With 15 awards tucked under its belt, the 2009 Dodge Ram becomes one of the trucks to watch out for. The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram earned a place on Ward’s distinguished list of winners, taking home the “2009 Interior of the Year” award in the popular-priced truck category.

“From the big, chunky knobs on the dashboard to the in-floor storage bins and the folding second-row seats, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram reminds us that big trucks can be rugged, functional and cool, all at the same time,” said Tom Murphy, executive editor of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine. “The editors find the Dodge Ram’s new interior extremely comfortable and well-conceived,” Murphy said. “The saddle stitching on the seats and instrument panel make a wonderful styling statement, as do the upscale instrument gauges.”

The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram was the first “graduate” of the company’s new Advance Interior Design Studio. The 2009 Dodge Ram stands out with a renewed emphasis on craftsmanship expressed in premium interior appointments including six-ring instrumentation, re-designed controls, chromed accents, premium seating with improved bolsters and two-tone upholstery.

All 2009 Dodge Ram interiors are significantly upgraded with “soft-touch” materials that feature industry-first two-tone technology and premium fit and finish. Full-width contrasting stitching is offered on soft-touch instrument panels for Sport and Laramie models.

The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Regular, Quad and Crew Cab models recently earned Five Star ratings for driver- and front-passenger protection in a frontal crash, the highest ratings in the U.S. government’s safety crash test program. The U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 is $22,170 (including $900 destination).

(Source) Press

Tags: 2009 dodge ram, autoworld, craftsmanship, crash test, Dashboard, destination source, dodge ram 1500, frontal crash, instrument panel, instrument panels, interior appointments, interior design studio, storage bins, test program

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Despite the tumbling economy, Chrysler has been able to weather the storm. One of the big three that was reportedly in dire straits as far as financing operations is concerned, Chrysler LLC’s sales throughout the Midwest, the Rockies and the plains of America posted a retail sales increase of almost 3% over February.

The region has shown positive sales growth for two consecutive months despite industry trends. Chrysler LLC also bucked the trend nationwide reporting March U.S. total sales greater than 100,000 units for the first time since Sept. 2008 and increased retail market share to an estimated 10 percent.

On top of a second month of sales improvements, Dodge Ram 1500 was awarded the 2009 Truck of the Year and the Dodge Challenger was awarded the 2009 Car of the Year by the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press Association.

“We are honored by the continuing vote of confidence from our customers, dealers and media across this region. Our focus remains to keep rebuilding their confidence and trust,” said Fred Diaz, Director of the Denver Business Center, Chrysler LLC.

“The market is starting to show small signs of life which need to be nourished like seedlings,” said Jim Press, Vice Chairman and President, Chrysler LLC. “The fact that we exceeded 100,000 units for the first time since last fall is encouraging, and evidence that our improved quality, improved mileage as well as value represented in Employee Pricing Plus Plus are just what the doctor ordered for recession-wary customers who are reluctant to make long-term purchases. It’s too early to see a trend, but spring shows signs of hope.”

(Source) Press

Tags: business center, car of the year, Chrysler, denver business, dodge challenger, dodge ram 1500, market share, mileage, retail sales, rockies, rocky mountain

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Despite the hard times, getting together for a good cause in the eyes of a child is something that two car giants and a competition winner have done to make a new child-designed playground in one day. More than 1,100 children who attend the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley got a great new place to play thanks to the efforts of Robert Nowaczyk, a Los Angeles County firefighter and winner of the Dodge Ram Challenge.

Dodge donated the new playspace in honor of Nowaczyk who won the Ram Challenge, a real-life, high-energy product attribute demonstration pitting American icons against one another on an obstacle course built in the rough California terrain. Teams of firemen, cowboys, military personnel and contractors were each given a stock 2009 Dodge Ram Crew 1500 to compete against one another in four races and elimination rounds to determine which team could out tough and outsmart the competition.

As the ultimate winner, Nowaczyk won a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 truck in addition to the playground. Nowaczyk selected the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley as the recipient of the community-built playground because the club did not have outdoor playground equipment for the hundreds of children it annually serves.

Throughout the day, volunteers hauled more than 61,560 square feet of mulch — enough to cover 12 regulation-sized basketball courts — by hand in tarps; mixed approximately 14,880 pounds of concrete — equal to the weight of nearly four Dodge Challengers — by hand in wheelbarrows; and assembled brightly colored playground equipment to bring the new play area to life.

(Source) Press

Tags: 2009 dodge ram, chrysler dodge, dodge challengers, dodge ram 1500, nowaczyk

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The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Regular Cab and Quad Cab earned the nod for safest driver- and front-passenger protection in a frontal crash, getting the highest ratings in the U.S. government’s safety crash test program. The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab received the same five-star ratings earlier this year.

“Safety is an engineering priority in all Chrysler vehicles and the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram is proof of our efforts,” said Scott Kunselman, Vice President – Body on Frame Product Team, Chrysler LLC. “The all-new Dodge Ram offers enhanced passive safety protection as well as the latest active safety technologies. We have integrated more than 35 safety and security features, instilling the confidence our customers want and expect.”

When it comes to safety and security, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 employs a two-fold approach: passive features including pre-tensioning seat belt retractors and supplemental side-curtain air bags are combined with accident-avoidance features including responsive steering, braking, handling and ESC.

(Source) Press

Tags: 2009 dodge ram, accident avoidance, air bags, chrysler vehicles, crash test, crew cab, dodge ram 1500, five star, passive safety, safety and security, safety protection, safety technologies, seat belt retractors, security features, star ratings, test program

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