International Auto Industry, Detroit True "SURVIVORS!"

Images from the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit set to "Survivor - Victor Calderone Club Mix" by Destiny's Child.

Following the 2008 economic downturn and the current municipal bankruptcy situation in Detroit, both have proven to be true survivors.

Photos: Mike Woolfolk/TWG Media
Music: "Survivor-Victor Caldrone Club Mix" by Destiny's Child/Copyright 2001/Columbia Records

A Show to Remember: NAIAS 2012 Closes with Smiles, High-Fives, and Optimism

Detroit, MI (NAIAS) - After a spectacular nine day run, the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 2012 is in the books. Today's attendance of 101,141 topped last year's final day numbers of 98,106, bringing total attendance of the 2012 show to 770,932, the highest since 2005.

2012 NAIAS at Cobo Hall
Detroit, Michigan

Bill Perkins, chairman, NAIAS, said the show lived up to its reputation of being one of the top in the world.

"From the press to the public, everyone realized that this was a very special show," said Perkins. "People want to feel good again about the industry, which is now obviously in a better place than it was a few years ago. As a result, this year's show was a 'must-see' event, as the attendance numbers indicate," he said. "Everything that could go right.did."

2012 Ram 1500 and 2012 Jeep® Wrangler Win "Best for the Money" Accolades from U.S. News & World Report

AUBURN HILLS, MI (PRNewswire) -- The 2012 Ram 1500 has been named U.S. News & World Report's "2012 Best Full-Size Pickup Truck for the Money" and the 2012 Jeep® Wrangler has been named the "2012 Best Off-Road SUV for the Money." The Ram 1500 and Jeep Wrangler took top honors for outstanding value and availability of features buyers want.

RAM 1500

"The Ram Truck brand is meeting the needs and expectations of our customers with the best trucks in the market," said Fred Diaz, President and CEO of Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico — Chrysler Group LLC. "U.S. News & World Report's 2012 Best Full-Size Pickup Truck for the Money award is a powerful, independent accolade, standing as an endorsement for the 2012 Ram 1500 and its value for the money."

Car and Driver teams up with Chrysler to battle distracted driving

You jump in your car, start the engine, put it in gear and start driving.  As you head toward the other side of town where you have a business lunch appointment, you look at the clock and see that it's 11:40 AM.  You immediately utter a choice word-- that shall remain unprinted-- because you know that you're at least 30 minutes away and your appointment is at noon.  What do you do?  If you're like many people, you grab your cell phone and immediately become a distracted driver.

That scenario plays itself out on roads countless times a day placing drivers and others in danger.  Consider a few facts found on the Distraction.gov website:

• In 2008, almost 20 percent of all crashes in the year involved some type of distraction. (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - NHTSA)
• Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver, and more than half a million were injured. (Source: NHTSA)
• Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)

Numerous studies indicate that distracted driving remains a major problem and serious concern on American roads.  In an effort to make roads safer, Car and Driver Magazine has teamed up with Chrysler to release a nifty smartphone app called Txt U L8r.

The Txt U L8r mobile app, when active, automatically reads incoming text messages and reads them out loud for drivers to hear.  The app then sends an automatic response saying that you are driving and will text the messenger back soon.  Effectively, drivers need not take their hands off the wheel or eyes off the road.

Txt U L8r appears to be a branded version of the DriveSafe.ly app developed by iSpeech.org.  Both apps are currently available as free downloads for Android and Blackberry devices.  The DriveSafe.ly site indicates versions of that app for Windows Mobile devices and the Apple iPhone are coming soon. 

Since I'm an iPhone user, I have not tried either app and can't say whether they perform as advertised.  If you use Txt U L8r or DriveSafe.ly, share your thoughts on the apps and rate their performance.

Download Txt U L8r for Android or Blackberry

Download DriveSafe.ly for Android or Blackberry

First Impressions: 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan

I'm reviewing the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan this week.  It is not very grand. This would not be my choice for a personal vehicle. It has no style and no pizazz. Mini-vans aren't even cool soccer mom vehicles anymore with competition from much more expressive crossovers. Hmmm...

The Grand Caravan has a standard V-6 engine that produces anaemic acceleration.  When I say there is nothing remotely fun about driving this vehicle, please believe me.

It's signature feature is the famous "Stow 'n Go" rear seats which you can make quickly disappear into the floor to create substantial cargo space. Click here to see video demonstration.

I will say this-- the Grand Caravan is good basic transportation if you need room for family and cargo without spending a lot of money. The test model they sent me has no options and comes in under $24,000 including the destination charge.

