Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - (Page 29) SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 • 29 New Ram takes a bow Here’s how the new Dodge Ram 1500 compares with a rival, the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado. Figures for both are the 2-door, regular cab, short-wheelbase versions. 2009 DODGE RAM 1500 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Wheelbase Length Width Height Curb weight Base engine Horsepower Torque, lbs.-ft. EPA mpg Base price* *Includes shipping 120.0 in. 209.0 in. 79.4 in. 73.6 in. 4,525 lbs. (4x2) 3.7-liter V-6 210 @ 5,200 rpm 235 @ 4,000 rpm 14 city/20 hwy. $22,170 119.0 in. 205.6 in. 79.9 in. 73.6 in. 4,453 lbs. (4x2) 4.3-liter V-6 195 @ 4,600 rpm 260 @ 2,800 rpm 15 city/20 hwy. $18,045 The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 still looks like a big truck, but its body is more aerodynamic, and it has a richer interior. Dodge smoothes Ram’s rough edges — a little Bradford Wernle bwernle@crain.com SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Since Dodge introduced the Peterbilt-style look to the Ram pickup in 1994, the truck has led the league in macho attitude. With the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, introduced to the media here, Dodge has stirred a large dose of refinement and even — gulp — luxury into the manly Ram cocktail. With an optional new 5.7-liter Hemi; a unique-in-segment five-link, coil-spring rear suspension; and an interior that takes cues from luxury cars, Dodge wants to convince buyers that it offers the truck that best combines the amenities of a comfortable car with the rugged capability expected from their trucks. The basics: Dodge trailed its rivals in joining the fastest-growing end of the pickup segment: the crew cab. Now Dodge will offer one, and brand director Michael Accavitti is confident that Dodge will gain market share as a result. Crew cabs account for half of all pickup sales. Even so, Dodge kept its quad cab. Dodge planners reasoned that truckers who need more bed space might still want a quad cab, while those needing extra room for people would opt for the crew cab. Dodge will offer two- and fourwheel-drive versions of the quad and crew cabs. Regular cab models will be offered in long and short wheelbases. Dodge is especially proud of the interior. It is the first product of Chrysler’s advanced interiors studio, led by Ralph Gilles, the leader of the Ram design team who was named Chrysler chief designer last month. There’s even a heated steering wheel and ventilated seats. Borrowing from its minivan siblings, the Ram will offer under-thefloor storage in the back seat. Cubbyholes abound. Gone is the plastic look of the old instrument cluster. Stitched leather and soft-touch surfaces are now the rule. On the exterior, Dodge kept the bigtruck look of the Ram. But Gilles and his team spent 200 hours in the wind tunnel working to reduce drag. Under the hood, Dodge will offer a new 5.7-liter, 390 hp Hemi V-8 with variable valve timing and a cylinder deactivation system that automatically shuts down four of the eight cylinders once the vehicle reaches cruising speed. A light on the instrument panel comes on when the engine is operating in economy mode. Other engine offerings include a 4.7-liter V-8 and a 3.7-liter V-6. Two Cummins diesels will be offered in the Ram light-duty model next year. Notable features: Dodge thinks it has solved a problem that truckmakers have been struggling with for ages: how to create lockable storage space that doesn’t compromise the truck bed. The optional RamBox consists of two lockable boxes, one on each rail, and a bed divider system that doubles as an extender. The RamBox won’t be available at launch; Dodge is setting its price. What Dodge says: “The harder you work it, the more you’re going to love it,” says Marc Seguin, senior manager of Dodge Truck marketing. What others say: “Instead of trying to outmuscle every other truck on the market, Dodge is hoping that a more refined interior and an improved ride will lure buyers away from Ford, GM and now Toyota,” says Edmunds.com, an industry researcher. Nuts and bolts: The first 2009 Rams are arriving in dealerships this month. The base price starts at $22,170 for the regular cab, including shipping. The first trucks come from Dodge’s truck plant in Warren, Mich., where Dodge will make crew cabs and quad cabs. Standard cabs and crew cabs are made at St. Louis North. The RamBox storage system will be only on crew cabs coming from St. Louis. The St. Louis trucks will arrive in dealerships next month. Compromises and shortcomings: Dodge geared many of the slick features on the new Ram to casual users, and those buyers are the first to desert when fuel prices rise. The hard-core working truckers will decide whether the new Dodge passes the test of time and toughness. Dodge’s competitors will be watching the Ram closely to see how the new rear suspension holds up. Dodge says it has met and exceeded expectations under the most rigorous testing. The skinny: Dodge caught a break in June when Ford Motor Co. delayed the launch of the 2009 F-150 pickup. Dropping gasoline prices also help Dodge. If cash-strapped Chrysler LLC can deliver enough ad dollars to get the Ram message out, Dodge has given itself a head start in the 2009 pickup wars. c http://Edmunds.com http://Edmunds.com http://www.guidepointsystems.com http://www.guidepointsystems.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - September 8, 2008 Chrysler Financial hikes dealer floorplan fees Back in business? Detroit's best bets for cash: Feds, UAW Document fee suits swamp Missouri dealers Honda's family squabble Used truck prices rebound Ford mulls Lincoln compact Toyota delays RAV4 plan Proposed flex-fuel mandate roils industry Chrysler sues consultant over sourcing Cobalt transaction prices are up $775 since April Nissan looks to Mexico for engineering aid To retain truck buyers, Nissan offers more stuff Press: Chrysler is pushing forward on electric cars Leasing falls to 4-year low GM: Currency shift stalled Astra Dealers say they can sell the Republican ticket Industry loans clash with GOP climate Grand Cherokee will get axles from new plant Makers must resist urge to backslide as gas price dips Times are tough outside the U.S., too Chevrolet does tout its small cars Let natural gas power the fuel cell A crash course in collaboration Dodge wouldn't rush the RamBox Plastics are losing cost advantage Suppliers expect to benefit from tougher CO2 rules 'People just want Ford to go' For now, Honda will skip electric vehicles Toyota, Subaru enter race to market electric vehicles China exports squeezed Study: 15% of wrecked autos got washed titles Mercedes megadealer is bullish on luxury Sheehy: 'We are not in business for nostalgia' Automakers use driving schools as marketing tools Dodge smoothes Ram's rough edges â a little Honda touts leasing while others fall back Alysha Webb