2011 Dodge Ram Long-Hauler Concept Truck

We hear it all the time - things are bigger in Texas. That's why the Dodge Ram “Long-Hauler” concept truck is about as Texas as it gets.

Chrysler says it’s designed to suit the needs of anybody that tows multiple or heavy trailers, drives long distances or small business owners looking for a “work horse” at the job site, and will be displaying it at truck gatherings, rodeos and agricultural shows across the U.S. over the next eight months to “gauge public opinion” for a possible production run.

They started with a Ram 5500 double-cab, stretched the wheelbase to more than 16 feet (that’s longer than an Mercedes-Benz E-Class from bumper to bumper!), extended the cabin so that even the biggest Stetsons and two-inch heels can stretch out in the rear seats, added a 8-ft. load box with a built-in fifth wheel for heavy-duty towing and upped the range between refueling stops with a mid-mounted fuel tank. Combined with a second frame-mounted tank and a third, optional, bed-mounted auxiliary tank, total fuel capacity is 170 gallons!

With a 197.4-inch wheelbase and 37,500 Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR), the concept Long-Hauler from Ram is just the truck for those wanting to step up from a traditional Class 3 (one-ton) or Class 4 truck. Overall length of the 2011 Dodge Ram Long-Hauler Concept Truck is 24 feet, height is 79.1 inches and estimated curb weight is 9,300 lbs.

Power comes courtesy of a 6.7-liter inline six-cylinder Cummins Turbo Diesel engine rated at 800 lb.-ft. of torque, which is hooked up to a six-speed Aisin automatic transmission with four-wheel-drive transfer case coupled to a 4.88 Dana 110 axle with dual rear wheels.

The gloss black finish is accented by white gold metallic trim, including body side moldings and wide wheel flares front and rear. A bull bar extends across the entire front and the spare wheel is slung under the load box. A separate back-up camera provides a full view of the bed to make hitching up easier and a special tailgate allows easy hook-ups opening or remove the entire tailgate.

The cabin has four individual leather-trimmed and saddle-stitched seats; rear passengers get power-adjustable footrests and a centre console with a refrigerator, cup holders and tray tables.

In-cabin power includes 115V and 12V outlets front and rear and the cabin has permanent Wi-Fi so passengers can work online during long drives. There’s also a DVD player with overhead screen for rear-seat passengers, a laptop storage area, an inductive charger (just park any gizmo with a rechargeable battery on the shelf and it’ll charge up without being connected), a tire pressure monitoring system, rear axle temperature gauge and exhaust gas temperature and boost gauges.

The rear seats and console also fold flat for additional storage or as a double bed.

Dodge’s Ram Truck division says it has identified a potential market for the Long Hauler, including racing teams, ranchers, rodeo competitors, powerboat racers and adventure expedition outfits.

Whatever the market, we know Texas is ready for it.

Fast Five puts the 2011 Dodge Police Charger through the Ultimate Test

Fast Five comes charging in to local theaters today like the next Nitromethane Injected HEMI® dragster in the next the couple of weeks. This action-packed movie is filled with great car chases and stunts that test the skills of both man and machine. The movie set can be a brutal environment for the cars used in the film. They’re shown no mercy as they have to perform take-after-take of smokey burnouts, four-wheel drifts and high-speed runs around the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Consider it a Hollywood-style proving ground and the term — drive it like you stole it — really does apply to the stuntmen behind the wheel who push these cars to their limits.

When the producers approached Dodge about being involved with this great franchise, the Dodge team jumped at the chance to show the world that the new 2011 Charger Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV) has the guts to make it big time not only in the movies, but also in real life. The film team was supplied almost a half-dozen 370 horsepower 5.7L HEMI powered cruisers to the production company for use in the movie, knowing full well they would be driven hard.

