Jeep Gladiator: What’s New for 2025?
Look at any pickup truck model line sold in the U.S., and you will find at least one trim level tailored toward off-roading. Sometimes, this amounts to little more than an appearance package with all-terrain tires. Others have had some pretty impressive hardware added to them. But there is still only one pickup truck model line designed and built from the ground up to tackle off-road challenges, and only one that comes from a company with such capability as its core reason for existing. We are talking about the Jeep Gladiator, of course, which heads into the 2025 model year stronger than ever. Benna Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram (CDJR) explains in detail.
The Gladiator is available in Sport, Sport S, Willys, Trail Rated Rubicon and Rubicon X, and Desert Rated Mojave and Mojave X. Every model comes standard with four-wheel drive. Powering every Gladiator is the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, rated at 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. For 2025, every model has a standard 8-speed automatic transmission.
However, that will change later in the year with the introduction of the Jeep Gladiator 4xe plug-in hybrid model. It is part of the Jeep brand’s mission to offer an electrified variant of all Jeep vehicles sold in North America by the end of 2025. Details are not yet available, but the Gladiator 4xe can be expected to have the same drivetrain as found in the Wrangler 4xe. This pairs a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine with an electric motor for a total system net horsepower of 375. In the Wrangler, the battery is large enough to operate on electricity alone for 21 miles.
One sure means of showing that the Gladiator is literally the Jeep of pickup trucks is that it is available with no less than four different four-wheel-drive systems, each tailored to the kind of off-pavement activities you have in mind:
- Command-Trac part-time transfer case with 2.72:1 low-range ratio
- Selec-Trac full-time transfer case with 2.72:1 low range ratio
- Rock-Trac part-time transfer case with 4:1 low range ratio
- Rock-Trac full-time transfer case with 4:1 low range ratio
Named for the trail it was designed to conquer, the Gladiator Rubicon has a best-in-class crawl ratio of 77:1 and features impressive clearances:
- Approach angle: 44.7 degrees
- Breakover angle: 20.9 degrees
- Departure angle: 26 degrees
- Ground clearance: 11.6 inches
Also new for 2025 is that all models come standard with power windows and door locks. A new available feature called Active Cabin Ventilation enables drivers to pre-condition their vehicle’s cabin, evacuating hot air in warmer weather before entering the vehicle through the Jeep Connect mobile app.
The remaining change for 2025 is two new paint colors:
- Fathom Blue
- ’41 (military olive drab)
From its unique ability to remove door and roof panels to the way off-road trails are built directly into the navigation system, there simply is no off-road pickup truck like the Gladiator. Visit Benna CDJR and check out the 2025 Gladiator for yourself because among pickup trucks, there is only one Jeep.
Chrysler invented the modern minivan over 40 years ago and remains committed to providing the industry’s most compelling and comprehensive minivan model line. As the Pacifica has stayed ahead of the game with all-wheel drive and is the only plug-in hybrid model in the segment, room has been made at the more affordable end of the category for more budget-minded families in need of a good new minivan. Thus, Benna Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (CDJR) is proud to inform you of the return of the Voyager minivan as a new entry-level to its minivan lineup. The full lineup now includes:
- Voyager LX
- Pacifica Select
- Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid Select
- Pacifica Limited
- Pacifica Pinnacle
- Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid Pinnacle
The 2025 Voyager LX will have a starting MSRP of $39,995. This decreases the entry price by $2,455 from the existing 2025 entry Pacifica model. Nevertheless, the Voyager LX will still be well-equipped with its feature list, including:
- 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen, delivering a range of connected services, including the ability to connect two phones simultaneously with Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa voice controls, and more
- 7-inch digital cluster display
- Stow ‘n Go seating configuration
- Power sliding doors and liftgate
- 8-way power-adjustable front seats
- Heated front seats and steering wheel
- Wireless Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay®
- Super Console with covered and second-row accessible storage
- Black Caprice leatherette seats trimmed in Light Diesel stitching
- Blind-spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Path detection
- Rear Park Assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Driver seat memory
- Three-zone auto HVAC controls
- Passenger four-way manual seats
- Second-row sunshades
- Enabled lifetime connected services, including SOS calls, SiriusXM Guardian Assistance, theft alarm, and more, and trial connected services, including navigation and vehicle assistance
Like the non-electrified Pacifica models, the Voyager will be powered by the award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, which produces 287 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with the segment-exclusive TorqueFlite 9-speed automatic transmission.
