What exactly is a Chief Donut Maker and why does it sound like the best job ever? While the title itself seems like it would be a better fit for Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kreme, the Chief Donut Maker is actually a new position created by Dodge. The position was introduced earlier this year as the automaker kicked off a months-long journey to discover their first-ever Chief Donut Maker. But what exactly is a Chief Donut Maker, and who earned the position? We’ve got the details.

Stellantis has given us some information in a press release regarding their new turbocharged six-cylinder engine that will be coming to Ram and Dodge vehicles in the near future. You may have heard this engine referred to as the “Tornado”. Stellantis press release shows the new 3.0-liter GMET6 HO engine on the official list, and it says this new engine started production on November 22, 2021. Let’s check out the press release and see what information we have.

The GMET6 (codename for “Global Medium Engine Turbo 6”) doesn’t have much information available as of now. The information we do have comes from patent applications, and they show that it may be a straight-6 orientation gas powered engine. Power is unknown as well, although Stellantis applied the ‘HO’ designation, which most likely means high output, meaning the Tornado engine will be powerful. 

One of the biggest reasons for the switch to this new engine is fuel economy standards. Recently in the United States the Environmental Protection Agency approved a new set of goals on Corporate Average Fuel Economy, requiring automakers reach an adjusted average fuel economy of more than 40 mpg by the year 2026. What Stellantis has now, the Hemi V8, isn’t exactly the most fuel efficient engine, so they have decided to downsize and supercharge to create a more fuel efficient engine that doesn’t skimp on power. We expect the Tornado engine to produce around 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque.

We are excited to see this engine be available to the public in the near future, and to see what doors this new fuel efficient beast will open up. Stay tuned for more information regarding all things Dodge and Ram.

Dodge’s Charger and Challenger models are household names and the faces of the muscle car segment. They’re known for being beefy, powerful, and extremely fast. Dodge is always looking for ways to make their vehicles more powerful, and the latest package to increase the speed will be dubbed the “Jailbreak” package. As well as bringing more speed, the Jailbreak package unlocks previously restricted combinations including seven options for seats, stripes, and wheels; six brake caliper color options; five exterior badging finishes; and four choices of steering wheels, seatbelt colors, and floor mats. Let’s take a look at all the great upgrades featured on the Jailbreak package. 

The 2022 Dodge Charger and Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak models have an increased horsepower production from 797 horsepower to 807 horsepower. The engine remains the same, still sporting the supercharged 6.2-liter V8, and it has been recalibrated giving it the ability to produce 10 more horsepower. This recalibration makes the Jailbreak package one horsepower less than the limited-edition 808 horsepower Dodge Demon, which if you don’t know about the Demon, all you need to know is that it is extremely fast.

Charger and Challenger Jailbreak models add Hammerhead Grey leather seats, leather steering wheel options, floor-mat accents, sepia and Demonic Red seat belts, Copper Weaver carbon-fiber bezel, satin chrome and red exterior badging finishes, a chrome fuel door, a choice of blue or yellow brake calipers, and 20-inch Warp Speed Satin Carbon and lightweight Low Gloss Granite wheels. Chargers also get a black nickel exhaust tip finish, as well as hood and roof striping. This is a lot of additions, and Dodge gives you the ability to make any combination of these features your heart desires. They have also created a few of their own combinations you can choose from if you don’t want to create your own, such as Old School, Brass Funky, Red Dawn, The Classic, Yin Yang, and more. 

Just for an example of what these combinations from Dodge look like, The Brass Funky Charger Jailbreak is shown with Hellraisin paint, sepia Laguna leather seats with matching floor mats, suede headliner, and an alcantara steering wheel. The Old School Challenger Jailbreak uses F8 Green paint with 20-inch Warp Speed Satin Carbon wheels, Gunmetal Grey brake calipers, and Hammerhead Grey floor mat accents and seatbelts inside. Dodge has taken their time to make sure each of their packages for the Jailbreak models have character, are unique, and will please the consumer.

The 2022 Dodge Charger and Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak option package will be available for customers in late 2021, and will be a $995 add on package.

J.D. Power has an annual study called “APEAL” (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout), focusing on measuring the emotional bond between consumers and their vehicles. Dodge has historically done well in this study, now winning two years in a row, and the first ever brand to go back to back. Let’s break down why Dodge has done so well, and see what goes into deciding the APEAL winners.

This latest APEAL study marks the third consecutive year in which both Ram and Dodge outperform the competition directly. Additionally, J.D. Power also deemed the Ram 1500 as the best vehicle in its large light-duty pickup category. As both brands transition to an electric future, it’s hard to not recognize how far they’ve come, cementing their place as domestic brands that top the industry. Mark Champine, Stellantis Head of Customer Experience, North America, had this to say, “I said last year that we would keep the throttle wide open, and these various results demonstrate our continuing resolve to do so. We remain on a mission to do better for our customers, and we know we have more work to do”. 

The APEAL studies take into account customer feedback about vehicle attributes, ranging from throttle response to seating comfort. This takes place during the first three months of ownership and the feedback is then aggregated on a 1000-point APEAL scale. The latest study has Dodge and Ram finish with scores of 882 and 881, respectively. Each brand rose by ten points over its 2020 performance. 

