Welp, I’m Now Involved In Accidentally Sharing Propaganda
Surprise! I’m alive. Life happens and I’m still true to the bio I wrote on this blog ages ago. I just updated it finally because even if I’m not posting as frequently as I like, ideas are still running around in my head as to how I can take Sped to the next level.
Yep, this is the new official name of the Substack, with the site link updated to reflect that. And it’s consistent with the Instagram and TikTok handles that I’ve changed so far. As a name, WAC will take a backseat as this will be majorly Sped, but this is still the World According to Cars so it won’t go away completely.
I’ve had some inspiration and do have more material coming soon. But this is a quick check-in to show proof of life.
On that subject, you know what else is surprisingly alive? The Dodge Durango in its current form, is now 15 years old. And Stellantis — its parent company — just announced its return for 2026. This slice of news puts me in an awkward position over an article I wrote more than a year ago.
Making it worse is that it’s on what became the fastest growing car site in 2024. The headline, It’s Time To Start Saying Goodbye To The Dodge Durango, Finally, sits out there with my name on it, which seems a tad misleading now in retrospect.
But can I be held accountable for this? Stellantis’s stance as a business model has been rocky virtually since the pandemic, flying through multiple CEOs, failed product launches, poor marketing, and the plunging sales that followed.
When I wrote that post for an internationally known publication, it was from the perspective using Dodge’s track record. It sent off the Charger and Challenger with a number of special editions, signaling an end to a decades-long production run.
But circumstances change, and the Durango is sticking around to serve as a lifeline to the brand. Chrysler only has one model in its lineup, and Dodge isn’t far behind with two. The pressure is on Stellantis to turn things around not just for Dodge and Chrysler, but also Ram Trucks, Jeep, and the companies that lie in its international arsenal.
Safe to say, it’s not in a good place right now. And new CEOs and other management are being brought in to address the multitude of problems. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that now-false information is floating on the internet and it’s my fault.
Let’s spin this into something positive. Dodge sold more than 59,000 Durangos in 2024 and is projected to do the same this year. Not bad for a vehicle that’s lasted through four White House administrations, the rise and fall of EV popularity, and doesn’t embrace any form of hybrid tech.
It’s also in rare company among three-row SUVs to offer a V-8 engine, while others have embraced aforementioned hybrids and smaller engines on the whole. And this V-8 will last because my brother managed to put more than 200,000 miles on a 2011 Durango before he himself embraced electrification. Chances are this won’t let you down either.
Still, misinformation puts a bad taste in my mouth, as it’s on the rise thanks to A.I. and general media fluff. With Sped’s aim to be the antidote, that’s what I aim to grow.
Stay tuned.
-TA