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#1 ·
FCA Canada Wins More 2018 Canadian Black Book ‘Best Retained Value Awards’ Than Any Other Domestic OEM

Awards acknowledge vehicles that retain the highest percentage of their original MSRP after four years
Jeep® Wrangler and Ontario-made Dodge Challenger continue to be multi-year award winners
2018 marks first ‘Best Retained Value’ wins for Ram ProMaster and Ram Cargo Van
FCA Canada is only domestic manufacturer to win with two or more vehicles for eight consecutive years
Valuable information for consumers, as depreciation is the largest expense of vehicle ownership


February 13, 2018 , Windsor, Ontario -

For 2018, FCA Canada has won more Canadian Black Book (CBB) ‘Best Retained Value Awards’ than any other domestic OEM.

The awards are handed out in 20 categories annually. They recognize vehicles that have retained the greatest percentage of their original MSRP over the past four years (since 2014). CBB’s awards program – now in its 11th year – guides consumers who are looking for vehicles that hold their value best, thereby reducing the total cost of ownership, a critical purchasing consideration.

For the eighth year in a row, Jeep® Wrangler took top spot in the Compact Crossover/SUV category. Following closely, the Brampton, Ontario-made Dodge Challenger took top honours in the Sports Car category for the seventh time.

What’s more, for the first time, two Ram brand models have earned Canadian Black Book ‘Best Retained Value Awards’: the Ram ProMaster, which saw its sales grow 65 percent in 2017, topped the Full-size Van category, while the formerly Windsor-made Ram Cargo Van was named top Compact Commercial Van.

"With Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Challenger being perennial Best Retained Value Award winners, we have come to expect FCA to be on our list,” said Brad Rome, President, Canadian Black Book.


“This year, with Ram Cargo Van and Ram ProMaster also winning their categories, FCA is leading the charge for domestic manufacturers. When you build vehicles Canadians want to drive, the results speak for themselves."

"To have three of our brands recognized - plus multi-year, repeat winners - in the Canadian Black Book ‘Best Retained Value Awards’ is a reflection of FCA’s commitment to build high-quality, desirable vehicles," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO, FCA Canada. "We are proud to win more CBB awards than any other domestic manufacturer, recognition that is sure to help consumers who are looking to make smart vehicle purchasing decisions."

About Canadian Black Book

For more than 55 years, Canadian Black Book has been the trusted and unbiased Canadian automotive industry source for vehicle values. Canadian Black Book tools and information are considered 'The Authority' for vehicle values not only by car dealers and manufacturers, but also the leasing, finance, insurance and wholesale sectors.

For the past eight years, consumers have also benefited from the same expert insight. In 2010, Canadian Black Book introduced their consumer website that includes free online tools for calculating a vehicle's Trade-in Value, Future Values and Average Asking Price. Canadianblackbook.com is a distinctly Canadian resource for car buyers and sellers.

Canadian Black Book Best Retained Value Awards

The Canadian Black Book Best Retained Value Awards acknowledge vehicles that retain the highest percentage of their original MSRP after four years. This is extremely valuable information for the consumer, since depreciation is the largest expense of vehicle ownership. For 2018, the awards program analyzed model year 2014 cars and trucks in 20 categories.
 
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#77 ·
Final 2023 Challenger comes off the line, ending a wild Hemi-powered era
Jonathon Ramsey
Tue, December 26, 2023





Automotive News Canada has the full report, backed by pictures on Facebook: The final 2023 Dodge Charger and 2023 Challenger, and the last Chrysler 300, have come off the line at Stellantis' Brampton Assembly Plant. That means lights out for the L platform that started with the 300C in 2004; reignited a Hemi-powered era of muscle cars that began with a 5.7-liter V8 making 325 horsepower and ended with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 making 1,025 hp; and has sold more than 4.3 million units in nearly 20 years. Canada's auto union hourly-employee lead at the plant said, "Our members have worked six days a week for a long period of time." Stellantis design boss Ralph Gilles called the evolution that kept the range popular a "study in life-cycle management," adding with understatement unknown to every one of his bellowing vehicular babies, "It has exceeded all of our expectations."

The last 300 drove into the sunset on December 20, following the 300C earlier this month. Our favorite line in the Autonews Canada story is, "[Chrysler] has gone through four ownership changes since, while the 300 has shifted into only its second generation." On December 22, the final Charger was supposedly a Destroyer Gray Scat Pack Widebody. Going out with a corn-powered bang, the last Challenger had the honor of turning out the Brampton lights, an SRT Demon 170 in Pitch Black. Naturally.

