Chicago unveilings

According to Rick Kranz of Automotive News, Chrysler’s unveilings at the upcoming Chicago auto show will be “specialty versions” of the Ram pickup and the four cars shown last week at a special Mopar 75th Anniversary celebration. These are the Chrysler ’12 300, Dodge Dart GTS Tribute, Fiat 500 Stinger, and Compass True North. Kranz also expects a new version of the Chrysler 300S.

As for Ram, the Laramie Limited trim line (for 1500, 2500, and 3500) will be shown.

It should be a quiet show for Mopar fans viewing from afar, since no completely new models seem to be scheduled; but it’s also a good chance for thousands of fans and regular show-goers to see these cars in person.

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Ram goes upscale with Laramie Limited

A new model is set to top the Ram pickup series: the Ram Laramie Limited. With full-leather seating, piano-black interior trim, and understated exterior badging, the Laramie Limited is to be a luxury alternative to the southwestern-themed Ram Laramie Longhorn edition. It will debut on February 8 at the Chicago Auto Show.

Ram CEO Fred Diaz said, “Laramie Limited is designed to meet the high expectations of affluent pickup truck buyers looking to combine capability with elegance. The launch of the Ram Laramie Longhorn edition gave us a boost in the ultra-premium pickup segment and exceeded our expectations. Ram Laramie Limited offers customers an even wider selection of luxury models. We expect a lot of interest in the Laramie Limited.

“The Ram Laramie Limited customer is going to be involved in some sort of motor-sport activity. Whether they’re towing a ski boat, a race-car hauler, motorcycles or snowmobiles, they’re looking for comfort and class and an expressive way to carry their crew and their gear.”

Exterior highlights: Body-color front fascia with fog lamps and a matching, painted rear bumper (except Ram Laramie Limited 2500 and 3500 in white and silver, which get chrome front and rear bumpers). The chrome grille surrounds billet inserts from the Ram Sport. Chrome accents include body-side molding, mirrors, door handles, and tubular side steps. Engine and Ram model line badges are deleted; tailgate badging includes the chrome Ram’s Head logo and a small italicized block-letter “Limited.”

Ram 1500 Laramie Limited uses 20 inches forged aluminum wheels, with painted silver pockets. Heavy Duty models have 17-inch fully polished aluminum wheels.

Ram 1500 Laramie Limited colors are black, bright silver metallic, white, deep cherry red pearl, mineral gray metallic, and true blue. Ram 2500 and 3500 Laramie Limited Rams are available in black, bright silver metallic, white, and mineral gray metallic.

Interior highlights: Dark slate Natura Plus leather seats and engraved details. Contrasting medium graystone leather piping set off by medium graystone deck-seam stitching. The double-stacked center console is topped with a soft, double French-stitched full-leather lid. Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter — console mounted on 1500, column mounted on 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty models. Accent medium graystone X-stitch detailing. Door trim front and rear also is wrapped in premium leather. Leather armrest uppers are further accented with the same dual French stitch used on the center console lid and instrument panel.

The dash features a center stack trimmed in high-gloss piano-black with liquid graphite side bezels and bright chrome vent rings. Piano-black finishes also are used in the door panels and are trimmed in bright chrome.

Ram Laramie Limited’s gauge cluster is accented with pad-print chrome rings and includes the imprinted message: “Designed in Detroit.” Gauge needles are finished in liquid graphite. A liquid graphite glovebox spear with pinstriped details and black and chrome “Limited” badge complete the dash.

There’s remote LED lighting at the inside door handles and a full-length light that illuminates the truck’s multi-function lower map pockets, front and rear. Beneath the dash is muted foot-well lighting.

Premium berber carpet floor mats with medium graystone accent stitching. Rear flap-closure seatback map pockets with modern chrome Ram-lettered detailed metal buckles also are unique to Ram Laramie Limited. For entry and exit, brushed-silver Ram-branded door sill plates resist scuffs and add visual appeal.

Ram Laramie Limited also is equipped with a navigational radio, remote start, back-up camera, power adjustable pedals with memory, heated steering wheel, front ventilated and heated seats and rear heated seats.

