Marty Padgett's Inside Scoop on Auto News and 1998

Safety Group Points To Jeep Grand Cherokee Fire Concerns

By Bengt HalvorsonBengt Halvorson, October 5th, 2009

On Friday, the Center for Auto Safety petitioned NHTSA to initiate a defect investigation that could potentially cover hundreds of thousands of Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs from model years 1993 through 2004.

According to the group, on these older Grand Cherokee models, the plastic fuel tank actually extends below the bumper, so it's more vulnerable to being punctured in an rear-end or rollover accident. The rear sway bar link bolt is just over an inch away from the tank, according to research from the Motor Vehicle Fire Research Institute (MVFRI), and could puncture the tank in a crash.

"The design is so bad that Chrysler frequently settles...

On Friday, the Center for Auto Safety petitioned NHTSA to initiate a defect investigation that could potentially cover hundreds of thousands of Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs from model years 1993 through 2004. According to the group, on these older Grand Cherokee models, the plastic fuel tank actually extends below the bumper, so it's more vulnerable to being punctured in an rear-end or rollover accident. The rear sway bar link bolt is just over an inch away from the tank, according to research from the Motor Vehicle Fire Research Institute (MVFRI), and could puncture the tank in a crash. "The design is so bad that Chrysler frequently settles... Read More

Tags: Safety, Accidents

Posted in: 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, Jeep, SUVs / Wagons, SUVs, Grand Cherokee

Challenger Convertible to Bow at SEMA

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, October 20th, 2008

GOTCHA. Or at least Florida-based Coach Builders Ltd., an aftermarket cabriolet converter firm, according to Carscoop, got us, prompting a feverish double-take at the evil green, uber-'70s bad boy with a dropped top and the HEMI 6.1-liter from the Challenger SRT8. Make that a Vortech-supercharged 6.1-liter HEMI, which Carscoop says will belt out 425 to 560 horsepower and a tarmac twisting 510 pound-feet of torque. Looking like a grinning Grinch who stole your Civic, Coach Builders Ltd.'s creation will make its grand public debut at SEMA rolling proudly on Foose 22s and sporting SRT nomenclature on its muscled rear haunches. This conversion... GOTCHA. Or at least Florida-based Coach Builders Ltd., an aftermarket cabriolet converter firm, according to Carscoop, got us, prompting a feverish double-take at the evil green, uber-'70s bad boy with a dropped top and the HEMI 6.1-liter from the Challenger SRT8. Make that a Vortech-supercharged 6.1-liter HEMI, which Carscoop says will belt out 425 to 560 horsepower and a tarmac twisting 510 pound-feet of torque. Looking like a grinning Grinch who stole your Civic, Coach Builders Ltd.'s creation will make its grand public debut at SEMA rolling proudly on Foose 22s and sporting SRT nomenclature on its muscled rear haunches. This conversion... Read More

Tags: Aftermarket/Tuning, Enthusiasts, New Products, SEMA, Styling, Cars We Love

Posted in: 1998, Audi, Dodge, Convertible, Cabriolet

MINI Confirms Ute; Magna To Build

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, December 5th, 2007

Back in 2001 it was a matter of pride for BMW that it was building the all-new MINI in the U.K., home of the original city car that was launched in August 1959. Using the former British Leyland plant at Cowley, Oxford, gave the car credibility even though it was a German project. But that was before the cute car became a global sales phenomenon, spawning a cabriolet and now the Clubman estate. The next stage, as widely predicted, is a MINI Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), and there’s simply not room at Cowley to build it. The answer has come in the form of Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria. “The vehicle concept has been entrusted to Magna Steyr... Back in 2001 it was a matter of pride for BMW that it was building the all-new MINI in the U.K., home of the original city car that was launched in August 1959. Using the former British Leyland plant at Cowley, Oxford, gave the car credibility even though it was a German project. But that was before the cute car became a global sales phenomenon, spawning a cabriolet and now the Clubman estate. The next stage, as widely predicted, is a MINI Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), and there’s simply not room at Cowley to build it. The answer has come in the form of Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria. “The vehicle concept has been entrusted to Magna Steyr... Read More

Tags: Miscellaneous

Posted in: 1998, Audi, Cabriolet