Dodge continues to roll out aspects of its new “Never Lift” program and the latest is the Jailbreak option available on the 2022 Charger and Challenger models.
For example, the 2022 Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak will arrive with 807 horsepower, seven options for seats, stripes and wheels, six brake-caliper color choices, five exterior badging finishes, and four choices of steering wheel, seat belt and floor mat colors.
The 2022 Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak gets seven wheel options, six stripe and caliper colors, five varieties of seats and badging, and four choices of steering wheel, etc.
“Roughly half of all Dodge customers modify their vehicles,” Dodge chief executive Tim Kuniskis is quoted in the announcement. “For those looking for increased performance, we will launch Direct Connection next month. But for those looking for a unique appearance, we are going to let customers run free through the styling archives.
“We’re taking most of the parts and pieces we’ve used over the years, adding a few new ones and letting customers build their own ‘One of One.’ So, if you’re dreaming about owning a Stinger Yellow Challenger with Brass Monkey wheels, Hammerhead Grey seats, blue Brembos and red badges, I’m not sure we should, but we’ll build it for you.”
Porsche unveils Clubsport Cayman
Porsche showed off five new vehicles at the recent AutoMobility LA, formerly known as the Los Angeles International Auto Show, including the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport race car, which is powered by a 500-horsepower 4.0-liter boxer-6 linked to a 7-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission. The gearbox adds a gear and shorter ratios compared with the roadgoing 718 GT4.
The racer is available through Porsche Motorsport North America for $229,000.
Other Porsche debuts at LA were the Caymant GT4 RS Taycan GTS and GTS Sport Turismo, and the Panamera Platinum Edition.
Porsche takes control of e-bike company
Porsche’s venture capital division, Porsche Ventures, has taken a majority stake in Greyp, a Croatian-based make of electric bicycles. Porsche said the acquisition is part of its move toward carbon neutrality and noted that e-bikes represent a fast-growing market.
Hyundai shows Seven concept
Inspired to show the potential for its Ioniq electric vehicles, Hyundai unveiled the Seven concept at LA, and the prototype vehicle is bold on the outside and a home on the road inside.
The interior, which has more than 10 feet of flat floor space, can be reconfigured, as might be desired for autonomous driving, and features not only a refrigerator but a shoe-care compartmentand a panoramic roof screen that can display a variety of images. The interior also sanitizes itself once occupants disembark.
Kia offers Concept EV9 at LA
Also at Los Angeles, Kia unveiled its Concept EV9, a preview of an upcoming production model. In addition to a bold exterior, the EV9 features a “pop-up steering pad” rather than a traditional steering wheel.
The interior offers three modes, one for driving, one — Pause — that makes it more like a first-class lounge with the first and third rows facing each other while the second row transforms into a table, and a third — Enjoy — that turns the third-row rearward with a view out the open rear tailgate.
Maserati teases Grecale with Trident formation
In 2022, Maserati will unveil its latest vehicle, the Grecale, a new sport utility vehicle named for the “strong, cool, Mediterranean wind,” a wind, says Maserati, which “brings a whole new wave of technology, performance and design.”
As part of the run up to the vehicle’s unveiling, Maserati used a group of Grecale prototype vehicles to create a huge Trident emblem at its test track in Modena, Italy.
The design involved 80 of the more than 250 camouflaged prototypes the company has testing in Japan, the US, the United Arab Emirates, China, Finland and Italy.
Volvo reveals Concept Recharge
Volvo plans to go all-electric by 2030 and shares its vision for that future with its Concept Recharge vehicle, which in addition to an electric powertrain features recycled and renewable materials.
“As we enter the age of the electric car, how far you can drive on a full charge will be a key consideration,” the company quotes Owen Ready, its head of strategic and brand design. “The easy approach is to add more batteries, but it is not the same as simply adding a bigger fuel tank today – batteries add weight and increase carbon footprint.
“Instead, we have to increase overall efficiency to increase range. With Concept Recharge we explore the tension between the need for efficiency and the desire for the same space, convenience and driving experience as in today’s SUVs.”
Adds Volvo: “With the internal combustion engine making way for the pure electric powertrain, tires play an even more important role. Not only are they crucial for safety, they also contribute largely to the vehicle’s battery range. This means tires for electric cars always have to be on top of technology development.”
Volvo notes that the Recharge rides on special tires from Pirelli, made without mineral oil and using 94-percent fossil-free materials.
Hope electric cars never make it because they aren’t what we need or want!