With gas prices exceeding $3.65 per gallon on average, filling up could cost upwards of $50, $60, $70 or more. Goodwrench offers consumers helpful tips to improve vehicle fuel economy and help drivers get every possible mile out each drop of gasoline. One of the simplest ways of doing this is with proper vehicle maintenance and sensible driving techniques.
Just like the scene from Office Space when Dom Portwood asks Peter if he received the memo about his TPS reports, today I ask you Truckblog fans, did you get that memo from last week about Truckblog TV and our other huge stories? If you didn't, below is a list of our top blogs from last week for you to read this Monday morning. "So if you could just remember to do that from now on, that'd be great. All right!".
Transporting your toys from A to B is as easy as LGA. Let's Go Aero, manufacturer of innovative Gear Management Solutions, offers a variety of compact trailers ideal for your next sand dune, lakeside, mountain camp or winter resort excursion. LGA trailers - including the GearWagon 125, GearLodge Camper, Little Giant Sport Utility Trailer and LittleGiant Trailer Xpand - are perfectly suited for dirt bike, motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile and personal watercraft owners who don't want the hassle - or expense - of a large, dedicated toy hauler trailer.
In response to direct customer feedback citing the prospect of rising gas prices as a top concern, Chrysler LLC today announces its own economic stimulus package: an exclusive gas price protection policy that eliminates the risk of further spikes in fuel prices. With the U.S. purchase of eligible Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles, customers can enroll in the “Let’s Refuel America” program and receive a gas card that immediately lowers their gas price to $2.99 a gallon, and keeps it there for three years. The offer is available at 3,511 U.S. Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealerships through June 2, 2008, and is available on vehicles ranging from popular new compacts, crossovers and minivans to full-size diesel-powered pickup trucks.
Solid By Design, Inc. has been granted a license by AMP Research to manufacture AMP’ patented Alloy Fuel Doors exclusively for the automotive aftermarket. AMP Research will continue to manufacture its custom alloy fuel-filler doors sold through OEM accessory programs that include GM, Ford, Chrysler, Mazda, Mitsubishi.
Edmund's Inside Line have posted their thorough review of the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 CRD SUV. Earning an average of 19.3 miles per gallon, the new diesel powered Jeep Grand Cherokee serves as a perfect replacement for it's V8 SRT8 cousin, which only boasts a hefty 13.4 miles per gallon. Another advantage of the new 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee's diesel engine is it's price, at only $1,655 which is far cheaper than it's full size heavy duty pickup truck brothers. The bottom line of the new Cherokee is that it provides an "Affordable diesel option [that] makes the Grand Cherokee a far more practical proposition". Click here to read their review.
In an article by US News, with gas prices climbing past the $4.00 dollar per gallon mark nation wide, SUV trade in values and sales have fallen over 14 percent in March alone, compared to the same time one year ago. The SUV used car sales have been so bad, that some dealers have been forced to sell them overseas, facing expensive transportation costs and little profit. Al Johnson of AutoNation's Maroone Nissan in Pembroke, Florida said "the dealership had been exporting about one car a month" in recent years, but this year they average roughly 10".
AutoObserver is reporting that Chrysler LLC has spent the most on incentives for their popular Dodge Ram pickup truck, than any other manufacturer. "Dodge Ram was an average of $8,260 for every truck Chrysler sold. The average transaction pice on a Ram is $31,900". Chrysler recently handed over their Ram pickup truck to Nissan, who is also dropping the Titan, for the 2010 model year.
According to Chrysler Weblog, Chrysler LLC will no longer be unveiling their new models in large scale, "theatrical" events that have gained so much attention in the past, such as the stampede of steers that raided Detroit in January. The reason is for cutting costs and shining "spotlight on more of its vehicles than pyrotechnics" said Robert Nardelli, Chief Executive. The cost cuts are part of a company plan for more "straight forward" introductions of vehicles, leading to a "shift in thinking".
Just in case that "PC Load Letter" error is getting you down this morning, we have composed a list of last week's top blogs to make you happy again. Especially the 2010 Ford F-150 4.4 Liter Diesel pictures! Check out the full list below.
The USA Today has published an article about automotive manufacturers producing more cars that run off premium gasoline, at a time when prices at the pump are breaking records every day. In an analysis by Kelley Blue Book, the number of new vehicles that need premium gasoline has risen from 166 vehicles in the 2002 model year to 282 vehicles this year, almost double the amount at a time when fuel efficiency is of great importance.
According to Autoweek, Chrysler LLC has plans to debut their hybrid option for the Dodge Ram pickup truck in 2010. "The hybrid version of its high-volume hauler is part of the automaker’s plans to reshape its product portfolio in the coming years", stated Frank Klegon, Chrysler's Executive Vice President of Product Development.
Bloomberg reports that Chrysler will be cutting the Jeep Commander SUV from their model line up. Introduced in 2005, the Jeep Commander is a large scale SUV, and also the worst-selling of Chrysler's six Jeep models. The road will end next summer, mid-2009, after sales plunged over 43 percent this year alone. "The vehicle will be canceled after an unusually short life span. Mainstream models generally are allowed to make it at least through one full product cycle, or the seven or eight years between significant redesigns" said Tom Libby of J.D. Power & Associates. No further details have been released.