Brampton goes dark for nearly two years now as Stellantis retools the facility with new stamping lines and paint shop. When workers return in late 2025, they'll be building the next-generation Jeep Compass and vehicles on the STLA Medium platform with ICE and battery-electric powertrains. The follow-ups to the Charger and Challenger will begin with an all-new Charger built just over 200 miles away at the Windsor Assembly Plant. That car, previewed by the SRT Banshee Concept, is going to sit on the STLA Large platform and be offered with a Hurricane inline-six and battery-electric drivetrains.

The Chrysler 300 won't resume in such a recognizable way. Brand boss Christine Feuell said last year that there'll be three new Chrysler products in the next few years (and a Pacifica refresh!), two of them SUVs. If that third product is a car, Gilles was vague about its relation to the Hemi sedan, saying “I don’t think people are going to say it’s a new 300 per se, but they will say it’s a fantastic new Chrysler."
 
#78 ·
Canada: Jeep® Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator Again Named 'Best Vehicle for Adventure' in 2024 AutoTrader Awards
  • Repeat win for Jeep® Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator thanks to “rugged capability right from the factory,” exclusively available 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain and more
  • Voted on by 20 expert automotive journalists from across the country
  • The icon of the Jeep brand, the 2024 Wrangler delivers even more legendary 4x4 capability, available factory Warn winch, new iconic seven-slot grille, standard side curtain airbags and 12.3-inch Uconnect touchscreen radio
  • 2024 Jeep Gladiator, the world’s most off-road capable midsize truck, is enhanced and refined with new iconic seven-slot grille, available power front seats, standard side-curtain airbags and standard 12.3-inch Uconnect touchscreen radio
January 22, 2024 , Windsor, Ontario - The 2024 Jeep® Wrangler, the most capable and recognized vehicle in the world, and the 2024 Jeep Gladiator, the world’s most off-road capable midsize truck, have again been named as “Best Vehicle for Adventure” in the 2024 AutoTrader Awards.

For the second time, Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator were the top recommendation by the well-respected Canadian online publication. The 2024 AutoTrader Awards were voted on by 20 automotive journalists from across the country.

“It’s a difficult task for a vehicle to earn status as an icon, but the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator’s repeat win as Best Vehicles for Adventure in the 2024 AutoTrader Awards makes it look easy,” said Jodi Lai, editor-in-chief, AutoTrader. “Our team of experts confidently recommends these boxy off-roaders to Canadians in search of a vehicle built to perform daily while powering years of family fun and adventure to come. Their rugged capability right from the factory has always been impressive. This platform’s availability in three body styles and with multiple driveline options, including newly available plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power in the Wrangler, makes the lineup even more well-rounded.”

For the 2024 model year, the Jeep brand is taking the Wrangler capability game to new heights with its first full-float Dana rear axle, available 100:1 crawl ratio, new factory Warn winch and increased 2,268-kg (5,000-pound) tow capability. Inside, customers get to experience more comfort and safety, with a new interior featuring available power front seats, standard 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen radio and standard side curtain airbags in the first and second rows.

The class-exclusive Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged gas engine, two electric motors and a high-voltage battery pack to deliver up to 35 kilometres of all-electric range and 4.8Le/100km. The electrified Wrangler builds on the Jeep brand’s goal of Zero Emission Freedom in its effort to become the greenest SUV brand in the world, building the most capable and sustainable Jeep SUVs.

The new 2024 Jeep Gladiator adds greater capability, more refinement, new technology and more standard safety features to a midsize pickup that is both 100% truck and 100% Jeep. Jeep Gladiator is enhanced with a more advanced and comfortable interior with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and available power front seats tested for water fording, more safety and technology, including standard side-curtain airbags, and a fresh exterior with a new seven-slot grille, seven new wheel designs and a windshield-integrated trail-ready antenna.

AutoTrader Award
The expert jury of more than 20 automotive journalists from across the country vote on the best vehicles in each segment that they feel confident recommending to their own family and friends. These winners are vehicles that go above and beyond what’s expected, representing vehicles that Canadians can feel confident with. When voting on the best cars, the judges consider a dozen different criteria including value, innovation, safety, driver satisfaction, overall excellence, and more. Every new vehicle that’s available for Canadians to buy is eligible for an award, but each winner offers something unique that raises the bar.

Jeep Brand
Built on more than 80 years of legendary heritage, Jeep® is the authentic SUV brand that delivers legendary off-road capability, interior refinement, high-tech features and versatility to people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a broad portfolio of vehicles that continues to provide owners with a sense of safety and security to handle any journey with confidence. In Canada, Jeep Wave, a premium owner loyalty and customer care program available to Jeep Gladiator, Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee customers, is filled with benefits and exclusive perks to deliver the utmost customer care and dedicated support. The legendary Jeep brand's off-road capability is enhanced by a global electrification initiative that is transforming 4xe into the new 4x4 in pursuit of the brand’s vision of accomplishing Zero Emission Freedom and added 4x4 capability. All Jeep brand vehicles will offer an electrified variant by 2025.
 
