Chrysler is recalling 474,862 Jeep and Ram vehicles to fix transmission, coolant and airbag problems, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Nearly all of the vehicles (469,072) are Jeep models, with about 295,000 affected in the United States. The 2005-2010 Grand Cherokee and the 2006-2010 Commander have transfer cases that can inadvertently shift into neutral when the vehicle is started, which can cause the car to roll away.

Transfer cases, used on four-wheel-drive models only, connect to the transmission and multiply the engine's torque by switching between low- and high-range gears. On these Jeep models, the switching is done electronically despite a physical lever in the console.

In January 2012, Chrysler began an investigation after a 2007 Grand Cherokee reportedly began rolling in neutral after the owner activated the car's remote start. By March 2013, after working with the transfer case supplier, Chrysler had traced the problem to a cracked circuit board that was sending faulty signals and had released new software to correct the problem.

Dealers will reflash the final drive controller starting in June. 

Domestic automakers overwhelmingly won the confidence and dollars of U.S car buyers for the first time in more than a decade, according to the results of a survey released Monday by Strategic Vision.

The company’s 18th annual Total Quality Index (TQI) study found Chrysler, Ford and General Motors ranking higher than foreign brands in most vehicle segments.

Based on a summary of all brands and models, however, two imports came out on top. Volkswagen Group of America won best overall corporation for the eighth consecutive year, while the company’s Audi brand tied with Toyota’s Lexus luxury division for the best individual vehicle brand. Also in the best brand category, Ford came in second and General Motors and Hyundai tied for third.

“Don't misunderstand, imports like Hyundai are a force to be reckoned with, and Toyota has regrouped with Total Quality winners Lexus LS, Tacoma and FJ Cruiser," Strategic Vision President Alexander Edwards said in a statement. "However, domestics are running in the tight race also, and it's now forcing all manufacturers to build the most superior, innovative and holistically quality vehicles possible to gain the hearts and minds of the customer.”

 

With favorable traffic, Middleburg, Va., is not quite an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C. Founded in 1787, Middleburg still has a distinct small-town feel; even today, it has one only traffic light.

But the "Main Street, U.S.A." appearance belies its true claim to fame: This is ground zero for equestrian sports. Here, nestled among the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a place where horse-and-hound hunting is very much alive and stables are almost as common as garages.

So when I was handed the keys to a brand-new 2014 Range Rover Supercharged, I knew where I'd fit right in.

 

With more cars connected to satellites and cellular data, we've been waiting for in-dash advertising to appear and pay for these new cloud-based services. The idea typically provokes a knee-jerk negative reaction from car owners and the media.

That was the overall result when General Motors CEO Dan Akerson said his company could generate ad revenue through a new 4G connection in the car.

"What happens if, when the logo shows on your screen, it says, 'Brought to you by Allstate?'" Akerson said last week in a conference call. "How many times is that going to pop? And how much can you get from Allstate?"

 

But GM isn’t the only automotive company bringing advertising to the dash.

 

When Volkswagen lets its chief designer off the chain, we find out that the man has an uncontrollable fetish for attack helicopters.

That's the philosophy behind the one-off Lamborghini Egoista, a daredevil single-seater concept designed to echo the razor-sharp edges of an Apache helicopter.

Walter de Silva, better known for crafting production cars like the Golf and Audi A5, was tasked with creating an outrageous display for Lamborghini's 50th anniversary party last night.

 

• Photo gallery: Lamborghini Egoista

After the Italian supercar maker unveiled the Veneno in March (three will be built) and the track-only Sesto Elemento in 2010 (slated for a 20-car run this year), there was nothing left to do but build a ground missile like the Egoista. And Lamborghini is quite frank about the Egoista's purpose.

 

On a trip to Boston's Logan airport in an Audi R8, my girlfriend had to ride with her luggage because it wouldn't all fit up front.

What I'd have given to drive her in Volkswagen's Design Vision GTI, a 503-horsepower, all-wheel-drive Golf with an actual boot. It's exactly what Tony Stark would drive to Home Depot on his off days.

This week at Worthersee, the world's largest gathering of GTI fans held in a little Austrian village, Volkswagen debuted this lowered, sliced-up concept that will never see production. Like the hot-rod R32 that graced VW's U.S. showrooms for just two model years (2004 and 2008), the Design Vision GTI has a V6 engine, only it's packed with twin turbochargers. All-wheel drive from the most-powerful production Golf, the top-of-the-line, 256-horsepower Golf R, and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission off the standard 200-horsepower GTI promise 0 to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 186 mph.

As for luggage space, the Design Vision GTI wouldn't serve better for airport duty, given the two thick crossmembers replacing the rear seats. It's a necessary sacrifice for added stiffness and handling. 

Bentley is releasing limited-edition trims of its already bespoke Continental and Mulsanne models.

The cars, available only in North America, are inspired by the company's winning drivers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, arguably the toughest and most famous automotive endurance race in the world.

Bentley is offering six unique color combinations and interior touches to honor six of its past drivers. Only 288 cars will be made – 48 for each of the six Le Mans models.

 

That number is sort of random. Bentley said that while it wanted to build just 24 of each, to commemorate the race's 24 hours, that wouldn’t have been enough for every Bentley dealer in North America to receive one of each. They’ve all been ordered in advance, which means you can pick yours up this summer.

 

Bringing home an electric car requires some rewiring -- and spending upwards of $1,000 on a charging station and an electrician to install it.

But Bosch, a huge automotive supplier, is introducing its own branded home charger for $449.

It's similar to the 15-amp $490 Voltec charger it supplies for General Motors, currently the cheapest such unit on sale, although only Chevrolet Volt owners with valid VINs can order one.

The Bosch charger, called the Power Max, will be available starting in June to all EV owners looking for cheap, 240-volt charging. This price is for the 16-amp version and will likely entice lower-budget EV buyers and those without 30-amp service in the garage.