Former Dodge Cargo Van Now the 2012 Ram C/V Cargo Van

Ram unveiled its new 2012 C/V cargo van at the 2011 NTEA Work Truck Show today, and PickupTrucks.com’s Mike Levine was there, where he also caught up with these other developments.

The Ram cargo van should look familiar; it’s the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan with modifications to the inside and the suspension.

The commercial van features sliding rear doors and metal panels on the rear windows instead of glass, though glass is available.The second- and third-row seats have been replaced with a rugged aluminum flat load floor that can have optional Stow ’n Go bins underneath it. The van features the new 283-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 that's standard on the updated Grand Caravan.

The suspension has been retuned for heavy-duty loads and maximum hauling capability. The van can tow 3,600 pounds.

No pricing has been announced, but the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan C/V starts at $21,800. Ram also might add another commercial van to its fleet, derived from either the Fiat Ducato or Fiat Doblo vehicles, according to Levine. There are no official mileage estimates, but Ram execs say the C/V should be able to go 500 miles with its 20-gallon gas tank.

For more information, go to PickupTrucks.com.

First Look: 2012 Ram C/V Cargo Van (PickupTrucks.com)

Chrysler Incentives Push Hemi V-8, Leasing In February

Chrysler has added a few cash-back incentives to its new 2011 model lineup, including more cash on the hood for high-output V-8 Ram trucks. More importantly, this time around Chrysler is offering some attractive lease deals. However, most of the cash incentives on the 2010 models are gone with the lone exception of the 2010 Dodge Challenger, which has $2,000 cash back.

The 2011 Dodge Nitro gets another $500 tacked onto its cash-back plan, which now totals $3,000. There’s another $1,000 added on the Caliber, so buyers can get up to $2,500 cash back on that model. Most of the redesigned models like the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango and the Chrysler minivans don’t have any cash incentives, but they do have fairly attractive financing deals.

If you want to get a better deal on one of Chrysler’s newer models, there are lease deals to be had such as $199 a month for the Dodge Avenger or Chrysler 200 or $359 a month for the new 2011 Dodge Charger R/T.

Most of the incentives below expire Feb. 28.

Ram 1500 "Adventurer" Sets Sights on First-time, Young Car Shoppers

We haven’t seen too many significant developments from the Ram truck brand, as it pertains to the retail market, since it broke off from Dodge. That’s until we heard about the new, yet-unnamed Ram model unveiled today.

The new Ram 1500, codenamed “Adventurer,” will focus on the sport truck enthusiast market, offering something for young or first-time car shoppers, according to PickupTrucks.com.

The light-duty truck will come equipped with fog lamps, 20-inch aluminum wheels, air conditioning, automatic headlamps and a standard 390-horsepower Hemi V-8 mated to an automatic transmission. Since this model is more about looks than actual utility, body-colored bumpers and a grille with honeycomb inserts come standard, too.

The model comes in regular cab and short-bed body styles, with either 4X2 or 4X4 drivetrains. Models will start at $22,855, excluding $975 for destination, making it one of the most affordable pickups with a V-8 in the market. This coincides with a worker-friendly V-8-equipped Ram 1500, called the Tradesman, which debuted Monday with a similar price. The Adventurer will go on sale in the second quarter of 2011.

To learn more, check out PickupTrucks.com.

New Ram 1500 "Adventurer" Aimed at Sport Truck Enthusiasts Is Coming (PickupTrucks.com)

Caption This: What Are You Looking At?

Sometimes when we sit down to edit photographs — namely staff photographer Ian Merritt does — we notice something we didn’t catch at the time.

That’s the case with this photo of Ram’s new diesel heavy-duty truck. The talk at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show is all about the engine, which is sprawled out in this photo, but this onlooker seems interested in something off-camera in the other direction.

Give us your best photo caption in the comment section below.

Dodge, Chrysler Get Smartphone Apps

The new frontier in automotive gadgetry is smartphone integration. Over the past two years, we’ve moved beyond the relatively simple cell phone contact lists and iPod playlists to applications that can control a car. GM’s iPhone and android apps let you unlock your car, find a parking spot and check your oil levels, and Ford lets you control Pandora and Stitcher Smart Radio from your cell phone.

