EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan takes a test drive in a 2026 Ram 1500 Limited 4×4 Crew Cab, a big, luxurious family-size pickup truck with a revived HEMI V-8, and eTorque – a mild hybrid system that adds to the fun and is said to save gas.
This is the fifth-generation of the full-size Ram, with sleeker headlights on edgy fenders with a smooth shape, but big shoes – 45R22-inch Pirelli Scorpion rubber. That power dome hood has “1500 E-TORQUE” badges, while those fenders bear “Symbol of Protest” badges – showing the HEMI is back after a year of absence. That cargo bed is big, narrowed a bit by rear fender top Ram Boxes – lockable storage bins with drains for tailgating snacks.
Inside, cocooning black leather buckets with lots of leather, stitching and wood accents – plus a big digital gauge display, then a center 14.4‑inch Infotainment Touchscreen flanked by real buttons for climate control, traction and lane-keep systems. Someone called it a “limousine” for its ride and comfort, with decent room in back for two (even three) more adults. And that the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, with 395 hp and 409-lb-ft of torque, works with a 48-volt battery pack and e-Torque system to provide quick engine start/stop, torque addition to the engine crankshaft, and brake energy regeneration for responsiveness and efficiency.
So read lots more about this – HEMI Returns To 2026 Ram 1500 With eTorque – and see more interior and exterior images by EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan.And check out lots more views of EV, PHEV and ICE vehicles at EV Rider.
EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan takes a test drive in Jeep’s Wrangler-based Gladiator pickup truck. It carries on a Jeep tradition of putting a useful bed on one of its gnarliest off-road versions, in this case the Willys trim.
The Gladiator gets lots of classic Jeep heritage, from blocky fenders and fold-down windshield to deep-treaded 17-inch Firestone Destination off-road tires – and traditional hood clamps.
Inside, sturdy cloth seats, a user(as in gloved hand)-friendly dashboard with big knobs, and rubber floor mats. A bigger digital infotainment screen can show a pitch and roll, or four-wheel-drive/locked center and rear differential status, as can the gauge package’s display. There’s good passenger room, a removable roof and doors – and 35.5-cu.ft. cargo bed with a lightweight aluminum tailgate. And the 3.6-liter V-6 with 285 hp gets Command-Trac 4×4 system with two-speed transfer case and more for decent off-road prowess.
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So read lots more about this, and see more interior and exterior images by EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan – 2025 Jeep Gladiator Delivers Willys 4×4 Heritage. And check out lots more views of EV, PHEV and ICE vehicles at EV Rider.
On Monday, the Jacksonville Car Culture team made a stop at Wolfson Children’s Hospital to deliver the new unwrapped gifts collected at the Jekyll Island Holiday Lights Adventure and Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville on December 10, 2022.
Cars should start arriving by 7 a.m. each Saturday to the Southside Boulevard side of the shopping mall, the best way in through Malabar Boulevard. As always, there will be a Porsche Jacksonville corner, exotics area, Classics Rows and more at the August C&O. And look for literally hundreds of vintage and classic cars, muscle cars and so much more.
Official Caffeine and Octane merchandise is on sale at all Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville events
Gentle reminders – All vehicles parked in the Central Lot must remain in place until the show concludes at 11 a.m. Please Park in the Exhibit Lot if you need to leave prior to 11 a.m. Those parking in the Exotics Lot and the Porsche Corner are free to arrive and leave at any time.
Fun past car events:
Old Town Classic Car Show: A classic amusement park at 5770 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee, it has held a Saturday night classic car cruise-in for most of its 34 years. In the shadow of its roller coaster and rides, we took a recent stroll through the Central Florida spot, which starts at 1 p.m. and welcomes show-quality 1985 and older hot rods, street rods and antiques – like these:
Cars will cruise at 8:30pm and all cars registered can participate.
Upcoming events….
Winter Fest Toy Drive: 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday at Autobahn Indoor Speedway & Events at 6601 Executive Park Court N. Staker Productions and Autobahn partner with Florida Baptist Children’s Home and One More Child to collect new unwrapped toys, diapers, blankets and clothes. Autobahn will be offering a 20% discount on their karts and axe throwing, plus 15% discount on all food and drinks!
Riding into History Concours D’Elegance: Set for April 15, 2023, at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, with Competition Motorcycles as the featured class and Grand Marshal Mary McGee, AMA Hall of Fame and Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee. McGee will join the Grand Marshal Tour that weekend, as well as the Grand Marshal Banquet. Riding into History is a non-profit organization with its primary charity, K9s for Warriors, which provides service dogs for disabled veterans. Riding into History has donated more than $600,000 to local charities since its founding in 1999.
Clay County Cruzers, Callahan Cruisers and Amelia Cruizers all hold regular weekend cruise-ins, so check their Facebook pages.
Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: 8 to 11 a.m. every second Saturday at The Avenues Mall at 10300 Southside Blvd. Information: https://bit.ly/3gPRvVQ.
North Florida Domestic Car Club’s cruise-in: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each first Saturday of the month at a new site – the Crossroad Church UMC, 10005 Gate Parkway.
Caffeine and Gasoline: Free first Saturday of the month cruise-in at 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday November 5, at J-Tech Institute at 8813 Western Way in Jacksonville. House rules – “respect the property.”
Gripping Gears Car Meet: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month at Adamec Harley-Davidson at 380 Outlet Mall Blvd. in St. Augustine, presented by Jacksonville Headturners.
First Coast Car Council: All cruise-ins postponed
Callahan Cruisers: 4 to 7 p.m. every second Saturday at Hardee’s at 542309 U.S. 1 in Callahan.
Auto Legends Amelia Cars and Coffee: 9 a.m. to noon every second Saturday at Mocama Beer Company, 629 S. 8th St. in Fernandina Beach.
Johnny Angels: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. every third Friday at Johnny Angels diner at 3546 St. Johns Bluff Road S.
Cruise Fruit Cove: 3 to 7 p.m. every third Saturday at the PDQ at 194 Florida 13 in Saint Johns, just south of Julington Creek.
New cruise-in: 1 p.m. every third Saturday at Hardee’s at 6852 Wilson Blvd.
Amelia Cruizers: 3 to 6 p.m. every third Saturday at Cold Stone Creamery, 808 Sadler Road, Fernandina Beach. The Amelia Cruizers Car Club will stage a cruise to the ice cream store, staging at 2 p.m. in the parking lot next to the closed Krystal’s (2020 Sadler Road), then make an informal parade along the ocean and on Centre Street through downtown to end at Cold Stone.
Yulee Cars and Coffee: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every third Sunday at the Sonic Drive-In at 463939 Florida 200 in Yulee.
Clay County Cruzers’ events: 3 to 6 p.m. every first Saturday at Big Dawg Sports Restaurant, 1330 Blanding Blvd.; 3 to 6 p.m. every second Saturday at Dick’s Wings Fleming Island at 1803 E. West Parkway; 5 p.m. every third Friday at Freddy’s Steakburgers at 386 Blanding Blvd.; 8 to 10 a.m. every fourth at Nicole’s Café at 1101Blanding Blvd. in Orange Park; and 2 to 5 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Gator’s Dockside Oakleaf, 316 Merchants Way, Jacksonville.
Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine monthly cruise-ins: St. Augustine Cruiser’s “Cruise In” from 5 to 7 p.m. every third Saturday, and Cars and Coffee from 8 to 10 a.m. every fourth Saturday, both at 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South in St Augustine.
Cars and Coffee Fleming Island: 8 a.m. every fourth Sunday of the month at 2310 Village Square Parkway, Fleming Island.
New cruise-in: 6 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Mission BBQ, 8440 Blanding Blvd. in Jacksonville, hosted by Modern Mustangs of Jacksonville.
New cruise-in: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every fourth Saturday at the Rockin’ 50’s Eatery at 3501 N. Ponce De Leon Blvd. in St. Augustine.
New cruise-in: Custard Cruise-in from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, at Culver’s, 3433 U.S. 1 in St. Augustine.
Show and Tell: 6 to 9 p.m. every fourth Thursday at Advance Auto Parts at 10014 Atlantic Blvd.
Historic Springfield Main Street Cruise: 4 p.m. every fourth Saturday between 8th and 17th streets at Main Street in Jacksonville’s Springfield community.
Wait, you say – the first Mustang was in 1964.5, right?
Well, this one is the 1963 prototype Ford Mustang that was once owned by Henry Ford II. In Tom’s video, the prototype Mustang’s current owner walks through the finer details of what exactly makes this one so different from the rest.
As for the 28th iteration of The Amelia, tickets are available for premiere concours d’elegance, with stock car legend Jeff Gordon as honoree on March 2-5.
The weekend’s events include a Saturday seminar featuring Gordon and NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Ray Evernham; chances to meet the legendary driver at Sunday’s concours; and a class of vehicles he drove and won in during his career. Details and tickets are at AmeliaConcours.com.
Cars should start arriving by 7 a.m. each Saturday to the Southside Boulevard side of the shopping mall, the best way in through Malabar Boulevard. As always, there will be a Porsche Jacksonville corner, exotics area, Classics Rows and more at the August C&O. And look for literally hundreds of vintage and classic cars, muscle cars and so much more.