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. Earning a top spot on a J.D. Power study is a big deal and shows that Dodge is a top quality vehicle manufacturer.

The biggest Dodge news as of late has been that the automotive company has begun their shift to being electric focused, starting with their eMuscle car. We wrote about this previously, and we mentioned how Dodge will be giving the eMuscle a retro feel by bringing back the “Fratzog” logo. If you aren’t a Dodge fanatic, or if you weren’t alive back in the 60’s and 70’s, you might not know what the Fratzog logo is. Well, today we will be going over the history of the Fratzog and see the significance it holds.

The logo was introduced in 1962 on the Polara 500. Starting in that model year, the segmented triangle appeared on the exterior badging, the steering wheel and the wheel centers of many Dodge vehicles. Fratzog is an unusual name, and you may think that there is some interesting story on the origins of the name. In fact, the designer who submitted the logo came up with the name on the spot when Dodge asked what the name of the logo is, and it stuck. 

Quickly the Fratzog logo was implemented into the designs of many Dodge products throughout the peak of the space race in the 1960’s and is synonymous with power, precision, and excellence in engineering. It served as a grille emblem, horn button, c-pillar badge, and rear decklid emblem. As we prepare for another momentous technological leap forward into the unknown (a worldwide structural change to electric vehicles), Dodge’s revival of the Fratzog logo is befitting. 

Dodge is reviving the logo as a homage to the early muscle car days of their company, also signifying that their electric muscle cars will stay true to what Dodge has always been about; performance. It’s not too crazy to think that the eMuscle will be significantly more powerful than the vehicles they produce now. The technology improves every year, and with the potential of the eMuscle being released in 2024, it could be even more powerful than we could imagine. 

Under the original logo’s tenure through the 1960s and the early 1970s, the muscle car was born, the Max Wedge engine and then the 426 Hemi was created, Chrysler helped put man on the moon, and some of the most iconic cars ever created were put into production. Though Dodge’s EV Summit video presentation was short on details, there was no ambiguity about Dodge’s “new” old logo and where it is going to take us. Expect for the new eMuscle to be an impressive work of engineering, rightfully using the Fratzog as we prepare for a new generation of Dodge vehicles.

Stellantis (The manufacturing company affiliated with Dodge) recently confirmed that a plug-in hybrid Dodge will arrive next year. There have been rumors circulating that the new plug-in hybrid will be a small crossover and that it will take over the Hornet moniker. We discussed the possibility of this a few months ago, but now it seems that it will be a reality. Let’s take a look at what we know so far.

The last time Dodge used the “Hornet” name was back in 2006, and it was a compact hatchback concept that never saw the light of day. The styling will be different then the early 2000’s concept car, and it will be based on the unreleased Alfa Romeo Tonale. The new Hornet will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four gasoline engine, and it’s possible that nonhybrid versions may appear as well. It’s also likely that the Hornet will come equipped with an all-wheel drive system.

In a document released during the recent EV Day 2021 presentation, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis talked about the brand embracing electrification for its performance line of muscle cars starting in 2024. However, this particular vehicle will be one of 9 new plug-in electric (PHEV) vehicles for the company and set to launch in 2022, making it Dodge’s first production PHEV vehicle. 

The Hornet would occupy the space that was once taken by the Dodge Journey in the brand’s lineup. The only crossover in the marque’s current lineup is the Durango. The small, two-row crossover will go on sale in fall 2022. Stellantis will build it alongside the Tonale in Naples, Italy. A formal debut for the Hornet can be expected in early 2022, maybe even late 2021. 

This is all the information we have so far regarding the new PHEV Hornet. We expect information to continue to trickle out as the months go on, so stay tuned for any updates. We’ll keep you informed and up to date.

If you’ve been paying attention to the car industry you may have noticed the trend of vehicles shifting to being primarily electric. Dodge’s CEO, Tim Kuniskis, recently remarked that their iconic muscle cars will get the powerful electric vehicle technology sooner rather than later. How will Dodge make this shift towards all electric powered vehicles a reality, and how will this affect your favorite muscle cars? 

If you’re concerned that Dodge will move away from the muscle car, don’t worry. Tim Kuniskis is a strong advocate for the muscle car style, being instrumental for shifting the style back to the traditional muscle car body back in the 2010’s. As you know, muscle cars get their power from large internal combustion engines, but with the evolving technology of electric powered vehicles it’s possible to create this power without the traditional gas powered engine. This means less pollution, as well as Dodge not having to worry about meeting the regulations for emissions from engines.

Kuniskis has put an emphasis on wanting the EV technology they adapt for their vehicles to be available for all consumers, saying, “The whole world’s going to electrification and when it does, the price point of that technology is going to come down and … the crazy people are going to take the electrification that has now become accessible from a price point and make that performance-based instead of economy-based.” This is great for the regular consumer.

We’ll be patiently waiting to see what Dodge does with their idea to shift towards electric powered muscle cars. Stay tuned for more information, we’ll keep you updated as more gets released.