Ram 1500 Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) receives jolt from Canadian Government

Many of you may have missed the news, but this past March the U.S. Dept. of Energy provided a grant for up to $48 million in order for a test fleet of 140 Ram 1500 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) to be produced in the United States.

These Ram 1500 PHEVs will be powered by a 5.7L V8, providing 390 horsepower, 407lb-ft of torque mated to a two-mode hybrid transmission and a 12KwHr lithium ion battery system.

This week, the developer of this battery system, Electrovaya, recently received a contribution of $5 million (CDN) by the Sustainable Development Technology Canada as part of the Canadian Government. This funding will support their further research and development needs in high energy density Lithium Ion SuperPolymer® battery systems that will be in this fleet.

The vehicle is expected to be able to drive up to 20 miles on pure electric power, resulting in zero emissions. Once the vehicles are completed, these extremely efficient Ram 1500 PHEVs will be utilized for a three-year test program throughout the United States showing how quickly this technology can be brought to market.

(Courtesy of Ram Zone)

Thanks for supporting Cecil's

Unfortunately, in this day and age of technology and information bombardment 24/7, often times we fail to stop and appreciate the little, but very important things in life. Stop and smell the roses — is one way to describe it.

So in this space, at Cecil in Burnet we just wanted to tell our current, past, and hopefully future customers - THANKS!

Thanks for supporting Cecil Atkission all these years!

We understand that you have choices in the vehicle marketplace. And in this tough economy as of late, we know how much thought goes into each and every financial decision. But time and again you have chosen to spend your hard-earned dollars with us.

We also understand no two buyers are alike.

Many of you shop for the best deal. To you, we're quite confident we offer some of the best deals in Central Texas and the Hill Country. Others like to shop for a certain brand. For you Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep enthusiasts, we have a great selection to choose from plus a solid selection of non-Chrysler products in our pre-owned inventory.

Regardless of whether you come into our store out of brand loyalty or looking for the best deal, we strive to meet and exceed those initial expectations and then, most importantly, start developing a relationship. Why is our focus the relationship? It's actually quite simple.

If you think about it, buying a car is like any other business transaction. At the same time, it's entirely different and unique unto itself. While at the core there is a business transaction, buying a vehicle is one of those events in life you'll never ever forget. Like the time you bought your first house or welcomed in a new baby. It's just an unforgettable day.

And if it's going to be memorable, we want to make it memorable for the right reasons. From the time you walk in to the time you sign the papers and drive off the lot, it is our job to make sure you have each and every question answered, have a complete understanding about your vehicle and its features, and most importantly, realize that if you ever have a question about anything as it pertains to your vehicle in the future, we're here for you.

So the next time you're considering the purchase of a new vehicle, whether it's price, brand, or just browsing around, remember our core philosophy at Cecil Atkission in Burnet - "When the products are similar, the dealership makes the difference."

Let us make a difference in your vehicle-shopping experience.

Jeep is bringing the “Jeep Rocks & Road Tour,” an on- and off-road driving experience, to consumers in at least 11 cities across the country and it started on Friday, July 16 at the Syracuse Nationals Car Show in Syracuse, New York. The entire Jeep lineup, including the all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee, will be on site to test drive.

The “Jeep Rocks and Road Tour” provides the ultimate on- and off-road driving test for attendees at air and auto shows, fairs and festivals all over the country. The program is open to the public and Jeep brand vehicles will be on-hand for participants to drive over a variety of surfaces. Attendees will learn to navigate off-road challenges, such as steep grades, rocky trails and log crossings, under the guidance of a trained instructor. Participation is free to those who pre-register at www.jeep.com/rocksandroadtour and bring a copy of their confirmation receipt. Early registration is highly encouraged for those interested in participating. Current Jeep owners can even drive their own vehicle on a Jeep Owner’s Playground.


“We have created the ‘Jeep Rocks & Road Tour’ to provide our current and potential customers with an adventurous experience that is exclusive to the Jeep brand,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “We are partnering with various venues across the country to reach out to our loyal Jeep consumers, while branching out to those with new interest in the one-of-a-kind Jeep brand. This tour provides an ideal venue to experience the countless features and legendary capability offered in the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, as well the as in other vehicles in the Jeep brand family.”

The “Jeep Rocks & Road Tour” features a number of interactive activities, including informative product displays. The family-friendly event offers children the opportunity to take part in the Jeep brand experience as well. Jeep kids can drive “Power Wheels” mini-Jeep vehicles, climb a rock wall and more.

The tour travels cross-country and kicked off in Syracuse on July 16 and concludes with a final stop in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 31.

