Come Out to Detroit’s Autorama World of Wheels Event

Autorama World of Wheels

Detroit is regarded around the world as one of the biggest centers of the auto industry, and this March, you can experience a car show worthy of Detroit’s reputation. The Autorama World of Wheels and Cavalcade of Customs event is touring the United States and will be making its way to Detroit, Michigan on March 2-4.

The Autorama event is prestigious in the custom car community, and enthusiasts from the world over make their way to the festival to show off their work and compete for the Ridler Award. This award is given to the vehicle deemed best in show. From individual cars to large collections, everyone in the custom car community is welcome. There are also activities such as chop-shop demonstrations and autograph sessions throughout the weekend.

When the Autorama World of Wheels event makes its way to Detroit this March, it will be taking place at the Cobo Center. Online tickets aren’t available as of yet, but keep an eye out for ticket prices. Make sure you mark your calendar for March 2-4 so you can make it to this can’t-miss event in the auto world, packed with creative vehicles from all over.

Chrysler Pacifica Minivan Continues to Earn Praise

Chrysler Pacifica Minivan Continues to Earn Praise

If you think the minivan segment is slowly fading away, think again. The Chrysler Pacifica just debuted for the 2018 model year, and it has made huge waves in the automobile industry. This minivan sets new standards for its segment, offering thoughtful features like easy to use, flexible seating; an in-cabin vacuum; and intelligent, family-friendly entertainment technology throughout the cabin. The Chrysler Pacifica has even been named “the best” in several award categories.

One category in which the Chrysler Pacifica earned its honorable superlative was when it was called “2018 Best Hybrid Vehicle to Buy” by the The Car Connection. This minivan was the first to come in a hybrid powertrain, making it all the more versatile. The Car Connection also called the Chrysler Pacifica the “2018 Best Minivan to Buy.” Green Car Reports, which focuses on hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient vehicles, called this minivan the “2018 Best Car to Buy.”

At Rochester Hills CDJR, we love to hear that our favorite minivan is also a favorite among many shoppers and reviewers in the American market. Its sales have continued to increase and we expect that buyers will continue to choose the Chrysler Pacifica for its exceptional efficiency, its thoughtful features, and advanced safety and technology.

If you’d like to see the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica for yourself, stop by Rochester Hills CDJR for a test drive.

Prepare your Car for Winter and Be Ready for Anything

Prepare your Car for Winter

Winter driving can be stressful for you and hard on your vehicle. With a little preparation, though, there’s no need to let the cold weather slow you down. Here are some ways to properly prepare your car for winter from Rochester Hills CDJR.

Monitor your tires

Cold weather can cause the air in your tires to compress, which leads to deflated tires. Keeping your tires filled with the correct amount of air is crucial to optimal traction and handling. The last thing you want on snowy or icy roads is to lose grip, so keep an eye on your tires all winter long.

Test your Battery

Those cold winter mornings are extra taxing on your car’s battery, so before the weather turns ugly, make sure your battery is fully charged. If it’s not holding a full charge, it’s time to replace it.

Pack an Emergency Kit

It’s important to keep an emergency kit in your vehicle during the winter. If you’re ever stranded in the cold, be prepared by stowing blankets, water, food, and a cell phone charger in your car so you can wait out the elements until help arrives.

 

This year, skip the stress and be prepared. Take these simple winter car preparation tips and be ready for anything! If your vehicle needs a new battery or tires, stop by Rochester Hills CDJR before the cold rolls in.

Family Green Car of the Year

There is no denying that a minivan is the ultimate family hauler. Now, with the first-ever Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, families have a new way to combine the versatility they need with the efficiency they want. This innovative model was recently named the Northwest Family Green Car of the Year by the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA).

Reviews

NWAPA members gathered in Portland, Oregon, to test drive 19 energy-efficient and fuel-saving vehicles, including gasoline-electric models, battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and even a hydrogen fuel cell model. The Chrysler Pacific Hybrid impressed the writers with its great range, efficiency, and excellent versatility.

Range

“With its 33-mile electric-only range, the Pacifica Hybrid has plenty of range for most drivers’ daily commutes…” said NWAPA President John Vincent. “Journalists overwhelmingly picked the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid as the Northwest Family Green Car of the Year, recognizing the first hybrid minivan’s exceptional fuel economy as a groundbreaking way to extend family budgets.”

Safety

Along with its fuel-saving powertrain, the Pacifica offers more than 100 available safety and security features, along with an abundance of desirable tech features. Families will especially appreciate the available Uconnect Theater rear seat entertainment system.

Come experience the next-level of family transportation with the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, available now at Rochester Hills Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

Fiat Chrysler Creates 700 New Jobs In Michigan

In a move that defies some recent political finger-pointing, Fiat Chrysler has announced a plan to create 700 new jobs in Michigan. The Detroit area factory has shown some signs of dwindling in more recent years. The factory has been producing the Chrysler 200 sedan, which is now being discontinued.

Now, Fiat Chrysler is reworking the factory’s plan, making it a central location for manufacturing the 2018 Ram 1500. It’s thanks to a $4.6 million grant and an $11.4 million tax break that they are able to remake the plant. Not only will the new Michigan plant create 700 new jobs, but it will also preserve current jobs and afford laid-off employees the opportunity to return.

Even as Fiat Chrysler creates 700 new jobs, some onlookers still react skeptically to their decision to move smaller productions to Mexico. Recently Ford has received some criticism for making a similar decision and moving some of its production to Mexico, too. For both Ford and Fiat Chrysler, the goal is to have all of the best-selling, most profitable vehicles made in the USA, with smaller products down south. This will centralize the production of big sellers like Jeep SUVs and Ram pickups in the states, a plan that hopes to boost the economy at each plant location.