Official Caffeine and Octane merchandise is on sale at all Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville events and at Caffeineandoctane.com
Gentle reminders – All vehicles parked in the Central Lot must remain in place until the show concludes at 11 a.m. Please Park in the Exhibit Lot if you need to leave prior to 11 a.m. Those parking in the Exotics Lot and the Porsche Corner are free to arrive and leave at any time.
Fun past car events:
Fall Cruisin’ to the Creek 2022 saw more than 300 hot rods, classics, rat rods, British, Japanese, trucks and antiques roll onto the grass last Saturday at Trout Creek Memorial Park and Marina at 6550 Florida 13 North in Saint Johns. Here’s just a few of the rides on display:
The First Coast Car Council President’s Choice was a 1967 Ford Pickup of David Hunter; Dan Scanlan’s Choice was a 1961 Pontiac, and the Club Participation Award went to the St. Augustine Cruisers. The Ronald McDonald House Award was Bobby Hawthorne’s 1978 Volkswagen Bus. The Jacksonville Car Culture Award went to the 1933 Ford Coupe of Jim McLane, and the Hagerty Choice Award went to a 1977 AMC Jeep CJ7 of Mark Aston.
The Cruisin’ and Crossin’ 4 Kids Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show last Sunday at the WW Ranch Motocross Park at 1439 Otis Road in Jacksonville saw lots of classics, hot rods and rat rods. Then things went up in smoke at a classic burnout contest. Here’s just a wisp of the fun:
Upcoming events….
Christmas On Call Street Car Show: 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Starke’s historic district north of Madison Street. Free to spectators and $15 entry for all makes, models and years.
Cars and Coffee Toy Drive: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Kingsland Royal District at U.S. 17 and Georgia 40. Event held by NineTwelve Auto Spa, with vendors and food trucks.
Winter Fest Toy Drive: 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18 at Autobahn Indoor Speedway & Events at 6601 Executive Park Court N. Staker Productions and Autobahn partner with Florida Baptist Children’s Home and One More Child to collect new unwrapped toys, diapers, blankets and clothes. Autobahn will be offering a 20% discount on their karts and axe throwing, plus 15% discount on all food and drinks!
Riding into History Concours D’Elegance: Set for April 15, 2023, at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, with Competition Motorcycles as the featured class and Grand Marshal Mary McGee, AMA Hall of Fame and Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee. McGee will join the Grand Marshal Tour that weekend, as well as the Grand Marshal Banquet. Riding into History is a non-profit organization with its primary charity, K9s for Warriors, which provides service dogs for disabled veterans. Riding into History has donated more than $600,000 to local charities since its founding in 1999.
Clay County Cruzers, Callahan Cruisers and Amelia Cruizers all hold regular weekend cruise-ins, so check their Facebook pages.
Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: 8 to 11 a.m. every second Saturday at The Avenues Mall at 10300 Southside Blvd. Information: https://bit.ly/3gPRvVQ.
North Florida Domestic Car Club’s cruise-in: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each first Saturday of the month at a new site – the Crossroad Church UMC, 10005 Gate Parkway.
Caffeine and Gasoline: Free first Saturday of the month cruise-in at 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday November 5, at J-Tech Institute at 8813 Western Way in Jacksonville. House rules – “respect the property.”
Gripping Gears Car Meet: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month at Adamec Harley-Davidson at 380 Outlet Mall Blvd. in St. Augustine, presented by Jacksonville Headturners.
First Coast Car Council: All cruise-ins postponed
Callahan Cruisers: 4 to 7 p.m. every second Saturday at Hardee’s at 542309 U.S. 1 in Callahan.
Auto Legends Amelia Cars and Coffee: 9 a.m. to noon every second Saturday at Mocama Beer Company, 629 S. 8th St. in Fernandina Beach.
Johnny Angels: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. every third Friday at Johnny Angels diner at 3546 St. Johns Bluff Road S.
Cruise Fruit Cove: 3 to 7 p.m. every third Saturday at the PDQ at 194 Florida 13 in Saint Johns, just south of Julington Creek.
New cruise-in: 1 p.m. every third Saturday at Hardee’s at 6852 Wilson Blvd.
Amelia Cruizers: 3 to 6 p.m. every third Saturday at Cold Stone Creamery, 808 Sadler Road, Fernandina Beach. The Amelia Cruizers Car Club will stage a cruise to the ice cream store, staging at 2 p.m. in the parking lot next to the closed Krystal’s (2020 Sadler Road), then make an informal parade along the ocean and on Centre Street through downtown to end at Cold Stone.
Yulee Cars and Coffee: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every third Sunday at the Sonic Drive-In at 463939 Florida 200 in Yulee.