Tour Locations and Dates:

July 16 – 18 at the Syracuse Nationals Car Show in Syracuse, New York
July 23 – 25 at the Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest in Columbus, Ohio
July 30 – Aug. 1 at Rockford AirFest 2010 in Rockford, Illinois.
Aug. 6 – 8 at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis, Indiana
Aug. 20 – 22 at the Westfield International Air Show in Boston, Massachusetts
Aug. 27 – 29 at the Offutt Defenders of Liberty Air Show in Omaha, Nebraska
Sept. 3 – 5 at the Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Air Show in Martinsburg, West Virginia
Sept. 17 – 19 at the Oceana Air Show in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 at the Bikes, Blues and BBQ’s Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Oct. 8 – 10 for the Charlotte Fall Home Show at the Metrolina Expo Center in Charlotte, North Carolina
Oct. 29 – 31 at the Forth Worth Alliance Air Show in Forth Worth, Texas

The “Jeep Rocks & Road Tour” is one of several owner-loyalty programs created by the Jeep brand. Jeep Jamborees, which began in the 1950s, are the original off-highway vacation. The success of Jeep Jamborees spawned Camp Jeep, an annual outdoor lifestyle vacation experience launched more than 15 years ago. The enthusiastic response to Camp Jeep and Jeep 101 led to the spin-off “Jeep Rocks & Road Tour.”

Ram throws down "The Gauntlet"

If you’re looking to kill a little time in the office and have already beaten your best Minesweeper score, look no further than the Ram Gauntlet game.

Once you’ve registered, you can virtually take the wheel of a Ram 3500 and battle the best Mother Earth has to offer in a fight to the finish. You can rely on either a Cummins Turbo Diesel or a gas-powered HEMI to see you safely through the course, it’s your call. Once you’ve chosen, you’ll then be tasked with successfully navigating through a variety of courses, including everything from rocky terrain to a bustling construction site. With any luck, you’ll be able to walk away from the grueling gauntlet with a first-place finish, but even if you don’t you still have a chance to win big. Each gauntlet you finish earns you another shot at snagging one of our great prizes like $25 & $50 Gander Mountain gift cards. On October 1, 2010, one lucky winner will be selected to receive the grand prize: a $1000 prepaid MasterCard gift card.

Participation is limited to one game per person per day, and the promotion will close September 30th, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. ET – so go get your game on!

Jeep introduces new TripCast travel tracker

Jeep has just announced the launch of TripCast, ™ an easy-to-use, free, iPhone app and Web site that enables consumers to plan a trip, share an electronic scrapbook of the adventure and upload photos, video, audio clips and status updates to Facebook and Twitter.

The application allows family and friends to follow a traveler’s trip in real time via the Web or an iPhone. Also included in the application is a “Points of Adventure” function which offers those looking for their next adventure more than 250,000 outdoor recreation spots in the United States.

"TripCast enables everyone with a sense of adventure to plan a trip, share it with friends as their journey unfolds, and find new spots to explore," said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "This new app is perfect for Jeep fans, and anyone who enjoys getting out, having fun, and sharing that fun with friends. It also
provides us with a unique way to connect with a wide array of consumers, exposing them to the unique Jeep lifestyle along the way."

Trip Cast is free to consumers and is compatible with 3G, 3GS and 4G iPhones. Family and friends are able to follow traveler’s trips and download the app via jeeptripcast.com.

App Features
Key features of the TripCast app include:
• Web and mobile interface

• Track your Path – Enables the user to track their path in real time

• Share with Friends – Determine what and how much of a trip to share via the Public, Invite and Private settings

• The Public setting shares information with everyone; Invite allows the user to invite friends to follow the trip and the Private setting allows only the user to view the information

• TripCast also notifies users when a friend is in the area and can coordinate a chat

• Post your Finds – Photos, video, audio and text can be posted and shared with friends and all content can be viewed “on location” on a map in real-time

• Trip is downloadable via Google Earth as well

• Points of Adventure – Discover new spots with more than 250,000 outdoor recreation locations by category including parks, bike paths, camping, ski resorts and more

• Create playlists and listen to music while using the app

• Create a personal user profile and customizable Jeep avatar

• Save and view personal or friends’ trips, in real time or for later, on the Web and iPhone

TripCast can be downloaded free beginning today from the TripCast website, www.jeeptripcast.com or from the iTunes App Store using “Jeep” or “Trip” as search words.

