The dog days of summer are definitely upon us. Record heat in recent weeks has caused much of the nation to stay indoors with the air conditioner on high. Since not everyone can stay home when the sun is on full blast, now seems like a good time to review a few key points of vehicle safety and the summer heat. The Center for Disease … Read More
Month: July 2016
Investing in the future of FCA
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) recently announced a plan to invest $1.48 billion in the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP). The investment will retool the plant, preparing it to build the next generation of the Ram 1500. You may recall the “comeback” of SHAP just six years ago, when it was slated to close its doors. Chrysler Group stepped in to repurchase the plant after emerging … Read More
What does your bumper sticker say about you?
Depending on who you ask, car bumpers were originally designed to either push in-the-way objects (such as farm animals) out of the way or to protect the vehicle in the case of front or rear impact. Either way, I’m quite certain they were never intended to profess a political affiliation, brag about how smart your kids are or provide any number of reasons to honk … Read More
The vehicles you want AND need
In an ideal world, a new vehicle would include everything you want and need in a car, truck or SUV. In the real world, that may seem impossible. However, recently released results of AutoPacific’s Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA) indicate owning a vehicle that does exactly that is indeed possible. Particularly if you own a 2015 Jeep® Grand Cherokee or a 2016 Dodge Challenger. For the … Read More
Don’t ‘Dodge’ the truth – it’s time for more space
Summer is flying by. Summer road trips will soon be but a not-so-distant memory of everyone packed into the car like sardines and echoes of “are we there yet?” still ringing in your ears. If this describes your recent summer getaway, it sounds like the family road trip proved your current vehicle isn’t quite large enough to seat everyone comfortably. Whether on the hunt for … Read More
FCA partners with hackers to build a better product
If you can’t beat them, join them. Or at least get them to join you. Just a year after software engineers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek hacked into the computer system of a Jeep Cherokee and took control of the vehicle, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is taking a bold step and encouraging such actions. Well, maybe not EXACTLY that. But close. Recently enlisting the help … Read More
Spiders are making their way to studios near you
It’s been more than 30 years since the FIAT® 124 Spider was sold in the United States. And 50 years since it was first introduced on American soil. Now, just in time for the best part of summer and leisurely Sunday drives with the top down, the FIAT 124 Spider is back. Initial shipments were received at the Port of Baltimore and the Port of … Read More
The Wonderful World of Woodie
The Woodie. A vehicle type that has stood out for decades and will be celebrated this weekend as several locations across the U.S. gather for the annual National Woodie Wagon Day. A few events of note include Woodies at the Beach, which takes place in Santa Cruz, California, while on the opposite coast in Hammondsport, New York, the 6th Annual Gathering of Wooden Cars will … Read More
Patriotic places to celebrate this Independence Day
It seems that every year (for that matter, every major holiday) the projected number of people traveling makes for another “record year.” This year, AAA is crediting the lowest gas prices since 2005 as the No. 1 reason they expect more than 36 million people to hit the roads for Fourth of July plans this year. That’s nice. Where is everyone going? For Independence Day, … Read More
I just bought my first Jeep® Wrangler!
Before we moved from the Dallas area to New Hampshire, we knew we would be living in a more rugged area. The house we ultimately chose is located on an unmaintained road in the Belknap Mountains. Our two-door sports car wasn’t going to cut it. Needless to say, we sold it. (Insert sad face here.) But that left us with one vehicle and my husband’s … Read More