Clay County Cruzers’ events: 3 to 6 p.m. every first Saturday at Big Dawg Sports Restaurant, 1330 Blanding Blvd.; 3 to 6 p.m. every second Saturday at Dick’s Wings Fleming Island at 1803 E. West Parkway; 5 p.m. every third Friday at Freddy’s Steakburgers at 386 Blanding Blvd.; 8 to 10 a.m. every fourth at Nicole’s Café at 1101Blanding Blvd. in Orange Park; and 2 to 5 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Gator’s Dockside Oakleaf, 316 Merchants Way, Jacksonville.
Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine monthly cruise-ins: St. Augustine Cruiser’s “Cruise In” from 5 to 7 p.m. every third Saturday, and Cars and Coffee from 8 to 10 a.m. every fourth Saturday, both at 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South in St Augustine.
Cars and Coffee Fleming Island: 8 a.m. every fourth Sunday of the month at 2310 Village Square Parkway, Fleming Island.
New cruise-in: 6 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Mission BBQ, 8440 Blanding Blvd. in Jacksonville, hosted by Modern Mustangs of Jacksonville.
New cruise-in: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every fourth Saturday at the Rockin’ 50’s Eatery at 3501 N. Ponce De Leon Blvd. in St. Augustine.
New cruise-in: Custard Cruise-in from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, at Culver’s, 3433 U.S. 1 in St. Augustine.
Show and Tell, 6 to 9 p.m. every fourth Thursday at Advance Auto Parts at 10014 Atlantic Blvd.
Historic Springfield Main Street Cruise: 4 p.m. every fourth Saturday between 8th and 17th streets at Main Street in Jacksonville’s Springfield community.
Photographers and Brumos fans – the Brumos Racing Fan Club is asking for your help as it celebrates the 50th anniversary in January of the first Brumos Racing team win at Daytona, with Peter Gregg (right) and Hurley Haywood clinching the victory in 1973. To celebrate this, the club is trying to collect as many photos from that race, and that season, as possible. Not only race photos, but any pits/paddock shots, images of Gregg, Haywood or the crew from your viewpoint are being sought. The club can be contacted via its Facebook page.
And speaking of The Amelia, tickets are available for that 28th edition, with stock car legend Jeff Gordon as honoree on March 2-5.
The weekend’s events include a Saturday seminar featuring Gordon and NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Ray Evernham; chances to meet the legendary driver at Sunday’s concours; and a class of vehicles he drove and won in during his career. Details and tickets are at AmeliaConcours.com.
The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept got a new suit – tri-coat Stryker Red – as it premiered this week at SEMA in Las Vegas.
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) showed off the Banshee-powered battery-electric muscle car, as well as six “Last Call” 2023 Dodge Charger and Challenger special-edition performance cars. Dodge also showed off different steps in its electrified performance, with 400-volt system output levels of 340 kilowatts (456 hp) and 440 kilowatts (590 hp) and an as-yet-unannounced, factory-delivered, power-level 800-volt SRT Banshee powertrain package.
The SRT concept also had “Stage 2” fender badging and new 18-inch Direct Connection lightweight carbon-fiber concept wheels with 305mm drag radials.
Meanwhile, other MOPAR madness was at SEMA:
The Ram 1500 Backcountry X Concept had the RamBox cargo management system, custom designed RamPack and RamRack storage features, and RamGate task-bench with custom paint, stripes and more.
The Jeep CJ Surge Concept was converted into a true EV with scalable 400-volt, 200-kW Electric Drive Module, 24 lithium-ion battery modules, JPP off-roading mods and 35-inch BFGoodrich tires
And the motocross-inspired Ram 1500 TRX Gold Shot Concept has a 702-hp rating, Mopar retractable bed step, and custom metal skid plates atop Vintage Bronze 18-by-9.5-inch Black Rhino Chamber wheels paired with 37-inch BFGoodrich tires.
Toasty is the word for last Saturday’s C&O as hot, sunny skies gave way to clouds, but no rain until its end. So variety was the spice of life at C&O again.
Jeeps were the featured ride at the event, everything from classic World War II units in Army green, to modern rock climbers.
And here’s a sample…just a sample…of some of the rest of the ride.
And then there was this sleek, aerodynamic coupe with its 2-liter Ford EcoTec turbocharged four mounted behind the spare cockpit, clothed in a handmade body with serious ground effects, a soon-to-be ground-hugging splitter, and the name of Alula. Those are handmade curved taillights as well, with a nose-mounted radiator that cools the engine as air rushes up through it and over the body. Can’t wait to see its completion.
The next Caffeine and OctaneJacksonville rumbles into life from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, at The Avenues mall’s Southside Boulevard parking lots.
And this time, C&O highlights – convertibles.
An estimated 1,000-plus cars, trucks, motorcycles and more usually come to the all-makes, all-models free show, with all parking spots first come/first serve. Cars should start arriving by 7 a.m. that June 11 Saturday to the Southside Boulevard side of the shopping mall, the best way in through Malabar Boulevard. As always, there will be a Porsche section, and an exotics area at the July C&O. And look for literally hundreds of vintage and classic cars, muscle cars and so much more.