Dodge Launches Special-Edition Mopar '10 Challenger

Retro-inspired cars seem to get frequent updates to stay fresh and sell-worthy, as demonstrated by the never-ending stream of special-edition Mustangs and Camaros. Dodge is getting its entry in on that action by releasing the Mopar ’10 Challenger, a factory-customized version of the muscle car.

Dodge will make just 500, all of them painted black with gloss-black 20-inch wheels and a blacked-out grille. Customers get a choice of blue, red, or silver accent stripes and graphics. The Mopar ‘10 Challengers wear a new hood with functional scoop and pins, and an array of Mopar logos. Interior touches consist of Katzkin leather seating, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a numbered Mopar ’10 plaque, and a chrome Mopar shifter. All cars come with a signed concept sketch (seen above), a build book, and a Mopar car cover.

Dodge says a cold-air intake and the hood scoop should yield an extra 15 hp, for a total of about 391 with a manual transmission and 387 with the automatic. The Challenger also has strut-tower braces front and rear, and rides on Super Track Pac suspension, a new option for the 2010 model year. Normally a $400 option for the Challenger R/T, the package includes self-leveling dampers, a larger rear anti-roll bar, a 3.06:1 axle ratio, performance brake pads, 20-inch Goodyear Eagle F1 Super Car tires, and the ability to fully disable the car’s stability control.

Many manufacturers launch tricked-out special editions toward the end of a model’s run to boost sales, but Chrysler says that’s not that case with the Mopar ’10: Challenger sales are reportedly up 125 percent year-over-year. The car will be available from any Dodge dealer in the U.S. or Canada. It costs $38,000 with an automatic transmission or $39,000 with a manual. The company expects about 80 percent of customers to opt for the slushbox.

See the video.

Content courtesy of Car and Driver

Chrysler Group looking at potential Fiat dealers across the U.S.

The Fiat brand in the U.S. will feature the New Fiat 500, which recently celebrated the 53rd anniversary of its introduction in Europe. Dealers will begin selling the iconic Fiat 500 late this year and the Fiat 500 Cabrio in 2011.

Chrysler Group expects to select dealers in about 125 markets identified for growth potential in the small-car segment. Fiat dealers will be located in approximately 41 states.

“The Fiat dealer network will be appropriately sized to serve the market opportunity,” said Peter Grady, Vice President of Network Development and Fleet, Chrysler Group LLC. “Our vision is to establish a dealer network that will reflect and enhance the brand’s reputation for innovation and fun, and will offer a unique, personalized customer experience.”

Chrysler Group will send Dealer Application Guides to dealers in the identified markets containing specific Fiat dealer requirements and instructions on submitting a proposal. The guide presents details on facility, sales strategy, accessory sales, service and parts departments, training curriculum and financial requirements.

Dealers must demonstrate how they will market, sell and service Fiat vehicles with a new customer service model. Basic guidelines include.

• Location – The majority of dealerships will be located in the identified markets
• Eligible Dealers – Proposals from Chrysler Group’s best performing dealers will have preference in the identified markets
• Dealer Performance – Chrysler Group will evaluate interested dealers on volume performance, minimum sales responsibility accomplishment, capitalization and overall Dealer Standards score. In addition, the company will individually evaluate the proposed facility and customer handling metrics.
• Fiat Facility – A completely separate facility will be required to represent the Fiat brand.
• Fiat Team – A separate Fiat team will be required to sell and service the Fiat brand.
• Fiat Standards – Fiat standards will be unique from existing Chrysler Group Dealer Standards.
• Financial – Dealer candidates will have to show that they have the financial resources necessary to support the introduction of the Fiat brand.

Dealers in the target markets will be invited to attend a meeting in Chrysler Group World Headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich. Chrysler Group plans to officially announce its U.S. Fiat dealer network locations in September.

Chrysler unveils smart phone app for 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has received rave reviews for all its features, overall design, and on- and off-road performance. You can add one more thing to the mix — a smart phone app capable of downloading vehicle information.

Chrysler has added a smart phone app available for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee that can download vehicle information that covers warning lights, maintenance schedules, warranties, video demonstrations of features, social media access to other owners, customer service, roadside assistance and instructions for the navigation system.

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the first vehicle to receive it but it will be available for all Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles by the end of 2010. Chrysler anticipates that customers will prefer to search for vehicle information on an iPhone rather than digging around in the glove box or a storage bin for the owner's manual.

In addition, you don’t have to be an owner to download and appreciate the app. Potential buyers can access all kinds of information about a vehicle they’re interested in.

The app was developed by Tweddle Group and is available only on the Apple iPhone right now. It will soon become available on BlackBerry and Android devices, as well.