Chrysler, Nissan Team Up on Trucks, Small Cars

Chrysler builds a good truck — the Ram. Nissan builds a good small car — the Versa. The two companies are now acknowledging their own strengths and tapping the other’s to boost their respective lineups.

In an agreement announced yesterday, Chrysler will build a full-size pickup for Nissan at its Mexico assembly plant. The resulting Nissan truck will replace the current Titan and go into production in 2011.

In exchange, Nissan will build an all-new (“all-new” meaning “not based on the current Versa”) fuel-efficient small car that is based on a “unique Chrysler concept.” It will be sold in North America and will hit the streets in 2010. Just because the agreement says “Chrysler” does not mean the small car will be branded a Chrysler; it could be a Dodge or Jeep.

Currently, Chrysler is still working with Chinese automaker Chery on a global small car. There’s no word on how the Nissan agreement may impact that deal or if the two models will overlap. Check out a number of recent Chrysler small car concepts below and let us know which one you’d like to see make it into production.

Ram Buyers Want Hemi and Better Mileage: Get It for 2009

The No. 1 complaint among owners of full-size pickup trucks is bad fuel economy, said Joe Veltri, director of product marketing for Dodge.

"We tell them we can fix that so they get better mileage, but that they'll lose some performance when we do, and then they all say, 'No, don't do that,'" he said.

At a showing of the redesigned 2009 Dodge Ram pickup that's coming this fall, Veltri said that while all owners want better mileage, 62% of Ram buyers opt for the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine in their pickup, and another 3% take the 4.7-liter V-8. That means 65% of all buyers go for a V-8 instead of a V-6.

The 5.7-liter Hemi in the 2009 Ram will be tweaked to deliver 380 hp and 404 pounds-feet of torque this fall, up from 345 hp and 375 pounds-feet in the 2008 model.

All that said, though, thanks to different valve timing, dual exhausts, a higher compression ratio and the engine's ability to shut off four cylinders when they're not needed, the '09 Ram will get 5% better gas mileage than the '08, Veltri said. The outgoing, 2008 model is rated at 13/17 mpg city/highway with 2WD and 12/16 with 4WD.

Auto Show Head-to-Head: 2009 Dodge Ram vs. Ford F-150

The 2008 Detroit auto show was the venue for two important redesigned-pickup-truck debuts: the 2009 Ford F-150 and the 2009 Dodge Ram. They are two of the best-selling vehicles in the country, and we've taken a look at what the new trucks have to offer, category by category.

Exterior
Both the Ram and F-150 sport tougher new looks — not that either really needed them. The F-150's hood is taller than before, and it's now offered with even more distinctive grille designs that help separate the various trims. There are also new headlights, and all of these elements give the F-150 a look that's more similar to its Super Duty big brothers.

The Ram also has new headlights and a new take on its trademark grille. Dodge has given the Ram's grille a forward lean for 2009 that's a radical styling element for a pickup, even though it's appeared on sporty cars before. The look is traditional yet stylistically interesting, and that's what gives the Dodge the edge in this category.
Advantage: Ram

F-150, Ram Get Much-Needed Safety Features

Brawny V-8s and inventive storage features aren’t the only improvements for two of Detroit’s best-selling pickups. When the redesigned Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram hit dealerships this fall, some important safety features will also be standard — namely, electronic stability systems to counteract skids and side curtain airbags to protect occupants in a collision.

The extra features mark a “huge development” for pickup trucks, said Russ Rader, spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Pickups have generally trailed the market in safety features, with just 8 percent offering standard stability systems in 2007, according to IIHS. That same year, 58 percent of cars and 87 percent of SUVs were equipped with those systems standard. Worse yet, head- and chest-protecting side airbags were standard on just 7 percent of pickups in 2007, Rader said.

The outgoing Ram offered stability control and side airbags as options, but the F-150 – America’s best-selling vehicle — had neither. Despite the bravado-fueled perception that occupants in pickups are safer in crashes, Rader said they may actually need these features more than those riding in cars.

2008 Detroit Auto Show Video: 2009 Dodge Ram

Definitely the biggest news-generator from Detroit was the new Dodge Ram full-size pickup. The new model was changed quite a bit, from its rear suspension and upgraded interior to a cool storage box built right into the body of the truck. Cars.com’s Mike Hanley walks us through it all in this video.

Up Close: 2009 Dodge Ram

The current Ram is one of the more aggressively styled pickups on the market, and the redesigned 2009 model looks even tougher, thanks to its new grille. The dual tailpipes poking out from beneath the rear bumper are an unusual styling element for the truck segment, but Dodge manages to pull it off.

2008 Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Dodge Ram

• Competes with: Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra
• Looks like: Last year's Ram after bumping into the back of a semi-trailer
• Drivetrain: 210-hp, 3.7-liter V-6, 310-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 or 380-hp, 5.7-liter V-8 with six-speed manual or four-speed automatic (V-6) or five-speed automatic (V-8); rear- or four-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Fall 2008

The Ram full-size pickup truck is the best-selling model in Dodge's lineup, and the truck has been redesigned for 2009. It has new styling inside and out, more standard safety features, a new crew cab body style and newly available features, like a RamBox storage system for the crew cab truck that consists of lockable bins built into the sides of the cargo box.