“The 2025 Chrysler Voyager offers customers a well-equipped, budget-conscious minivan and reinforces our brand’s commitment to delivering choices in the segment Stellantis created more than 40 years ago and continues to lead,” said Chris Feuell, Chrysler Brand CEO – Stellantis. “We’ve added many comfort, technology-focused and safety features as standard equipment on Chrysler Voyager, including standard Stow ‘n Go seating, making the Voyager an attractive, value-packed option within the Chrysler family of minivans.”
The 2025 Chrysler Voyager LX will be offered in three exterior colors: Red Hot, Diamond Black, and Bright White. You can order one now at Benna CDJR, and models are expected to arrive in the final quarter of 2024.
For more than 20 years, the Hemi engine has been a modern symbol of brute force and the ultimate expression of freedom units on four wheels. Cue the latest freedom SUV from Dodge, the Durango SRT Hellcat Hammerhead Special Edition, which follows in the tire tracks of the Durango SRT Hellcat Silver Bullet and R/T 20th Anniversary.
A Special One-Off Experience
This new Dodge borrows its name from the Hammerhead Grey Laguna leather interior that is contrasted by the dark blue Night Moves exterior paint. Other touches unique to the Hammerhead include a Satin Black-painted hood, Satin Carbon 20-inch wheels, black six-piston Brembo performance brakes, sepia SRT Hellcat logos that are embroidered on the seats, a premium-wrapped instrument panel, forged carbon fiber with light black chrome interior accenting, a leather and suede steering wheel with silver and sepia contrast stitching, as well as the same color stitching throughout, and a suede headliner.
A Word from Dodge
“The new Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Hammerhead continues the celebration of a potent combination: the legendary HEMI engine and the Dodge brand’s three-row performance SUV,” said Matt McAlear, Dodge Brand CEO. “Dodge is America’s performance brand, and we plan to continue to celebrate that legacy at every turn.”
Engine and Performance
Powering the Hellcat Hammerhead is the infamous 6.2-liter Hemi Hellcat V8 that produces 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque that drives all four wheels all the time via an 8-speed automatic transmission. Dodge says the Hemi Hellcat engine will propel the new Durango Hellcat Hammerhead to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, which is so fast that once it reaches the quarter mile in 11.5 seconds, the Durango might take off if it had wings since its top speed is 180 mph. The base MSRP of this awesomeness is $113,720, not including destination and handling charges.
Special Driving Modes
Giving drivers the most use out of their limited-edition Durango is the ability to switch between seven different driving modes: Auto Sport, Track, Snow, Tow, Eco, and Valet. With SRT Performance Pages, users can see the vehicle’s performance, such as various timers, g-force meters, gauges, engine, and dyno readouts. There are even options to use launch control and have shift lights to know when to use the wheel-mounted paddles.
Standard Features and Safety
Standard on the Durango Hellcat Hammerhead is a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, a 19-speaker premium Harman Kardon sound system with an 825-watt amplifier, and an array of safety equipment that includes Blind-spot Monitoring with Trailer Detect, Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, and much more.
Available Now
The latest special edition 2025 Dodge Durango models are available to order now at Benna Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.
At Benna Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we offer some of the best prices and services to all of our customers. With dozens of new and used vehicles to choose from, our great sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. And our amazing service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.
3.0-liter Hurricane High Output Straight-Six Turbo Engine Named to Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems List
The all-new 2025 Ram 1500 has only recently started making its way into the hands of owners, and the truck is already picking up awards. This time, the 3.0-liter Hurricane High Output engine has been named to Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems List. The second-generation Ram pickup changed the truck world when it debuted in 1994 and continues to do so two decades later.
What An Engine
The 3.0-liter Hurricane High Output (H/O) Straight-Six Turbo (SST) engine puts out 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with the TorqueFlight 8-speed automatic transmission and is featured in the Ram 1500 Longhorn, Limited, RHO, and Tungsten trim levels.
What is Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems?
Wards 10 Best Engines is an annual list that has been taking place for the past 30 years. Every year, the best engines are tested by Wards and evaluated for their power and torque, as well as noise, vibration, harshness (NVH), and various technical aspects of the engines against one another. There is no instrumented testing carried out because that is more of an understanding of a car’s overall performance. This is the tenth time a Ram engine has been one of Wards 10 Best engines since the list’s inception in 1994 for 1995 models.