Chrysler/Dodge pioneered the modern minivan in the early 1980's under the leadership of Lee Iacocca.  It now appears the company is trying to stay in a market that GM and Ford have left. And, I'm fairly confident that this bare bones test model would not stack up well against the Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna.  But, even with more creature comfort features, I still would not pick a minivan. Chalk it up to personal taste.

Test Drive: 2010 Ram 1500 Laramie Edition

Pickup trucks are not just for hauling construction supplies and towing horse trailers anymore.  While sales were down in 2009 for every major manufacturer, U.S. consumers still purchased more than 1.4 million pickup trucks.

Trucks remain popular and therefore, automakers continue to give consumers options ranging from small to large and basic utility to sheer luxury.  The 2010 Ram 1500 Laramie Edition is clearly in the big and luxury columns.

As a former HUMMER H2 owner, I like big vehicles.  There is something about their practical utility and bodacious image that make you feel invincible.  When I stepped into the 2010 1500 Laramie that Ram sent for review, I felt like I was back in my old H2 but with upgrades.

The leather seats are comfortably wide and—like the H2—they can warm your body when it’s cold.  However—unlike the H2—the Laramie seats can also cool your body when it’s hot because, in addition to being heated, they also are ventilated.

Another advantage the 1500 Laramie has over my former HUMMER is very good rear access.  This crew cab has large rear doors making it easy for passengers to enter and exit.  Rear leg room and shoulder room are quite ample allowing three-- maybe four, depending on size-- guests to ride in comfort almost matching the driver and front passenger.

Of course, the true mettle of a pickup truck is its utility.  In the case of the Ram 1500 Laramie edition, the crew cab configuration allows for the shortest payload length in the 1500 lineup; just 67.4 inches.  However, my test model was equipped with an extender allowing you to open the tailgate to accommodate and secure longer items.

This truck also provides several storage options including two glove compartments; a deep, split-level center console; and map pockets on the inside.  Outside, the 1500 Laramie has fairly deep, lockable side storage boxes on both sides of the payload area providing good space to securely keep tools or other items.

Under the hood, the Ram 1500 Laramie has the venerable 5.7-Liter HEMI V-8 engine which produces 390 horsepower and 407 lb-ft of torque.  Acceleration is brisk; cruising is smooth.  And, if you have something to tow, the muscular powertrain allows you to pull up to 9,900 pounds and carry a maximum payload of 1,430 pounds.

Features

Standard features on the Ram 1500 Laramie Edition include remote keyless entry, security alarm, tire pressure monitor, SIRIUS satellite radio, heated and leather wrapped steering wheel, 20-inche chrome wheels, and more.

Optional features on the test model included leather-trimmed bucket seats, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, rear park assist system, RamBox cargo management system, and more.

Summary

The Ram 1500 Laramie Edition is a good combination of size, strength and suppleness.  It provides the comfort you expect from a luxury SUV and the utility you expect from the average pickup truck.  If you are in the market for a truck, do not write this one off before you give it a serious look.

Editor’s Note:  While the Ram series is America’s #3 selling full-size pickup behind the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado, MotorWeek—television’s original automotive newsmagazine—has named the Ram series its 2010 Drivers’ Choice Award winner for the second consecutive year.

Test Drive: 2009 Dodge Challenger

This Challenger Fails to Meet the Challenge

Detroit’s mid-decade desire to return to the glory days of muscle cars resulted in well-received concepts from the each of the “Big 3” automakers. At Chrysler’s Dodge division, that meant the return of the Challenger.

I was excited about this car when it appeared in concept form at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Dodge designers had clearly recaptured the muscular magnificence of Challenger’s past, creating a look that had me salivating at the thought of one day driving one. It took a while, but that day finally came and I found myself less than impressed.

Having driven a Chrysler 300 SRT-8 with the 6.1 liter HEMI V-8 engine-- loving its quick acceleration and taut, muscular feel-- I was extremely disappointed to find that the Challenger R/T, equipped with the 5.7 liter HEMI V-8, produced little-- if any-- feeling of muscular power. Everything about the driving experience—seating, steering, acceleration—felt loose. It was not what I expected. Yes, the Challenger R/T had power, but it felt more like big touring sedan power than muscle coupe power. I felt like I was driving a boat, not a sports car.

Maybe I need the perspective of having driven a late 70’s model Challenger, like the “General Lee,” featured in the television series “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

My guess is the Challenger SRT-8 is tight. My experience with the challenger R/T was not. Sales seem to bear this out. The Challenger lags behind the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang.

Features

Standard features on the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T test model included remote keyless entry, day/night rear view mirror, cruise control and AM/FM/CD/MP3 radio with 4-speaker sound. SIRIUS Satellite Radio was the only added option.

Summary

As 21st Century muscle cars go, the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T has the look, but doesn’t completely deliver on performance. I expected a lot more.