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CNET announces nominees for Tech Car of the Year

About this time last year, Cadillac's CTS added CNET's Tech Car of the Year to its increasingly crowded trophy case. Its entertainment system's recording capability was one of the things that impressed us, and, presumably, the voters. This year, CNET asks its readers to choose between three imports and two domestics, none of which are Cadillacs.

BMW's M3 Convertible DCT gets a spot on the ballot with its dual-clutch transmission. We wonder if the car's recent recall for transmission problems will affect its standing. The Nissan GT-R shows up again, as you might expect with its cabin full of g-whiz electronics, from the in-dash performance computer to the quick-loading navigation. Lincoln makes the list for its THX-equipped MKS and Infiniti's EX35 Journey gets recognized for its lane-departure warning system and park-assist cameras.
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posted : 12/22/2008 @7:31:33 PM
2009 Dodge Ram earns 5 stars for crash safety

The 2009 Dodge Ram was all aces in the latest round of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash testing, with the big D-wagon achieving five stars in both driver and passenger front crash ratings. The Dodge Ram follows the 2009 F-150 and Chevy Silverado as the only pickup trucks to score five stars for both the driver and passenger in a front end crash. NHTSA determines crash-worthiness by driving cars and trucks into an immovable wall at 35 mph. A five star rating means that there's a 10% or less chance of serious injury. Our favorite part of any new crash test score is the accompanying video footage, and you can view Ram vs. Wall after the jump. The wall wins, but the Ram puts up a five-star fight.
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posted : 12/22/2008 @2:28:12 PM
Dueling press releases: Which is the Truck of Texas? F-150 or Ram

Yesterday we told you that the new Ford F-150 was selected by the Texas Auto Writers Association as the Truck of Texas. However, it turned out there were two seemingly contradictory press releases on the Ford and Chrysler web sites both laying claim to the title. As always, the devil is in the details. Apparently, they do things different in Texas. At the annual TAWA Truck Rodeo they pick winners in a dozen different categories for pickups, SUVs and CUVs. They do something similar in dog shows where they select the best of each breed. However, in dog shows they bring out the best of each breed and select a best in show. You might think that TAWA would look at their category winners and select a best of overall vehicle to be deemed the "Truck of Texas." Not quite. We consulted universally acknowledged pickup truck expert Mike Levine for a little information about what goes on in Texas. Apparently, being selected the best in category is not a prerequisite for being the best overall truck in Texas. Mike likened it to being selected as best album at the Grammy's versus the best rock album. It seems like if the F-150 is the best overall truck, but in fact, the Ram was selected as the best pickup. So there.
posted : 10/21/2008 @8:04:06 PM
'09 Ford F-150 wins Truck of Texas award

Ford has managed to snag an important early victory over the equally-new Dodge Ram by being crowned the 2009 Truck of Texas over the weekend. Both the Dodge Ram and Ford F-150 are nearly all new for '09 and are competing against stiff competition from the relatively new Chevy Silverado and Toyota Tundra for a parking spot in Texan garages. Some 15% of full-size trucks sold in the United States end up in Texas and the sales crown usually goes to the Truck of Texas award winner. The Blue Oval also managed to snag the best truck-line award, the best SUV of Texas and the best CUV of Texas with its Expedition King Ranch and new Flex, respectively. Mopar fans will be happy to know that Dodge didn't leave the Lone Star state empty handed. We're not sure how given that the F-150 is also a full-size truck and took the top trophy overal, but the new '09 Ram managed to win the full-sized Truck of Texas award and its optional RamBox was named Outstanding Truck Feature.
posted : 10/21/2008 @7:47:06 PM
SEMA Preview: MOPAR ready to Ram Las Vegas with four concept trucks

In addition to the Dodge Challenger SRT10 Concept, the Chrysler Group will also be bringing four Ram truck concepts to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas early next month, all tuned by its in-house Mopar Underground division. The first is the bright yellow Dodge Ram TRXtreme, which takes a quad-cab Ram with the TRX off-road package and adds an extra 4.5 inches of ground clearance, 20-inch Mopar wheels wearing BFG 73X12.50 series tires, fender flares, a tube step and box rail. The steel hood features cooling louvers and the grille is extra large, so the Ram's V8 should have no problem expelling excess heat while being worked.
posted : 10/16/2008 @4:43:29 PM
When is a Ram not a Dodge? When it's a Pink Jeep