A Word from Stellantis
“We engineered our Hurricane twin turbo engines to be powerful, efficient, robust and versatile, delivering performance that enhances the driving experience both on- and off-road, and while towing,” said Micky Bly, Head of Global Propulsion Systems of Stellantis. “The 3.0-liter Hurricane High Output engine, standard in the 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten, exemplifies our ability to satisfy a range of truck customer needs, offering power, performance, capability and class-leading NHV in one package.”
A Word from Wards
“The Hurricane High-Output Straight-Six Turbo packs a powerful punch from launch to well past legal speed, while also delivering promised fuel economy that represents an improvement over the HEMI® V-8 it replaces,” says Bob Gritzinger, Wards Editor-in-Chief. “I like the assured rumble from the High-Output I-6. This engine should sway even the most rabid V-8 buyer into the 6-cylinder family.”
Two Engines to Rule Them All
The Hurricane engine line are some of the most powerful 6-cylinders ever put into a vehicle, especially a pickup truck. While the High Output engine was one of Wards 10 Best, buyers are also falling in love with the Standard Output (S/O) engine that produces 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque in the Tradesman, Big Horn, Lone Star, Laramie, and Rebel pickups. While having 540 horsepower on tap is a nice feeling, lots of customers just don’t need or want that kind of power on a daily basis. Both engines offer buyers the choice of what they prefer.
At Benna Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we offer some of the best prices and services to all of our customers. With dozens of new and used vehicles to choose from, our great sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. And our amazing service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.
During the ninth-annual 2024 Rebelle Rally from October 10-19, automotive journalists Jill Ciminillo and Kristin Shaw will take control of a 2025 Ram 1500 RHO in the Bone Stock and 4×4 divisions. The Rebelle Rally is a purely all-women event that tests driving and navigational skills through 1,500 miles of California and Nevada’s off-road desert terrain.
A Special Team of Journalists
As a team, this is the third entry for both Ciminillo and Shaw, who are called Team Brute Squad. This is the first year the journalists will use a Ram truck. The Rally takes place over eight intense days that will see the ladies working hard to find headings and hidden checkpoints—while time and distance play major roles. Their only guidance is a map, a compass, and a roadbook that are provided by the event organizers. There are no GPS systems or cell phones allowed.
A Word from Ram
“The Ram 1500 RHO is right at home in the Rebelle Rally, and we’re proud to support Team Brute Squad in this year’s event,” said Chris Feuell, Ram brand CEO – Stellantis. “Our trucks are tested in the toughest environments, and this event is a unique way to showcase how RHO reinforces North America’s leading off-road truck lineup.”
Ram SHO Engine and Performance
The 2024 Ram 1500 RHO offers the all-new 3.0-liter Hurricane High Output (H/O) Straight-Six Turbo (SST), which puts out 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. With a claimed 0 to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds and 0 to 100 mph time of only 11.7 seconds, the RHO is one fast truck. The Ram RHO can also get through the ¼-mile in 13.1 seconds at 105 mph.
Special Features That Will Help Jill and Kristin Win
With its BorgWarner 48-13 full-time active transfer case and 2.64:1 low range, the Ram RHO is genuinely the perfect truck for the Rebelle Rally. The Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive performance shocks, along with the truck’s independent front suspension, will adjust the damping forces for ultimate body control and terrain isolation. The special Bilsteins can seamlessly adapt to on- and off-road driving to maintain utmost comfort and performance handling. The unique design of the rear suspension allows the RHO to have 14 inches of rear axle travel, which is 40% greater than all other Ram 1500 models.
Why The Rebelle Rally is So Meaningful
The Rebelle Rally is a unique event for women who love motorsports and off-roading. Combining their passion and abilities, teams work hard to overcome obstacles, get through the challenging terrain, and complete the overall event. While this may be the third Rally for the two journalists, there is never an easy day when you have to spend 1,500 miles navigating through the desert. Literally anything can and will go wrong.
Good luck, ladies. All of Benna Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram are cheering for you!
At Benna Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we offer some of the best prices and services to all of our customers. With dozens of new and used vehicles to choose from, our great sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. And our amazing service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.