Ram Laramie Limited will be available in the second quarter of this year in 1500 (1/2-ton), 2500 HD (3/4-ton) and 3500 HD single- and dual-rear-wheel (1-ton); Crew Cab and Mega Cab; four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive; and short- and long-wheelbase models.

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Production Ram Long Hauler spied?

PickupTrucks.com is reporting the sighting of a possible production version of the Ram 5500-based Long Hauler being driven on the streets of Auburn Hills.

Check out the story here.

Thanks to Mike L’Alouette for the tip!

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Chrysler leads Detroit 3 in Japan sales

Chrysler Group outsold Ford and General Motors in Japan last year, showing the most growth of the American automakers.

4,871 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles were registered, compared to 3,469 Fords and 2,966 General Motors cars and trucks. Jeep was the top-selling U.S. brand for December, and was just 315 sales behind Ford for the year.

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Six Chrysler vehicles named “Best Buys”

Chrysler Group received nine awards in Consumer Guide Automotive’s 2012 list of “Best Buys” and “Recommended Picks.”

Six Chrysler Group models were awarded Consumer Guide’s prestigious “Best Buys” for the 2012 model year; three more were selected as “Recommended Picks” in the 2012 list.

Chrysler “Best Buys” are: Chrysler 300, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Charger, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Dodge Journey and the Ram 1500

Models that received “Recommended Picks” by Consumer Guide for the 2012 model year are: Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango and Fiat 500

“We are honored and thrilled to have nine vehicles named as ‘Best Buys’ or ‘Recommended Picks’ by Consumer Guide Automotive,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Dodge Brand and Head of U.S. Sales. “Chrysler Group launched an unprecedented 16 all-new or substantially-refreshed vehicles in 2010 and 2011, models that continue to resonate with both consumers and objective, third parties like Consumer Guide.”

A “Best Buy” rating signifies that a vehicle is ranked at the top of its class and is strongly approved by the editors. “Best Buy” vehicles represent the finest balance of attributes and price within their classes, and they are the best choices for most consumers. Consumer Guide’s “Recommended Picks” feature vehicles that, though not ranked at the very top of their category, are still worth strong consideration by consumers for their unique combination of attributes and value.

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Keselowski: 2012 “make or break” for Kligerman

Brad Keselowski is adding to what is already going to be a busy season: he’s adding Camping World Truck Series events to his schedule, running as a teammate for Penske Racing development driver Parker Kligerman.

The No. 29 Ram truck team runs under the auspices of Brad Keselowski Racing and the boss isn’t satisfied with last season’s results. Kligerman finished the 2011 Camping World season in 11th place with 728 points, 160 behind leader Austin Dillon. In 25 starts, Kligerman had four top-five finishes and eight top-ten finishes.

“It’s starting to come together,” Keselowski said. “I’m roughly planning to do six races, but I’d prefer not to drive it, to be quite honest.

“But for Parker’s sake, I think it’s important to get a good evaluation because this is a make or break year for Parker. We need a good evaluation of where our equipment’s at throughout different periods of the year so we can understand whether or not he’s making the most of our opportunity.

“Before you can say what the most of an opportunity is you have to define what the opportunity is. Are we giving him a good opportunity? Are we giving him an average opportunity? I don’t have an answer to that and I think we’ll have a much better indicator if we’re able to achieve that.”

To give Kligerman the best shot, Keselowski’s team has built a brand new truck for Kligerman to race at Daytona. Keselowski will drive the Ram that Kligerman used last fall at Talladega. In addition, Keselowski has hired veteran crew chief Doug Randolph to head Kligerman’s program. Randolph spent the 2011 season on Rusty Wallace Racing’s Nationwide Series program.

Keselowski’s races will be managed by Jeff Stankiewicz, who led Kligerman’s crew last year.

“I didn’t feel like we were going to come into this year and be able to win a championship with the way it was done, or the way that we finished last year,” Keselowski said. “I knew there needed to be a little mix-up, and I really like Jeff, I really like Parker and I wanted them both to be a part of the program.

“So I think we’re able to structure it in a way that everybody was still in the program and we’re able to bring in a fresh face that’s able to bring some new energy in and hopefully everybody feels like it’s a win-win.”

Keselowski said one of his primary personal goals is still to win a Truck race and that Daytona’s “absolutely a possibility. You just have to be smart and be there at the end.”

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