Fiat Chrysler Ending Car Production in U.S.

If you love Fiat Chrysler, then you might not love this news: Fiat Chrysler will be ending its car production in the U.S. So, what exactly does this mean for the Fiat brand?

Well, the biggest change is that Fiat Chrysler’s U.S. plants will be focusing instead on the production of Rams and Jeeps. The Chrysler 200 and the Dodge Dart will get less focus and Jeep SUVS will get more.

Don’t worry, though, it doesn’t mean you can’t have your favorite Fiat Chrysler automobiles! Production will still take place at plants in Mexico, Canada, and other countries. So, why the change? Well, America loves SUVs and trucks, and the popularity of Jeep and Ram vehicles has been ever-increasing. The choice to use Fiat Chrysler plants for Jeep and Ram production was made in order to increase the output and popularity of Jeep SUVs and Ram pickup trucks.

Basically, American production of Jeeps and Rams can offer the company more of a competitive edge than the production of Chrysler and Dodge vehicles because of the growing popularity of SUVS and trucks.

Keep in mind that if you love Chryslers, you can still get them! They just won’t be “made” in the U.S.

And the KBB.com 2016 Brand Image Award Goes to: Chrysler

Chrysler has long been one of the industry’s most trusted automakers, and now, Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com has confirmed that status by giving Chrysler the 2016 Brand Image Award, a sought-after title in the automotive world.

The award was designed by KBB.com to “recognize automakers’ outstanding achievements in creating and maintaining brand attributes that capture the attention and enthusiasm of new-vehicle buyers,” which Chrysler has surely done this past year, with exciting models such as the new Chrysler Pacifica.

To decide which automaker should win the award, annual new-car buyer perception data is evaluated among luxury, non-luxury, and truck shoppers, via KBB.com. Based on this evidence, Chrysler was also named the 2016 Best Car Styling Brand.

Here at Rochester Hills Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, it’s no surprise to us that Chrysler reigns supreme as one of the most-loved brands. To learn more or to check out a Chrysler model for yourself, visit us anytime!

Chrysler During WWII: Supporting Allied Efforts

Chrysler did more throughout history than just make cars. In fact, the production of cars was paused for Chrysler during WWII.

Over the span of 13 months, Chrysler built a plant to participate in wartime production of tanks, guns, trucks, ammunition, and other military materials. One of the most famous tanks built was the M3 Grant tank. This was used by the British when fighting in North Africa. Another well-known tank created was the superior Sherman tank.

The history of Chrysler’s involvement as a supplier of military weapons is being recognized in a six-minute documentary. The documentary is called “Automakers and the Arsenal of Democracy” which premiered on the 75^th anniversary of December 29^th, 1940, the date of President Roosevelt’s historic radio broadcast.

Roosevelt’s “Arsenal of Democracy” radio broadcast told the United States citizens that Europe could do their own fighting, but they “ask us for the implements of war…which will enable them to fight for their liberty and for our security.”

Other automobile makers of the time helped with the war efforts, but this particular documentary focuses on the efforts made by Chrysler. To see the video, click here.

We at Rochester Hills Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram are proud to be part of a company whose history helped Allied efforts for the greater good.

If you want to get your hands on a piece of history, then browse our inventory today!

Driving Safety Tips: What to Do When You Hydroplane

Stay Safe by Knowing What to Do if you Hydroplane.

Driving in the rain with low visibility is scary enough, but when you skid on the water and feel yourself losing control of your vehicle, it’s even scarier. But there’s no need to panic—it’s actually very easy to regain control, so just follow these steps for what to do when you hydroplane and you’ll be fine!

The first rule of hydroplaning is do not slam on your brakes. Don’t even touch them! If you brake, especially if you brake hard, you will skid and lose even more control of your car. Not preferable. There are two different methods, depending on if you’re in a front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive car.

In a front-wheel drive car, you’ll want to steer into an open lane so you have plenty of room in front of you. If there isn’t an open lane, try the side of the road. As you’re steering over into that lane (don’t swerve!) slowly accelerate until you have more control.

In rear-wheel drive, on the other hand, you’ll want to take your foot off the gas pedal as you steer into the other lane. Don’t brake still! Just let your car decelerate. You should regain control quickly.

Think you might need new tires? Schedule an appointment with our service department.

PepsiCo Recycling Teams Up with FCA to Help Disabled Veterans

We should all thank our veterans for their honorable service.

In honor of Veteran’s Day, PepsiCo Recycling is launching a new program together with FCA to help disabled veterans and increase recycling efforts.

By placing more recycling bins in traffic-heavy areas of the Fiat-Chrysler America assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, FCA and PepsiCo Recycling encourage employees to recycle more trash, which in turn supports PepsiCo Recycling’s partnership with the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities. This program provides business training to disabled veterans to help them get back on their feet after returning from the line of duty.

FCA officials have been looking for a way to decrease landfill waste and increase recycling, and the partnership with PepsiCo and its support of veterans is the perfect way to go about it. Plant employees are doubly encouraged to recycle, knowing they will help both the environment and the men and women of the armed forces.

FCA also has a long history of supporting the military, including cash allowances for veterans buying new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles and teaming up with the Prestige Group Co. to grant internship positions at FCA to returning veterans.

If you’re looking for ways to help the environment, then why not look into purchasing a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle?