2000 Dodge Intrepid Es Sedan 4-door 3.2l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

A Mazda Miata with a Hellcat V8 exists, and it can be yours

Mazda Miatas with V8 swaps aren't unusual. Kits are available to drop in LS V8s from GM, and some even let you drop in an old Ford 5.0-liter V8. But a Miata with a Hellcat V8 is something special, and this one can be yours. As Automobile spotted, it will go across the block at the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas auction. This particular 1999 Miata has a build history you can check out for yourself, too. It was all chronicled on YouTube channel KARR. Obviously the Hellcat engine does fit between the wheels, but the hood had to be cut open for the intake manifold and supercharger to fit. The front bumper and lights have been changed to the 2001+ NB Miata design. According to the listing, it has suspension components from V8 Roadsters, a company that specializes in Miatas with twice the normal number of cylinders. In the middle of the car is a manual transmission, which connects to a Ford 8.8-inch differential that's been welded up. With that much power and an essentially locked rear diff, it should make for an excellent drift car. Fortunately it also has 10-inch wide wheels for more grip, and upgraded Wilwood brakes to stop it. It will go for auction at Barrett-Jackson's Las Vegas event, which runs Oct. 3-5. There is no estimated price for the car, which is understandable since nothing like it has crossed the block before. It will go to a new owner, whatever the price, as it is being listed as "no reserve." So if you want to win burnout contests or get loads of stares at next year's Woodward Dream Cruise, you could do a lot worse than picking up this tiny monster. Aftermarket Dodge Mazda Convertible Performance Hellcat

Dodge has released 500 million horsepower onto American roads since 2005

Dodge started using horsepower to measure sales when it launched its Power Dollars rebate program in August 2019. The clever campaign has paid off, and the company reached its goal of putting 500 million horsepower in the hands of enthusiasts two months ahead of schedule. The ongoing Power Dollars program rewards buyers who think big when it comes to their car's specifications sheet. Motorists in the market for a 2019 Challenger, a 2019 Charger, or a 2019 Durango can save $10 for every horsepower their future car's engine generates. There's no replacement for displacement here; the more horsepower you take on, the more discount you'll see when you sign the dotted line. The 797-horsepower Challenger Hellcat Redeye is eligible for a $7,970 discount, for example, while the tamer Charger SXT with a 3.6-liter, 292-horsepower V6 between its fenders costs $2,920 less. The Journey got excluded from the deal. When Dodge announced the program, it explained it had put 485 million horsepower in the hands of enthusiasts since bringing back the Charger and the Challenger in 2005 and 2008, respectively, and it hoped to break the 500 million threshold by the end of 2019. Mission accomplished. Putting horsepower in the bargain bin lured a surprising number of buyers into showrooms. Dodge notably sold 18,031 examples of the Challenger during the third quarter of 2019, a record-setting figure that represents a 21% increase over the same time period in 2018. The Challenger was more popular than the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro, its main rivals. The Charger posted its best third quarter in 13 years with 26,060 sales, a 46% increase over the third quarter of 2019, which is remarkable considering its age. Finally, 2019 might end up being the Durango's best year since 2005. As of the third quarter, year-to-date sales are up 6% to 52,622. Enthusiasts who want to configure the Challenger, Charger, or Durango of their dreams need to act quickly, because Dodge will stop taking orders for 2019 model-year cars on October 23 — that's this Wednesday. Those willing to take home a car from a dealer's inventory will be able to claim the Power Dollars rebate until January 2, 2020. 

Consumer Reports no longer recommends Honda Civic

Consumer Reports annual Car Reliability Survey is out, and yes, there are some big surprises. First and foremost? The venerable publication no longer recommends the Honda Civic. In fact, aside from the walking-dead CR-Z and limited-release Clarity fuel-cell car, the Civic is the only Honda to miss out on CR's prestigious nod. At the opposite end there's a surprise as well – Toyota and Lexus remain the most reliable brands on the market, but Buick cracked the top three. That's up from seventh last year, and the first time for an American brand to stand on the Consumer Reports podium. Mazda's entire lineup earned Recommended checks as well. Consumer Reports dinged the Civic for its "infuriating" touch-screen radio, lack of driver lumbar adjustability, the limited selection of cars on dealer lots fitted with Honda's popular Sensing system, and the company's decision to offer LaneWatch instead of a full-tilt blind-spot monitoring system. Its score? A lowly 58. The Civic isn't the only surprise drop from CR's Recommended ranks. The Audi A3, Ford F-150, Subaru WRX/STI, and Volkswagen Jetta, GTI, and Passat all lost the Consumer Reports' checkmark. On the flipside, a number of popular vehicles graduated to the Recommended ranks, including the BMW X5, Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette, and Cruze, Hyundai Santa Fe, Porsche Macan, and Tesla Model S. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the hilariously recall-prone Ford Escape getting a Recommended check – considering the popularity of Ford's small crossover, this is likely a coup for the brand, as it puts the Escape on a level playing field with the Recommended Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue. While Ford is probably happy to see CR promote the Escape, the list wasn't as kind for every brand. For example, of the entire Fiat Chrysler Automobiles catalog, the ancient Chrysler 300 was the only car to score a check – there wasn't a single Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, or Ram on the list. That hurts. FCA isn't alone at the low end, either. GMC, Jaguar Land Rover, Mini, and Mitsubishi don't have a vehicle on CR's list between them, while brands like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Nissan, Lincoln, Infiniti, and Cadillac only have a few models each. You can check out Consumer Reports entire reliability roundup, even without a subscription, here.