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Jeep teases pair of Moab concepts early

With the 47th annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari coming up at the end of this month, Jeep is preparing to roll out six new off-road-ready concept vehicles. The first two being teased are the Jeep Grand Cherokee "Trailhawk II" concept and the Jeep Wrangler "Slim," and while we have no information on either, we at least get an idea of what they'll look like.
We can't tell why this Wrangler is called Slim, but it has a nice black-and-red paint scheme with a serious off-roading front bumper and five-spoke beadlock wheels. There's even less we can figure out about the Grand Cherokee's Trailhawk II concept except that it appears to be painted up in the same Crusher Orange paint job as the recently introduced SRT Viper TA. We'll likely more of these as well as peeks at the other Moab concepts as we get closet to this year's Moab Easter Jeep Safari, which will be held March 23 through 31.

Stellantis reports surprising 2020 results, is 'off to a flying start'

MILAN — Low global car inventories and cost cuts should boost Stellantis's profit margins this year, though a shortage of semiconductors and investments in electric vehicles could weigh on results, the newly-formed automaker said on Wednesday. The forecast came as Stellantis, created by the January merger of Peugeot-maker PSA and Fiat Chrysler (FCA), reported better-than-expected results for 2020 that sent its shares up around 3% in morning trading. "Stellantis gets off to a flying start and is fully focused on achieving the full promised synergies (from the merger)," Chief Executive Carlos Tavares said in a statement. Stellantis is the world's fourth largest carmaker, with 14 brands including Fiat, Peugeot, Opel, Jeep, Ram and Maserati. It said 2021 results should be helped by three new high-margin Jeep vehicles in North America and a strong pricing environment there. The U.S. market has driven profits for years at FCA and starts off as the strongest part of Stellantis. The group's guidance assumes no more significant lockdowns caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which shuttered auto plants around the world last spring. Stellantis should also get a lift as its starts to implement a plan aimed at delivering over 5 billion euros a year in savings, without closing any plants. Tavares has also pledged not to cut jobs. But a pandemic-related global shortage of semiconductors, used for everything from maximizing engine fuel economy to driver-assistance features, could hurt business. Auto industry executives have said the shortage should ease by the second half of 2021. Stellantis said its "electrification offensive" could also weigh on results this year. Automakers are racing to develop electric vehicles to meet tighter CO2 emissions targets in Europe and this week Volvo joined a growing number of carmakers aiming for a fully-electric line-up by 2030. Stellantis plans to have fully-electric or hybrid versions of all of its vehicles available in Europe by 2025, broadly in line with plans at top rivals such as Volkswagen and Renault-Nissan, although Stellantis has further to go to meet that goal. The carmaker is targeting an adjusted operating profit margin of 5.5%-7.5% this year. That compares with a 5.3% aggregated margin last year: 4.3% at FCA and 7.1% at PSA excluding a controlling stake in parts maker Faurecia, which is set to be spun-off from Stellantis shortly.

Retro Review covers that Jeep Wrangler TJ you wanted in high school

The Jeep Wrangler TJ holds a dear place in my heart. When they were introduced, the return to circular headlights helped pull my dad into the dealer, and he bought one. A few years later, I learned how to drive a stick in that Jeep. Now, MotorWeek has fired up the time machine for a look at the '97 Wrangler as part of the Retro Review series. One of the great things about these videos is that they offer a chance to see if nostalgia lives up to reality. In this situation, that seems to be the mostly case. Even when new, MotorWeek finds a lot to praise about the TJ, especially in terms of handling and style. It's not all perfect, though, with a major complaint about the braking. Watch the clip to see if the show's take on the Wrangler lives up to your memories of them, too.