2006 Ram article in today's Post-Dispatch
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2006 Ram article in today's Post-Dispatch
In today's St Louis paper:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/bus...1?OpenDocument
The Chrysler Group of DaimlerChrysler AG on Thursday unveiled the 2006 Dodge Ram 1500, the most significant redesign of the full-size pickup since the 2002 model. Chrysler hopes a mix of new technology, improved engineering and expanded luxury options will halt tumbling sales of the pickup, which is built in Fenton.
The redesign doesn't come a moment too soon for the automaker, whose Ram pickup has been hard-hit by new vehicles offered by Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp.
U.S. sales of the Dodge Ram 1500 stood at 108,572 units for the first five months of this year, down 24 percent from a year ago, according to online automotive-information service Edmunds.com.
Chrysler "wants to combat some of the new Japanese entries in the market, such as the (Nissan) Titan and (Toyota) Tundra," said Mike Chung, a market analyst at Edmunds.com.
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One of the Dodge Ram 1500's newest features is the cylinder-deactivation system offered with the optional Hemi V-8 engine, the first time this has been offered in a pickup, said Mike Donoughe, vice president at Chrysler's body-on-frame product team.
"When the system senses you don't need V-8 power, it shuts off four cylinders," he said. "It does so in a seamless way such that the customer doesn't notice."
This system will add about 1 mile per gallon for both city and highway travel, raising efficiency to 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.
The new cylinder-deactivation feature should be a hit among consumers, Chung said. "I think it will be a huge selling point for Dodge," he said.
Among the new options offered in the 2006 model are bucket seats with leather trim and power sliding windows for the back of the cab.
Chrysler also touts that the interior of the 2006 model will be 20 percent quieter due to laminated front-door glass and improved door seals.
The new Dodge Ram reflects Chrysler's efforts to maintain the momentum of its product innovations, Donoughe said.
"We want to keep the pedal to the metal," he said.
Besides helping the company and consumers, these innovations help Chrysler workers in Fenton, Donoughe added.
The Dodge Ram 1500 with the regular cab is assembled only at DaimlerChrysler's North assembly plant in Fenton. The larger Ram 1500 with Quad Cab - which offers back seats - is assembled in Fenton; in Warren, Mich.; and in Saltillo, Mexico.
The North assembly plant, which employs about 2,300 people, and the Saltillo plant also build Dodge Ram 2500 pickups.
Declining sales of the Dodge Ram family of pickups forced DaimlerChrysler to idle the North plant for the weeks of May 23 and May 30.
Historically, full-size pickups had a design cycle of about six to seven years, but that has been compressed due to competing vehicles offered by Japanese automakers, Chung said.
For example, Chrysler last had overhauled the Dodge Ram 1500 in 1994 before the 2002 redesign, he noted.
Ford, Chrysler and General Motors Corp. "are beginning to realize that the only real way to combat (Japanese carmakers) is by adding cutting-edge technology, like cylinder deactivation, and improved, refined styling," Chung said.
Dodge Ram 1500: Improvements in 2006 model
All-new frame, suspension and body mounts, which improve ride, handling and quietness.
Redesigned instrument panel, seats and new radio and entertainment features, such as a DVD player for the Quad Cab version.
New bumper, grille, headlamp, fender and wheel designs.
Cylinder-deactivation system for the Hemi V-8 engine, which improves fuel efficiency.
Source: DaimlerChrysler AG
Reporter Gregory Cancelada
E-mail: gcancelada@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-340-8330
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/bus...1?OpenDocument
The Chrysler Group of DaimlerChrysler AG on Thursday unveiled the 2006 Dodge Ram 1500, the most significant redesign of the full-size pickup since the 2002 model. Chrysler hopes a mix of new technology, improved engineering and expanded luxury options will halt tumbling sales of the pickup, which is built in Fenton.
The redesign doesn't come a moment too soon for the automaker, whose Ram pickup has been hard-hit by new vehicles offered by Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp.
U.S. sales of the Dodge Ram 1500 stood at 108,572 units for the first five months of this year, down 24 percent from a year ago, according to online automotive-information service Edmunds.com.
Chrysler "wants to combat some of the new Japanese entries in the market, such as the (Nissan) Titan and (Toyota) Tundra," said Mike Chung, a market analyst at Edmunds.com.
Advertisement
One of the Dodge Ram 1500's newest features is the cylinder-deactivation system offered with the optional Hemi V-8 engine, the first time this has been offered in a pickup, said Mike Donoughe, vice president at Chrysler's body-on-frame product team.
"When the system senses you don't need V-8 power, it shuts off four cylinders," he said. "It does so in a seamless way such that the customer doesn't notice."
This system will add about 1 mile per gallon for both city and highway travel, raising efficiency to 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.
The new cylinder-deactivation feature should be a hit among consumers, Chung said. "I think it will be a huge selling point for Dodge," he said.
Among the new options offered in the 2006 model are bucket seats with leather trim and power sliding windows for the back of the cab.
Chrysler also touts that the interior of the 2006 model will be 20 percent quieter due to laminated front-door glass and improved door seals.
The new Dodge Ram reflects Chrysler's efforts to maintain the momentum of its product innovations, Donoughe said.
"We want to keep the pedal to the metal," he said.
Besides helping the company and consumers, these innovations help Chrysler workers in Fenton, Donoughe added.
The Dodge Ram 1500 with the regular cab is assembled only at DaimlerChrysler's North assembly plant in Fenton. The larger Ram 1500 with Quad Cab - which offers back seats - is assembled in Fenton; in Warren, Mich.; and in Saltillo, Mexico.
The North assembly plant, which employs about 2,300 people, and the Saltillo plant also build Dodge Ram 2500 pickups.
Declining sales of the Dodge Ram family of pickups forced DaimlerChrysler to idle the North plant for the weeks of May 23 and May 30.
Historically, full-size pickups had a design cycle of about six to seven years, but that has been compressed due to competing vehicles offered by Japanese automakers, Chung said.
For example, Chrysler last had overhauled the Dodge Ram 1500 in 1994 before the 2002 redesign, he noted.
Ford, Chrysler and General Motors Corp. "are beginning to realize that the only real way to combat (Japanese carmakers) is by adding cutting-edge technology, like cylinder deactivation, and improved, refined styling," Chung said.
Dodge Ram 1500: Improvements in 2006 model
All-new frame, suspension and body mounts, which improve ride, handling and quietness.
Redesigned instrument panel, seats and new radio and entertainment features, such as a DVD player for the Quad Cab version.
New bumper, grille, headlamp, fender and wheel designs.
Cylinder-deactivation system for the Hemi V-8 engine, which improves fuel efficiency.
Source: DaimlerChrysler AG
Reporter Gregory Cancelada
E-mail: gcancelada@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-340-8330