Official Caffeine and Octane merchandise is on sale at all Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville events.
Now the Car Shows:
CaddyShack Vettes at the Village: The 21st Father’s Day weekend Corvette show runs from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at World Golf Village at 1 World Golf Pace in St. Augustine. Free for spectators and $45 for show cars, every generation of Corvette on display, with proceeds benefitting Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Summer Volksfest – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Car Museum of St. Augustine at 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South in St Augustine. Free for spectators; show vehicles registration is $20, which includes one museum entry.
Toon Town Show and Tell Truck Meet: 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday at 444 Talleyrand Ave. in Jacksonville. This is an indoor/outdoor lifted truck/classic truck and car meet.
Mac-Town Cruisers Car and Truck Show: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at Jordan’s Automotive at 10844 North County Road 125 in Glen St. Mary, Fl. Free for spectators and $20 per show vehicle.
Vet Center Auto Show: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, at the Jacksonville 1 VA Clinic at 1536 N. Jefferson St. Event includes a health fair.
10th annual King of the South Car Show, Featuring Import Warz: 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds at 510 Fairground Place. Hosted by OG Magnum and Marzine the King, the show is $20 per person, with exhaust and 2-step competition at 6:30 p.m.
Summer Showcase 2022 – Saturday and Sunday, July 16 and 17, at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, 13611 Normandy Blvd. The car show also includes an audio system arena and dB Drag. Admission for those competing in sound system events is $15 now or $30 at the gate. Show cars: pre-reg $20, and $40 at the gate, and $5 per spectator. Tickets can be purchased here.
Nassau Moose Riders Dreams Come True Rocking Car and Bike Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, at the Nassau Moose Lodge at 850062 U.S. 17 N. in Yulee. Free for spectators and $20 per pre-1989 show vehicle and all years of motorcycles. Proceeds benefit Dreams Come True.
The FIRM (Florida International Rally and Moto Park): Open Track Days held most weekends at the road course and rally course at 7266 Airport Road in Starke.
All the Cruise-ins
First Coast Car Council, Clay County Cruzers, Callahan Cruisers and Amelia Cruizers all hold regular weekend cruise-ins, so check their Facebook pages.
Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: 8 to 11 a.m. every second Saturday at The Avenues Mall at 10300 Southside Blvd. Information: https://bit.ly/3gPRvVQ.
Johnny Angels: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. every third Friday at Johnny Angels diner at 3546 St. Johns Bluff Road S.
Cruise Fruit Cove: 3 to 7 p.m. every third Saturday at the PDQ at 194 Florida 13 in Saint Johns, just south of Julington Creek.
Amelia Cruizers: 3 to 6 p.m. every third Saturday at Cold Stone Creamery, 808 Sadler Road, Fernandina Beach.
Yulee Cars and Coffee: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every third Sunday at the Sonic Drive-In at 463939 Florida 200 in Yulee.
First Coast Car Council: The second Saturday cruise-in is from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Medical & Merchants Center of Mandarin, 11701 San Jose Blvd.
North Florida Domestic Car Club’s new cruise-in: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each first Saturday of the month beginning June 4 at the PDQ at 4816 Gate Parkway.
The Part’s House/The Brothers Banter Podcast Cruise-in: The renamed White Brothers Auto Parts Cruise-in at the same time – 5 to 8 p.m. every second Friday at 405 Lane Ave. N.
Callahan Cruisers: 5 to 8 p.m. every second Saturday at Hardee’s at 542309 U.S. 1 in Callahan
Auto Legends Amelia Cars and Coffee: 9 a.m. to noon every second Saturday at Mocama Beer Company, 629 S. 8th St. in Fernandina Beach.
Clay County Cruzers’ events: 3 to 6 p.m. every first Saturday at Big Dawg Sports Restaurant, 1330 Blanding Blvd. The Cruzers’ other events: At 3 to 6 p.m. on the second Saturday, the cruise-in returns to Dick’s Wings Fleming Island at 1803 E. West Parkway; 5 p.m. every third Friday at Freddy’s Steakburgers at 386 Blanding Blvd.; and 2 to 5 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Gator’s Dockside Oakleaf, 316 Merchants Way, Jacksonville.
Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine monthly cruise-ins: St. Augustine Cruiser’s “Cruise In” from 5 to 7 p.m. every third Saturday, and Cars and Coffee from 8 to 10 a.m. every fourth Saturday, both at 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South in St Augustine.
Cars and Coffee Fleming Island: 8 a.m. every fourth Sunday of the month at 2310 Village Square Parkway, Fleming Island.
