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The problem with how automakers confront hacking threats

More than anyone, Chris Valasek and Charlie Miller are responsible for alerting Americans to the hacking perils awaiting them in their modern-day cars. In 2013, the pair of cyber-security researchers followed in the footsteps of academics at the University of Cal-San Diego and University of Washington, demonstrating it was possible to hack and control cars. Last summer, their research established which vehicles contained inherent security weaknesses. In recent weeks, their latest findings have underscored the far-reaching danger of automotive security breaches. From the comfort of his Pittsburgh home, Valasek exploited a flaw in the cellular connection of a Jeep Cherokee and commandeered control as Miller drove along a St. Louis highway. Remote access. No prior tampering with the vehicle. An industry's nightmare. As a result of their work, FCA US recalled 1.4 million cars, improving safety for millions of motorists. For now, Valasek and Miller are at the forefront of their profession. In a few months, they could be out of jobs. Rather than embrace the skills of software and security experts in confronting the unforeseen downside of connectivity in cars, automakers have been doing their best to stifle independent cyber-security research. Lost in the analysis of the Jeep Cherokee vulnerabilities is the possibility this could be the last study of its kind. In September or October, the U.S. Copyright Office will issue a key ruling that could prevent third-party researchers like Valasek and Miller from accessing the components they need to conduct experiments on vehicles. Researchers have asked for an exemption in the Digital Millennial Copyright Act that would preserve their right to analyze cars, but automakers have opposed that exemption, claiming the software that runs almost every conceivable vehicle function is proprietary. Further, their attorneys have argued the complexity of the software has evolved to a point where safety and security risks arise when third parties start monkeying with the code. Their message on cyber security is, as it has been for years, that they know their products better than anyone else and that it's dangerous for others to meddle with them. But in precise terms, the Jeep Cherokee problems show this is not the case. Valasek and Miller discovered the problem, a security hole in the Sprint cellular connection to the UConnect infotainment system, not industry insiders.

Fiat's Marchionne ponders Chrysler going public again

Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne says there's a real possibility that its majority-owned Chrysler Group may eventually return to the ranks of publicly traded companies. According to Bloomberg, the Fiat and Chrysler CEO gives that a "50 percent chance" of happening, but he doesn't appear to favor that scenario: "My preference is to be one single company... we belong together."
Marchionne has seemingly been operating under the assumption that Fiat will eventually own all of Chrysler, working to buy up the shares it doesn't own and looking to buy out the retiree trust fund that it shares Chrysler ownership with. Certainly, Chrysler going independent again would be increasingly difficult, as the companies continue to blend products, technologies, facilities and staffing, a trend started immediately after the Italian automaker became custodian of the brand following Chrysler's bankruptcy in 2009.
Marchionne's remarks to the media came at Chrysler's Kokomo, Indiana plant, where he was on hand to announce a major investment at four facilities in the state to build eight- and nine-speed automatic transmissions.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica videos detail features and hybrid tech

In a new video, Chrysler put a few designers and engineers in front of the camera to discuss the behind-the-scenes work on the 2017 Pacifica that was revealed at the Detroit Auto Show on Monday. They take a closer look at some of the details that went into the new minivan, like getting the occupants seated lower down in the vehicle, the fact that the hybrid Pacifica takes about two hours to fully recharge on a Level 2 charger, the eight-passenger seating, and the "Are We There Yet?" app for kids to let them know how much longer it is to grandma's house. Sure, dismissing the Town & Country name to reboot Pacifica has drawn plenty of attention. Nevertheless, based on the our first impressions of seeing it in person and crawling around it at the Detroit Auto Show, and the terrific notes struck by Chrysler's recent product, this has the potential to be a really good minivan. Chrysler also revealed its first marketing spot for the Pacifica. Having come out with a cool looking minivan, the brand guys decided to have fun with an anti-buzzword, anti-curated, anti-viral two-minute spot called Real Life that plays up the anti-cool you would normally associate with the family school bus. You can watch that in the video above, and check what the engineers and designers have to say in the videos below. The Town & Country is dead. Long live the Pacifica. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Chrysler via YouTube [1], [2], [3], [4], Carscoops Design/Style Green Marketing/Advertising Chrysler Minivan/Van Hybrid Videos chrysler pacifica