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Dodge could enter Peugeot's Le Mans-bound 9x8 hypercar in IMSA races

Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and PSA Group merged under the Stellantis umbrella in early 2021 to achieve economies of scale, and this benefit could surprisingly extend to racing. Executives are debating whether to give Dodge its own version of Peugeot's recently-unveiled 9x8 hypercar to race in America, according to a recent report. "While we only heard [the new rules] confirmed a week ago, it has certainly led to some very open discussion, not only about whether Peugeot might add races in the United States, but also about whether the spine of this car might have opportunities with other brands in the Stellantis Group. There are no conclusions yet, but there are now open discussions," affirmed Jean-Marc Finot, the Senior Vice President of Stellantis, in an interview with Racer. His comments refer to an agreement signed in July 2021 by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). They chose to align their technical regulations to let manufacturers compete in different events on both sides of the pond without going through the resource-consuming process of developing a specific car for each series. As of writing, the Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) and Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) categories fall under the newly-announced common set of rules. On the surface, this means Peugeot could enter its 9X8 (pictured) in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as soon as the 2023 season. While this is seemingly under consideration, Peugeot has little to gain from winning a major race in the United States. It hasn't sold cars here since 1991, and its long-mooted comeback was canned after PSA merged with FCA. Giving a variant of the 9X8 to Dodge is a more credible possibility, according to Racer. If not Dodge, then who else? Chrysler hasn't been linked to racing or performance for decades. Jeep is no stranger to performance vehicles, but IMSA would be pushing it. Ram is Ram, while Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati are rooted in Europe. The rest of the Stellantis brands (like Opel, Lancia, and Citroen) are not distributed in America. Nothing is official, and the publication stressed it's unclear whether Dodge will commit part- or full-time to the series (assuming the program receives the green light). Finot underlined the parallel car would use the 9X8's "spine," so don't expect to see a Peugeot hypercar with a Dodge emblem driving flat-out on the Sebring International Raceway.

Hackers stole Jeeps in Texas using FCA's internal dealer software

This article has been updated with details on how the thefts were carried out, and with comments from FCA. It seems the news regarding vehicle hacking continues to get worse, especially when it comes to products from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Last year, a Jeep Cherokee in St. Louis, Missouri, was wirelessly hacked from Pittsburgh. Nissan had to shut down its Leaf app because of vulnerabilities. Now, a pair of hackers in Houston, Texas, stole more than 30 Jeeps over a six-month period. The two were arrested by police last Friday while attempting to steal another vehicle. ABC 13 in Houston reports that police had been following Michael Arcee and Jesse Zelay for several months but were unable to catch them in the act until now. The two were using a laptop to connect to and start a vehicle. The thieves were able to access Fiat Chrysler's own DealerCONNECT software. After entering the vehicle identification number, the hackers were able to reprogram the cars' security systems to accept a generic key, according to The Houston Chronicle. Additionally, Automotive News reports that FCA subsequently updated the terms of use for its DealerCONNECT program. These thefts were not related to the UConnect remote hacks from last year. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. In April, this surveillance video showed the theft of a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. It was this footage that first led the police to Arcee and Zelay. The police began to follow and record the pair. That investigation eventually led to Friday's arrest. Both are charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. In addition, Arcee is charged with felon in possession of a weapon and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. According to ABC 13, Homeland Security is investigating more than 100 stolen FCA vehicles that they believe were hacked using this method. After their theft, the vehicles were brought across the border to Mexico. FCA is currently conducting an internal investigation into the matter. After this article was posted, the company reached out to Autoblog, stating "FCA US takes the safety and security of its customers seriously and incorporates security features in its vehicles that help to reduce the risk of unauthorized and unlawful access to vehicle systems and wireless communications. FCA US has been cooperating with Houston Police Department since they first started the investigation.

GTC deliveries take Rauh collection up to 79 Vipers [w/video]

How many Vipers is enough? One of the ten-cylinder supercars might be too much machine for most drivers to handle, but not for Wayne and D'Ann Rauh. The Texas couple already own 77 of Dodge's flagship model. And now they've taken delivery of two more. At the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit on Friday, the Rauhs received the keys to a pair of Dodge Viper GTCs, customized through the automaker's "1 of 1" customization program. The program allows owners to spec their Viper just the way they want it, with 50 million unique combinations. For their 78th and 79th additions, the Rauhs ordered one decked out in brown with black stripes for Wayne, the other in purple with white for D'Ann, to whom the majority of the collection belongs. Of course, both come equipped with an 8.4-liter V10 driving 645 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. The couple will add the pair to their collection in Arp, TX, a town on the outskirts of Tyler, located between Dallas and Shreveport. The Rauh's garage already includes the last of the previous-generation Vipers decked out in two-tone gold finish. eGarage profiled the couple two years ago when their collection numbered "only" 65, and we have no doubt that number will only continue to grow as long as Dodge keeps building the legendary super-snake. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Texas Dodge Viper Enthusiasts Receive Keys to Two New Customized '1 of 1' Dodge Viper GTC Models, Now Owners of 79 Vipers Total July 24, 2015 , Detroit - Dodge Viper owners Wayne and D'Ann Rauh elevate Viper Nation enthusiasm to a whole new level. On Friday, July 24, the couple visited the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit to receive keys to not one, but two new customized "1 of 1" Dodge Viper GTC models, making them proud owners of a total of 79 Dodge Vipers. Through the new Viper "1 of 1" customization program, owners can create their very own one-of-a-kind Snake. No two customers can order the same configuration, including color, in the same model year. With the introduction of matte-finish exterior paint, the 2016 Viper is now offered in more than 50 million unique build configurations, made up from the more than 16,000 unique paint color options and more than 48,000 unique stripe combinations.