Nowadays, when new-age muscle cars are at least as exuberant and their retro siblings, it might seem odd to think that an icon like the Dodge Charger was once an experiment. Well, there’s no better way of illustrating this than talking about the first generation of the Mopar machine. And the example we have here is ready to take that legacy further.
The original Charger’s production version landed halfway through 1966 and while this could be optioned as a muscle car (think: medium-sized platform, big muscle), it was more of a lavish proposal, one built on the same platform as the Coronet. Perhaps the best clue towards the said nature of the car came from its cabin, which featured four individual seats, a console running the entire length of the interior, as well as a futuristic instrument panel.
With its fastback roof and its luxurious features, the B-body-based Charger came with a hefty $3,100 starting price. As such, Dodge introduced limited changes for the 1967 model year. Instead, the Charger was completely redesigned for the 1968 model year, reaching the form many enthusiasts think of when hearing this name.
The fastback roof and the upper-class image made roof for a sportier image, with a Coke Bottle profile, while the doors and hood were adorned with dual scallops.
Nevertheless, the original Charger remains a dreamer’s car, an image this Copper-finished 1967 example is clearly worthy of. Not only does the said hue match the black vinyl top of the car brilliantly, but the plush cabin of the Mopar machine is also a sweet display of the Copper theme.
Under the hood, we find the base 383ci (5.2-liter) V8, while this is mated to the optional three-speed automatic tranny.
The slab of America is up for grabs and here’s what it’s seller, which can be found in the Instagram post below, had to say about the Dodge: “Completely restored with 4,013 miles on the odometer, which was reset at time of restoration. Runs and drives excellent, with air conditioning,“
Jeep took a great idea from their corporate sister company, Ram, by adding a refined diesel engine to one of its vehicles. The 2020 Wrangler is available with a 3.0-liter Ecodiesel engine, which is mechanically the same as the one we see in the Ram, but it has been altered to help the off-roader maintain its hardcore abilities.
The upgrade to diesel is a significant improvement for the Wrangler, and should be on anyone’s shopping list that is considering buying a Jeep. Here are five things to know about the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Ecodiesel:
2020 Wrangler FCA
It Has Torque To Spare
Off-roading is much more about precision, torque, and low-end power than it is about speed and handling, so the addition of a torque-heavy diesel engine to the Wrangler line makes perfect sense. The power plant’s 442 lb-ft comes on at just 1,400 RPM, which gives the low-down grunt a vehicle needs to be a competent off-road ride. Unfortunately, the extra torque from the diesel didn’t add anything to the Wrangler’s towing rating, as it remains at 3,500 pounds. Today In: Cars & Bikes
It’s More Refined Than Ever Before
It’s a diesel, but it’s not the clunky, rough engine many of us probably remember from decades past. The Wrangler accelerates smoothly and gives little indication that there’s anything other than a gas engine under the hood. Shifts from the eight-speed automatic gearbox are timely and keep the diesel where it needs to be to produce the most power.
2020 Wrangler FCA
It Comes With Big Diesel Sound
In motion, the Ecodiesel-equipped Wrangler is as quiet and compliant as anyone can expect from a rugged Jeep, but cold starts are another story. The sound isn’t all that different than a big diesel truck as the Wrangler is warming up, but the idle calms down once the vehicle is warmed up. Under acceleration, the engine produces a pleasant diesel turbo whine that is just loud enough to make itself known.
It’s Comfortable
This has less to do with the engine and more to do with the fact that Jeep has been hard at work for years to make the Wrangler as comfortable and usable as possible on a daily basis. We tested both the Sahara and Rubicon models, both of which bring several creature comforts, such as a leather upholstery, heated seats, power windows and door locks, and a premium stereo. It’s not a Lincoln, but the Wrangler is more comfortable now than ever before.
2020 Wrangler FCA
Technology
The Wrangler doesn’t suffer in the tech and safety departments just because it’s a hardcore off-roader. Jeep, as part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, gets FCA’s crazy-good Uconnect infotainment system. In our Rubicon tester, that system ran on an optional 8.4-inch touchscreen that is both colorful and bright. The system also runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Though they’re locked away in added-cost options packages, the Wrangler is available with all of the latest safety tech. The $995 Safety Group brings blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, and a rear parking sensor system, while the $795 Advanced Safety Group brings advanced braking assist, full speed forward collision warnings, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and enhanced adaptive cruise control.
