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Stellantis will give its brands 10 years to prove they deserve to live

Formed by the merger of PSA Peugeot-Citroen and Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles, Stellantis has 14 brands under its roof, a number that makes it one of the largest groups in the industry. Rumors claimed not every brand would survive, with Chrysler often earmarked to get axed, but the firm said it will give them all a chance to shine. "We're giving each (brand) a chance, giving each a time window of 10 years and giving funding for 10 years to do a core model strategy. The CEOs need to be clear in brand promise, customers, targets, and brand communications," announced Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares during the Financial Times' Future of the Car event. His comments confirm Chrysler fans and dealers don't need to worry about the future — at least not yet. And, against all odds, Lancia enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief, too. Former FCA head Sergio Marchionne warned of the brand's demise on several occasions. Alfa Romeo is safe for now, too, as is Vauxhall, which are basically just Opels sold in the United Kingdom with a different badge. The engagement made by Tavares also means Stellantis won't divest any of its brands to raise capital until at least 2031. It's now up to each executive team to make a case for the brand they run, an unusual survival-of-the-fittest strategy in an era when cutting costs is more common than spending cash. Diving into the vast Stellantis parts bin should help even the most troubled brands turn their fortunes around on a relatively tight budget. It seems likely that survive Chrysler will need to look beyond the 300 and the Pacifica/Voyager, the only models in its range, and completely reinvent its image, which is currently nebulous at best. Lancia, once the champion of luxury, performance, and innovation, faces the same challenge. It's not starting quite from scratch, it's relatively popular in its home country of Italy, but it will need to think globally and expand outside of the city car segment to survive. Featured Gallery 2020 Chrysler 300 View 24 Photos Chrysler Dodge Fiat Jeep RAM Citroen Lancia Opel Peugeot Vauxhall

Dodge recalls 27k Darts for bracket that can disrupt transmission module

Dodge is recalling 27,520 examples of the 2013-2015 Dart with dual-clutch gearboxes. The mounting bracket for the transmission control module can affect the part's operation and cause the compacts to suddenly shift into neutral. According to the automaker, 23,688 of them are in the US, 3,376 in Canada, 5 in Mexico, and 451 elsewhere. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports these examples carry build dates between February 24, 2012, and June 16, 2015. There are also no reports of accidents or injuries. Because of the way the bracket is mounted, the part can put too much force on the control module's circuit board and cause it to shift out of gear. The engine and airbags remain operable if this happens. To fix things, dealers will install a redesigned mount and replacement module. Related Video: Statement: Mounting Bracket September 14, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is recalling an estimated 23,688 cars in the U.S. to replace certain control modules and mounting brackets that may contribute to a loss of motive power. The Company is unaware of any related injuries or accidents. An FCA US investigation prompted by a small number of warranty claims discovered a control-module mounting bracket may apply too much force and disrupt the function of a circuit board within the module. This condition, unique to certain cars equipped with dual dry-clutch transmissions (DDCT), may cause the transmission to shift into neutral. However, the engine remains on and the vehicle's air-bags, as well as other safety features, are unaffected. The condition may also be preceded by the illumination of a dashboard warning light. Customers who observe this are urged to contact their dealers. The campaign is limited to certain 2013-2015 Dodge Darts equipped with DDCTs. Additional vehicles will be recalled in Canada (3,376), Mexico (five) and outside the NAFTA region (451). Affected customers will be advised when they may schedule service, which will be performed free of charge. Service will entail installation of a redesigned mounting bracket and replacement of the control module. Customers with additional questions may call the FCA US Customer Information Center at 1-800-853-1403.

IIHS says these are the safest cars of 2013

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has revealed its annual list of Top Safety Picks, an award that highlights automobiles it says offer "superior crash protection." A new and still more significant award, the Top Safety Pick+ honor, is given to those vehicles that earn good ratings for occupant protection in four out of five areas of measure. And while some 117 vehicles were given the TSP seal of approval for 2013, just 13 passed muster for TSP+.
To be fair, IIHS only evaluated 29 vehicles with its new testing procedures for TSP+ (we'd expect that the number of qualified cars will rise substantially for 2014). Luxury and Near Luxury midsize cars were the first groups evaluated, followed by midsizers in the Moderately Priced Cars category - unsurprisingly, it's only midsize cars that you'll find among the class this year.
Only two luxury sedans made the list of 13 for 2013: the Acura TL and Volvo S60. The other 11 cars on the list included entries from domestic, Japanese and German car makers: Dodge Avenger, Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord (sedan and coupe), Kia Optima (but not its close kin, the Hyundai Sonata, strangely), Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy and Outback, Suzuki Kizashi and the Volkswagen Passat all made the grade.