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Dec 24, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post

Auto Sales Surge in November

Major U.S. automakers reported significant sales growth last month, marking the largest gains in over two years and boosting the prospects for strong year-end performance through the holiday season.

United States car manufacturers posted major sales increases in November, with buyers purchasing new vehicles at the fastest rate since the “cash for clunkers” program in August 2009. Lower fuel costs, rising consumer confidence, the need to replacing aging cars and the availability of attractive deals all contributed to the November boost.

“With analysts projecting that December will be even better, the industry is closing the year strong despite continued sluggishness in the nation’s economy,” the New York Times notes. “Consumers and businesses are finding they can no longer put off replacing their vehicles, which are now an average of almost 11 years old, a record.”

According to automotive-industry tracking firm Autodata, U.S. light vehicle sales — including passenger cars and light trucks — rose to 994,721 in November, a 13.9 percent increase over November 2010. Sales totaled 11.5 million units through the first 11 months of the year, 10.4 percent more than in the same period last year.

Moreover, the industry’s annualized selling rate (seasonally adjusted) climbed to 13.63 million vehicles in November, the highest level in more than two years.

The largest gains last month were by Chrysler Group LLC, which last week reported a sales total of 107,172, a 45 percent increase over the same month in 2010 and the sixth consecutive month of sales gains exceeding 20 percent. So far this year, Chrysler has sold 1.23 million vehicles, up 25 percent over the same period last year.

“November was another huge month for the Chrysler Group and our highest year-over-year sales gain of 2011,” Reid Bigland, president and CEO of the Dodge brand and head of Chrysler’s U.S. sales, said in an announcement of the results.

Meanwhile, Ford Motor Co. sold 166,865 vehicles in November, a 13 percent increase over November 2010. Ford’s November U.S. retail sales also increased 20 percent over the prior year, the company’s largest year-over-year gain in nine months. So far this year, Ford has sold 1.94 million units, 11.1 percent more than in the same period in 2010. The company plans to increase vehicle production in the first quarter of 2012 by 3 percent.

“[C]onsumers continue to value fuel economy — no matter what size or kind of vehicle best meets their needs,” Ken Czubay, vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service at Ford, said in a release of the findings. “Most Ford products deliver best-in-class fuel economy and provide customers an opportunity to choose what best works for them — EcoBoost technology or electrified vehicles.”

General Motors Co. last week reported November sales of 180,402 vehicles, up 7 percent from November 2010. Retail sales were up 15 percent year-over-year, while fleet sales fell 14 percent. So far this year, GM has sold 2.27 million vehicles, 14 percent more than during the same period last year.

“We are seeing a broad spectrum of customers return to the market,” Don Johnson, GM’s vice president of U.S. sales operations, said in an announcement. “Truck sales showed a very solid increase, as we expected, but the momentum building behind our most fuel-efficient vehicles was even stronger.”

The strong sales performance among U.S. automakers last month indicates that the automotive industry has rebounded from its recessionary low and the economy as a whole is benefiting from increased consumer demand and spending.

“Excluding the Clunkers spike, it was the best month since before the financial market meltdown in September 2008. Industry experts said buyers appear ready to finally look past the various uncertainties in the general economy and start buying cars once again,” CNN.com reports. “November sales gains were led by domestic automakers, which are in position to all gain market share in the same year for the first time in decades.”

Sales gains weren’t confined to domestic car manufacturers, as Toyota Motor Co., the world’s largest automaker, also posted growth in November, with U.S. sales rising to 137,960 units, a 6.7 percent unadjusted increase over November 2010. So far this year, Toyota has sold 1.47 million vehicles, down 7.5 percent from the same period in 2010.

“A better selection of cars at Toyota showrooms also brought more shoppers back into the market. Many buyers spent the summer waiting for those inventories to improve after the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan squeezed supplies,” the Associated Press reports.

