On the heels of Ford's success with its Transit Connect truck-car, Fiat is going to import its own little van to sell as a Ram.


In Europe, it's known as the Fiat Doblo and it has a lot of the same qualities that are making the Transit Connect a success. It is a little van that looks like the back of a truck grafted to an economy car. The type of vehicle has been popular in Europe and other regions of the world, but not in the U.S.

Ford hawks Transit Connects to flower deliverers, plumbers and even converts them to passenger use for taxicabs. Nissan has also introduced similar vehicles.

Doblo is made in Turkey, just like the Transit Connect.

Fiat says it has signed a letter of intent with its Turkish joint-venture partner, Tofas, for Doblos that can be sold in the U.S. and Canada. Tofas is going invest $160 million in the venture. They start arriving in early 2013.

The 2013 Ram 1500 was revealed Thursday as part of a debut at the New York auto show, with new technology, better fuel economy and a host of other upgrades.

The biggest news is the availability of the company's Pentastar V6 engine, displacing 3.6 liters and tuned to deliver 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. The new engine makes 42 percent more horsepower, 13 percent more torque and returns at least 20 percent better fuel economy than the outgoing 3.7-liter V6.

The 5.7-liter Hemi is still offered, but the 4.7-liter V8 is no longer available. The Hemi makes 395 hp and 407 lb-ft of torque. It's capable of towing 11,500 pounds when it is specified as part of the Ram 1500 Tradesman Heavy Duty package.

The company will offer eight-speed transmissions in both V6- and V8-equipped Ram trucks by the end of the year. The transmission is controlled by a new dash-mounted rotary dial. Ram says it enables quick, blind shifts from reverse to drive when towing or plowing. The dial replaces both console- and column-mounted shifters.

In addition to the new transmissions, Ram made a handful of other adjustments to improve fuel economy. The pickups include a new thermal management system that quickly raises engine-fluid temperature to decrease small losses. Ram says that thermal management alone increases fuel economy 1.7 percent. That might not seem like much, but in addition to the stop/start system and weight reduction also new for 2013, it will save a significant amount of fuel over the life of the vehicle.

Another cool new feature on the Ram is the adjustable ride-height function. In normal mode the truck operates with 8.7 inches of ground clearance. When exiting and entering the vehicle, it drops two inches. For going off road, the truck can be raised either 1.2 inches or 2 inches. Chrysler says that leads to a best-in-class step-in height, best-in-class ground clearance and best-in-class departure angle.

The 2013 Ram uses a stiffer frame for better stability while decreasing noise and vibration. The front rails are made of high-strength steel that saves 30 pounds. SRT engineers also reworked the suspension geometry for improved responsiveness.

On the outside of the truck, Ram made the signature grille larger, while the crosshairs are now flush with the grille surround. Vertically oriented fog lights are integrated into the fascia with brighter headlights with LEDs for parking and turning. A new six-foot, four-inch bed option is offered on the Crew Cab, combining the Ram's largest available cab with its largest available bed.

Inside, in addition to the e-shift knob, the Ram gets a handful of improvements to make the cabin an even better place to be. An 8.4-inch Uconnect screen sits front and center displaying navigation, audio and climate info. Redundant climate controls are also on the dash. Below the climate controls is the Ram's switchbank, which can be wired to control several features, depending on model. A smaller information screen sits in the gauge cluster.

All of the stuff in the new Ram needs to be connected. For that it uses the Powernet system that allows both high- and low-speed data networks to be connected to 40 individual modules designed to improve vehicle performance, comfort and safety. The Powernet architecture is also the brain that supports the Uconnect system.

The 2013 Ram pickup will hit dealerships later this year.



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Thermal management isn't a new frontier for improved fuel economy, but automakers are finding that seemingly small changes add up and that system integration provides opportunities to do more with less.

The 2013 Ram 1500 pickup HFE (high fuel efficiency) uses a host of effective ways to get class-leading truck fuel economy, and the U.S EPA window sticker numbers are impressive:18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway for the 3.6-L V6 with idle-stop and eight-speed automatic—a 20% improvement over the previous model. The standard V6/eight-speed model (without idle-stop) is close: 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway.

