Dodge and Ram could be a set for a shock return to the UK, according to Automotive Management (AM).
The American brands have been absent from these shores since 2010, after the cars failed to strike a chord with UK buyers. The Journey, Avenger, Caliber and Nitro aren’t names remembered with a great deal of fondness.
But AGT Europe, the official FCA Group importer for Dodge and Ram in Europe, is hoping to convince UK dealers to consider re-establishing the brands in the UK.
Currently, all UK sales are handled by David Boatwright in Essex, but AGT Europe is keen to expand its operations.
‘Enthusiastic about American cars’
Giovanni De Luca, the network development manager at AGT Europe, told AM: “We are looking for dealerships that are enthusiastic about American cars and have working sales and aftersales structures, as well as being well known in their local area. It can be multi-brand dealers.
“Jeep dealers have some advantages on working with the Dodge and Ram models as the tools and hardware are the same or very similar.”
Jeep sold 170,000 vehicles in Europe last year – an increase of 50 percent on the year before. This makes it bigger than Land Rover in the region.
The company offers five models in the UK, ranging from the £20,000 Jeep Renegade to the £90,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.
On the face of it, the Dodge and Ram brands would appear to be a good fit for Jeep dealers and its customers, but there’s no word on which models would make it to the UK.
AGT Europe, which is headquartered in Switzerland, has sold around 20,000 vehicles since 2001. Dodge models include the Challenger, Charger and Durango, while the Ram range comprises a selection of 5.7-litre V8 pick-ups.
For a hint of what might be to come, check out the David Boatright website. At the time of writing, UK customers can buy anything from a £24,000 Dodge Challenger RT ‘with upgrades’ to an £85,000 Dodge Hellcat Widebody.
You can also buy a 2017 Dodge Durango all-wheel-drive Citadel six-seater for £34,000. Still want that front-wheel-drive crossover?
Mercedes-Benz first launched the 170 S in 1949, and is notable for being the first new model offered by the company following the end of World War II. 
The classic proportions of the 170 S make it perfect for becoming a 
Just 52 horsepower was never going to be enough for this custom car, so the original engine has been ditched. Instead there is a 455 horsepower 6.2-liter Chevrolet LS3 V-8 engine, hiding beneath a Mercedes-branded cover. 
Inside is a makeover fitting for what was intended to be a luxury vehicle when it first left the production line. Hand-stitched mocha leather covers almost every surface, with even the pedals and headliner included. 
The outstanding finish of this 170 S was recognized at the 2016 Detroit Autorama show, where it was a finalist for the Great 8 trophy. An appearance at the SEMA Show was also made in the same year.
In the workshops of Woodham Mortimer, the 21st century has yet to happen. You’ll find no laptops or plug-in fault-finders here, just skilled craftsmen milling parts from raw and shaping body panels by hand. The 60-strong team has restored hundreds of road and race cars, with a particular focus on classic Jaguars.
If you cannot reach a refuge area – or you breakdown on a standard motorway with a hard shoulder – here’s some safety advice from the RAC:
North 
There’s no such thing as a bad new car, but not all vehicles are created equal. So while the days of unsafe, unreliable and rust-before-your-eyes cars are, for the most part, behind us, there are still some munters on the road. Here are 15 cars from the past decade that shouldn’t have made it to these shores.
