Ram and Warner Bros. have joined in a partnership to promote the Ram pickup and the new Superman movie ?Man of Steel,? which opens nationwide on June 14. As part of the deal, Chrysler provided classic trucks and other vehicles that were integrated 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.?

Ram?s advertising agency, Dallas-based Richards Group, worked with both partners to create a 30-second co-branded spot for the Ram 1500 and superhero. The 30-second, entitled ?Action,? intersperses scenes from the movie and footage of the Ram Truck as an announcer says, ?Everyone has the ability to do something amazing ? Some just do it on a more regular basis.? The spot can be viewed on the Ram Truck brand YouTube channel.

There will also be print ads featuring a special illustration by DC Comic Artist Shane Davis, the illustrator of the graphic novel Superman: Earth One and numerous DC comic book titles. The key message of the campaign is that the work Ram owners do makes them superheroes in their own right.

The print ad will first run this Friday, June 7, in the weekend edition of USA Today. The campaign runs through July 4.

?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.?

Ram designers have created their own ?Truck of Steel,? a special edition, one-off ?Man of Steel? Power Wagon truck with special Superman-inspired design cues, colors and branding. The truck will be presented to the public on Monday, June 10 at the world premiere of the film in Metropolis New York City. It will then go on tour, to be displayed 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 famous 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.

Increasing consumer demand for Ram pickup trucks and big SUVs has helped to boost May sales for Chrysler. Ram sales were up a total of 24 percent year-over-year for the month of May. In addition, Dodge sales increased by 23 percent in May, with the standout Durango clocking a 24-percent year-over-year improvement (with an updated 2014 model in the wings, incentives are thick on the ground for 2013 inventory). Fiat and Jeep were up only a modest one percent, however, and Chrysler brand sales were down by two percent against last year's figures.

Chrysler is quite pleased overall with brand performance, saying that this May marks the company's strongest in the past six years. It was also the 38th consecutive month showing year-over-year sales gains.

Eight of the automaker's vehicles set sales records for May, as well: Jeep Wrangler and Compass, Dodge Avenger and Challenger, Fiat 500, Chrysler 200 and Ram pickups.

Spy photographer Chris Doane believes he?s spotted a HellCat-powered, LA-bodied 2015 Dodge Challenger running on the streets of the greater Detroit area.

Allpar has previously reported that the car would have an eight-speed automatic behind a supercharged 6.2 Hemi, good for 560-580 horsepower or so. Direct competitors would be the Shelby GT500 and Camaro ZL1/Z28.

Mr Doane claimed as support the exhaust note, ?nothing short of thunder!.? and the larger brake calipers and cross-drilled brake rotors; the current Challenger SRT8 uses smaller calipers and smaller, solid/slotted rotors.

The front end has been modified very moderately, unlike a past shot of what was believed to be a Barracuda prototype, the camouflage hides extra air intakes.

There is some room for doubt, but this might indeed be our first glimpse of the new Challenger. If so, it would show remarkable restraint on the part of Chrysler designers, in keeping the classic and loved form of the current Challenger intact.

This car appears to be a mule with an altered front fascia for added cooling; that said, it does provide clues as to what the production front might look. Still, one can always hope that Chrysler will be keeping the classic look of the Challenger for another generation, while improving its mechanicals.

The 6.2 Hemi is, according to our sources, not ready for driving around town; it?s still in the preliminary tuning process, with problems to overcome.

A comprehensive interior upgrade is also expected, along with an electronics update to UConnect 2 with all the gadgets ?n? gizmos that brings; the option list should grow to match 300C?s, including forward sensors, rear camera, adaptive cruise, and predictive crash protection. It?s possible, though we have no reason to believe it, that the car will have Cherokee?s comprehensive parking assistance as well.

The SRT 392 will be differentiated from the 6.2 by wheels, badges, and perhaps a different hood. Introduction is slated for March and April 2014 (first to enthusiasts, then to the media), with production starting around July 2014 (we figure it'll be delayed to August or September).

The supercharged 6.2 will be positioned against similar GM and Ford cars which run to over $70,000, but will have more interior space and better amenities, and possibly better performance despite its larger size. Pricing is unknown, but we don?t expect it to run under $65,000.

Original is at 2015 Dodge Challenger: the muscle cars return http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/challenger/2015.html#ixzz2UusqXaim
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With work on the 2014 Jeep Cherokee innovative and complex 4×4 system still reportedly ongoing, one observer now expects the first Cherokees to be front wheel drive (FWD) models. While perhaps a dent to the car?s credibility in off-road circles, starting with the simpler FWD configuration would simplify production and provide more time to put the 4×4 through its paces.