The eight-speed automatic accounts for six of the 20 percentage points, and although the 3.6-L V6 and low-rolling-resistance tires also contribute, thermal management plays an important part, too. The previous generation had a 3.7-L V6 with only the six-speed automatic and EPA numbers of 14 mpg city/20 mpg highway.

At the front are computer-controlled "active" grille shutters, a considerable advance from their historical origin: a manual "winterfront," primarily on trucks and buses, to restrict grille airflow to raise coolant temperatures for cabin heating. Next we began to see computer-controlled shutters on premium European cars as a way (with a road speed input) to improve vehicle aerodynamics. The Ram 1500 pickup is a step ahead.

If forward motion ("ram") airflow is more than sufficient for the front-end cooling module (condenser, radiator, and transmission oil cooler), the shutters close to the extent possible and excess airflow runs over and around the front end. The Ram's coefficient of drag is 0.360 in the HFE vs. 0.376 for the standard model and 0.386 for the 2012 edition. A truck bed tonneau cover also is used on the HFE, and it's a measurable contributor to the HFE aero, too.

Most road-speed-triggered active shutters close for improved aero at 35-40 mph (56-64 km/h) if coolant temperatures are in an acceptable range. The Ram's more comprehensive strategy, however, uses a test-proven map that is based on coolant, engine oil, and transmission oil temperatures and road speed (the shutters may be closed until as low as 10 mph/16 km/h, and they open at about 80 mph/129 km/h and above, to pre-empt engine cooling). The map logic also incorporates radiator fan operation and air-conditioning system high-side pressure to provide even greater range of control.

The traditional thermal or electronically controlled clutch fan on trucks is replaced on the Ram by radiator electric fans that are pulse-width-modulated (PWM). They operate at specific duty cycles for more precise fan speed control, rather than just on or off, or at a choice of fixed speeds. PWM fans are used on some cars and crossovers, but the Ram adds a dc-to-dc converter to the electrical system to ensure uniform voltage is always available for all devices, also including lighting, audio, and HVAC.

The Ram features an active transmission warm-up system with an oil-coolant heat exchanger on the transmission. The hoses are connected to the engine cooling system. Although this is one of the items eligible for the EPA-proposed off-cycle CAFE carbon credits (corporate average fuel economy), Chrysler integration engineer Jamie Standring said it was in the original engineering plan for the Ram program to provide best-in-class fuel economy.

The engine cooling circuit has both a three-way valve for coolant and a bypass valve in the transmission oil cooling circuit so the transmission oil can be warmed up more quickly from a cold start, which reduces parasitic loss from the drag of the spinning gears. If the transmission oil is getting too hot, such as during towing, the bypass valve setup directs oil from the heat exchanger and into the transmission cooler in the front-end cooling module.

The system originally also included an electrically heated engine coolant thermostat controlled by the powertrain module. It was intended to warm up the engine oil faster by circulating warming coolant through an oil-to-coolant heat exchanger for another reduction in parasitic losses from the crankshaft churning through the oil. However, during final preproduction durability testing, the thermostat wiring connector failed. The continuing test results showed no difference in fuel economy, which was attributed to the fact that a low-viscosity oil was being used (5W-20) and the grille shutters were closed, producing approximately the same effect on coolant (and engine oil) warming. This showed how important the shutters were in thermal management. In this case, that they would permit taking the electrically heated thermostat out of the picture. An oil of even lower viscosity (0W-20) also is possible if improvement could be validated, Standring added.

This discovery could permit Chrysler to get two off-cycle carbon credits for the grille shutters—one for active aero, another for the active engine warm-up from the shutters' strategy (along with the low-viscosity oil) that results in faster oil warm-up for reduced drag as the crank spins. Because they're extra credits (that is, off the EPA drive cycles), they will apply only to CAFE, not to window sticker. The schedule of credits still is going through the EPA regulatory development process; when the credits become final, they will apply retroactively and could be carried forward. There is no specific hardware requirement, so if a manufacturer accomplishes the objectives with special strategies and existing components, and shows good data to EPA, credits will be awarded.

