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A New Chapter Begins in Taiwan Jeep has officially returned to the Taiwanese market after 15 years. However, the American marque noted that this move is “not a continuation of the past but the beginning of a new chapter.” The press release did not explain why the brand left in 2010, but the decision may have been linked to financial challenges at the time. In 2009, Jeep’s parent company, then Chrysler, filed for bankruptcy following the 2008 global financial crisis—also known as the Panic of 200

The introduction of plug-in hybrid variants of the Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee a few years ago was a smart move for the brand. These vehicles had the same rugged capability as their non-hybrid siblings, but without the big gas bills. In fact, the Wrangler 4xe has previously held the title of best-selling PHEV in the country. But the immediate future of these PHEVs is in doubt. Not only have the hybrid SUVs been hit by a huge recall, but they’ve now vanished from Jeep’s website without an of

Stellantis is one of the world’s largest automakers, with manufacturers like Ram, Jeep, Chrysler, and Dodge all part of its portfolio. But the company has had a mixed reputation for quality in recent years. In last year’s J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study, Chrysler and Ram ranked well below average, while Dodge and Jeep were above average. To address this inconsistency, Stellantis is enhancing its focus on vehicle quality and has hired over 2,000 engineers to support this. It’s part of a “de

Touch screens are an inescapable feature in today's new cars Today's motorists are living in the age of the connected car, where technology and touch screens are not only a feature of a car, but have become the vehicle's functional nucleus. In many gas and electric cars sold on the market today, adjusting essential functions like climate control, heated seats, radio, and sometimes even child locks requires flipping through virtual buttons and layers of menus on a touchscreen. With so many of the

Stellantis Shoots For The Stars in 2025 In 2025, the Stellantis group launched a plethora of new vehicles to rekindle interest in some of its brands. Notable launches include the new-generation Dodge Charger EV and SIXPACK, putting the Hemi V8 back in the Ram 1500, and the all-new Cherokee hybrid. All this and more translated into a positive year of sales for the group. With the year drawing to a close, the Stellantis group took advantage to post strong numbers in the 4th quarter of 2025. In fac

Niche SUV but Highly Popular in Europe There are a few brands left in the automotive industry that are still able to be "expressive." More often than not, car makers are now forced to keep in line by offering run-of-the-mill models to cater to the ever-changing demands. Jeep has managed to remain free and stay the course by offering tried-and-tested off-roaders while also catering to a new demographic. An example is the Avenger model, the smallest in the whole range (offered exclusively in Europ

Jeep is making good on its promise to reveal 12 special edition Wranglers over 12 months, as part of the Twelve 4 Twelve series to celebrate the brand’s 85th anniversary. The first was the Moab 392 in November, followed by the Wrangler Whitecap last month. Now, Jeep has revealed the new Wrangler 85th Anniversary Edition this January. This is also the most affordable of the special editions so far, as the more affordable Wrangler Sport S has been used as a starting point. Here’s a look at what th

Jeep’s Electric Off-Roader Is Almost Here The Recon EV is Jeep’s first real shot at an all-electric off-roader, and it’s shaping up to be more than just a concept. Jeep is aiming to keep all the familiar traits – removable doors, real off-road chops, and a look that’s built for adventure – even as it swaps gas for batteries. But what really stands out is how the Recon EV lets Jeep rethink the basics – like where to put a winch. It’s a small detail, but one that matters when you’re deep in the ro

Trailhawk Is Back The Jeep Grand Cherokee got a fairly comprehensive refresh for the 2026 model year, but one notable absence stood out. The Trailhawk – long considered the most off-road-capable version of the SUV – didn’t make the cut. But its absence didn’t last long. Stellantis has now confirmed that the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk will return later this year. In a brief statement, the company described it as part of a broader product push, emphasizing capability and Jeep’s purpose-built identit

New Plug-In Formula With the European Union reportedly preparing to loosen the 2035 ban on new gas-powered cars, Jeep’s multi-energy strategy in Europe is starting to look increasingly well-timed. The American marque’s latest move in that direction is quietly introducing a new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variant for the Compass. This setup is notably different from the more familiar 4xe PHEV system offered on U.S.-spec models such as the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. Instead of chasing

In celebration of the Jeep brand’s 85th anniversary, the company is continuing its promise of revealing a special-edition Wrangler every month for 12 months. The Twelve 4 Twelve series has now spawned its fourth unique Wrangler—say hello to the 2026 Jeep Wrangler Willys 392. This is the second of the special editions (after the Wrangler Moab 392 revealed in November 2025) to use the muscular 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine. It’s also a tribute to the original, back-to-basics Willys, and brings the pric

A Billion-Dollar Agreement Jeep's parent company, Stellantis, and Chinese automaker Dongfeng signed a strategic cooperation agreement on May 15, 2026, to expand production capacity for brands like Peugeot and Jeep's new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China. The partnership will start in 2027, according to a report by a Chinese news source, CLS. So what will Jeep do with the $1.18 billion investment? According to the agreement, Jeep-branded off-road vehicles will be produced at the Dongfeng Wuhan plan

