Ram, Wrangler named “Best for the Money” by USN&WR

U.S. News & World Report has selected the Ram 1500 as its “2012 Best Full-Size Pickup Truck for the Money” and the 2012 Jeep Wrangler as the “2012 Best Off-Road SUV for the Money.”

The selections were based on outstanding value and availability of features buyers want.

“The Ram Truck brand is meeting the needs and expectations of our customers with the best trucks in the market,” said Ram CEO Fred Diaz. “U.S. News & World Report’s 2012 Best Full-Size Pickup Truck for the Money award is a powerful, independent accolade, standing as an endorsement for the 2012 Ram 1500 and its value for the money.”

“We are delighted that Wrangler has captured this important award from U.S. News & World Report,” said Jeep CEO Mike Manley. “Jeep Wrangler has set seven consecutive monthly sales records. The new 2012 Wrangler offers consumers more value and appeal than ever before, with improved fuel efficiency and everyday driving dynamics, more power and even more legendary Jeep capability.”

The USN&WR awards cover 23 automotive categories, including cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans. Each category has a single winner. The awards combine scores from the U.S. News car rankings with five-year total cost of ownership and average price data, recognizing the vehicles in select segments that earned the highest marks for overall value and appeal.

“You don’t have to choose between a great vehicle and a great value,” said Jamie Page Deaton, Managing Editor of U.S. News Best Cars. “The award-winning vehicles are both easy to live with and easy to afford.”

The awards reflect the consensus opinion of industry experts and reviewers, along with safety and reliability ratings, and focus specifically on the needs of everyday car buyers.

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Town & Country, Challenger and Jeep brand win Polk awards

Chrysler received three Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards for the 2011 model year. The Chrysler Town & Country won the “Minivan” category for an eleventh consecutive time, the Dodge Challenger took the “Sports Car” segment for the second year in a row and the entire Jeep Brand took the “Most Improved Loyalty to Make” award.

“Achieving loyalty honors across the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands is evidence of Chrysler Group’s organizational commitment to both owner loyalty and product excellence,” said Brad Smith, director of Polk’s Loyalty Management Practice. “Consumers have many options when they return to market and it’s clear that Chrysler Group is committed to retaining their owner base.”

The awards recognize manufacturers for superior owner loyalty performance, which is determined when a household that owns a new vehicle returns to market and purchases or leases another new vehicle of the same model or make. The 2011 awards are based on an analysis of 5.5 million return-to-market events during the 2011 model year.

“We’re very happy to accept these Loyalty Awards from Polk, especially considering that they’re a direct reflection of customer satisfaction,” said Doug Betts, Senior Vice President – Quality, Chrysler Group LLC. “We have gone to great lengths in recent years to improve our line-up with better performing, higher quality vehicles—and to take better care of our customers after the sale. These awards help validate those efforts.”

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Hyundai, Land Rover take COTY awards

The Hyundai Elantra is the 2012 North American Car of the Year and the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is the North American Truck of the Year.

The winners were announced this morning in Detroit.

This is the second time atop the podium for Hyundai, which won in 2009 for the Genesis. It’s the first time for Land Rover.

The Elentra beat out the Ford Focus and the Volkswagen Passat; the Evoque triumphed over the BMW X3 and redesigned Honda CR-V

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Marchionne and Francois honored by Detroit Free Press

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has been named a recipient of the first-ever Detroit Free Press Automotive Executive Leadership Award.

The Freep created the awards to honor the achievements of individuals and organizations in the automotive industry that “remains the economic heart of our city.”

Olivier Francois won a second award for Chrysler. The Advertising & Marketing award went to Francois for his work in promoting the city in Chrysler advertising.

Tony Posawatz, the engineer in charge of the development and launch of the Chevrolet Volt, took the Green Leadership award.

GM Design Chief Ed Wellburn wins the Design Leadership award.

Sheri Hickok, GM’s chief engineer for mid-size and full-size cars, was honored as the Up and Coming leader.

Ford won the Engineering & Technology award for the EcoBoost engine and the dubious accomplishment of the MyFord and MyLincoln Touch systems.

BorgWarner captured the Supplier Leadership award.

General Motors’ Cathy Clegg takes home the Labor & Manufacturing Leadership award. She led last year’s contract talks with the UAW.

The First Robotics team at Macomb Academy of Arts and Sciences won the award for community involvement.

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Autobytel names 2012 Wrangler SUV of the Year

Autobytel says the 2012 Jeep Wrangler is its SUV of the Year. The Autobytel editors, led by Managing Editor Michelle Naranjo, cover a range of ages and driving styles but they say their choices for the 2012 Autobytel awards were almost unanimous. With over 75 years of combined experience, Autobytel editors have driven hundreds of vehicles; they have chosen this year’s winners based on their game-changing potential, advances in design and overall performance and efficiency options.

The Autobytel editos would like to hear your choices. They are asking for readers to take a the Autobytel Car and Truck of the Year Consumer Choice Survey.

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Pentastar repeats as one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines

For the second consecutive year, The editors of Ward’s Automotive have named Chrysler Group’s Pentastar V-6 as one of 2011′s “10 Best Engines. The Pentastar powerplant is now standard or optional on the Chrysler 200, 300 and Town & Country; Dodge Avenger, Challenger, Charger, Durango, Journey and Caravan; Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler. Ward’s tested the Pentastar in the Chrysler 300 and Jeep Wrangler.

“Every year, Ward’s Automotive recognizes the industry leaders in engine technology,” said Drew Winter, editor at Ward’s Automotive. “Chrysler has successfully demonstrated the breadth of this engine and how it delivers on all fronts including fuel economy, lower emissions and power.”

Though it was one of the few winners is not equipped with direct injection, editors noted the Pentastar returned better fuel economy than a similarly sized direct-injection V-6 in the competition. Editors hit better than 25 miles per gallon. The editors noted the Pentastar delivered “outstanding refinement and power.”

“Since the introduction of the Pentastar V-6 engine just 16 months ago, we have produced more than 900,000 engines for front- and rear- drive passenger cars, minivans and sport utility vehicles,” said Bob Lee, vice president and head of powertrain and electrified propulsion systems engineering, Chrysler group LLC. “We are continuing to look forward at adapting future technologies to the Pentastar V-6 as they become available for even more fuel efficiency and performance.”

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