Overall, the diesel engine is just what the doctor ordered for the Wrangler. It’s well-suited for the tasks that makes it a special vehicle and the Jeep’s refinement, comfort, and technology make it one of the most advanced off-roader the company has produced yet.
In light of the
ongoing situation concerning COVID-19, we want to provide you with an update on
our response to date and our commitment to you moving forward.
Please be assured that
the health and safety of our guests and staff is of the utmost importance. In
order to accommodate the recent provincial state of emergency, we have made
some changes to our hours of operation.
May 4th through May 30th revised hours of operation:
Sales Department
Monday to Friday – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday –9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Service Department
Monday to Friday – 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Saturday – Closed
Dealership Sanitation
All guest vehicles are
outfitted with steering wheel covers and seat protectors prior to maintenance
or repair work. In addition, we have introduced enhanced cleaning
protocols, including regular sanitizing of all high traffic areas in our
stores. The etiquette of shaking hands upon meeting guests has also been
suspended, and associates have been instructed to stay home if they have any
symptoms or have travelled recently.
If You Have Questions
We are doing our best
to continue to be available to service your vehicle. If you have any
questions, please feel free to talk to one of our associates.
Call us at 905-415-2260
Woodbine Chrysler Jeep will continue updating this page
for constant updates on our response to COVID-19
We at Woodbine Chrysler Jeep thank you for trusting us with your
business and assure you every measure is being taken into account to keep our
community safe.
For a brand that prides itself on its SUV virtuosity, there’s a bit of a logjam at the core of Jeep’s lineup.
That’s particularly true of the Cherokee and Compass, two not-so-different takes on small sport utilities. Both tout two rows of seats and good on-road comfort, competing directly with the likes of everything from the Chevrolet Equinox to the Subaru Forester – as well as with each other. Not much separates the pair dimensionally, especially on the inside, and they even look strikingly similar these days. But looks can be deceiving, and lining the pair up side by side reveals some surprising differences.
The Verdict
If you’ve got a Jeep on your shopping list that isn’t a Wrangler, it’s hard to go wrong with either the Cherokee or the Compass. Desirable models like the ones tested here aren’t cheap, but both are good at what they do and which one’s right for you depends on what you plan to do with them.
Those with plans to tow are left with little choice but the Cherokee. It’s also the better of the two in terms of refinement, delivering near-luxury levels of cabin comfort and an impressively refined ride. Folks looking to save a few bucks will find most of what they’re looking for in the Compass, with its stylish cabin to go along with a surprising amount of space for people and stuff.
The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid has earned the coveted “Today’s Parent Approved” seal as a result of both lab and real-world parent testing. To earn the rating, Pacifica Hybrid passed exhaustive product testing, excelling in and beyond three core categories: quality, ease-of-use and value for money.
Today’s Parent Approved editors and parent testers were impressed with the Pacifica Hybrid results, covering a wide range of features, including safety and security, space for occupants and cargo, finish quality, ride and handling, and the entertainment system. Also factored was how well this vehicle meets the day-to-day needs of families, such as installing car seats, lifting strollers in and out, loading up hockey gear and taking family road trips, as well as the remarkable hybrid fuel economy, in assessing the Pacifica Hybrid’s overall value.
GET MORE OUT OF EVERY KILOMETRE
From maximizing driving range and saving fuel while reducing emissions, the Pacifica Hybrid conserves resources without compromising versatility and space. Increasing your options for less dependence on gas, the Pacifica Hybrid offers an astounding 2.7 Le/100 km (105 MPGe) fuel efficiency rating in city driving, easily covering an average daily commute up to 51 km of electric range and a total driving range of up to 835 km.
EFFICIENCY TO KEEP YOU HUMMING ALONG
Working seamlessly together, the gas and battery operations allow drivers to effortlessly gain efficiency with the worry-free choice of power and charging, designed for simplicity. You’ll easily monitor your driving history and real-time results on the unique Pacifica Hybrid information screens, allowing for optimized efficiency. With the capability to perform highway cruising or city driving on battery power, you’ll also have peace of mind knowing the gas engine is always ready to take over as needed.