Chrysler LLC will introduce a wide array of new, innovative and — in most cases — industry-first technologies, all designed to enhance the customer experience, the company announced here today at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress.
Chrysler LLC and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced two new agreements for the supply of products between both companies. In January, Nissan agreed to supply Chrysler with a new car based on the Nissan Versa sedan for limited distribution in South America on an Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) basis in 2009.
A hitch with the towing electrical connection built INSIDE the receiver? It's an innovation that would have others asking, "Why didn't I think of that?!" Valley, a towing industry leader for more than 60 years, did. New Integrated Trailer Wiring(tm) hitches from Valley are inventive and stylish. Advancements in manufacturing technology have allowed the towing electrical connection to be moved INSIDE the cross tube of the receiver, eliminating the need for unsightly brackets or to drape the harness outside the vehicle where it can be damaged by weather and road debris.
Mopar and the Mopar Underground team showcased their customized Jeep vehicles and Dodge trucks at Moab Jeep Safari 2008 in March. “Jeep engineering has been coming to Moab for years. Mopar is at Moab to test, evaluate and prove the authenticity of our Mopar Performance Parts for Jeep vehicles and Dodge trucks on the most grueling off-road trails in Moab,” said Simon Boag, President – Service & Parts/Mopar, Chrysler LLC.
In an article by Bloomberg.com, Chrysler LLC president, Jim Press, stated in an interview at the New York Auto Show that the automaker "needs about half of its 11 current SUV models" and is looking to downsize its inventory. Chrysler LLC, which is the United States' third largest automaker, is trying to reduce costs after taking a $2 billion dollar loss since 2006.
Leading with innovation, Chrysler LLC launches industry’s first online Customer Advisory Board to establish ongoing two-way dialogue with customers and gain their insights on product features and technologies. The online Customer Advisory Board’s closed forum leverages the leading-edge technology of Passenger, which is the leader in on-demand customer collaboration, to engage customers in active collaboration about products and business efforts.
Chrysler have announced they will be offering In-Car Internet, beginning this year. "The feature will be added to existing vehicles by dealers beginning this year and later be installed on the assembly line" stated Chrysler's Product Development Chief, Frank Klegon. Chrysler also hopes to make the radio itself a WiFi port. The technology will not be free though, and will utilize mobile phone towers for its signal, so you will need a wireless phone carrier for the system to work. The new Internet option can be added to existing models and will be worked into the future assembly line soon. Now you have an excuse to check out Truckblog even more, and become an even greater traffic hazard! What happened to safety?
Mopar, Chrysler LLC’s original equipment parts manufacturer and supplier, announced it has introduced a new 3-year/100,000-mile warranty on its remanufactured powertrain assemblies for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles. Mopar’s new comprehensive warranty on the reman powertrain assemblies covers the costs of all parts and labor. It includes a $75 towing allowance and is transferable. There is also no deductible required.
The IntelliStick is a compact dipstick replacement device which electronically monitors multiple conditions of engine oil and continuously scans for water/coolant and fuel intrusions.
Can you believe it's already Monday again? What happened to the weekend? Well, one thing is for sure, at least this week we get to look forward to more exciting news about our economy. Starting off with the price of oil tipping $110 per barrel, $3.29 dollar average gasoline prices (don't forget the diesel guys at well over $4.00 already!), continued market share decline for domestic automakers, Union employees not agreeing yet on contracts, and more vehicle recalls. However, on a happier note, here's a list of our top stories from last week that you may have missed in the midst of all the action last week.
There's no shouting for joy in this article, unlike the Jeep Diesel engine announcement below. Reported by the Detroit Free Press, Chrysler has announced that they will be shutting down production in July for two weeks, and that two weeks of employee vacation time will be sacrificed as a requirement to the company wide shutdown. The reasoning is "an effort to improve the auto-maker's efficiency and boost productivity".
The all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee S Limited debuts at the 78th International Motor Show in Geneva. This package combines the high-performance appearance of the SRT8 model with the efficiency of the 3.0-litre V-6 CRD engine or the recently revised 4.7-litre V-8 petrol engine. All Jeep Grand Cherokee models received styling refinements just a few months ago, and the new S Limited further broadens customer appeal.
Just in case you were trapped in that corporate meeting last week, or you did not have enough time to check out the blog, here is a list of our top blogs from last week.
In an article from The Detroit News, Chrysler LLC has told Canada they should follow the newer and more strict, United States fuel economy standards, in an effort to help solve the American demand for fuel and oil. However, the president of Chrysler Canada, Reid Bigland, stated in an interview that Canada "represents less than 2 percent of the global automotive industry, to want to come up with its own homemade environmental standards is simply going to result in reduced selection and significant increases in costs". Canada's government approved new rules last month that will cut auto emissions to standards and levels that are produced by United States, by 2011. Recently, the United States government passed new standards that require vehicles to meet a national average of 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020.
