1967 Willys Cj5 Duantless Rare V-6 Barn Find! An Original Survivor 46k Miles on 2040-cars

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Mazda2 nets Japan Car of the Year, Cherokee first US model to ever crack top 10

The 2015 Mazda2 is quite high up on our must-drive list. Yes, the teeny, tiny successor to the 100-horsepower five-door is worth getting excited over, largely because the previous generation was one of the absolute best smiles-per-dollar values on the market.
While we eagerly await for our opportunity to take to the 2's helm, our expectations of the new car have just been heightened thanks to its win in Japan's Car of the Year competition. Called "Demio" in the land of the rising sun, Japanese journalists handed out Mazda's second COTY award since the CX-5 took the title in 2012.
In more surprising news, the new Jeep Cherokee has made the list of 10 Best Cars in Japan. The Jeep's triumph marks the first time an American car has cracked the top ten, finishing eighth. It's not, however, the first Fiat Chrysler vehicle to snag the title, following in the footsteps of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Fiat Panda. Still, the fact that an American brand can make such impressive inroads into the traditionally tough-to-crack Japanese market is a seriously big deal.

FCA reportedly joins the crowd skipping this year's Paris Motor Show

It's likely FCA vehicles will not be seen at the Paris Motor Show this year. Automotive News is reporting that Fiats, Alfa Romeos, Jeeps and Abarths will not be a part at the show, based on information circulating in the French media. There's a possibility that Maseratis will be displayed at a special section dedicated to upscale cars, but Maserati too will not have a show stand of its own. Ferrari will have a stand, but as it happens, the supercar maker has been a standalone brand since 2015. Skipping the Paris show follows FCA's decision not to take part in the Frankfurt show last year, and the two shows alternate as the biggest autumnal automotive show in Europe. Volkswagen will also not attend the event, and neither will Ford, Nissan or Infiniti. This has become a problem for car shows worldwide, including Detroit's North American International Auto Show. FCA has not released a formal statement about the matter, but a FCA spokesman, quoted by the French magazine L'Argus, reportedly said that the sales and publicity brought in by the show stand would not justify the costs of attending. The news mirrors Volvo's newly announced plan to not take part at the next Geneva Motor Show, but to arrange "bespoke activities" to introduce its cars instead. Related Video:

Jeep launches new ad with unreleased Michael Jackson track

We've recently heard much about how Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne plans to pump up the volume on Jeep sales, inaugurating new models and global dealerships. But that's the stuff outlined in five-year plans; right now, advertising and special editions are at the fore, and the late Michael Jackson, too. Jeep has begun airing two commercials to push its Altitude Editions, Call of Summer and Lovers of the Game, that feature the song "Love Never Felt So Good" from Jackson's upcoming album of new music.
A little more star power - and timely, too - comes from Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving. While Call of Summer features a few short shots of the former Rookie of the Year and two-time NBA All-Star, Lovers of the Game is all about his white Wrangler Altitude Edition and wrangling shots. You can watch both spots below, and if you want to hear the rest of the music track before the album hits, you can download it from iTunes.