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2017 Chrysler Pacifica is perfect for town and country

The Pacifica has returned. In a surprising move, Chrysler revived the name of its old three-row CUV for the long-serving Town & Country's replacement. That's a bold strategy. Let's see if it pays off. Chrysler's new minivan offers a tremendous improvement on its predecessor in terms of interior and exterior design, available technology, and powertrain. Design inspiration is most clearly drawn from the brand's 200 sedan, both inside and out. Gone are the egg-crate grille, blocky headlights, and vertical taillights of the old van, all of which have been replaced with slim, stylish units. Doubtlessly destined for high-end trims, Chrysler will also offer a 200-style, two-tone interior with over 35 inches of screen real estate. 8.4 inches are reserved for the central UConnect display, while drivers have their own seven-inch display in the instrument cluster. As for the kiddies, they're the big winners, with a pair of ten-inch touchscreen displays in the back. Underhood, the big news is reserved for the new plug-in-hybrid powertrain. You can read all about that here. For right now, we'll focus on the familiar 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and its accompanying nine-speed automatic transmission. There is 287 horsepower, 262 pound-feet of torque, and what will likely be a healthy improvement in fuel economy over the old Town & Country. You can read much more on the all-new Pacifica from our original post last night. We've also got a fresh gallery of live images from its big debut here at Detroit's Cobo Center, available up top.

Weekly Recap: Obama reflects on the auto bailout's legacy

President Obama took a victory lap of sorts this week at the Detroit Auto Show, lauding the industry's progress and reflecting on the decision to bail out General Motors and Chrysler seven years ago. While the rescue was controversial at the time, historians will likely judge the president's actions to help save two of America's industrial symbols in a positive light. Much like Theodore Roosevelt's trust-busting tactics were controversial in the early 20th century, Obama's plan drew fire from critics who argued the free market should be left to its own devices. But providing financial aid and forcing the automakers to restructure had an enduring impact on the US economy. The auto industry has added more than 646,000 jobs since the companies emerged from bankruptcy, including manufacturing and retail positions. Make no mistake, GM and Chrysler were nearly dead in 2009. Now, GM is a powerhouse that's set to capitalize on a market that could see 18 million vehicles sold this year. Chrysler, which was renamed FCA US, survived as part of the Italian-American Fiat Chrysler Automobiles conglomerate. It's also performed well amid the strong industry conditions, though CEO Sergio Marchionne very publicly went looking for alliance partners last year, something from which he's since backed off. While Obama can claim a win, the bailout was actually started by George W. Bush, who provided short-term loans to GM and Chrysler in December 2008. Without that, they might not have made it much past Obama's inauguration. NEWS & ANALYSIS News: Spy Shooters captured the next-gen BMW Z4 during extreme cold weather testing. Analysis: The upcoming Z4 (which might be called the Z5) looks sharp. But the big deal is that BMW's much-anticipated sports-car project with Toyota is coming to fruition. Refresher: BMW and Toyota agreed to work together back in December 2011 and then announced an expansion of that deal to include sports cars in June 2012. Ultimately, it will provide BMW with a new Z4 and Toyota with another sports car, perhaps the Supra replacement. BMW is developing the platform, while Toyota is expected to chip in with hybrid technology. Big picture, this project is a good thing. It's providing enthusiasts with two modern sports cars that Toyota and BMW might not chose to develop on their own. This template has been shown to work, as the Fiat-Mazda alliance produced the MX-5 Miata and 124 Spider. News: The Jeep Grand Cherokee Hellcat was also spied, briefly.

Chrysler recalls small number of 2013-2014 cars and trucks over engine debris

Chrysler is recalling a small number cars over issues with their 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines. The recall, which affects 522 examples of its 2013 Dodge Avenger and Chrysler 200 models, as well as 2014 Jeep Compass and Patriot CUVs has to do with potential debris in the balance shaft bearings.
The abrasive stuff can cause the oil pressure to drop, which could lead to the engine stalling or outright failure. This situation could at best leave drivers stranded and at worst lead to a crash.
Chrysler will begin notifying owners, who will need to report in to have the balance shaft module replaced. All repairs are naturally free of charge. Scroll down for the bulletin from NHTSA.