Jeep has taken pride on the durability of its cars in off-road use, and problems which may not surface during normal ?snow, ice, sand, and dirt? running, but could be a problem in more severe tests, are being taken seriously. There have been some reports that engineers are still squashing the last durability issues from pre-production cars ? not issues that would be encountered by ?ordinary? customers, but items that could affect serious Jeepers. Running FWD cars first would help fill the pipeline and get Cherokee out to customers, while working out bugs in the manufacturing process, in preparation for ramping up with the 4×4 models ? just as Dart started out with the 1.4 engines and manual transmissions. The alternative could be pushing back the start of production, which might happen regardless if nine-speed production is slowed.

With numerous states and municipalities adopting the Dodge Charger as a police car, one fleet manager told  Allpar that he was very satisfied with it, and that transmission failures were practically non-existent; downtime has been dramatically reduced since they switched to Dodge cars. He also said that he had never met an officer who did not like the Chargers, and ?When officers love a car like the Charger, cost per mile is lower.?

Dodge Charger for the police differ from civilian units, with special provisions for equipment and seating; police Chargers also have much stiffer suspensions and use the five-speed automatic regardless of engine, while civilians get the eight-speed with the V6.

2011 figures	Charger V6	Charger Hemi	Caprice	Ford CVPI	Ford FWD/AWD	Ford AWD Turbo
Horsepower	292 @ 6400	370 @ 5150	355 @ 5300	250 @ 5000	280 @ 6250	365 @ 5,500
Torque	260 @ 4400	390 @ 4250**	384 @ 4400	297 @ 4000	250 @ 4500	350 @ 1,500-5,250
Weight	4,021	4,253	4,339	4,214	4,184	4,443
Transmission	5 speed*	5 speed	6 speed	4 speed	6 speed	6 speed
Headroom (F)	38.6		38.7	39.5	39.0
Hip room F/R	56.2 / 56.1		56.6 / 57.9	57.4 / 56.1	56.3 / 55.9
Leg room F/R	41.8 / 40.1		42.1/43.2	41.6 / 38.0	41.9 / 40.0
Trunk (cubic ft)	16.5		17.4	20.6	16.6

* 8 speed possible in the future but unlikely ? due to input from police

Charger has outperformed the old Ford Crown Victoria police cars since the first comparisons in 2006; and while Charger has done well in recent tests in Michigan, California, and Virginia, one new rival, the Chevrolet Caprice, did poorly at the ALERT tests in Virginia despite initially strong results in Michigan. The Virginia testing also showed severe understeer in the Ford Utility and Ford Taurus. Retired law enforcement professional Curtis Redgap noted that the Ford Utility is a relatively low-priced alternative; it has been picked up by the California Highway Patrol, which was once known for taking the best police cars rather than the lowest bids.

Note: the pictured Charger is not from the same state as the fleet manager.

2013 Dodge Charger Pursuit Cars: Road Test

For 2013, there were no reported changes to the Dodge Charger pursuit cars; the civilian models saw a slightly more powerful V6 (on some models), along with trim and equipment changes which do not apply to police use. The five-speed automatic continues, even on the V6; a Chrysler rep told us that most police buyers are fairly conservative, and prefer the ?tried and true? version even though it has a fairly hefty impact on acceleration and gas mileage.

We took the Charger Pursuit around Chrysler?s test tracks in Chelsea, Michigan, which replicate both normal highways (blacktop and concrete alike) and numerous poor roads, with a section of tighter curves. The Charger?s suspension tuning was clearly different from retail Chargers; it had the firm feel of Mopars of the 1990s, not the cushioned, smooth ride of the 2010s. While not harsh or uncomfortable most of the time, the specially-created poor road surfaces of parts of the track (careful simulations of ?real? bad roads) created jitters and shakes that were completely absent from the stock Charger, or for that matter just about any other vehicle at the Proving Grounds that day. Cornering seemed to be somewhat better, though we did not push either car to their maximum. Changes for the police include bushings, spring rates, and brake upgrades.

There was no question that we were driving a police car at any time, even if the copilot, a company rep, had not been sounding the variuos Whelan siren options and making the lights flash. The built in siren had a plethora of options, including a loud but clear speaker coupled to an interior microphone. The buttons are easy to push, and the panel had no ?give? ? it was mounted securely, most likely to the main dashboard supports.