The Charger PPV comes equipped the usual standard heavy-duty equipment such as Monroe NIVOMAT® rear shocks, brakes and severe-duty engine cooling systems with auxiliary coolers for engine oil, transmission and power steering fluids. The 2011 Charger also has a sinister look about it that makes the “bad guys” think long and hard before burying their foot into the accelerator. Among its peers in law enforcement, the Charger PPV stood apart from the competition and is the favorite ride among many agencies.



Dodge's Ralph Gilles spoke with Picture Car Coordinator Dennis McCarthy about the Charger’s movie debut and what makes it cool.

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 8 - Most Powerful Jeep Ever

Chrysler’s Jeep division has unveiled the second generation Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 at the New York International Auto Show, heralding a new era of high performance SUVs.

Offering 465 horsepower and 465 lb-ft. of torque, the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is by far the most powerful Jeep ever offered. As a result, Jeep says that it should be capable of sprinting to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds with a mid-13 second quarter mile figure. Top speed is limited to 155 mph.

That power comes courtesy of an all-new 6.4-liter HEMI V8 that builds on the outgoing 6.1-liter model by offering an additional 45 horsepower and 45 lb-ft. of torque. Chrysler says that its engineers worked especially hard to make 90 percent of the engine’s peak torque available between 2,800 and 6,000 rpm.

To reduce fuel consumption, an active valve exhaust system cuts out four cylinders, which Jeep says helps increase fuel economy by 13 percent on the highway. Combined with a large gas tank, Jeep says the Grand Cherokee SRT8 should be capable of a 450 mile range.

Inside, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 gains steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters to control the five-speed automatic transmission.

Jeep says it worked hard to further refine the Grand Cherokee SRT8′s handling by building on the all-new WK2 platform with a new Selec-Track traction-enhancing system. With a name that conjures up images of Jeep’s SelecTrac transfer case, the new Selec-Track interacts with the stability control, adaptive damping, transmission shift strategy, transfer case torque proportioning, electronic limited slip differential, throttle control and cylinder de-activation. Five modes – Auto, Sport, Tow, Track and Snow – ensure ideal traction for any situation. Unlike the previous Grand Cherokee SRT8, the new SUV is designed to be used year round for a variety of uses – even towing.

A single-speed transfer case sends power between the front and rear wheels. Uprated power steering and Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes help the Grand Cherokee maintain control. Jeep says that the new SUV will stop from 60 mph in just 112 feet.

Styling
The 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8 is more aggressive looking than before with exclusive front and rear fascias with LED daytime running lamps and chrome bezel inserts completing the look.

A new rear liftgate spoiler is designed to reduce drag and improve downforce at high speeds.

Riding on split five-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 will be available with either all-season or three-season Pirelli P-Zero runflat tires.

Inside, the SRT team upgraded the Grand Cherokee’s interior with a three-spoke steering wheel with a flat bottom, Nappa leather and suede seats and extensive carbon fiber accents. SRT’s Performance Pages trip computer functions remain, meaning the Grand Cherokee SRT8 can display performance figures like 0-60 time, 60-0 distance, g-forces and one eighth and quarter mile times.

In addition, a new 825-watt 19-speaker audio system boasts a 10-inch subwoofer.

Win a Fast Five Charger!

The action-packed Fast Five movie is ready to make its debut in less than two weeks and Dodge is now offering you a chance to win a specially prepared tricked out Fast Five Edition 2011 Dodge Charger R/T. These 5.7L HEMI® powered Chargers have a unique and somewhat sinister matte black paint job and a one of a kind leather interior with the Fast Five logo embroidered on the seats. Only five copies of these collectibles will be available for you speed junkies out there so go to http://www.dodge.com/en/fastfive and register for a chance to win your very own 2011 Charger R/T Fast Five Special Edition. The contest runs through April 30, 2011 so kick it in gear and step on it!

The Brand New Mopar '11 Charger

Mopar, the Chrysler division in charge with souping up the models created by the American manufacturer, is keeping itself busy this week, being at the center of the news coming from Auburn Hills. Getting ready for the hot summer days, Mopar announced the launch of the Mopar '11 Charger, a special edition of the Charger limited to only 1,000 units and packed with unique features.