New cruise-in: 6 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Missions BBQ, 8440 Blanding Blvd. in Jacksonville, hosted by Modern Mustangs of Jacksonville.
New cruise-in: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every fourth Saturday at the Rockin’ 50’s Eatery at 3501 N. Ponce De Leon Blvd. in St. Augustine.
Show and Tell, 6 to 9 p.m. every fourth Thursday at Advance Auto Parts at 10014 Atlantic Blvd.
Historic Springfield Main Street Cruise: 4 p.m. every fourth Saturday between 8th and 17th streets at Main Street in Jacksonville’s Springfield community.
And finally…
Those of you who went to the 27th outing of The Amelia concours d’elegance this past March may have spotted the familiar cowboy-hatted figure of Jim Glickenhaus helping his crew dry the morning dew off his 1966 Ferrari P3/4. In previous years, you may have seen some of the New York hypercar maker’s other cars, like his outrageous SCG Boot, a modern high-performance homage to the Steve McQueen Baja Boot, off-road racing truck, which happened told be parked nearby.
The automotive world took notice when Dodge introduced the first “Hellcat” vehicles in 2014 for the 2015 model year. With a supercharged 707-horsepower V8 engine, the Hellcat Charger would become the most powerful production sedan ever created. Anticipation of seeing the new “cats” on the public roadways was palpable and their e arrival was loud, aggressive and often scary. Dodge’s new cats sent power to the rear wheels with a smoke-inducing vengeance, even with the tiniest of throttle.
Six years have passed and Dodge has expanded the Hellcat line up to include SUVs and with the all-new Dodge Ram 1500 TRX, pickup trucks. All of the variants boast over 700 horsepower. We’ve enjoyed doing the homework while reviewing the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and we’re currently testing the ferocious TRX, but nothing pulls our enthusiast heartstrings like the tried and true four-door-five-passenger SRT Hellcat Charger.
Unsurprisingly, the 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody with its unique bodywork that features massive fender flares, put a smile on our faces that wouldn’t go away until we had to give it back. Even then we’d sit around and say things like “remember when we had the Hellcat Redeye Widebody?” and the goofy perma-grin would return.
Otherworldly Power and Performance
Powered by a 797-horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque version of the inspired 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, the Redeye retains the title of the “most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world.” For lack of a better word, this engine is a beast. The supercharger whine is haunting. The exhaust sets off the neighbor’s car alarms and rattles house windows.
There is a good reason the Dodge marketing team opted to include the word “hell” in the sales brochure. Put the HP90 8-speed automatic transmission in drive, tap the throttle and the 20-inch wheels wrapped in 305/35ZR20 tires start to spin, usually without the car going anywhere. They will get traction eventually and when they do the car launches like a rocket ship. It is often scary as _ _ _ _.
Spacious Interior and Plenty of Cargo Space
While the supercharged V8 tends to get most of the attention, the Charger’s ponies are capable of more than a single trick. The spacious interior and ample cargo space make the Hellcat Charger one of the more useful family sedans on the market.
Considering the already family-friendly V6-powered Charger starts right around $30k, the Hellcat Widebody’s base price of $70k and the Redeye’s $80k jumping off point gives Dodge plenty of capital for improvement. With a long list of additional upgrades, our well-equipped test vehicle rang in at $87,165. At that price you expect more than a pretty face and a massive engine. For almost $90k you want heated and ventilated leather seats, suede and carbon fiber trim and unique visual cues. You are looking for that kind of substance and the Redeye delivers.
Rear seating is truly three people ready and the Charger’s trunk offers an incredible 16.5 cubic feet of useable cargo space. That’s enough room to accommodate a long weekend’s worth of luggage for a family of five.
Infotainment that Shines
We are longtime fans of Dodge’s intuitive and easy to navigate infotainment. The “Uconnect” system features at 8.4-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The system is found in much cheaper Dodge products where it completely rises above most of the competition. At $87k the system still shines, but feels more like it is “enough” than the segment show stealer that it is in a $25k vehicle. That said, the Hellcat’s special system features a long list of SRT performance apps that the lesser offerings don’t have.
We were also pleased with the optional 19-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system. The premium audio upgrade gives the speakers a chance to rise above the raucous of the supercharged V8, most of the time anyway.
Active Safety Technology
Dodge’s SRT Hellcat is equipped with blind-spot monitors, rear parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert. Options include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning.
Do You Need a 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody?
Obviously the 797-horsepower Redeye isn’t for everyone. That said, it is a lot more useful than the initial marketing would suggest. How many drag strip ready cars are also perfectly equipped for the elementary school car pool lane? How about a rear seat that has room for THREE adults? Or a trunk that fits seven carry on bags?