Study: Nonprime car loans get longer Dealer CPA group picks leader BMW, Edmunds team up on loan site for consumers Va. Honda dealership loses protest bid Judge throws out deceptive-ads lawsuit against Toyota in Arkansas Mo. dealership's protest gets go-ahead Pa. court throws out suit against Ford, dealership Dealers Ross' interiors company pushes into China, India More than a game Nissan's Tavares: Green conference keynoter Quality group seeks to set consulting standards Personnel Dana to shift HQ by Sept. '09 Tenneco to supply Volvo XC60 BMW gets Siemens conveyors IAC to cut 280 jobs in Sweden Polytec to acquire Peguform Metaldyne to sell Italy operation Federal-Mogul to build India plant Beck, Delphi make pact TRW to supply Chinese sedan Auto profits rise in Russia Black Book expands data Hayes Lemmerz cuts losses Ford: Buyouts are a tough sell GM's party plans include production Volt An ice-cold August for auto sales Big drop in Aug. output Lights, camera . . . Volt? In case the roads get too quiet . . . The Insight rides again Lagonda brand will be back Milwaukee road trip: No old pals, but 1 new lesson Choice of Odell seen as Ford vote of confidence in Volvo Dana sort of wins an award Automotive News - September 8, 2008 Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - (Page Introducti) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Detroit's best bets for cash: Feds, UAW (Page 1) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Detroit's best bets for cash: Feds, UAW (Page 2) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Toyota delays RAV4 plan (Page 3) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Cobalt transaction prices are up $775 since April (Page 4) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Cobalt transaction prices are up $775 since April (Page 5) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - GM: Currency shift stalled Astra (Page 6) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - GM: Currency shift stalled Astra (Page 7) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Grand Cherokee will get axles from new plant (Page 8) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Grand Cherokee will get axles from new plant (Page 9) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Grand Cherokee will get axles from new plant (Page 10) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Grand Cherokee will get axles from new plant (Page 11) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Let natural gas power the fuel cell (Page 12) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Let natural gas power the fuel cell (Page 13) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Plastics are losing cost advantage (Page 14) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Plastics are losing cost advantage (Page 15) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Suppliers expect to benefit from tougher CO2 rules (Page 16) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - 'People just want Ford to go' (Page 16A) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Toyota, Subaru enter race to market electric vehicles (Page 16B) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Toyota, Subaru enter race to market electric vehicles (Page 16C) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Toyota, Subaru enter race to market electric vehicles (Page 16D) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - For now, Honda will skip electric vehicles (Page 17) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - For now, Honda will skip electric vehicles (Page 18) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - For now, Honda will skip electric vehicles (Page 19) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Study: 15% of wrecked autos got washed titles (Page 20) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Study: 15% of wrecked autos got washed titles (Page 21) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Mercedes megadealer is bullish on luxury (Page 22) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Mercedes megadealer is bullish on luxury (Page 23) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Sheehy: 'We are not in business for nostalgia' (Page 24) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Sheehy: 'We are not in business for nostalgia' (Page 25) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Sheehy: 'We are not in business for nostalgia' (Page 26) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Sheehy: 'We are not in business for nostalgia' (Page 27) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Automakers use driving schools as marketing tools (Page 28) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Dodge smoothes Ram's rough edges â a little (Page 29) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - BMW, Edmunds team up on loan site for consumers (Page 30) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - BMW, Edmunds team up on loan site for consumers (Page 31) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Judge throws out deceptive-ads lawsuit against Toyota in Arkansas (Page 32) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Pa. court throws out suit against Ford, dealership (Page 33) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Dealers (Page 34) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - More than a game (Page 35) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Personnel (Page 36) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - TRW to supply Chinese sedan (Page 37) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - TRW to supply Chinese sedan (Page 38) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Auto profits rise in Russia (Page 39) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Auto profits rise in Russia (Page 40) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Auto profits rise in Russia (Page 41) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Auto profits rise in Russia (Page 42) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Auto profits rise in Russia (Page 43) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Auto profits rise in Russia (Page 44) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - GM's party plans include production Volt (Page 45) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - GM's party plans include production Volt (Page 46) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - An ice-cold August for auto sales (Page 47) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - An ice-cold August for auto sales (Page 48) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Big drop in Aug. output (Page 49) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Dana sort of wins an award (Page 50) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Dana sort of wins an award (Page 51) Automotive News - September 8, 2008 - Dana sort of wins an award (Page 52)
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.