows A New Chrysler "Wing" Badge... The Chrysler brand unveiled a “Graphite” version of its all-electric Chrysler Airflow Concept at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). The Airflow Concept made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada earlier this year, to much positive attention. This latest concept offers a reimagined look at a vehicle destined for production for the 2025 model year. https://moparinsiders.com/meet-the-all-electric-chrysler-airflow-graphite-concept/

AUCTION: Bill Elliott’s 2001 Daytona 500 Pole Winning NASCAR Goes Back To Mecum! The Dodge Brand's Halo Car For Its NASCAR Returns To Indy Event... After not being snagged up last year, three-time NASCAR championship crew chief and former car owner, Ray Evernham is bringing back Bill Elliott’s pole-winning car from the historic 43rd running of the Daytona 500 in 2001. https://moparinsiders.com/bill-elliotts-2001-daytona-500-pole-winning-nascar-is-going-to-auction/

AUCTION: 1994 Dodge Avenger IROC Race Car Cut-Away! Comes With Fully Race Body As Well... From 1974 to 2006, the International Race of Champions (IROC) pitted 12 of the best professional race car drivers in North America in identically-prepared stock cars prepped by a single crew of mechanics to make a series purely a test of driver ability. During its 29-years of competition (the series was not run in 1981, 1982, or 1983), only four manufacturers were featured in the series (Porsche, Chevrolet, Dodge, and Pontiac). https://moparinsiders.com/auction-1994-dodge-avenger-iroc-race-car-cut-away/

Jeep® Grand Wagoneer Named One Of Ward’s 10-Best Interiors & UX For 2022! The Ultra-Premium SUV Keeps Racking Up The Awards... The all-new 2022 Jeep® Grand Wagoneer (WS) continues to rack up the awards, with its latest win coming from Wards Auto. Thanks to its luxurious, spacious, and technologically advanced interior, it has been named one of Wards 10-Best Interiors & UX for 2022. https://moparinsiders.com/jeep-grand-wagoneer-named-one-of-wards-10-best-interiors-ux-for-2022/

2023 Jeep® Grand Cherokee Limited & Up To Get Standard 10.1-Inch Uconnect System! Jeep Will Make The 10.1-Inch Standard Across Most Of Its Grand Cherokee Lineup... One of the most popular options on the all-new Jeep® Grand Cherokee (WL) is the optional 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Thanks to our dealer connections we have learned starting this month that Jeep has opened orders for its non-electrified two-row Grand Cherokee (WL74) and three-row Grand Cherokee L (WL75) for the 2023 model year from its dealer base. https://moparinsiders.com/2023-jeep-grand-cherokee-limited-up-to-get-standard-10-1-inch-uconnect-system/

FIAT Brazil Gives A Price Increase To Its “Best-Selling SUV” The Pulse! Entry-Level Model Gets The Biggest Price Hike... In recent days, we talked about the FIAT brand continuing its success in the Brazilian market. Among the highlights last month, was the brand’s all-new Fiat Pulse taking the “Best-Selling SUV” title with over 5,000 units sold during April. With the success of the new subcompact crossover SUV, it appears FIAT believes it’s time to increase the price for the entire range. https://moparinsiders.com/fiat-brazil-gives-a-price-increase-to-its-best-selling-suv-the-pulse/

Ram 1500 & Dodge Challenger Earn Top Honors At Fourth Annual InMoment eNVy Awards! Challenger Scores Second Win In A Row... InMoment®, the global leader in automotive Experience Improvement (XI)™, has announced the results from its fourth annual eNVy Awards with the Ram 1500 (DT) and Dodge Challenger (LA) earning the top spots in their respective categories. The Ram 1500 earned the award in the “Full-Size Light Duty” segment, while the Dodge Challenger took top honors in the “Sports Car” category, respectively. https://moparinsiders.com/ram-1500-dodge-challenger-earn-top-honors-at-fourth-annual-inmoment-envy-awards/

FIAT Partners With Garmin To Create New Panda & Tipo Special Edition Models! Ready For The Everyday Adventure... Earlier today, FIAT pulled the covers off of its newest special edition models for its popular Panda and Tipo nameplates. Created in partnership with famed satellite technology developer Garmin, the all-new Garmin special edition models look to build on the success of the brand’s widely popular Cross trim. The Cross trim level has been a hot-seller for both nameplates with 1 out of every 4 Pandas and 1 out of every 2 Tipos sold, being a Cross model. https://moparinsiders.com/fiat-partners-with-garmin-to-create-new-panda-tipo-special-edition-models/

CAUGHT: 2023 Fiat Fastback (Project 376) Prototype On The Streets Of Brazil! Another Crossover SUV Coming For The Red Hot FIAT Brand In LATAM... In 2018, the FIAT brand showcased a five-door coupe-like SUV at the São Paulo Motor Show in Brazil. The concept vehicle was aimed at the C-SUV segment and expressed a radical change in design for the Italian automaker in the Latin American (LATAM) marketplace. https://moparinsiders.com/caught-2023-fiat-fastback-project-376-prototype-on-the-streets-of-brazil/