JEEP NIXES PLANS FOR WRANGLER HELLCAT

Jeep says the Wrangler Hellcat ended up like this
at some point during every test drive. "We got tired
of pushing the front end back down,"
said spokesman Guzmo Squelt

Sad news for Wrangler fans:  Jeep won't be building a Hellcat-powered Wrangler after all.  "After numerous wheelies and backflips, we determined that 707-horsepower is just too much for a 95-inch wheelbase," said Jeep engineer Guzmo Squelt (here at Parksplug, we're holding out hope for a Wrangler Unlimited Hellcat).  

This is the second concept vehicle Fiat Chrysler has canceled in the past few months. You might recall that back in November, we published a spy photo of a Viper-engined Fiat 500 test vehicle. 

The company was hoping to achieve greater economies of scale by equipping at least one other vehicle with the Viper's V-10 engine, explained a Fiat insider who requested anonymity.  But the car was canceled primarily for two reasons, says now unemployed engineer Pippo Guglielmo:  the 83/17 front-to-rear weight distribution and a 11.5-acre turning circle.  

Slightly front heavy:  Viper-engined Fiat 500
reportedly had an 83/17 weight ratio