Ram named best winter pickup

The New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) has named the 2010 Ram pickup as “Winter Vehicle Award, Best in Class Pickup” for the second year in a row.

Last month, more than 50 NEMPA members cast ballots to select the vehicles they felt best met drivers’ needs during winter.

“The Ram 1500 stood head and shoulders above the competition due to its superb multi-link coil spring suspension,” said John Paul, Winter Vehicle Team Coordinator. “Its creative use of interior storage space and the unique segment busting Rambox cargo storage made it an easy choice for Best in Class Pick-up Truck.”

Challenger, Wrangler, Sprinter named as top spring break cars

Winding Road, the digital automotive magazine, has named the Dodge Challenger SRT-8, Jeep Wrangler and the Ram Sprinter among their picks as the “Top Ten Spring Break Cars.” Chrysler was the only manufacturer with three selections.

Writing about the Challenger, which was at the top of their list,Winding Road said, “A super comfy ride for the long haul down to FLA, meets the most massive trunk in the coupe segment today, meets major “wow factor” for cruising when you arrive. Keep on the lookout for over-baked cougars—this thing is like baby boomer Viagra.”

“Never, in the history of motoring, has there been a better vehicle to pump your fist and yell “Spring Break! Whhooaa!” in than a soft-top Jeep. That’s just science,” was their assessment of the Wrangler.

The Sprinter, which is being phased out as a Chrysler product, was described as, “Room for all of your friends. Room for all of your stuff. Room to install a floor-to-ceiling “entertainment” pole. (You know, if you could find a use for that.) Plus, the Sprinter sips diesel pretty slowly, too, so less money need be wasted on costly fuel (or a hotel room). Downside? The ladies that won’t be sketched out by your ride are likely to be a little sketchy themselves.”

You can check out the article at Winding Road’s website.

Ram claims Motorweek’s Drivers’ Choice Award

The Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 have been named Best Pickup in Motorweek’s 2010 Drivers’ Choice Awards. This is the second consecutive year the Ram pickup has earned this title.

The annual Drivers’ Choice Awards are based on the buyer’s point of view. MotorWeek, television’s original automotive magazine, looks at innovations and buying trends and product innovations giving them a major influence in the selection process.

“The Ram Truck Brand is proud to win this award,” said Fred Diaz, CEO – Ram Truck Brand. “It takes teamwork to build great trucks like the Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500. The success of Ram Trucks in the market — and big awards like MotorWeek’s Drivers’ Choice — reflect the hard work of designers, engineers, product planners, assembly workers and many others.”

Chrysler cuts CO2 emissions by 370,000 tons

Chrysler Group’s 2009 Environmental Leadership Award (ELA) program has led to reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) output of approximately 370,000 tons, equivalent to four large manufacturing plants or 71,000 automobiles. The company also will benefit financially as the projects submitted will save $50 million a year.

The Chrysler Group’s Environmental Leadership Award recognizes extraordinary innovation and dedication to reducing the environmental impact of the company’s products and facilities. The program fosters pro-environmental thinking in all levels and functions of the company’s operations and is a tool for sharing best practices among employees and in the supplier network.

A total of 29 projects worldwide were submitted for ELA awards for 2009, the 16th year of the program. The entries were judged on the basis of their contribution to environmental stewardship, cost savings and innovation. This year’s category winners included:

Production Related Environmental Protection – Trenton (Mich.) South Engine Plant environmental team: This world class manufacturing plant was built on a brownfield site and incorporates environmentally conscious designs, including 47 percent recycled material, zero-waste-to-landfill and a 39 percent reduction in energy use compared with the previous engine manufacturing facility.

Product Related Environmental Protection – Dealer Dedicated Delivery System Redesign: By redesigning the company’s Mopar® parts delivery system, the team improved response time and customer satisfaction and eliminated 4.6 million miles of driving, saving 722,000 gallons of fuel, 8,000 tons of emissions, 1,560 gallons of motor oil and 1,344 tractor trailer tires per year.

Extraordinary Efforts for the Environment – Saltillo (Mexico) Complex: Developing an Environmental Way of Life. The team introduced comprehensive process controls among its employees to substantially reduce energy consumption, air emissions, water use, and waste generation while increasing recycling. The team then took the lessons learned to the community by educating students at three local elementary schools. In addition, they worked with two colleges to establish a post degree academic program for environmental protection.

Dealership Environmental Initiatives – Frank C. Videon Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep, New Town Square, Pa.: This is the first dealership to be honored with a Chrysler Group Environmental Leadership Award. The team’s strong commitment to green initiatives resulted in a 20 percent reduction in energy use by recycling oil as a heating fuel in a facility that is 2.5 times larger than the previous building.

“The ELA celebrates the outstanding achievements of employees and project teams, and it reminds us that being green does not conflict with being a successful company,” Steve Bartoli, Head of Regulatory Affairs and Engineering Planning, said. “In fact, a thought process that includes environmental impact is a necessary attribute at Chrysler Group.”

Wrangler named “Best New Car for Off-Roaders”

Cars.com has named the 2010 Jeep Wrangler “Best New Car for Off-Roaders.” In giving the Lifestyle Award, Cars.com saaid, “The legendary Jeep Wrangler tops our Off-Roaders picks again this year. … Long on capability, the scrappy Wrangler Rubicon has 10.5 inches of ground clearance, as well as approach, departure and breakover angles its competitors can only envy. When the shortest distance between two points is an obstructed straight line, you’ll want to be in a Wrangler.”

With more than ten million visitors each month, Cars.com is the leading Internet destination for new vehicle shoppers, making the award even more significant.

“This prestigious award from Cars.com reinforces Jeep Wrangler’s position as the benchmark off-road vehicle on the planet,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “It comes at an especially exciting time for customers looking for the ultimate off-roader, as Wrangler was recently named the Best 4×4 Vehicle of the Decade by Four Wheeler magazine, and as Jeep is introducing two all-new Wrangler models at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.”

Jeep has also presented new special editions at the Detroit show. One of these, the Jeep Wrangler Islander, sold out its entire run in just three days.

Chrysler gets its nineth loyalty award for minivans

The 2010 Chrysler Town & Country was given Polk’s Automotive Loyalty Award in the minivan class for the ninth year in a row. The Chrysler Scoop quoted the Chair and CEO of R.L. Polk as saying, “In the 14 years of the Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards, no other vehicle has earned as many awards as the Chrysler Town & Country.” The awards are based on households that purchases or leases a new vehicle of the same model or make that they already own.