Erik Azar is a motorsports enthusiast living in Northeast Florida. He is presently the VP of the Jacksonville Corvette Club and an active member of JAMS – Jacksonville Area Mopars where he enjoys attending motorsport events in his Jeep JK and Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye.
The 5th annual Mopars on the Beach in Myrtle Beach, SC – tailored as a Vacation for Mopar Enthusiasts took place from November 10-15, 2020. Like so many other motorsport events this year, Mopars on the Beach was postponed from its usual June timeframe.
Mopars on the Beach was founded in 2016 by Tommy and Cathy Bridges of the Coastal Carolina Mopars, and with the help of their club members pulled off a successful event as they had to be agile and creative dealing with the current Covid-19 climate. This year saw over 300 attendees from 17 states traveling from as far away as Nevada and Arizona.
The week’s activities consisted of various Cruise-ins, Dyno Day, Charity Ride, and a Car Show. It’s a great way for Mopar enthusiasts to meet other like-minded people from all over the United States and develop new friendships.
This year even the late season Hurricane Iota wouldn’t put a damper on the activities and fun. The rain stopped Thursday evening allowing Friday’s Charity Ride and Saturday’s car show to take place with beautiful weather.
Friday’s charity ride to the small town of Georgetown, SC ended up having more than double the number of attendees expected. The organizers did an excellent job coordinating with the local police departments to arrange police escorts and blocking major intersections for more than 100 cars to travel from site to site. The evening ended at The Landing at the Boathouse for dinner and prizes.
The main event and largest generator of donation funds for the charities was Saturday’s car show that hosted over 300 cars on display. The cars ranged from classic 60s-70s Mopar muscle, to modern muscle and custom Mopars – which provided something for everybody to enjoy.
For 2020 the event raised $13,000 that was evenly divided between two local charities:
· Quilts of Valor local chapter – provides volunteer handmade quilts to service members and veterans that have been touched by war.
· Lowcountry Food Bank – provides both the education and nutritious options needed by partner agencies and schools that serve our community
Next year’s Mopars on the Beach is scheduled for Nov 2-6, 2021 and will move to Broadway at the Beach, a popular tourist destination with shopping and entertainment. There will also be Drag Strip day on Thursday, Nov 4, 2021 at Darlington Drag Strip.
It is almost impossible not to fall in love with, or at least have a crush on, the 2020 Fiat 124 Spider. The long hood, short rear deck and two-seat drop-top is a throwback to when cars were built for a single purpose. Trucks hauled stuff. Sedans and station wagons scooted families around town. Vans were for rock bands and florists. And…
Fiat 124 Spider Lusso. All photos courtesy of FIAT.
Sports cars were for driving. They lacked cupholders, had terrible aftermarket radios and had what felt like negative cargo space. Why? Because sports cars, especially roadsters, weren’t designed for commuting or runs to Costco or Home Depot. A sports car’s only job was to make the owner and lucky passenger(s) smile after-hours or on weekends. And while the new 124 has cupholders, well sort of, and a decent little trunk, it is about as close to the spirit of those roadsters of yesteryear as you can buy new at a dealership, minus the Italian’s not-so-distant Japanese cousin, the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Let’s start with Performance
You can write the Fiat 124’s performance review with a single word, “nimble.” (But since we always write more than one word see below)
Precise steering, sporty suspension and rigid design are the perfect recipe for excellent handling. Braking is excellent and it is almost impossible to get this car to feel out of control, even when pushed to the limits. On those rare times that the 124’s rear end does break loose correcting the roadster is as easy as letting up on the throttle and taking a beat.
A 1.4-liter turbocharge four-cylinder engine produces 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque on Classica and Lusso and 164 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque on the Abarth trim. Purists will appreciate that you can still select your own gears thanks to the standard six-speed manual transmission, which we adore. Those who prefer to have a robot handle the changes can opt for a six-speed automatic transmission, which isn’t all that bad either.
Fiat 124 Spider Lusso
Straight-line acceleration is decent, the Fiat 124 goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.4 seconds. Not too shabby, but more than a half second slower than a late-model Toyota Camry TRD. Fuel economy is excellent. The fun little roadster may not be able to pass the Camry, but it can zip by a lot of gas stations with up to 26 city / 35 highway.
Throwback Styling with a Twist
Automotive historians, and visitors of Wikipedia, might find more than a hint of irony when assessing the 2020 Fiat 124 Spider. Let’s time travel to the late 80’s, when roadster production had all but come to a halt. The designers and engineers at Mazda were able to draw inspiration from the once-beloved, but now sidelined, Fiat 124 to create a ground-breaking segment creating instantly popular roadster.
2019 Fiat 124 Spider and 1968 Fiat 124 Spider
Fast forward to 2020: Today’s Fiat 124 is based upon and built alongside the current Mazda Miata at the Mazda Hiroshima plant. In many ways the original Miata can be considered the 124’s reimagined spiritual grandchild – with a few steps along the way.