From A First To A Seller The Jeep Avenger is an important model for the Stellantis-based brand. It was designed primarily for the European market and is the first-ever fully electric Jeep variant. Thankfully for Jeep, the Avenger has become a best seller for them in the region, and in order to keep the streak going, a new mid-cycle refreshed Avenger is now available for purchase. Stellantis

Jeep is giving its smallest SUV more runway in Japan with the limited-run Renegade North Star Edition, a 150-unit special based on the Renegade Altitude e-Hybrid. The North Star pairs a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, sending power to the front wheels only. Priced at about 5.47 million yen ($34,900 USD) including tax, it aims to blend urban-friendly size with a tougher look, a standard panoramic roof and a more pre

Jeep established an indomitable reputation for building capable off-road SUVs with the original CJ and subsequent generations of the Wrangler. In 2003, the automaker elevated that perception with the even more capable Wrangler Rubicon. It was upgraded with purpose-built hardware straight from the factory, transforming the SUV into the ultimate adventure vehicle. Around 23 years later, Jeep has just hit a major sales milestone for Rubicon-badged models—including the Gladiator Rubicon—with one mil

Jeep unveiled the Wrangler Moab 392 two months ago, the first of 12 special-edition Wranglers to celebrate the brand’s 85th anniversary. One special Wrangler will be released each month for a year, and we’ve already seen two more since the Moab 392. It’s been a bit of a wait, but the V8-powered Moab 392 is finally available to order in all 50 states, including states that have adopted the California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission standards. The presence of a V8-powered Wrangler also gives J

Military Hardware x Pop Culture Comedian and car collector Jeff Dunham is known for owning vehicles that fall well outside traditional enthusiast norms. His extreme rat-rod Humvee featured on Jay Leno’s Garage perfectly reflects that reputation. Underneath the exposed metalwork and oversized tires sits a 1987 AM General Humvee, originally engineered for military service rather than celebrity ownership. The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or HMMWV, was developed in the 1980s as a rug

Gloves On Some may know Jeff Gordon as the NASCAR legend who, as a young driver, battled the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. for championships in the ’90s. While his racing credentials are unquestionable, could he prove himself just as capable in the garage? In an Instagram post, Chevrolet showed Gordon arriving at its Bowling Green Assembly Plant with his father to help build an LT7 engine for his Corvette ZR1X. Well, the returning Build Your Own Engine program is open to buyers who ordered the Z06, ZR

A Name That Carries Weight The Jensen Interceptor stands out for a certain era in British motoring. When it launched in the 1960s, it mixed Italian design with American V8 power, making a name for itself as a fast, comfortable GT. Production stopped in the 1970s, and while the brand tried to come back a few times – like with the S-V8 in the early 2000s – none of those efforts really stuck. Even so, the Interceptor name never really went away. Jensen International Automotive kept it alive with re

Earlier this week, Volkswagen reported Q1 2026 sales for its lineup in the United States. Overall sales were down by 16.1%, but sales of the Jetta sedan fell even further than the brand’s lineup as a whole, with a drop of 34.9% relative to the same quarter last year. The sedan’s sales figures already fell by 24.4% throughout 2025, and that decline is continuing in 2026. Since so many sedans have been discontinued in the U.S. in recent years, there were legitimate concerns that the Jetta could be

JaguarLand Rover (JLR) has nothing against the new Freelander brand coming to the UK, the carmaker’s new CEO has said. PB Balaji told Autocar that the Chinese-built SUV that features signature Land Rover design cues won’t affect sales of current Land Rover products if they are sold in the UK and Europe. Longer, wider and taller than the standard wheelbase Range Rover, the Freelander 8 production luxury SUV was unveiled in early May in China as the first in a series of new Freelander-badged vehic

A Fresh Coat for a Classic The Land Rover Defender Octa debuted in 2024 as the new flagship of the Defender lineup, bringing high-performance engineering and exclusive customization options. Now, the British marque is extending those premium finishes by making Octa-inspired colors and trim combinations available to more customers through Land Rover Classic. Land Rover Classic – a division dedicated to restoring heritage Land Rovers – is offering these options for the Defender 90 Station Wagon an

Here’s Photo Gallery #2 from Joe Grippo, as we’ve got even more to share from his Best Of 2025. Check them out below and if you missed the first gallery, we’ve got a link below to that one too. Joe Grippo is one of BANGshift’s longest running contributors and has covered everything from junkyards to car shows and drag races to drag and drives, and so much more. He drags his lovely wife, and enthusiastic brother, along with him to some of the shows and races and he’s been contributing for years.

Joe Grippo is one of BANGshift’s longest running contributors and has covered everything from junkyards to car shows and drag races to drag and drives, and so much more. He drags his lovely wife, and enthusiastic brother, along with him to some of the shows and races and he’s been contributing for years. It is kind of amazing to think that he’s been a supporter of the site since its inception, and is still going strong. Big thanks Joe, we appreciate you so much. Here’s his writeup: Well, here

Here’s another great Photo Gallery from Joe Grippo, as we’ve got even more to share from his Best Of 2025. Check them out below and if you missed the previous gallery, we’ve got a link below to that one too. (Words and Photos by Joe Grippo) Joe Grippo is one of BANGshift’s longest running contributors and has covered everything from junkyards to car shows and drag races to drag and drives, and so much more. He drags his lovely wife, and enthusiastic brother, along with him to some of the shows