On May 25, 1972, NASA research pilot Gary Krier changed the course of automotive history when he lifted off the runway at what is now the Armstrong Flight Research Center, in southern California. Today, the legacy of his flight is present in every new vehicle, on every showroom floor, of every FCA dealership. The F-8C
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FCA Courting Improved Vehicle Quality
When Victor Gaylor walks into an assembly plant, he is judge and jury. He looks and listens and, if he finds evidence linking a vehicle component to a customer concern, he holds court. “We put it on trial to see if it’s guilty,” says the veteran FCA quality auditor. This no-nonsense, product improvement approach recently
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Helping the Heroes: FCA Welcomes First Responders (Part 3)
With change, often comes challenge. Just ask a first responder. Police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, etc., are tasked with making split-second decisions, under the most stressful conditions, in order to save lives and protect property. And when vehicles are involved, the best decisions are informed decisions. To this end, FCA recently hosted 45 first responders
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FCA dominated mild-hybrid sales in 2019, says Wards
FCA’s approach to electrification is resonating in the market, as the eTorque system propelled us to mild-hybrid sales leadership in 2019, according to Wards Intelligence. In a development that may surprise some, FCA “leads the U.S. market … and by a wide margin,” writes Wards Intelligence analyst Bob Gritzinger. The auto-industry data tracker reports FCA
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Helping the Heroes: FCA Welcomes First Responders (Part 2)
It’s no secret that automotive technology is progressing more rapidly now, than at any time in history. But that ongoing change is also more meaningful than ever, as vehicle safety improves continuously – a tribute to the research and testing that occurs at facilities such as FCA’s Chelsea Proving Grounds,* site of a recent training
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Helping the Heroes: FCA Welcomes First Responders (Part 1)
There is literally a material difference between today’s vehicles and those produced just a few years ago. Innovative developments include the proliferation of lightweight high-strength steel (HSS) and advanced high-strength steel (AHSS). These materials contribute to improved fuel economy without compromising structural integrity, a key consideration when engineering vehicles for superior crashworthiness. Air bags, once
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New Ram 1500 Leading Light in Safety
Safety is nothing to make light of. But light can certainly enhance vehicle safety, as demonstrated by the 2019-20 Ram 1500. FCA recently refined the performance of the redesigned pickup’s available, curve-adaptive, LED projector headlamps with high-beam assist. The result? The reigning Motor Trend Truck of the Year made history as the first full-size pickup
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