In The News

The first copy of the most powerful production muscle car ever made is going to up for auction to benefit charity.

The 707-horsepower 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat, with a vehicle identification number (VIN) of 0001, is goes on the block at the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas 2014 auction, Sept. 25 to 27 in Las Vegas.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Opportunity Village organization of Las Vegas, Barrett-Jackson says.

The Hellcat has a 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V-8 engine that can roar through the quarter mile in 10.2 seconds, with a speed of 126 miles per hour.

The Fiesta is the smallest car Ford sells in the United States, and now it’s available with the tiniest engine the company has ever made.

Ford's first three-piston motor is a 1.0-liter turbocharged powerhouse with an aluminum block the company says is small enough to fit on a sheet of letter paper or in a piece of carry-on luggage, with room to spare. With it, Ford joins Smart, Mitsubishi and MINI in what’s quickly becoming the year of the three-cylinder.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra will deliver a keynote speech opening a five-day conference on the future of intelligent transportation in Detroit in September as the issue takes growing importance.

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America said Thursday Barra will keynote the 21st World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems on Sept 7. She will address the changing transportation environment around the world as well as the rapidly evolving technology of connected, autonomous, and electric vehicles. GM also confirmed Barra will speak at the event.

Chrysler has reportedly confirmed that its new seven-seat crossover is on track to launch in 2017. The model is said to be built upon a V6-powered front-wheel-drive platform, with all-wheel drive available as an optional upgrade. The company aims to share the platform across other vehicles, suggesting it will also underpin the next-generation minivan.

The Dodge Durango technically accommodates seven passengers, however the company views the SUV interior as too small and the exterior styling as too aggressive for many customers, Chrysler brand CEO Al Gardner told Motor Trend.

General Motors has become the first major automaker to sell vehicles with wireless Internet access, but consumers want to know how well it will work.

Phil Abram, GM chief infotainment officer, said Wednesday the automaker conducted extensive testing with service provider AT&T to ensure the new 4G LTE-equipped vehicles work seamlessly.

“This is not a science project for General Motors,” Abram said. “The breadth in which we are doing this … is a recognition that this connectivity is a universal need.”

The Dodge brand ranks highest in three segments in J.D. Power’s 2014 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study™. Dodge Charger, Challenger and Dart lead the Large Car, Midsize Sporty Car and Compact Car segments respectively.

Ford Motor Co. on Tuesday revealed details about the engines that will power the aluminum-body 2015 F-150, and showed the pickup is lighter than originally estimated.

The new truck will be offered with a base 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V-6 engine, or a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6. And in a direct comparison with a steel-body 2014 F-150, Ford showed a 732-pound weight difference — more than the 700-pound estimate given when the 2015 pickup was revealed at the 2014 North American International Auto Show.

The growing popularity of smaller vehicles applies to pickups as well, and customers say maneuverability is a top reason for choosing a midsize pickup. The 2015 GMC Canyon delivers the right size vehicle for consumers who are looking for a more agile pickup.

The newly consolidated Dodge and SRT brands are launching out of the gate at full throttle – introducing the new 707 horsepower 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT with a Hellcat engine and its stablemate, the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT – just a few months after taking the wraps off the new Dodge Challenger 392 HEMI® Scat Pack Shaker at the New York International Auto Show.