Full-LED headlights are expected to be standard across the range.
Rumours of an all-wheel-drive Chrysler Pacifica have been swirling around the Internet for quite some time, but the 2020MY introduced earlier this year only brought changes to the trim levels and a new Red S Edition. If you want the minivan with an all-paw system, it looks like you’ll have to wait for the 2021MY as a report published by Mopar Insiders says the family hauler will finally send its power to both axles.
It is believed the AWD system will be largely inherited from the Jeep Renegade and Compass plug-in hybrids introduced back in March at the Geneva Motor Show with an electric motor powering the rear axle. The SUVs equipped with the eAWD system and a 1.3-litre turbocharged gasoline engine have a pure electric mode offering 50 kilometres of zero-emissions driving and up to 240 horsepower in the case of the Renegade PHEV.
Mopar Insiders has it on good authority the model year change will also bring some styling changes as the minivan will get a new look for the front and rear fascias. A more prominent and bolder grille is on the agenda, as are styling tweaks at the front influenced by the third-generation Chrysler Town & Country as well as the current 300.
More than 20 pre-production prototypes of the 2021 Pacifica have allegedly been built already and it’s only a matter of time before we’ll see some them out and about testing, while carrying camouflage. The report states an official reveal will take place in the first quarter of next year, possibly at the 2020 Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto programmed for mid-February.
Providing advanced connectivity and safety technologies confirms this icon is built for a modern lifestyle. It assures a perfect balance of power, efficiency and convenience to the lasting beauty of the classic, bold shape and dynamic performance even standing still. Premium engineering offers the most technologically advanced all-wheel-drive (AWD) system in its class, available on all V6 models, along with Best-in-Class3 AWD fuel efficiency.
THE FORMULA FOR FIRST PLACE
Known widely for its commanding characteristics, the Chrysler 300 is ready to perform with Canada’s Best-Selling Engine,2 the standard 3.6L Pentastar Variable Valve Timing (VVT) V6, and Class-Exclusive TorqueFlite® 8-speed automatic transmission. Furthermore, the available 5.7L HEMI VVT V8 offers surprising power with the efficiency of a much smaller engine thanks to its FuelSaver Multi-Displacement System.
The Award-Winning 300C is a study in exquisite interior craftsmanship. Drivers and passengers will settle into the comfort of premium quilted Nappa leather-faced seats, heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. The rich interior’s matte-finish Mocha real-wood accents offer visual warmth to the luxurious craftsmanship.
A heated two-tone leather-wrapped steering wheel fits your grip like a custom glove. Adorning touch points with an available leather-wrapped dash, door bolsters and centre console, along with the ultimate convenience of Class-Exclusive heated and cooled front cup holders, make your cabin experience first-rate every time.
When our first minivans rolled off the assembly line right here in Canada, we knew we had something special
It turns out, millions of others agreed. Over the past 35 years, we have revolutionized the way families work, play and live by proudly putting over 14.6 million minivans on the road.
With each generation of innovation, our Chrysler minivans have continued to make life easier and more enjoyable. It’s one of the many reasons why we still lead the minivan segment we created years ago.
Marking the Occasion
All limited anniversary editions get the luxury treatment.
To set it apart, the Chrysler Pacifica 35th Anniversary Editions include a number of unique design touches available on the Touring L, Touring L Plus and Limited models.
The exterior features an Anniversary liftgate badge and a Liquid Chrome Chrysler Wing badge with a gloss black insert on the grille. The all-black interior features Cranberry Wine accent stitching on the leather-trimmed seats and throughout the impressive cabin. Plus, embroidered logos on the floormats for an added touch.
35th Anniversary Editions
Each trim includes a number of unique upgrades.
The Touring L comes standard with 8-passenger seating, an overhead DVD system and 18-inch wheels. A dual-pane sunroof and 8-passenger seating are included on the Touring L Plus, while uniqure, 20-inch aluminum wheels are added to the Limited.
The optional S appearance package can be added to each model for a sportier, blacked-out exterior.
CHELSEA, Mich. – Lee Iacocca, the larger-than-life former head of the Chrysler Corporation, recently passed away. He might not have been the first to put a multi-seat box on wheels, but the Plymouth Voyager created under his watch turned the minivan into a mainstream vehicle.