1968 Fiat 124 Spider and 2019 Fiat 124 Spider
More than 35 years after the last 124 Sport Spider rolled off the assembly line Fiat has revived the model from the underpinnings of the same car that once brought life into the flat-lined segment. The design is a lovely Italian, inspired by the sixties’ Fiat 124 Spider, take on the world’s best-selling roadster.
Bottom line: All of this equates to numerous thumbs up on the highway and copious appreciative nods from strangers in the parking lot.
1968 Fiat 124 Spider and 2019 Fiat 124 Spider
Purposeful interior with a decent trunk (by roadster standards)
The two-seater offers comfortable accommodations for the driver and passenger. At 5’10” I’m about average height and I find the Fiat’s interior to fit me quite well. Depending on trim, 124 sport seats can be wrapped in cloth, leather, leather with microfiber inserts or Recaro leather and Alcantara suede. Lusso and Abarth models include heated seats, which are a welcome addition for drop top motoring in cooler temps.
Fiat 124 Spider Lusso
Cargo space is tiny in the big scheme of things, but notable for a roadster at about 5 cubic feet. More than the number, Fiat has done a notable job designing the trunk to maximize usability.
Technology that Also Reminds You of the Old Days…
We’ve been incredibly kind to the 124 up to now, and rightfully so, the car is a blast to drive, is comfortable and looks great. That’s why we feel it is okay to be a little disappointed with the roadster’s technology offerings. The 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system features Bluetooth connectivity and by upgrading to the Bose nine-speaker audio, the unit equates to great sound. However, the system lacks fundamentals like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Fiat 124 Spider
The 124 Spider comes with a rearview camera. Optional safety features include rear parking sensors, adaptive headlights, blind spot monitors and rear cross traffic alert.
Pricing
The base model 2020 Fiat 124 Spider starts at $25,390 excluding destination, taxes, title and registration fees.
Recently we spent a week with the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, America’s first and only hybrid minivan. We were impressed with the efficient and powerful powerplant and the vehicle’s family-friendly packaging. Chrysler recently sent us the 2020 model, which features an update grille, some new appearance packages and a few minor updates inside.
2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Courtesy of FCA.
The last review talked about the historical significance of Chrysler’s minivan. Creators of the industry first vehicle that combined the ease of driving a car with the family-friendly convenience of a truck-based van, Chrysler has sold more than 14.6 million minivans since 1983, a number that equates to twice as many as any other manufacturer.
2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Courtesy of FCA.
The Pacifica Hybrid fills the “minivan hybrid” spot for Americans. Between that exclusivity and the fact that it is a great minivan, it is the fourth best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) from the 30 PHEVs available in the market, and the #1 seller among the 20 vehicles that offer PHEV as an option.
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan equipped with Waymo’s fully self-driving technology. Courtesy of FCA.
Powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine and Chrysler’s an dual-motor eFlite electrically variable transmission the 2020 Pacifica Hybrid achieves more than 80 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) in electric-only mode. The minivan has an all-electric range of more than 30 miles. Allow the batteries to fully charge and with a full tank of gas the hybrid is capable of traveling more than 500 miles before you need more fuel.
2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid cutaway. Courtesy of FCA.
With more than 100 available safety and security features, the Uconnect Theater rear-seat entertainment system, exclusive Stow ‘n Go seating and storage, available 4G Wi-Fi and an array of comfort and convenience technologies, the Chrysler Pacifica is a no-compromise minivan ideally suited for today’s families.
2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Courtesy of FCA.
New for 2020:
New Red S Appearance Package on Pacifica Limited features:
Rodèo Red Nappa leather seats with Light Diesel Grey stitching and piping, Silver Metal Brush hydro bezels on instrument panel and door trim
Red S liftgate badge and Black Noise Chrysler wing badges with Velvet Red insert and Gloss Black exterior finishes
18-inch wheels with a Black Noise finish, Advanced SafetyTec, 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio and KeySense
Uconnect Theater and tri-pane panoramic sunroof
Red S Appearance available in six exterior paint colors – Ceramic Grey Clear Coat (new), Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat, Granite Crystal Metallic Coat, Billet Metallic Clear Coat, Bright White Clear Coat and Maximum Steel Clear Coat
Honeycomb grille pattern now comes standard on Pacifica Hybrid models
New interior design elements include available Ceramic Grey Clear paint color and new Nova Black bezels on instrument panel and door trim
Pacifica Hybrid Touring model adds a standard universal garage door opener, second-row sunshades and an available Stow ‘n Place roof rack
Pacifica Hybrid Limited now features second-row, one-touch windows
The 2020 Chrylser Pacifica Hybrid starts at $39,995.
