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Is Dodge Creating A Cheap Viper? The Struggling Company Entices Customers

Is Dodge Creating A Cheap Viper? The Struggling Company Entices Customers

Plus, Mercedes-Benz starts cutting back, Toyota promises $1.5 billion investment in the US, the Italian government is probing Stellantis, and much more!

Bernardo Montes de Oca
February 22, 2025

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Issue 91

Here's to a great weekend! We've had great feedback from you, our beloved readers. We leave you with a comment from our reader Franco regarding the recent car-pricing chaos.

"I'm almost 77 and only had two brand new vehicles in my entire life. My first used car, a 1956 Plymouth Belvedere V8 with a push-button automatic gear selector, was bought for $300 and sold three years later for $300. It was one of my successful trades." _{(Edited and shortened for length purposes by FWT)}

That's indeed a great trade!

Do you want to be featured in our newsletter? Drop us a comment, and we'll share it with our readers in future issues.

Key Takeaways

Don’t have much time? Here’s the summary of what we’re talking about:

Mercedes-Benz is taking drastic action to save its financial year, and it's only February.
Ford makes a critical decision that will likely affect many buyers.
Dodge hints at a cheap sportscar, but will they screw it up? Fans hope not!
Tesla has a massive recall.
Plus, the Italian government probes Stellantis, Japan wants Tesla to save Nissan, and BMW promises better EVs—all in this issue!

NEWSBITES

Every week, we scour the web for the most essential news. Here’s what you need to know this week:

Toyota brings back vintage parts, which is critical for brand enthusiasts. Thanks, Toyota!
Japan seeks a Tesla investment to save Nissan, but Musk says this.
The Italian government probes Stellantis over allegedly fraudulent EV performance claims
BMW promises better, cheaper, and faster EVs as it tries to catch up to other automakers

RECALLS

This week, Rivian shows up as a surprising brand recalling its products, and much more:

Rivian recalls more than 17,000 vehicles for this issue
This driver almost died while driving this car, which had an unattended recall
Tesla recalls 375,000 vehicles over power steering issue

Video of the week

See how these two high-mileage heroes stack up against each other! Which one do you prefer?

IN THE KNOW

Is Dodge going to make a new, cheap sportscar?

Dodge CEO Matt McAlear has big plans for the company and they better pay off. After all, like much of Stellantis, Dodge is struggling in the US.

However, while most envision Dodge producing something reasonable to fit in the SUV segment, McAlear has hinted at a more ambitious project.

We all remember the Dodge Viper, right? McAlear is open to bringing in a cheaper, saner version that can become the company's halo car.

This comment has fans asking the critical questions: will it be a Miata fighter, a Mustang-like sportscar, or resemble a GR86? The following article dives deep into this exciting idea.

Mercedes-Benz takes on an aggressive cost-cutting plan.

The German automaker is shifting some production to the US to cope with tariffs. However, that's not the only move they will (and must) do.

Mercedes-Benz is seriously struggling after seeing its plans for China fail. After all, it saw earnings down by 40% in the car division.

The company has taken many drastic actions, but some experts are unsure whether they will be enough to keep the ship afloat.

This article explains the automaker's plan and why experts are doubtful. Unless they focus on one thing: internal combustion.

Toyota invests $1.5 billion in battery plant

When GM backed out of a battery plant in Michigan, joint venture partner LGES was empty-handed. This plant was critical for ensuring a sustained development in battery production and EV sales in the US.

Now, Toyota has issued a $1.5 billion order to partner with LGES. The partnership can benefit both partners, especially Toyota, as it navigates interesting political times.

Read more about how the alliance will likely play out in this article.

OUR THOUGHTS

Ford Has Delayed Its Best-selling Product.

So, what does it mean for consumers?

It takes a lot of guts to delay the launch of the newest model of your best-selling product. Still, Ford did it by delaying the F-150 until 2028!

This move can prove crucial to Ford. It's either make or break, and many are doubtful.

More than that, it could cause significant shifts in the industry, as the best-selling truck hits a snag.

Learn more about Ford's reasons for delaying the F-150 (and more vehicles), as we share our thoughts on the topic.

BEST AND WORST

What are the worst Subaru Crosstrek years you should avoid?

I had a Crosstrek, and I liked it. It wasn't anything extraordinary, but it fulfilled all my needs.

That's until it started pestering me with issues. That's right, it was one of the years you shouldn't buy.

Subaru is usually dependable, but unfortunately, the Crosstrek isn't perfect. This article gives you the Crosstrek years you shouldn't buy!

TIPS AND KNOW-HOW

What are the hidden dangers of high-visibility gear?

This title sounds weird, right? High-visibility gear helps us. Or, at least, it should.

That's not what we found out.

It turns out that your gear could endanger you in specific conditions that could become more frequent in the future. Here's what we mean.

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