In the wake of the mega-merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Paris-based PSA, Tim Kuniskis seemed the fair-haired boy, the American executive CEO Carlos Tavares could turn to when there was a problem to be solved. But Kuniskis unexpectedly announced his retirement Friday, with replacements named to take on his duties at Dodge and Ram.
Months after settling a crippling strike at its North American automotive operations, Stellantis faces the threat of another walkout, workers at a critical stamping plant in suburban Detroit giving union leaders the okay to shut down the facility if no agreement can be reached over health and safety issues. A walkout would also shutter key Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram assembly lines.
The battle of the behemoths is heating up. Ram today pulled the wraps off its latest version of the 1500 pickup and while the new RHO model isn’t a replacement for the monstrous TRX, it’s got the power and features to tackle even the toughest off-road environments. Headlight.News takes a closer look at Ram’s new challenger to the familiar Ford F-150 Raptor.
The Ram brand launched the latest version of the full-size 1500 pickup today, the Ram 1500 RHO delivering a mix of dragstrip performance and extreme off-road capabilities. But it’s not a replacement for the even more formidable Ram TRX, officials stressed. We’ll have to wait a few years for that ultimate version of the Ram 1500. But when it does arrive it could deliver an electrifying surprise, reports Headlight.News.
Headlight News for the Week of 2-26-24 – Jeep and Ford Cut Prices – Automakers Back off of EV – Counterfeit Auto Parts – 2025 Ram 1500 Review and the Week in Automotive History.
Ineos, the automotive startup focused on extreme off-road SUVs, unveiled what is set to become its third product line Friday, and the Fusilier will offer buyers two “green” powertrain options when it comes to market sometime in 2027, said company chairman Jim Ratcliffe.
The full-size truck market is about to get more competitive as Ram rolls out a major update of the 1500 pickup. The 2025 package has plenty to offer, from two versions of the new Hurricane engine to the all-new premium Tungsten edition. There’s plenty of new technology, as well, including the new Hands-free Driving Assist system. But you can also expect to spend more money, Headlight.News headed to Texas Hill Country to get some time behind the wheel of the 2025 Ram 1500.
Jeep quietly introduces Hands-Free Driving Assist To 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee after originally announcing the feature back in 2021. HFDA will eventually make its way to other Stellantis products to bring the fight to GM’s Super Cruise and Ford’s BlueCruise systems in the automated driving wars.
At least 40 new battery-electric vehicles are due to reach U.S. showrooms in 2024 — and that’s a conservative estimate as we’ve had a number of surprises dropped on us by both domestic and foreign-owned brands. If anything, the flood of EV offerings will likely accelerate going forward. Here’s a look at some of the models we’re expecting in 2025 and 2026. Headlight.News checks out 45 of them.
As recently as 2019 you’d have to struggle to find an EV at your local showroom. Today, however, there are more than 50 different nameplates available in the U.S., the vast majority offered with range exceeding 200 miles – and some products doubling that figure. But the pace of introductions is only set to accelerate, with dozens of new battery-electric vehicles soon coming to market. Headlight.News checks out the most interesting and important products debuting in 2024.
Ford’s F-150 is a plenty capable vehicle but for those who want a truck that can add sports car level-power and awe-inspiring off-road capabilities, there’s the F-150 Raptor R. And for 2024, the full-size beast cranks things up to a new level, punching out 720 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque. More from Headlight.News.
UAW President Shawn Fain pledged to be transparent with union members, and that openness has including revealing future product plans, such as talking about the expected arrival of the Jeep Wrangler EV in 2028. Find out more at Headlight.News.