Attention all Off-Road enthusiasts! Flowmaster Mufflers have designed and developed their new Super 44 Off-Road series mufflers proven for the trail. Offering a massive improvement of crush resistance over previous mufflers, these heavy-duty off-road series mufflers utilize the same technology as used in the Super 44 series mufflers, found on our most popular model vehicles.
Yahoo Finance reports that Chrysler LLC will be cutting their model line up by half, as well as shrinking their dealership network, all in effort to sell and distribute its three brands under one company and dealership. Nearly 30 different trucks, cars, and SUV's will be cut, to help lower costs. Whether or not the Dodge Ram pickup or Jeep Wrangler & Jeep Commander platforms will be effected, is unknown at this time.
Whether you were screaming for the New York Giants to win the Super Bowl or not, we all saw this years round up of funny, and sometimes controversial, Super Bowl commercials. Check out our poll and vote for your favorite automotive Super Bowl commercial this year. Just in case you missed our blog last week, click here to see our preview of this years Super Bowl Commercials. Click full story to vote!
As the count down begins till Super Bowl XLII this Sunday between the New England Patriots and New York Giants, the best part of watching the big game are the commercials, (and free beer of course). We've composed a list of the automotive commercials you will see during the Sunday showdown. Whoever's idea it was to incorporate Richard Simmons into a Super Bowl commercial, please, please, please, do not torture us again!
XtremeMac today announced its InCharge FM™ transmitter and car charger for Apple’s iPod. InCharge FM will charge an iPod while simultaneously transmitting audio from the iPod wirelessly to any FM radio. InCharge FM incorporates PureFM™ technology by Quintic and proprietary audio enhancements by XtremeMac to deliver unmatched performance. This means a consistently clean signal and excellent dynamic range for wireless transmission of near CD quality sound.
Chrysler have decided to update their 2008 Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass models, with new exterior colors, added interior features including air conditioning as a standard, upgraded transmission now with Auto Stick option, improved driveability and reduced powertrain noise, added packages and more. For more details, check out the releases inside.
Chrysler LLC added to its list of fuel efficient powertrain offerings for the all-new Dodge Ram 1500 pickup today, announcing that the company’s advanced two-mode hybrid will join the light-duty Dodge Ram powertrain lineup for 2010. The Dodge Ram HEMI® Hybrid joins the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango in the Chrysler hybrid vehicle lineup.
The Detroit Big 3, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, have released information regarding their diesel engine options and their release dates. General Motors will be offering a hybrid gasoline-electric engine in the Chevrolet Silverado later this year, following with a 4.5-liter diesel engine next year in 2009.
As we previously posted, Chrysler debuted their re-designed 2009 Dodge Ram pickup truck with a stampede of steers. If you missed the release of the 2009 Dodge Ram, click here. Check out this video of the introduction at the North American International Auto Show.
Oopsies! (snicker) PickupTruck.com reported to us, "The embargo dam has broken on the all new 2009 Dodge Ram. Earlier today several small photos of the truck appeared. And then Allpar.com published high resolution shots PLUS the press releases. Oh yeah, NY Times broke the embargo too. Find out more HERE!".
In layman's terms, this just means that The New York Times and Allpar opened up the flood gates for everyone else to release all their photos and news about the 2009 Dodge Ram before the official Monday release date and time. I'm sure Chrysler's lawyers will have a few choice words for them. In the meantime, let's get Truckblog up to speed.
We've got all the press releases coming here shortly to Truckblog, but you might be wanting to get your hands on the 2009 Dodge Ram photos released to the press. We've got all 80 of 'em.
The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram pickup truck will be announced next week at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), but you're not there, you're here... so why freeze your arse off in Detroit when you can drool at all the photos from the comfort of your home?
With rapidly rising fuel rates and demand for oil, teamed with a recently passed energy legislation mandating a 40 percent fuel efficiency increase to a standard 35 miles per gallon, General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler LLC are in an arms race to produce the first light duty diesel pickup truck and diesel SUVs. The following article gives you a full break down of diesel technology, price variability on vehicles, and the automakers plans for diesel trucks and SUVs. Reported by The Detroit News
DodgeTalk posted an image of the 2009 Dodge Ram they discovered by accident on Dodge's accessory website, MoparAccessories.com. No details have been released about the truck, other than the announcement of their rear coil sprung rear end that we reported about. But with all of the excitement behind the 2009 Dodge Ram pickups, Dodge announced that they will halt production of the 2008 Dodge Ram for the entire month of January 2008.
The Detroit Free Press reported that Chrysler LLC is recalling almost 600,000 2001 to 2002 Dakota pickups, Durango SUV's, Dodge Ram Vans and 2002 Dodge Ram pickup trucks, due to a concern that the vehicles could shift out of park without the key in the ignition. In some reported cases, long term wear can occur on the gearshift assembly due to corrosion. Nine accidents have been reported so far with no fatalities. Owners will be