The biggest styling difference between the 2009 Ram and the previous model is up front, where the new truck has a forward-swept crosshair grille that replaces its predecessor's upright design. New headlights flank the grille, and the truck's hood is made of aluminum. Dodge says the Ram logo on the tailgate is 250% larger than before, and it is indeed one big badge. Three cargo box sizes are offered, and 17- or 20-inch wheels are available.

In a change from the previous Ram, the truck's rear suspension now features coil springs instead of leaf springs. Dodge says the design improves the truck's road manners and weighs less than a traditional setup. The truck's maximum towing capacity remains the same as last year at 9,100 pounds when properly equipped, which is less than a Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150 or Toyota Tundra can pull, all of which have maximum towing capacities of more than 10,000 pounds.

The new crew cab body style joins the regular cab and Quad Cab trucks (the Quad Cab's cabin is kind of like a three-fourths-scale crew cab's). The new cabin is an improvement, and the interior can get pretty luxurious if you step up to a higher trim level, like the Laramie, which has a two-tone dashboard with stitching and chrome trim. The Ram comes standard with antilock brakes, side curtain airbags and an electronic stability system. Sirius Backseat TV and a DVD-based entertainment system are available. More photos below.

Recall Alert: 2001-2002 Dodge Durango, Dakota, Ram

More than 576,000 Dodge trucks, SUVs and vans are being recalled because of a faulty gearshift that could shift out of park without the key in the ignition. This is a serious defect because of the chance of children playing in parked cars. 

Vehicles included in the recall are all 2001- and 2002-model-year Dodge Durango SUVs, Dakota pickups, Dodge Ram vans and 2002-model-year Dodge Ram pickups.

The problem stems from a part that can wear out over time. Nine injuries have been reported. The company instructs owners to always use the parking brake and, obviously, to follow the recall notice for instructions on getting the vehicles serviced and fixed. 

Dodge Trucks Recalled (AP)

Truck Outlook Gloomy, Tied to Housing Market

Pickup trucks are the lifeblood of the auto industry, contributing an estimated $5,000 to $15,000 to automakers’ coffers for each one sold.

But trucks are in need of a transfusion, and the outlook isn't very bright this year or next.

People staying put in their home — fearful of moving up in a dismal market — might have money to spend on a new car. But those who build homes can't afford to buy new trucks when there are no homes being built. 

General Motors has a 150-day supply of unsold Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups in stock, more than twice the normal 60-day supply. Dodge has a 120-day supply of unsold Rams, while Ford is at 91 days of F-Series pickups.

Full-Size Trucks Get Full-Size Discounts

Trucks like the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra often hover near the top of Cars.com's Top 10 incentives list, thanks to reasonable prices and large cash-back bonuses. This month, though, the Silverado and Sierra are joined by a host of other trucks offering thousands of dollars in customer cash back.

Toyota is offering region-specific discounts on its popular Tundra model, and we've seen as much as $4,000 cash back on the 2007 Tundra and $1,500 on its 2008 brethren. (Search for Toyota's offers in your area here by entering your zip code under "Find Local Specials.") Nissan has joined the party, too, with up to $4,500 back — plus a $500 holiday bonus available until Dec. 3 — on the 2008 Titan. Mitsubishi's offering $4,500 cash back on the 2007 Raider; Dodge is offering $4,500 on the 2008 Ram; Ford is giving up to $2,500 on the 2007 Ranger, up to $4,500 on the 2007 F-150 and $2,000 on the 2008 F-150 and, well, you get the picture. If you're in the market for a truck, now is the time to seize that long-awaited discount. Who says you never get anything for Christmas?

Check out Cars.com's full list of incentives here.

Best-Selling Cars of 2006

A few readers recently asked when someone would release the list of last-year’s best-selling cars. The answer, it seems, is now. MSN Autos tracked down the top 10 best-sellers of 2006 using data from Automotive News, and there are few surprises. The Ford F-150 still tops the list, and the Chevy Silverado comes in second despite a 6.7% downturn in overall truck sales last year. The full list including total sales is below.

New 2007 Dodge Ram 2500, 3500 Clean Diesels Coming in March

Dodge — along with the EPA — is calling the new 2007 Ram 2500 and 3500 the cleanest diesel pickups ever, and one can be yours in March if you pony up the $32,750 starting price, plus $900 in destination charges. The diesel beast powering these heavy-duty trucks is a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel that produces 350 hp and 650 pounds-feet of torque, compared to the outgoing model’s 325-hp 5.9-liter with 610 pounds-feet of torque. In the heavy-duty truck game, torque is king, and buyers will also enjoy the addition of a six-speed automatic transmission and a 50% quieter engine. Towing remains the same, though, at 16,350 pounds.

What makes the emissions so clean is a new self-cleaning particulate filter added to the exhaust system. More important for the tinkerers out there, the muffler is separate from the system, so it can be replaced without impacting emissions.

The 5.7-liter V-8 Hemi gasoline engine still remains the base power plant for the lineup and is on sale now, but heavy-duty truck shoppers are increasingly buying diesel, and this is a worthy new entry.