đź•‘5 min read
Another busy week is in the books here at MoparInsiders, and there was plenty happening across Dodge, Ram, Jeep®, and Stellantis.
In this articleâ–ľ
Smokescreen Comes To The 2027 Dodge Durango
Stellantis Sees Smaller Pickups As Part Of Its U.S. Comeback
You Can Finally Build A 2027 Jeep® Grand Cherokee
Unifor Workers Are Getting Ready For A Strike Vote
Ram Recalls Just Five 2026 Ram 1500 Pickups
Another Busy Week Is In The Books
Dodge turned one of the more popular ideas from Roadkill Nights into a production option for the 2027 Durango, while Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa continued laying out his plan to rebuild the company’s North American business with more affordable vehicles and smaller pickups.
Jeep also opened the Build & Price configurator for the 2027 Grand Cherokee, giving shoppers their first chance to dig through the updated lineup. North of the border, Stellantis’ ongoing negotiations with Unifor took another turn with a strike authorization vote now scheduled.
And finally, Ram issued one of the smallest recalls we’ve covered in a while — just five trucks.
If you missed anything, here is a quick look at five MoparInsiders stories that got readers talking this week.
2027 Dodge Durango SRT HELLCAT Jailbreak in Smokescreen. (Dodge).
Smokescreen Comes To The 2027 Dodge Durango
Dodge didn’t wait long to turn the Durango R/T 392 Smokescreen Concept from Roadkill Nights into something customers can actually order.
Smokescreen is now available across the HEMI®-powered 2027 Durango lineup, while the Petrol Blue Laguna leather interior shown on the concept has also made production — although that one is reserved for the SRT HELLCAT Jailbreak. Smokescreen joins an already colorful Durango palette and gives buyers another way to personalize Dodge’s three-row muscle SUV.
Want to know which models can get it and what the new color and interior will cost?
Read The Full Story: 2027 Dodge Durango Adds Smokescreen Exterior Color
2027 Ram Rampage Laramie Night Edition. (Ram).
Stellantis Sees Smaller Pickups As Part Of Its U.S. Comeback
Stellantis spent years pushing its North American lineup further upmarket, but CEO Antonio Filosa is now looking in the opposite direction.
More affordable vehicles are becoming a major piece of the company’s turnaround strategy, and pickups could play a big role. Ram already has the midsize Dakota coming back, while the smaller Rampage is planned for North America in 2028. Together, they could give Ram a shot at buyers who want something smaller and less expensive than a full-size 1500.
There is a lot more behind the strategy — including Stellantis’ goal of getting new vehicles below the $30,000 mark.
Read The Full Story: Stellantis Looks To Smaller Pickups For U.S. Turnaround
2027 Jeep® Grand Cherokee L Limited Reserve 4×4 in Fathom Blue. (Jeep).
You Can Finally Build A 2027 Jeep® Grand Cherokee
If you have been waiting to price out a 2027 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, the online configurator is finally live.
Jeep has opened Build & Price for both the two-row Grand Cherokee and three-row Grand Cherokee L, giving shoppers a better look at the updated trims, colors, equipment, and pricing. There are also some important changes throughout the lineup, including larger screens on lower trims and the return of names like Trailhawk and Overland.
With the entry-level Grand Cherokee starting at $41,515, there are plenty of combinations to play around with before heading to a dealership.
Read The Full Story: 2027 Jeep® Grand Cherokee Build & Price Goes Live
Production at the Windsor Assembly Plant. (Stellantis).
Unifor Workers Are Getting Ready For A Strike Vote
Stellantis’ Canadian labor situation is getting more serious.
Unifor has scheduled a strike authorization vote for October 17 and 18 as negotiations between the union and Stellantis remain at an impasse. A successful vote wouldn’t automatically trigger a walkout, but it would give union leadership the authority to call one if talks fail.
The future of Brampton Assembly remains a major part of the dispute, but the negotiations also affect workers at Windsor Assembly and other Stellantis operations across Canada.
With the vote approaching, this is one story that could become much bigger very quickly.
Read The Full Story: Unifor Sets Stellantis Strike Authorization Vote
2026 Ram 1500 Big Horn Night Edition Crew Cab 4Ă—4. (Ram).
Ram Recalls Just Five 2026 Ram 1500 Pickups
Most recall headlines involve thousands — sometimes hundreds of thousands — of vehicles.
This one involves five.
FCA US is recalling just five 2026 Ram 1500 pickups because electrical connections in the front seats may not have been fully secured during assembly. If the connection isn’t right, the driver or front passenger side airbag may not deploy properly in a crash.
The tiny number makes this an unusual recall, but the safety issue behind it is still serious. Dealers will inspect the affected trucks and secure the connections as necessary at no charge.
Read The Full Story: Ram Recalls Five 2026 1500 Pickups Over Airbag Wiring
Another Busy Week Is In The Books
This week’s five stories covered several very different parts of Stellantis’ North American business.
Dodge continues listening to enthusiasts and turning ideas shown at events like Roadkill Nights into options customers can actually order. At the same time, Stellantis is looking farther ahead as it tries to rebuild its position in the U.S. market with more affordable products, including two smaller Ram pickups.
Jeep gave buyers something more immediate with the 2027 Grand Cherokee configurator going live, while the situation with Unifor in Canada could have much larger implications depending on what happens during the upcoming strike vote.
And even though only five Ram 1500 pickups are involved in the latest recall, it is another reminder that sometimes the smallest stories can still involve an important safety issue.
There is already plenty happening across Dodge, Ram, Jeep®, Chrysler, Mopar, and the rest of Stellantis, and we’ll be back next week to see which stories MoparInsiders readers couldn’t stop clicking.
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Robert S. Miller