Benna Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram is proud to tell you that Ram and Jeep’s toughest off-road pickup trucks will be well represented in the 2024 Rebelle Rally, with participant vehicles including both the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO and 2025 Jeep Gladiator Mojave. The Rally will run from October 10-19 and cover over 1,500 miles of California and Nevada desert. The 2024 Rebelle Rally will be the ninth annual running of this first and only all-women navigation off-road rally.
The Ram Team
A team of two journalists will run the Ram 1500 RHO. The team’s driver is Kristin Shaw, an accomplished freelance journalist who writes for the automotive and aviation fields. Her articles can be found in notable publications such as Popular Science, Car and Driver, InsideEVs, Edmunds, Forbes, Road & Track, A Girls Guide to Cars, Motor1, Airport Improvement magazine, and many more. Team navigator Jill Ciminillo is also an experienced automotive writer, managing editor of Pickup Truck+SUV Talk, and contributing editor to Consumer Guide Automotive. She is also a popular podcaster and YouTube personality. The two call their team the Brute Squad, and this is the team’s third Rebelle Rally (but their first time in a Ram 1500 RHO).
The truck is powered by the all-new 3.0-liter Hurricane High Output (H/O) twin-turbocharged inline-6 engine, the most powerful from the Stellantis Hurricane engine lineup. The Hurricane High Output engine is rated at 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque, which makes it the strongest Ram 1500 ever. Its horsepower and torque are greater than any other naturally aspirated V-8 or boosted six-cylinder engine in the light-duty segment, and it offers more horsepower per dollar than any other premium off-road full-size pickup.
“The Ram 1500 RHO is right at home in the Rebelle Rally, and we’re proud to support Team Brute Squad in this year’s event,” said Chris Feuell, Ram brand CEO – Stellantis. “Our trucks are tested in the toughest environments, and this event is a unique way to showcase how RHO reinforces North America’s leading off-road truck lineup.”
The Jeep Team
The veteran team of Nena Barlow and Teralin Petereit will drive the Jeep Gladiator. Barlow operates Barlow Adventures, which offers four-wheel-drive training, Jeep SUV rentals, and guided trips throughout the southwestern United States. Petereit is a nurse from Utah who has embraced off-roading as a hobby, navigating numerous trails and competitions over the years. Barlow and Petereit are among the most accomplished Rebelle Rally veterans. They have competed in a combined 14 rallies with 12 podium finishes. They have been teammates for three of those rallies.
Their Jeep Gladiator Mojave is the only model in the Jeep lineup to wear the Desert Rated badge. It features a reinforced frame and axles, strengthened iron steering knuckles, and an enhanced suspension with segment-exclusive FOX hydraulic jounce bumpers.
“We’re honored to represent the Jeep brand once again,” said Barlow. “The rally is tougher than ever, but we don’t have to worry about capability in our Jeep Gladiator Mojave. We never hesitate to chase the toughest checkpoints and that’s a huge advantage. And this is seen repeatedly by how many Jeep SUVs are in the rally and on the podium.”
Unique Rebelle Rally Challenges
The event poses a challenging role for the navigator as she must navigate this eight-day rally without GPS, cell phones, or any other navigation devices. Instead, she must find their way by combining elements of headings, hidden checkpoints, time, and distance using only a map, compass, and roadbook. There are also no personal support crews, so whatever they need on the route, they must take with them.
It is particularly challenging even by Rally standards. Benna CDJR wishes both teams the best and invites you to visit our location to sample the vehicles that have the confidence of these two teams to complete in this challenging event.
New Dodge Charger Daytona Debuts at Roadkill Nights
The latest all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona debuted to the public at the 2024 MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge during the world-famous Woodward Dream Cruise. The 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona features two models: the Scat Pack with 670 horsepower and the R/T with 496 horsepower. The Daytona Scat Pack can rip the pavement into submission on its way to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds.
The History of the Woodward Dream Cruise
With its roots dating back to 1848, the Woodward Dream Cruise has always occurred on the legendary Woodward Avenue that spans from Ferndale to Pontiac, Michigan. Even though there weren’t cars back in the mid-1800s, there were buggies and carriages that people used to race along the wide streets, which saw even more widespread racing action starting in 1958. These days, old and new Dodge cars and trucks street race for money and bragging rights.