With November sales of 85,182 units in the U.S., Nissan Motor Co. last week reported a 19.4 percent year-over-year increase. Meanwhile, Honda Motor Co. sales fell to 83,925, a 10.1 decrease, largely due to flooding in Thailand that disrupted the company’s North American production rates.

http://news.thomasnet.com/

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Dec 11, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post

Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan Named Top Safety Picks by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –

Pair of minivans latest models from Chrysler Group to receive Top Safety Pick by IIHS
2012 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country top competitors in rollover ratings
Minivans Join Nine Other Chrysler Group models recently named Top Safety Picks
New Chrysler Group models unsurpassed with 11 Top Safety Picks in past year

The newest Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivan models have been named Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2012. In addition to receiving top scores in rollover tests, both minivans achieved Good ratings in the areas of frontal, side and rear crash protection.

Additionally, to be considered, vehicles must have standard electronic stability control systems.

For 2012, both minivans offer more than 40 standard or available safety features. Front seat mounted airbags, three-row side curtain air bags, driver-side knee blocker air bag and all-speed traction control are among the standard safety features.

Both models also include an available SafetyTec group with features including ParkSense rear park assist, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection.

“Safety-conscious parents shopping for a family hauler should be pleased with today’s minivan choices,” said David Zuby, the Institute’s chief research officer.

The 2012 models of Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country received strength–to- weight ratio ratings of 4.51, among the highest of the minivans tested, and above the IIHS requirement of 4.0. Minimum requirements by the government are 1.5.

“With the latest addition of Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country, Chrysler Group has 11 vehicles that have been named Top Safety Pick since we began our unprecedented launch of new vehicles a year ago and is unsurpassed,” said Scott Kunselman, senior vice president – engineering. “This latest recognition by IIHS underscores our commitment to engineering safety and security across all vehicle segments. As we continue our product transformation, we’ll continue to engineer new technology and more capabilities into all our vehicles.”

Last month, the 2012 Fiat 500 was named Top Safety Pick by IIHS. Additionally, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Patriot, Chrysler 300 and 200, Dodge Durango, Charger, Journey and Avenger received Top Safety Pick designations earlier this year from IIHS.

http://readme.readmedia.com/

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Nov 01, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post

Ram Heavy Duty Earns IntelliChoice and AutoPacific Motorist Choice Award Two Years in a Row

IntelliChoice and AutoPacific announced their 6th annual Motorist Choice Awards, naming the 2011 Ram Heavy Duty in the Popular Active Lifestyle Category.

“Twice in a row is quite an honor for Ram,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico, Chrysler Group LLC. “We’re proud to say that Ram Heavy Duty pickups continue to earn the industry’s top awards, propelled in large part by the quality and refinements learned from the Ram 1500. Ram Trucks benefit from innovative features and reliability that are benchmarks for their segments.”

IntelliChoice and AutoPacific’s Motorist Choice Awards are an industry benchmark for measuring the compelling combination of high consumer satisfaction and lower than expected ownership costs over time. Each year, AutoPacific performs the broadest and most widely followed owner satisfaction survey in the U.S. with a record of over 72,000 responses in 2011. This study solicits consumer feedback on a recently purchased 2011 vehicle using 48 key attributes covering the entire ownership experience.

Ram Heavy Duty

The 2011 Ram Heavy Duty brings increased capability and innovative new features to the heavy-duty segment with an uncompromising attitude that remains the standard for all full-size heavy-duty pickups.

Ram Heavy Duty is available in eight distinct trim levels – ST, SLT, Outdoorsman, Lone Star, Big Horn, Power Wagon, Laramie and Laramie Longhorn. Additionally, three cab styles (regular cab, crew cab and Mega Cab) and two cargo-box sizes (6 feet 4 inches and 8 feet), single-and dual-rear-wheel configurations.

Ram Heavy Duty also delivers the performance and amenities customers demand. The 2011 Ram Heavy Duty pickups feature a hydro-formed, fully boxed frame with advanced torsional rigidity and stiffness. A coil-spring suspension setup is used up front, while the multi-leaf spring design is maintained in the rear for heavy-duty capability. Front and rear shocks and springs are tuned for optimum ride quality and capability.

Suspension tuning and C-pillar hydro mounts improve damping through the frame-bending mode frequency in order to better manage shake and after-shake response. The result is reduced shake, which means an improved ride for the customer.

Powertrain choices include the legendary 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, which produces 350 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and up to 800 lb.-ft. of torque at only 1,600 rpm.

The most durable and reliable engine in its class, the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel features a best-in-class powertrain warranty at 5 years/100,000 miles. It also has major-overhaul intervals of 350,000 miles, providing more than a 100,000-mile advantage versus the competition.

The Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel engine uses a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) to virtually eliminate particulate matter emissions and an adsorber catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by as much as 90 percent, in order to meet stringent diesel emissions requirements.

Ram Heavy Duty is the only 3/4 and one-ton pickup truck to offer a lower cost, lower maintenance alternative to Diesel Emission Fluid (DEF) injection systems to be used by competitors. It’s also the only truck in the segment to offer a manual transmission.

The 2011 Ram Heavy Duty comes standard with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 gasoline engine, delivering 383 horsepower (286 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 400 lb.-ft. of torque (542 Nm) at 4,000 rpm. The 5.7-liter HEMI was redesigned for 2009, with several new and improved technologies including Variable-valve Timing (VVT), increased compression ratio, active intake manifold with long runners for low-end torque and short runners for high-rpm power, improved cylinder head port flow efficiency and reduced-restriction exhaust and induction systems.

The 2011 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups offer a standard exhaust brake (diesel-equipped models only). This feature reduces brake fade, prolongs brake life and provides confidence and safety when hauling heavy loads on downhill grades. Large front (360 mm) and rear (358 mm) brakes with integrated Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) increase brake life and braking stability.

Customers in the heavy-duty segment have a range of needs, and most of them involve high levels of capability. The 2011 Ram 2500 and 3500 are designed to deliver a total package:

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on 2500 4×4 crew cab diesel models of 9,600 pounds

Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) on 3500 dually models with diesel, auto transmission and 4.10 rear axle of 24,500 pounds. With the Max Tow Package, GCWR is 25,400 pounds

GCWR on 3500 4×2 models of 24,000 pounds

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR):

5,500 pounds on diesel 4×4 pickups

5,000 pounds on diesel 4×2 pickups

Other towing features include improved trailer-tow mirrors with integrated turn signals, memory function and puddle lamps. The larger 7-in. x 11-in. trailer-tow mirrors offer improved visibility with larger convex glass surfaces. The mirrors flip up and out in a vertical configuration for improved visibility around wide trailers. Trailer-tow mirrors are standard on 3500. As an added convenience, a Class IV receiver is standard on all Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups.

The Ram Power Wagon also returns for the 2011 model year, equipped with electric-locking front and rear differentials, electronic disconnecting sway bar, Bilstein shocks, 32-inch BFGoodrich off-road tires, underbody skid plate protection, 4.56 axle ratio for hill climbing and a custom-built Warn® 12,000-pound winch that is accessible through the front bumper. The Ram Power Wagon also features new exterior graphics and a lower two-tone paint scheme.

About the Ram Truck Brand

The 2011 Ram 1500 was named a Consumers Digest Best Buy and AUTOMOBILE Magazine All-Star. Ram 1500′s smooth-riding suspension and 20 mpg, 390 horsepower HEMI® V-8 are just two of the reasons it beat the competition. Ram 1500 also was named the Truck of Texas by the Texas Auto Writers Association in 2011.

Coil-spring rear suspension on Ram 1500 for best-in-class ride and handling

Available RamBox lockable and lighted bedside storage

In-floor storage on all Ram Crew Cabs

The largest cab in the market – Ram HD Mega Cab

Standard six-speed manual transmission on all diesel models

Truck customers, from half-ton to commercial, have a demanding range of needs and require their vehicles to provide high levels of capability. Ram trucks are designed to deliver a total package.

http://www.marketwatch.com/

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Sep 25, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post

Chrysler announces ‘No Payment for 90 Days’ program

Chrysler Group LLC announced a new “No Payments for 90 Days” incentive program Wednesday for all 2011 and 2012 Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram Truck models, as part of the company’s summer clearance event.

Vehicles purchased through the program must be financed through Ally Financial, and the offer is only available to qualified customers.

The company also announced additional incentives on 2012 model year vehicles, including $500 cash back on a Chrysler 200 sedan, $1,000 on a Jeep Liberty, $500 on a Dodge Avenger or Journey, and up to $1,500 on a Ram pickup.

New deals on 2011 models are being offered, too, including 3-year financing as low as zero percent or $2,000 cash back on a Chrysler 300, 300C or Dodge Charger.

http://www.detnews.com/

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