Despite the shaking and bumping over ruts, concrete slats, deliberately-created potholes, and other punishments, the cars were tight. There were no rattles at all, and the Mopar gear stayed tight. Admittedly, these were special press cars, no doubt given extra attention, but it was still a testament to the quality and nature of the attachments that the Whelen control board, siren, and lights, not to mention the various other panels and pieces, did not shake, rattle, or make any sort of noise; they gave no impression of being affected by the washboard roads or various other challenges of the course.

Neil Young, Jr., who handles law enforcement at Chrysler, said that retail and fleet have vastly different needs, and that Dodge has different durability cycle testing criteria and different design requirements for pursuit and fleet cars. This may explain some of the differences.

The Hemi engine and transmission did not feel different from their civilian counterparts; both use the Hemi plus five-speed automatic for now, though the civilian Hemi is expected to switch to the eight-speed automatic in 2014. At that point, with some history behind it, fleet managers might consider moving to the eight-speed, especially since their alternatives will also be new and unproven (in the United States, at least) as pursuit cars.

There are still differences in the cars: pursuit vehicles get 100,000 mile plugs, extra cooling, and a power steering cooler (at least, on the 2013s.) The factory-installed, crash-tested push-bumper is an industry first; the airbags still work properly when it is installed.

Mr. Young said that color is important even for police cars; there are still color trends. Chrysler now makes five standard colors, with custom colors available at a cost, and with a minimum order.

Chrysler spokesman Neil Young, Jr. said that the Mopar equipment packages had been crash-tested (that is, cars equipped with them had been crash-tested), unique in the industry; improperly mounted equipment can cause a lot of damage in a crash. Mopar packages come with a full warranty, and make it easy to order cars and get them on a predictable schedule. Some officers have told Allpar that aftermarket cages and communications gear often rattles incessantly, and that sometimes there were long delays after new cars arrived, while they were fitted by other companies. Mopar, though, took time to refine the add-on parts, eliminating squeaks and rattles, and working to integrate them into the look of the car. Chargers can be ordered pre-equipped, in batches of five or more cars.

Mopar police equipment

For 2012, Mopar announced six factory-installed police-equipment packages for the 2012 Dodge Charger Pursuit cars, created with various reputable suppliers. Mopar extensively tested the packages, which have a three-year, 36,000 mile warranty. The packages simplify the ordering/upfit process, allowing more predictable delivery times. The base police prep package for the Dodge Charger Pursuit includes the following:

• Wire Harness: Provides power, ground, and fusing for LED, lighting, siren, computer, modem, radar, or camera systems; integrates with the Vehicle Systems Interference Module (VSIM) 24-way connector and the 12-pin connector at the console.
• Power Distribution Center (PDC): Contains the fusing and relays for circuits in the wire harness, with two 100-amp main fuses to allow use of a timing device; it can channel timer system output to cameras, computers, modems, and printers.
• Slide-out Trunk Tray: 37.5-inch by 19-inch, for electrical and communications gear. Locking slides ease access. An industry-first integral ground buss bar prevents poor grounding, the most common equipment issue. The tray is height adjustable.
• Trunk Air-circulation Fan: helps electronic equipment by circulating heated or cooled air from the driver?s compartment into the trunk area.
• Siren Speaker: 100-watt siren driver meeting SAE Class A and California Title XIII requirements when matched with an appropriate amplifier; mounted behind the grille, it does not impact engine cooling.

The 2012 quick order packages are, in addition to the base prep (AYE) above:

• Patrol Package 1 (AYF): floor console, front-corner LED lamps, rear-corner LED lamps, front and rear wire harness, power-distribution center, siren speaker with bracket, trunk tray and trunk cooling fan
• Patrol Package 2 (AYH): floor console, push bumper, front and rear wire harness, power-distribution center, siren speaker and bracket, trunk tray and trunk cooling fan
• Patrol Package 3 (AYM): push bumper, floor console, front corner LED lamps, rear corner LED lamps, front and rear wire harness, power distribution center, siren speaker with bracket, trunk tray and trunk accessory cooling fan
• Slick Top Police Package 1 (AYN): floor console, front and rear wire harness, power-distribution center, siren speaker with bracket, trunk tray and trunk cooling fan
• Slick Top Police Package 2 (AYP): front-corner LED lamps, rear-corner LED lamps, front and rear wire harness, power distribution center, siren speaker with bracket, trunk tray and trunk cooling fan

Parts that may be ordered separately are the push bumper, siren speaker and bracket, grille lights, front and rear corner LED lights, side lights, visor lights, overhead light bars (full and limited feature versions), rear deck lights (normal and full width), police floor console, Can-Com siren system, floor mats, trunk tray, trunk cooling fan, spare tire relocation bracket, front and rear wire harnesses, power distribution center, splash guards, hitch receiver, and towing wire harness.