A Special EV Exhaust System
As the next generation of the Charger, the Scat Pack and R/T will have a unique and proprietary Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system that will give the Charger EV a glorious and unmistakable sound that can make anyone worried about a muscle car with an electric motor sold on the way of the future.
Engine Options
This is obviously the first time the Dodge Charger has ever been electrified. However, multiple engines will power the new car, including the 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-6 Hurricane High Output engine called the Sixpack H.O., which will develop 550 horsepower, or a Standard Output (S.O.) version of the Hurricane, which will produce 420 horsepower. All models will be built in the Windsor, Ontario, assembly plant.
Special Driving Modes
Scat Pack models will receive various modes, allowing owners to customize their driving experience on the fly. A Drift mode will enable drivers to change between three different slip angles: a Donut mode, Line Lock, Launch Control, and Race Prep. Race Prep is meant for drag or track racing and pre-warms the battery to give optimal performance for a period of time. Owners will also be able to use Performance Pages to access information with lap timers, g-meters, various gauges, and power information.
At Krusen Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we offer our customers some of the best prices and services around. With dozens of new and used vehicles to choose from, our excellent sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. Our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.
We look forward to serving you soon.
Motor Authority reviewed the flagship of the 2025 Ram 1500 model line, and it is hard to find a more succinct summary than theirs: “Anyone looking for the nicest full-size pickup truck money can buy should just head to their local Ram showroom.” This Benna Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram post tells you more of what they had to say.
As Luxurious as It Gets Inside
As mentioned, the Tungsten is at the top of the Ram 1500 model line. Step inside, and only the size of the cabin indicates you are in a truck. As they put it: “Most of the cabin’s covered in thick leather or soft-touch materials. The door uppers, seats, dashboard, steering wheel, and even the grab handles all feature beautiful accent stitching. GM, Ford, and Toyota should be taking notes.”
They take further note of the 24-way power adjustable front massaging, cooled, and heated seats, and the 14.4-inch touchscreen. Despite the screen’s size, a complete set of hard controls remains for the climate system. They did comment that the head-up display did not seem compatible with polarized glasses before mentioning the novelty of the 10.3-inch screen for the front passenger. They summarize the cabin by stating, “The 23-speaker Klipsch audio system with 1,375 watts of power and 24 channels is easily the best sound system I’ve heard in a truck. It even places speakers in the front seatbacks.”
Nice But Not Showy Exterior
Motor Authority points out the contrast between the Tungsten’s interior and exterior. Drawing a contrast to the GMC Denali, they state that it looks nicely finished but isn’t overbearing and doesn’t scream, “Look at how much money I spent!”
Hurricane Power
Like all Ram 1500s, the Tungsten is powered by a six, rather than eight-cylinder engine. However, we are talking about the High Output Hurricane Inline-6 that produces 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. As they mention, the only more powerful light-duty truck engine is in the Ford Raptor R, which is, as they say, “an entirely different animal.” Nobody is going to jump a Ram 1500 Tungsten, though they do mention that drifting is an option.
Riding on Air
Instead, the Tungsten is about getting the job done in comfort. The truck rides on an air suspension. Not only does this pull off lowering the vehicle when Park is selected to make entering and exiting easier, but it also self-levels the truck when given a heavy load while not being so over-sprung to take the load that the truck is harsh when it is gone. Ram has a winner with the 4-wheel independent suspension on all of the 1500 models, and it definitely isn’t going to mess that up on its top truck.
No Hands
It is not surprising that the Tungsten comes with the Stellantis Hands-free driving system. Like similar systems from GM and Ford, it enables genuine hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways.
The Tungsten is available solely with the Crew Cab and 5’7” box with a 4×4 drivetrain. The starting MSRP is $87,320, and there isn’t too much to add. It is within spitting distance from the GMC Denali Ultimate or Ford F-150 Platinum, both of which, according to Motor Authority, don’t quite reach the luxury levels of the Tungsten. If you are thinking of a new pickup truck, we invite you to visit Benna CDJR to sample the entire award-winning Ram 1500 model line, including the King of the Hill Tungsten.
Spend any time in the deep woods of New England, with winters that anyone from the Superior, Wisconsin area will find familiar, and you will know why Jeeps are a staple. Thus, Benna Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (CDJR) is pleased to announce that the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) has named the Jeep Grand Wagoneer the Best Premium Full-size SUV for the second year in a row.