To anyone who's spent any time in the vast desert stretches of the southwestern United States, lifted and stretched Pink Jeeps are likely a familiar sight. The company has been around for nearly 50 years taking passengers across very rough stretches of land where pavement is but a distant memory. Ask anybody what it's like to ride for a few hours in a highly-modified Jeep Wrangler and you could hear a few shocking expletives. So, when Pink Jeep Tours needed another vehicle that was capable of moving lots of people and gear over great distances, a Jeep didn't quite seem to fit. So, how do you out-Jeep a Jeep? You don't, but you can always try a Dodge Ram 3500 with its 6.7-liter Cummins turbo-diesel engine. To make it resemble one of its Jeeps, Pink Jeeps hired Prefix Corporation to add a classic seven-slot grille -- completely approved and licensed by Chrysler no less -- along with the requisite Pepto-like hue. A lift-kit, air suspension, 35-inch tires and a luxurious (by Wrangler standards anyway) interior with reclining leather captains chairs, 15-inch LCD screens with DVD players, and foam insulated side walls to keep the cool air inside completed the transformation. Jeep purists need not worry, there's still no better way to explore the outdoors than in an open-air Wrangler, but when a bit more comfort is needed, you can always slap a slotted-grille on a Ram.
posted : 10/3/2008 @7:01:36 PM
Dodge Ram Lone Star Edition debuts at Texas State Fair

Cowboys and truck-lovers unite for the Texas State Fair every year around this time. It's where big-time truckmakers often release special editions of their pickups just for the Texas market, again underscoring just how important the Lone Star State is for sales. So it is this year with the 2009 Dodge Ram Lone Star edition. Starting life down the assembly line as a Ram Crew 1500 SLT in either two- or four-wheel drive, various chrome accents, 20-inch wheels (either painted or chromed) and big 4-inch dual exhausts integrated into the rear bumper have been added. Inside, a lighting group is standard equipment along with an up-level leather steering wheel. Lest those following you don't know what or where you're driving, a Lone Star badge is affixed to the tailgate left of the huge Ram-head logo. Very subtle. The good news is that Texans won't be charged an arm and a leg for the Lone Star edition, as it adds just $1,500 to the price of a HEMI-equipped Ram, a big savings over the $3,560 it would cost to replicate otherwise. If all of this is enough to make you want one, and you live in Texas, expect the Lone Star to reach your favorite dealer sometime next month.
posted : 10/3/2008 @6:51:11 PM
2009 Dodge Ram launches with incentives, 'RamBox' costs $1,895

In another obvious sign of the times, Dodge is launching its brand new and totally redesigned 2009 Ram half-ton pickup truck with incentives right out of the gate. Purchasers who only need a regular cab will get $500 off the Ram's base price of $22,170 before options while those looking to get a quad cab or crew cab will get double that amount off their new truck. We're sure that potential buyers won't be complaining, but it's a far cry from the 40% savings being offered on '08 Rams. We verified these numbers by using Dodge's online configuration tool, which does not yet allow you to order up the innovative RamBox option. That lockable storage unit is built right into the bed rail of the pickup and will reportedly run you $1,850. That seems pretty reasonable considering that Dodge is the only brand offering this type of storage solution. Still not sold? Did you know that a RamBox is nearly big enough to fit an adult man? Pretty cool, that. Expect to see the RamBox option come online in early November.
posted : 10/2/2008 @3:45:05 PM
SEMA Preview: Mopar bringing Dodge Ram R/T concept

With gas prices still leaving people numb, the Dodge Ram R/T probably won't get the reception Chrysler wants – but that doesn't mean the automaker won't give it some good car show loving: Mopar is bringing a 'roided up version of the truck to this year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The blue bruiser gets the 5.7-liter HEMI with 390 horsepower, good for enough giddy up to shoot to the truck to 60 mph in under six seconds. The body gets more of the Mr. Olympia treatment: a bulging hood with dual intakes over a deep air dam, a bed cover with a spoiler, a lowered suspension over 22-inch wheels for that "Don't mess!" aggression, and obligatory racing stripes. We like the sound of all that. Come November 4, let the posedown begin.
posted : 9/23/2008 @10:44:48 PM
2010 Dodge Ram to use 5.0L diesel V8 from Cummins?

Those intrepid sleuths over at PickupTrucks.com have noticed an underhood sticker that may offer an early glimpse into the upcoming small-displacement diesel engine for the 2010 Dodge Ram. We've really got to hand it to Mike Levine and his crew for this one. You've really got to be dedicated to check every little sticker and plaque on a new car to notice that the automaker has inadvertently listed the displacement for a future engine on the air conditioner's R-134a sticker. Fortunately, their every nook-and-cranny nitpicking shows that the Dodge will likely offer a 5.0-liter turbodiesel V8 engine from its long-standing diesel engine partner, Cummins, in the 2010 Ram. This new powerplant will join the 4.4-liter diesel from Ford and the 4.5-liter oil-burner from General Motors in the light-duty diesel truck market. These new diesels will offer more power than their gasoline-fed siblings along with 25-percent better fuel economy. Truck-makers hope they'll spark a pickup revival of sorts, and we have high hopes for them as well. Let the battle begin!
posted : 9/23/2008 @10:27:55 PM
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