Under the hood of the car, Chrysler and Mopar fitted a 5.7l HEMI engine that develops 370 horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque. Tuned and tweaked into submission, the engine has been made in such a way that it will work in sync with the Super Trac Pac range of technologies.

The mechanics of the model have been tweaked in such a way that they could handle, with grace, the strain at which they are subjected. The tuner added larger front 30mm solid stabilizer bar and rear 20 mm solid stabilizer bar and increased the chassis from 27 mm and 16 mm.

The power of model is being sent to the road with the help of 20-inch x 8-inch Envy wheels are fitted with Goodyear F1 Supercar 245/45ZR20 tires. Behind them, vented rotors measuring 345mm x 28mm up front that and fitted with dual-piston and sliding calipers provide the stopping power.

“The Mopar '11 Charger takes the ‘head- turning’ factor up a few notches,” said Pietro Gorlier, Mopar CEO. “By adding some of the most distinctive accessories to an already strong performer, we’ve created a special-edition car for enthusiasts.”

Out of the 1,000 units to be manufactured, 900 will be sold in the US, with the rest being reserved for Canada. US prices start at $39,750, including destination fee.

Go behind the scenes of Fast Five with the Dodge Charger

The action-packed Fast Five movie will make its theater debut in just a few weeks and Cecil in Burnet, courtesy of Red Letter Dodge, wants to take you for an exclusive behind-the-scenes thrill ride. You’ll get to see an insider look as Vin Diesel and Paul Walker tear up the streets of Rio de Janeiro in their HEMI®-powered Chargers, including the two specially prepared matte black Chargers for the movie’s climax scene. Check out the video to get a firsthand look at the full lineup of stunt vehicles and how the film makers captured all the adrenaline-filled, nail-biting action.

Now that we have your attention, head over to www.Dodge.com/FastFive to get all the behind- the-scenes action, learn more about the movie and cars and check out the 2011 Dodge Charger. As if that was not enough to get your heart pounding, the site also features an exclusive sweepstakes to win one of five custom Fast Five Edition 2011 Charger R/Ts that we will be featured right on Red Letter Dodge. Good luck and don’t forget to catch the movie in theaters nationally April 29th.

The Ram 1500 Express has arrived!

After weeks of speculation among Ram heads out there, the new Ram Truck with its new name was finally revealed at the Dallas Auto Show. The ‘Ram 1500 Express,’ which was code named ‘Adventurer,’ can trace its DNA back to one of the original muscle pick-ups, the 1978 Lil' Red Express Truck.

The formula is similar—a hot engine with great looks at an attractive price. The mission for Ram Trucks is to make a truck for young buyers looking for an awesome platform to personalize and customize without draining their bank account.

First, a team of gearheads made sure to give the 1500 Express some serious muscle under the hood as the legendary 390 horsepower 5.7L HEMI® V8 comes standard! The 5.7L HEMI V8 will also knock down around 20 mpg making gas stops less frequent on those weekend road trips. It also includes 3.55 rear axle ratio but has 3.92 cogs available.

The Ram 1500 Express is not just one-dimensional. It’s a great running truck that will make a visual statement among your peers. The designers crafted some great exterior touches that feature a racy monochromatic paint scheme that includes a body color front fascia and grille with black inserts. The rear fascia have been color matched and sculpted around the dual chrome exhaust tips.

In addition, Ram added 20-inch aluminum wheels and fog lamps that give the Ram 1500 Express more street attitude. What’s really nice is the folks at Mopar have a warehouse full of great accessories such as cold air intakes, chrome tubular side step and bed side rails, front air deflector, chromed aluminum fuel filler door and much more that will make the Ram 1500 Express your own.

The Ram 1500 Express is the perfect canvas for the truck enthusiast to "express" his or her personal tastes and not get buried doing so.