Chrysler Announces Year-End Incentives

Kicking off today, Chrysler has announced its “Year-end Wrap-up” incentives on 2010 models for all four of its brands. Customers can choose from a few different options depending on which brand of vehicle they are buying. The deals will be offered now until Jan. 4, 2010.

Incentives for Chrysler vehicles include the choices of 0% financing for up to 60 months, consumer cash of up to $3,000, free all-wheel drive for the Chrysler 300, a free DVD entertainment system for the Town & Country minivan and an “attractive” financing rates coupled with a free service program for three years/36,000 miles.

Jeep customers can choose between 0% financing for up to 60 months, consumer cash of up to $4,000, or the same attractive financing rates and free service program for three years/36,000 miles.

Select Dodge vehicles will come with 0% financing for 60 months, consumer cash of up to $2,500 or free all-wheel drive on the Dodge Charger.

Finally, customers looking at the new Ram Truck brand will have the choice of a few combinations of incentives, including 0% financing for up to 48 months, 2.9% financing for 60 months or up to $2,500 of consumer cash. Ram will also offer 0% financing for up to 72 months or $5,500 consumer cash on most 2009 Dodge Ram trucks.

IIHS Says Several Pickups Don't Meet Expectations

While you might envision large pickup trucks as pretty safe vehicles to be inside during a bad accident, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has news for you: The new Dodge Ram, Nissan Titan and Chevy Silverado all performed below expectations when IIHS tested four-door versions for side impacts.

Both with and without optional side airbags, the Chevy Silverado 1500 got a Poor rating, even though the Silverado got a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Director of media relations Russ Rader told Autoblog that this was due to different testing methods; IIHS simulates the impact of a large truck or SUV with a taller barrier that impacts the more vulnerable parts of the door.

The Titan also received a Poor mark for side impacts, but increased that rating to Marginal with optional side airbags. The Ram, which has standard side airbags, managed a Marginal rating as well.

In case you’re wondering, IIHS really doesn't have it in for large pickups: The new 2009 Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra both were chosen as Top Safety Picks.

2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty at 2009 Chicago Auto Show

• Competes with: Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado
• Looks like: A bigger version of the redesigned Ram 1500
• Drivetrain: 383-hp, 6.7-liter diesel
• Hits dealerships: Late 2009

Chrysler picked the traditionally truck-oriented Chicago auto show to debut its new lineup of heavy-duty Dodge trucks. These behemoths are used mostly for extreme towing duties for business (trailers) and leisure (boats).

We realize most of our readers might not want to read everything there is to know about the new Dodge heavy-duty line, and we also know where those who do can read everything there is to know about them.

For full coverage, check out PickupTrucks.com.

Recall Alert: 2008-09 Dodge Ram Heavy-Duty Trucks

Chrysler has issued a recall for 32,865 Dodge Ram 2500, 3500 and 3500 Chassis Cab pickup trucks for the 2008-09 model years. The issue involves the Powers and Sons steering linkage, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The steering linkage drag link inner tie rod may fracture, which could result in a sudden loss of control over steering and increase the risk of a crash.

Dodge dealers will replace the steering linkage drag link inner tie rod end assembly and inspect the steering linkage damper bracket, all free of charge. The recall is Chrysler recall number H36.

For more information, contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 108,429 Dodge Ram Pickups

Chrysler has issued a recall for 108,429 2007-08 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall comes after reports that 14 models with the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engines caught fire due to noise insulation touching the engine's exhaust-gas recirculation cooler.

EGR systems recirculate harmful pollutants back into the engine at a lower temperature in diesel models. The problem is not with the system itself, but with the sagging insulation, which has come into contact with the hot EGR system.

Dealers will install a bracket in the engine compartment to keep the insulation in place and out of reach of the EGR system. Owners can contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or the NHTSA hotline at 888-327-4236.

Dodge Announces 2009 Ram Pricing

Pricing for the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram was released today. The full range of prices for a pickup truck can be a little unwieldy, but fortunately our friends at PickupTrucks.com have the full breakdown, from the $22,170 work-grade regular cab 4x2 V-6 to the $44,140 luxury-level crew cab 4x4 V-8 — and everything in between.

Chrysler Announces Pricing for All-New 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 (PickupTrucks.com)
More Dodge Ram News (KickingTires)

2009 Dodge Ram Gets Even More Power, Better Efficiency

We’re not sure why we need more power in our pickup trucks these days, but Chrysler designed and built the new 2009 Ram before the current gas crunch, so it makes some sense that it now sports a whopping 390 hp (it was initially supposed to have 380 hp) and 404 pounds-feet of torque. This is for 5.7-liter-Hemi-equipped Rams. Those Hemi-powered babies can get to 60 mph in under 6 seconds. However, towing is still rated at 9,100 pounds, far below the Tundra’s 10,800 and the 2009 F-150’s 11,300 pounds.

PickupTrucks.com has the full story on the 2009 Ram’s power figures, and goes into more detail about its 4% better fuel efficiency.

Dodge Announces Updated Powertrain Figures for 2009 Ram 1500 (PickupTrucks.com)

2009 Dodge Ram Will Be More Fuel-Efficient

Dodge execs announced today that the redesigned 2009 Dodge Ram could see up to a 20% improvement in highway gas mileage. The 2008 two-wheel-drive Ram with a 310-hp V-8 got 13/19 mpg city/highway, so that highway number could go as high as 23 mpg.   

That’s a significant bump, as power also increases to 380 hp. So this is a case of getting to have your cake and eat it too. Dodge says most of the mileage improvements are due to the Ram’s aerodynamics, so city mileage will probably remain similar to the 2008 estimate. A streamlined design doesn’t help any at a red light.

The 2009 Ram goes on sale this fall.

Dodge unveils more fuel-efficient 2009 Ram (The Detroit News)

Related
More Dodge Ram News

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.