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2014 Dodge Dart Blacktop glosses over performance

The Dodge Dart is a decent little car. It's honest, basic transportation, and many of us at Autoblog are genuinely fond of the Alfa Romeo-based compact sedan. For 2014, not a whole lot changes in the Dart world, save the addition of this new Blacktop edition that makes its debut here at the Detroit Auto Show.
It's all very simple, this Blacktop package, and doesn't actually alter performance in any way. Instead, buyers are treated to blacked-out exterior bits like 18-inch wheels, the crosshair grille and headlamp bezels. Inside, black/tungsten or black/red cloth seats are available, with red contrast stitching throughout the cabin.
Adding the Blacktop pack to your Dart SXT with the Rallye Appearance Group will set you back a scant $295, and while it's just an appearance package, it all looks pretty nice to us.

8 things you learn while driving a cop car [w/videos]

Let me start off with the obvious: it is absolutely illegal to impersonate a police officer. And now that that's out of the way, I'd just like to say that driving a cop car is really, really cool. Here's the background to this story: Dodge unveiled its redesigned 2015 Charger Pursuit police cruiser, and kindly allowed Autoblog to test it. That meant fellow senior editor Seyth Miersma and I would spend a week with the cop car, and the goal here was to see just how different the behind-the-wheel experience is, from a civilian's point of view. After all, it's not technically a police car – it isn't affiliated with any city, it doesn't say "police" anywhere on it, and it's been fitted with buzzkill-worthy "NOT IN SERVICE" magnets (easily removed for photos, of course). But that meant nothing. As Seyth and I found out after our week of testing, most people can't tell the difference, and the Charger Pursuit commands all the same reactions as any normal cop car would on the road. Here are a few things we noticed during our time as wannabe cops. 1. You Drive In A Bubble On The Highway Forget for a moment that our cruiser was liveried with Dodge markings instead of those of the highway patrol. Ignore the large "NOT IN SERVICE" signs adhered around the car. Something in the lizard brain of just about every licensed driver tells them to hold back when they see any hint of a cop car, or just the silhouette of a light bar on a marked sedan. Hence, when driving on the highway, and especially when one already has some distance from cars forward and aft, a sort of bubble of fear starts to open up around you. Cars just ahead seem very reluctant to pass one another or change lanes much, while those behind wait to move up on you until there's a full herd movement to do so. The effect isn't perfect – which is probably ascribable to the aforementioned giveaways that I'm not really a cop – but it did occur on several occasions during commutes from the office. 2. You Drive In A Pack In The City My commute home from the Autoblog office normally takes anywhere from 25 to 30 minutes, and it's a straight shot down Woodward Avenue from Detroit's north suburbs into the city, where I live. Traffic usually moves at a steady pace, the Michigan-spec "five-over" speed.

Chrysler recalling nearly half a million Durangos and Grand Cherokees

Rule number one of public relations – save the bad news for Friday. Fiat Chrysler has adhered to that, announcing today that it'd be voluntarily recalling 467,480 SUVs. This latest recall could actually be thought of as a continuation of a September 2014 recall, relating to the fuel-cell relay. In that case, some 188,723 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee CUVs from model year 2011 were recalled. And this time, it's the Durango and GC in trouble again. FCA is adding crossovers from model years 2012 and 2013 to the fuel-pump recall, although only diesel-powered Jeeps with the 3.0-liter V6 that were sold outside of North America are affected this time around. As with the previous recall, deformities in the fuel-pump relay, which could affect its functioning. In most cases, FCA reports that the affected vehicles simply won't start, although they also could be prone to stalling. A new relay circuit will be installed that promises increase durability. Of the 467,480 vehicles being recalled, 338,216 were sold in the US market, 18,991 went to Canada and 10,829 were shipped south of the border, to Mexico. Outside of the NAFTA region, FCA is recalling 99,444 vehicles. No injuries or accidents have been associated with this recall. Statement: Fuel-Pump Relay February 27, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is voluntarily recalling an estimated 467,480 SUVs worldwide to install new a relay circuit that improves fuel-pump relay durability. FCA US engineers have determined a condition identified in a previous investigation may extend to additional vehicles. The previous investigation, which led to a recall, traced a pattern of repairs to fuel-pump relays that are susceptible to deformation. This may affect fuel-pump function, preventing a vehicle from starting, or leading to engine stall. Of the two scenarios, the no-start condition is the more common. FCA US is unaware of any related injuries or accidents. The fuel-pump relay is located inside the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM), which also helps manage other vehicle functions. None of these other functions, including air-bag deployment, is affected by the fuel-pump relay. The new campaign affects an estimated 338,216 vehicles in the U.S.; 18,991 in Canada; 10,829 in Mexico and 99,444 outside the NAFTA region. Covered are model-year 2012 and 2013 Dodge Durango full-size SUVs and non-NAFTA 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee mid-size SUVs equipped with 3.0-liter diesel engines.