One aspect of the 2012 model year vehicles from the Dodge
brand was that the stupid trimlines introduced for the 2011 model year were
almost completely eliminated.While the
Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger stuck to the more traditional trimlines like
SE, SXT, R/T and SRT (plus the Rallye trimline here and there), the Avenger,
Caliber, Durango, Journey and Grand Caravan went away from the familiar
trimlines to make room for “jazzy” new trimlines names.
Across the brand, 2011 brought us fresh new trimlines like
Express, Heat, Mainstreet, Uptown, Rush, Lux, Crew, CrewLux, and Citadel
although the R/T model remained for the Journey, Durango and Grand Caravan (we
cannot forget the Man Van). Those names at least sound a little more exciting name than things like SE and SXT, but the
problem was there was really no way to tell how the trimlines were
tiered. Is the Express faster than the Heat? Which is more fancy, the Lux or the Uptown? The lack of an obvious progression made it hard for the less-than-enthusiastic new car buyer to keep track of what
was what – even though sales continued to boom for the Dodge brand through the
2011 model year.
However, with the introduction of the 2012 model year
vehicles, the majority of the nameplates have gone back to the good ol’
recognizable trimlines.Of the 2011
model year trimlines, only the Crew and Citadel options remain for the Durango
while the Grand Caravan and Journey both also retain the Crew trimline for
2012.For the Avenger and Caliber, on
the other hand, buyers are back to the recognizable and distinguishable
trimlines like SE and SXT – two trimlines that also return to the larger
Durango, Grand Caravan and the Journey.
Great move, Dodge. You have a great lineup of cars and now you’ve put back the trimlines
that consumer America can recognize.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
One aspect of the 2012 model year vehicles from the Dodge