The credits are applied only according to the percentage of qualifying production. The EPA-specified fleet average is 250 g/mi, but each company is assigned an exact target, based on the types of vehicles it produces. Trucks may receive higher off-cycle credits than cars. Active engine oil and transmission oil warm-up is worth 1.8 g/mi each for cars and trucks, but idle-stop for trucks would provide 4.5 g/mi vs. 2.9 g/mi for cars.

The Ram HFE is Chrysler's first vehicle with an idle-stop system, and it also was integrated—including shutters operation and idle-stop A/C-off blower speed control—into the thermal management system. Chrysler declined to provide the control strategies.

The active warm-up and idle-stop also have a positive effect on the city cycle window sticker results, with the Ram gaining 1.7% from the warm-up system and about 3.3% (equal to 1 mpg) from idle-stop. But these window sticker values are understated for the real world, because there are just two cold starts and few full stops in the EPA cycles. The off-cycle credits are intended to compensate for the five-cycle shortfalls, as well as accomplish some environmental objectives.

Electric power steering, not normally thought of as a thermal management factor, does eliminate the power steering cooler. That reduces the front-end airflow required, and although the amount may be small, the shutters' operating strategy reflects the validated overall airflow need, so for aero it is a positive contribution.

The Ram Truck brand and Warner Bros. launched a new co-branded commercial for the Ram 1500, Motor Trend magazine’s 2013 Truck of the Year, as part of a partnership promoting Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “Man of Steel,” the highly anticipated summer action adventure movie in theaters June 14.

The Chrysler Group provided vintage trucks and other vehicles to Warner Bros. for integration into key scenes in the movie.

“We are excited to partner with Warner Bros. on ‘Man of Steel,’” said Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer, Chrysler Group LLC. “With film alignment we have a fresh consumer engagement opportunity, connecting the heroic character traits of Superman with Ram's DNA. Our custom creative and marketing program is squarely aimed at building advocacy among passionate fans outside traditional marketing channels.”

The 30-second “Action” spot intersperses scenes from the movie and footage of the Ram truck as the voiceover says, “Everyone has the ability to do something amazing … Some just do it on a more regular basis.” It closes with the Ram logo and the words “In dealerships everywhere” followed by the “Man of Steel” logo and “in theaters everywhere June 14.” The spot can be viewed on the Ram Truck brand YouTube channel.

The key message of the television ad – how the work that Ram owners do make them superheroes in their own right – also is reinforced in print ads that will promote Ram trucks and the “Man of Steel” movie through the July 4 weekend. The Ram brand teamed up with DC Entertainment comic artist Shane Davis to create a custom illustration for the ad, which will run June 7 in the weekend edition of USA Today.

“Ram celebrates those who dare to be great and never back down from a challenge,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand. “This is the essence of Superman and also embodies our Ram truck buyers, who believe in hard work, integrity and standing up for what is right.”

The Ram interior and exterior design team created a special edition, one-of-a-kind “Man of Steel” Power Wagon truck with special “Man of Steel”-inspired design cues, colors and branding. The truck will make its debut June 10 in New York City at the world premiere of the movie. It will then be on display at special events throughout the summer and fall, including the National Finals Rodeo and State Fair of Texas, before being auctioned off for charity at a later date.

The Dark Ceramic Gray truck features a high-gloss black roof with Anodized Red grille accents, created from a durable 14-coat paint process. It has forged-aluminum, satin black 17-inch off-road wheels, Superman logos on the front grille and rear tailgate and a custom, one-off vehicle wrap inspired by the crest and texture of Superman’s suit. The wrap highlights a tone-on-tone interpretation of the iconic Superman S-shield, and helps unify themes found on the interior and exterior of the truck.

Interior features include custom mesh seat inserts reminiscent of Superman’s own suit with integrated Superman logos on the seats and console; Pewter leather seats; and Anodized Red paint trim accents on the doors, steering column, radio cluster and seats. There also is “Man of Steel” logo badging on the glove box and a “Man of Steel” screen backdrop and start-up screen on the radio cluster.

The television ad will run in network and cable entertainment, news and sports programing beginning June 4. The spot and print ads were created by the Dallas-based The Richards Group agency.