#79 ·
Stellantis Canada Recalls Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Challenger Over Brake System Issue
Published: 20 Feb 2024
Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo


Transport Canada has recently published a safety recall on Stellantis Canada's behalf. As it happens, a handful of L-platform vehicles produced for the 2023 model year at Brampton Assembly in Ontario may feature an incorrectly adjusted parking brake.
Dodge Challenger12 photos
Photo: Dodge / edited
2023 Chrysler 3002023 Chrysler 3002023 Chrysler 3002023 Chrysler 3002023 Dodge Charger King Daytona Last Call Special Edition2023 Dodge Charger King Daytona Last Call Special Edition2023 Dodge Charger King Daytona Last Call Special Edition2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost special edition2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost special edition2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost special edition2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost special edition

The vehicles in question are split between the Chrysler 300, technically similar Dodge Charger, and the Charger's two-door sibling. The folks at Stellantis Canada estimate 76 potentially affected vehicles, although it's not clear when said vehicles rolled off the assembly line at the Brampton plant.

A quick search on the NHTSA's website shows no results whatsoever for this condition stateside, at least not at the moment of reporting. Canadian dealers have already been instructed to inspect and – if necessary – adjust the parking brake to prevent vehicle rollaway. In the meantime, owners are recommended to get in touch with Stellantis Canada at 1-800-465-2001. Alternatively, owners can enter the 17-character VIN on the automaker's website.

If your vehicle has been recalled, then contact your dealership of choice to schedule a service appointment. As expected, there's no charge for this operation. While on the subject of L-platform vehicles, the NHTSA's website shows no brake-related complaints for the 2023 Chrysler 300 and 2023 Dodge Charger. Be that as it may, there are four complaints for the 2023 model year Dodge Challenger, with two alleging very unsettling brake system concerns.

Earlier this month, the owner of a Challenger heard a pop while pulling out of the garage. The owner also noticed a severe wheel shudder, prompting him to return home to examine the vehicle. Turns out the brake pads had broken and crumbled.

2023 Chrysler 300
Photo: Chrysler

Pretty much unacceptable on a car with 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) on the clock. The second brake-related complaint is for a Challenger with less than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) since new. After being left a week in the carport, the brakes were seized up. Even so, the owner decided to pop them loose. After a bit of driving on the road, the owner heard a clunking noise. Lo and behold, the front brake pad material had broken off the pads, adhering to the rotors. The owner also reported that he took delivery of the vehicle with rust on the brake discs.

Stellantis has not published manufacturer communications in regard to the complaints above on the NHTSA's website thus far. Only time will tell if said conditions will be addressed by means of a technical service bulletin or a safety recall. As things are now, Stellantis appears more interested in rolling out the all-new Charger as soon as possible.

Coming to a dealership near you in late 2024 for the 2025 model year, the redesigned Charger is a three-door liftback as opposed to the L-platform sedan. Based on a highly modular platform dubbed STLA Large, the newcomer will debut March 5, 2024.

The STLA Large is compatible with combustion engines as well, and chances are the Charger will be available with the Hurricane twin-turbo I6 of the Ram 1500 and Jeep Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer. The replacement for the Chrysler 300, however, is expected to be strictly electric because Chrysler intends to become all-electric by the year 2028.
 
#80 ·
Prime Minister of Canada Tours NextStar Energy EV Battery Plant
March 14, 2024 , Windsor, Ontario - Today, NextStar Energy CEO Danies Lee and members of the leadership team welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for an update tour of the 4.23-million-square-foot battery manufacturing plant site in Windsor, Ontario. The prime minister visited the module building where he was provided an update on the construction progress and a demonstration of EV battery module production and quality processes, plus greeted numerous NextStar Energy Canadian employees. Operations are on track to start in mid-2024. Once complete, NextStar Energy will create more than 2,500 new Canadian jobs, with an annual production capacity of up to 49.5 gigawatt-hours. NextStar Energy is a JV formed by Stellantis and LG Energy Solution and will serve as Canada's first large-scale EV battery manufacturing facility.

Stellantis North America
Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) is one of the world’s leading automakers, aiming to provide clean, safe and affordable freedom of mobility for all. In North America, it's best known for producing and selling vehicles in a portfolio of iconic, innovative and award-winning brands, including Jeep®, Chrysler, Dodge//SRT, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Stellantis is executing its Dare Forward 2030, a bold strategic plan that paves the way to achieve the ambitious target of becoming a carbon net zero mobility tech company by 2038, while creating added value for all stakeholders.
 
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