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Ram Rebel X Concept wishes it could go offroad at SEMA [w/video]

Given the truck's defiant spirit, the Ram 1500 Rebel simply can't appear subdued. For the Rebel X Concept at the SEMA Show, Mopar goes all out to make the already tough looking pickup even more brash. The Rebel X certainly stands out in the vast ocean of customs at SEMA with its orange-tinted Copper paint. Thanks to 35-inch Toyo tires on 17-inch beadlock wheels underneath flared fenders, there's also no question that this truck wants to be offroad. In addition to the vibrant body, the front end wears black trim, and a concept, two-piece skid plate underneath offers a little visual contrast. The interior actually tones down the bold look slightly by combining black leather seats with Rebel X embroidery and Copper stitching. Rather than being just about style, Mopar beefs up the 5.7-liter V8 with a cold-air intake and cat-back exhaust. The division also tweaks the suspension by fitting a concept, air-ride setup. Get a better look at the Rebel X by checking out our gallery from SEMA above or the video below of the modded pickup at the show. Related Video: Ram Rebel X The Ram 1500 Rebel makes a statement by itself. Mopar helps proclaim its all-terrain credentials even louder with the Ram Rebel X, a full-size pickup outfitted with a catalog of production parts and accessories. The unique dark Copper exterior extends to the functional sport performance hood, accented with a Matte Black graphic trimmed with a Mopar Blue tracer. Mopar wheel flares extend over the 35-inch Toyo tires, which wrap around 17-inch cast-aluminum beadlock wheels that equip the 1500 Rebel for rumbles over off-road terrain. Painted functional beadlock rings with fasteners are also featured on the beadlock wheels, with Mopar center caps providing another highlight to the rims. The front features the distinctive Rebel grille with the RAM logo painted in Satin Black and a concept two-piece skid plate. The bed is stylishly secured with a soft tri-fold tonneau cover, and a Mopar dual exhaust bed step helps reach tools or equipment stored in the rear. Black tubular side steps provide a lift into the interior, which features prototype Katzkin leather seats embroidered with the Rebel X name outlined in silver in a black field, with a blue field for the "X." Copper stitching accents the armrest and steering wheel. Additional features inside include all-weather slush mats, a pedal kit and door sills.

Stellantis invests more than $100 million in California lithium project

Stellantis said it would invest more than $100 million in California's Controlled Thermal Resources, its latest bet on the direct lithium extraction (DLE) sector amid the global hunt for new sources of the electric vehicle battery metal. The investment by the Chrysler and Jeep parent announced on Thursday comes as the green energy transition and U.S. Inflation Reduction Act have fueled concerns that supplies of lithium and other materials may fall short of strong demand forecasts. DLE technologies vary, but each aims to mechanically filter lithium from salty brine deposits and thus avoid the need for open pit mines or large evaporation ponds, the two most common but environmentally challenging ways to extract the battery metal. Stellantis, which has said half of its fleet will be electric by 2030, also agreed to nearly triple the amount of lithium it will buy from Controlled Thermal, boosting a previous order to 65,000 metric tons annually for at least 10 years, starting in 2027. "This is a significant investment and goes a long way toward developing this key project," Controlled Thermal CEO Rod Colwell said in an interview. The company plans to spend more than $1 billion to separate lithium from superhot geothermal brines extracted from beneath California's Salton Sea after flashing steam off those brines to spin turbines that will produce electricity starting next year. That renewable power is expected to cut the amount of carbon emitted during lithium production. Rival Berkshire Hathaway has struggled to produce lithium from the same area given large concentrations of silica in the brine that can form glass when cooled, clogging pipes. Colwell said a $65 million facility recently installed by Controlled Thermal can remove that silica and other unwanted metals. DLE equipment licensed from Koch Industries would then remove the lithium. "We're very happy with the equipment," he said. "We're going to deliver. There's just no doubt about it." Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares called the Controlled Thermal partnership "an important step in our care for our customers and our planet as we work to provide clean, safe and affordable mobility." Both companies declined to provide the specific investment amount. Controlled Thermal aims to obtain final permits by October and start construction of a commercial lithium plant soon thereafter, Colwell said. Goldman Sachs is leading the search for additional debt and equity financing, he added.

Chrysler recalling hundreds of thousands of Jeep Grand Cherokee and Commander SUVs

The public might associated ignition switch recalls with General Motors - and with good cause - but that's not the only automaker calling its vehicles back in to fix that sort of issue.
Last month we reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was investigating an array of Chrysler Group vehicles for electrical-related safety issues. The administration and Chrysler subsequently issued a recall for 700,000 Dodge Journey crossovers, Dodge Grand Caravan minivans and Chrysler Town & Country minivans. But while the Jeeps that were also under investigation were not covered in that recall, they are being addressed in a separate one now.
Although Chrysler reports that it is only aware of a single accident stemming from this issue, it is "committing now to conduct a recall out of an abundance of caution." The recall affects the 2006-2007 Jeep Commander and 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee, of which it reports there are 792,300 on the road: 649,900 in the United States, 28,800 in Canada, 12,800 in Mexico and a further 100,800 outside of North America.