The company retired the Plymouth brand in 2001, and it was left to the Voyager’s twin siblings, the Dodge Grand Caravan and upscale Chrysler Town & Country, to carry on the people-mover tradition. But the Town & Country was axed for 2017, replaced by the Chrysler Pacifica.
Now, Chrysler is bringing back the Voyager name, as an entry-level version of the Pacifica. It will go on sale as a 2020 in the United States, arriving afterwards in Canada, likely next year as a 2021 model.
On its introduction, the Pacifica was (and still is) a considerable improvement over the Grand Caravan, but all-new costs cash. The Pacifica debuted in Canada with an MSRP of $44,000. Meanwhile, factory incentives on the Grand Caravan’s base Canada Value Package brought it in under $20,000. The Pacifica has come down to $36,995 for 2019, but the Grand Caravan is still $5,250 less (all before incentives). Competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey are pricey, too, and the Grand Caravan mops the floor with them. Last year, it outsold both those and the less-expensive Kia Sedona, combined.
But the Grand Caravan is an old design, further doomed by the company’s decision to eventually market Dodge exclusively as a performance brand. It’s soldiered on much longer than anyone expected, and the pull-the-plug date hasn’t yet been announced, but it is inevitable.
And so the Ontario-built Pacifica will offer the entry-level Voyager. It’s nice to get into the top-level Limited, but the minivan’s target market is families, most of whom need to make their money go as far as possible. The Canada Value Package didn’t soar up the sales charts on its patriotic name alone.
Like other Pacifica models, the Voyager will use a 3.6-L V6, making 287 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine is used extensively in the company’s lineup, and for a simple reason: it’s very good, and it does an excellent job of pulling this minivan around. However, don’t expect to see the pricier Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid’s powertrain running around with a Voyager badge (or, at least, not anytime in the near future).
In my short stint with it, during a multi-vehicle presentation, I found the Voyager maintains all of the Pacifica’s driving characteristics. The ride is smooth and well-planted, taking corners with fairly sharp precision and a minimum of tippyness – always a good thing when you may have delicate young stomachs in the rear chairs. The steering is light enough for easy parking-lot maneuvering, but firm enough at highway speeds for confidence.
We don’t yet know how the Voyager will be packaged for Canada, where the current Pacifica comes in the base L, LX, three levels of the Touring, and Limited, but it will likely be similar to how the U.S. will sell it. There, the Pacifica and Voyager will be separate nameplates. The Pacifica will drop its two lowest trim levels, which will become the Voyager L and Voyager LX, along with an LXi exclusively for fleets. An accessibility model will be available as a BraunAbility conversion.
The Voyager L will include air conditioning, keyless entry, stowable third-row seat, heated mirrors, 17-inch wheels, cruise control, a front floor tray (more useful than a full centre console for stashing a purse or pack), front map lights, cloth seats, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
The LX adds a “Touring-tuned” suspension, automatic headlamps, three-zone manual temperature control, full interior lighting, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, power driver’s seat, and satellite radio. The fleet-only LXi gets more than the consumer models, adding power sliding doors, roof racks, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, second-row sunshades, a full-length floor console, leatherette upholstery, and a garage door opener.
Seating depends on the trim level. The Chrysler/Dodge minivans are exclusive in the segment with their available Stow ‘n Go second-row fold-into-the-floor seats, but only the fleet-spec Voyager LXi gets them. The L’s second row is a bench, while the LX gets second-row quad seats, along with the in-floor bins where the folding seats go, but which are only for small-item storage in this model.
The LX and LXi will have an optional Cold Weather Package of heated front seats and steering wheel. All trim levels can add all-weather floor mats and cargo liners, and a Safety Tec package including blind spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist with braking. The current, base Pacifica L also lacks the folding second-row seats, and it can’t be optioned with the heated seats and wheel, so expect that to continue with the Voyager.
Much hinges on the price, and it will be a while before that’s released. With any luck, it’ll be close to Grand Caravan cash but for a better-performing vehicle. Even in a world of SUVs, you can’t beat a minivan for crowd-hauling, and the Pacifica is a very good minivan indeed.