Don’t expect the same sort of functionality from Chrysler’s just-announced app, but it could come in handy, especially on the road. It’s probably even more helpful now that Chrysler has ditched owner’s manuals for DVDs and short user guides.

Rocket Versus Pickup?

PickupTrucks.com asked that age-old question: Which would win — a heavy-duty pickup truck or a gigantic rocket? Yes, a rocket as in, "Space, the final frontier," "Make it so," and all that.
 
Well, if zero-to-60 times are your thing, you’re going to be a bit blown away by at least one number in the superb infographic PickupTrucks.com designed to compare the two. After checking it out below, make sure to head over to the full story about the matchup and the largest rocket ever to be launched from the West Coast.

New 2011 Chrysler Models Get Incentives

It’s a fresh start for Chrysler in 2011, according to CEO Sergio Marchionne. The company has shown off — and started to sell — 14 new or refreshed models, many of which have reduced prices or more content for the same price compared with their predecessors. At least for January, the new metal means Chrysler’s reliance on big incentives has somewhat diminished, but there are some deals even on 2011 models.

Most of the big cash-back incentives for the 2010 models are pretty much gone now. So if you were still angling for the big $4,500 cash-back deal on the 2010 Jeep Liberty or Grand Cherokee, you’re out of luck. But there’s still $3,000 on the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and $1,500 cash back on the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country. Both minivans were significantly upgraded for 2011.

Recall Alert: 2010-11 Ram Heavy Duty Trucks

Chrysler is recalling 76,122 Ram 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty trucks from the 2010 and 2011 model years over a defective power-steering reservoir cap, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

On the recalled trucks, which were built between March 2009 and October 2010 and are powered by the available Cummins diesel engine, excessive vent pressure in the reservoir cap could lead to a brake pedal that’s slow to return. As a result, the brake lights may remain lit longer, increasing the risk of a crash. The affected vehicles are equipped with a diesel engine and Hydroboost brake system, which uses power-steering pressure for brake assist.

Chrysler will notify owners in February 2011, and dealers will replace the reservoir cap for free. For more info, owners can call Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

Chrysler Adds Cash Back to Slow Sellers for December

For December, Chrysler is extending most incentives and adding a few new ones to entice shoppers.

New additions include an Owner Loyalty cash-back program for the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country and 2010 Grand Caravan. Each minivan is eligible for 0% financing for 72 months or up to $2,000 cash back. The program is also open to owners of minivans from competing brands. If you’re looking at these two vans, keep in mind that they've been extensively refreshed for the 2011 model year. The 2011 Chrysler minivans are already in production and should reach dealerships soon.

The 2011 Dodge Caliber gets an extra $1,000 cash back for the month, now up to $2,000, as well as 0% financing for 36 months.

The Dodge Challenger gets an additional $1,500 cash-back offer for consumers who buy the 2010 with a manual transmission. When exploring this option, remember that the Challenger gets a new V-6 for 2011.

The 2011 Jeep Liberty, which received a few updates, has increased its cash-back offer by $1,500 in December, now up to $2,500 cash back. The new 2011 Jeep Patriot also gets a new $500 lease bonus cash offer for the month.

The Ram brand continues its Engine Bonus Cash, which offers a cash-back incentive of $500 to $1,000 depending on powertrain, though most of the additional bonus cash for the truck brand has been dropped for December.

For more details, continue reading below:

NHTSA Tests First Pickups Under New Rating System

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday released its first set of crash-test results for pickup trucks under the agency’s revised five-star New Car Assessment Program, which we detailed last month.

The four trucks tested were the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500, 2011 Ram 1500 and 2011 Toyota Tacoma.

Of that group, the Silverado and Sierra scored the best, receiving four stars for the regular cab, extended cab and crew-cab configurations. The results also include a tested Silverado Hybrid model. The Silverado and Sierra received five stars in the new “pole test,” which simulates a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side.