The New England Motor Press Association was founded in 1987. Since then, it has coordinated professional media coverage and created content covering the auto industry specifically for the 14.5 million vehicle buyers living in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. NEMPA’s media members appear in national and regional print, radio, TV, and online outlets and have a strong social media presence.
From November through March, NEMPA journalists test the latest vehicles in New England’s harsh winter weather. At a Spring annual event at the NEMPA headquarters in Middleborough, Massachusetts, the New England automotive journalists that make up the NEMPA membership gather and select winners in multiple vehicle categories. One of the biggest of those categories, in all senses of the word, is the Premium Full-Size SUV category.
“For the second year in a row, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer outperformed its peers during winter testing with a spacious, high-quality interior, clever use of displays and a smooth air suspension,” said Clifford Atiyeh, President, NEMPA. “While we miss the HEMI® V-8, the new turbo Hurricane inline-six is even more powerful and purposeful in this flagship Jeep.”
Mr. Atiya refers to the new Hurricane Twin Turbo I-6 engine, which produces 510 horsepower and 500 lb.-ft. of torque. It is the standard engine for the entire Grand Wagoneer lineup.
“The Jeep Grand Wagoneer embodies both capability and luxury,” said Bill Peffer, Senior Vice President and Head of Jeep Brand North America. “Its advanced four-wheel-drive systems, cutting-edge technology and premium cabin come together to create a unique driving experience. We’re especially grateful for the recognition from the New England Motor Press Association members, as it reinforces the Grand Wagoneer’s ability to excel in even the harshest winter conditions.”
We may be the full set of Great Lakes away from New England, but as mentioned, the conditions can be strikingly similar. Visit Benna CDJR to experience the large, powerful, capable, comfortable, remarkably luxurious, and award-winning Grand Wagoneer for yourself.
As this is being written in late August, the political campaigns are ramping up, and there is much discussion of crowd sizes, where attendance of 14 – 15K people is considered a successful event. Keep that in mind as Benna Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (CDJR) tells you about the ninth annual RoadKill Nights in Pontiac, Michigan. Sponsored by Dodge, the event attracted over 40,000 people on the first night and 50,000 across both nights.
The event included the debut of the all-new Dodge Charger Daytona, which wowed the crowds with its Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system. Fans could avail themselves of Dodge Drift Rides and Dodge Hornet Rally Rides, as well as a chance to catch all the action in the $25,000 World Burnout Championship.
However, the main event was undoubtedly drag racing, which attracted over 100 competitors. The Dodge Direct Connection Grudge Race was a particularly special part of that event. This involved seven drivers dropping the recently available Direct Connection Hurricrate engines in their build projects in a quest for ultimate Dodge bragging rights. The Hurricrates are stand-alone versions of the Hurricane turbocharged Inline-6 engines making 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque, literally out of the box. The winner of the event was Morgan Evans, who dropped his Hurricrate into a 1987 Dodge D-150, which defeated the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon driven by Garrett Reed in the final round.
“We worked so hard over the last two months, and I can’t believe we got here and we ended up winning. The truck worked incredibly, and I couldn’t have asked it to do better,” said Evans.
The rest of the drag racing was split into Big Tire (over 275mm width) and the Small Tire (275mm width and under) categories, each of which saw competitors battle for bragging rights and cash prizes on the first-ever drag strip at M1 Concourse in Pontiac.
“For nearly a decade, we’ve brought the ultimate car culture celebration to life at MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge, and this year we introduced some thrilling firsts,” says Eric Schwab, MotorTrend Group’s Group SVP, Head of Revenue, Operations, and Partnerships. “For the first time, drag racing took place inside the M1 Concourse, offering walkable pits and enhanced viewing areas that brought fans closer to the action than ever before. With these new experiences, along with the worldwide debut of the all-new Dodge Charger Daytona, we welcomed over 40,000 fans for an adrenaline-fueled weekend, proving once again that Roadkill Nights continues to set the bar for action-packed automotive excitement.”
All in all, it was a fantastic celebration of horsepower, and it made clear that Dodge’s phasing out of Its Hemi engines in no way ends its muscle. You can see that for yourself by visiting Benna CDJR to see all the new Hurricane-powered models, plus the Hornet, which boasts the most power in its class.
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