2011 Dodge Charger squad car equipment

Standard equipment includes the features noted earlier (e.g. load leveling performance suspension), as well as:

• 220-amp high-output alternator (up from 160 amps) with 800 CCA battery
• Severe duty engine cooling, transmission cooling, steering fluid cooling
• Rear differential: 200 mm for V6, 215 mm for Hemi
• P225/60R18 V-rated performance tires, Goodyear or Firestone
• 2.65:1 axle ratio (3.06:1 optional)
• 19 gallon gas tank
• Engine hour meter
• Rear defroster
• Stealth mode
• Unique, dedicated fused circuits
• Active head restraints
• Spot-lamp prep kit; optional left and right spot lamps; optional equipment mounting bracket
• Headliner with red/white dome light or street appearance (no dome light)
• 160-mph or 260-km/h (certified) calibrated speedometer
• Optional street appearance group: fog lamps, rear stabilizer bar, aluminum wheels, standard floor console, power heated mirrors
• Heavy duty cloth front bucket seats and optional vinyl rear fixed bench seat
• Easy path wiring grommet between underhood and passenger compartments
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Emergency Brake Assist

The Ram Trucks Year of the Farmer initiative is meant to celebrate the work ethic and strong values of the American farmer. It?s also intended to be a way for the non-farmers among us to show appreciation for the day-to-day efforts of those folks growing and caring for our food.

That got us thinking: What exactly does a day in the life of the average farmer look like? (Not that any farmer is average.) Well, here?s one answer, delivered in the form of an infographic and reaffirming the age-old truth that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Guts. Glory. Ram. Farmers.

Ready for round two? Friend of Autoblog and Motor Trend personality Jonny Lieberman has helped SRT whip the covers off the new Viper TA (which stands for Time Attack, apparently) by putting professional racecar driver Randy Pobst behind the wheel and pointing him at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with cameras in tow.

What those cameras captured includes plenty of footage of a Crusher Orange SRT Viper TA running amok at The Corkscrew and generally bludgeoning?

Imagine our disappointment when a Charger SXT was delivered for us to test, rather than the SRT8 we were expecting. Instead of 470 rip-snorting horsepower and a massive dose of torque from a simply huge 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, we were left to settle with the base 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. In fact, we were so bummed, we didn't even drive it for two days.

FAST FACTS

1. New is an 8-speed automatic transmission that helps the V6 Charger get 19-mpg city and 31-mpg highway. 2. V6 power is rated at 292-hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. 3…

Fred Diaz ? Photo from Ram Truck files

On March 5 and 6, 2013, well over 10,000 people attended the Work Truck Show at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Put on by the Nation Truck Equipment Association (NTEA), this annual convention is the place for industry players like Ram Trucks to share their latest offerings with journalists and, more important, the people for whom commercial trucks are built?business owners.

Numbered among the 10,000+ attendees at this year?s show was our own Fred Diaz, President and CEO, Ram Truck brand and Chrysler de Mexico, Chrysler Group LLC. Mr. Diaz, who was on hand to help promote the new Ram Commercial division, took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for the RamZone blog.

RamZone: Why is it important for Ram Trucks and Ram Commercial to be at the NTEA Work Truck Show?

Fred Diaz: If you?re in the truck business?moreover, if you?re in the commercial truck business?you absolutely have to be at the NTEA Work Truck Show. The who?s who among commercial truck and van buyers are here specifically to see what corporations have to offer and how their businesses can be helped, whether that business is big or small. So it?s the businesses, they?re the reason we?re committed, and always have been committed?ever since we became the Ram Brand?to being at the Work Truck Show.

The new 2014 Ram ProMaster

RZ: What insights or impressions of the Ram Truck brand are you hoping that the journalists and business owners in attendance will take away from the NTEA Work Truck Show?

FD: The most important thing that we want these journalists and industry people to take away is just how very serious we are about our commercial truck offerings, so much so that we created our own division?the Ram Commercial division. Beyond that, we want people to be aware of all the fine commercial products we have to offer, whether it?s the light- and heavy-duty trucks or the all-new ProMaster van that we revealed just last month at the Chicago Auto Show.

RZ: The NTEA Work Truck Show is a great place to showcase two things, upfits and partner brands. With that in mind, is there one particular upfit that you?re really looking forward to seeing at this show? And is there a partner relationship right now that you find especially exciting?

FD: The fact that we now have compressed natural gas (CNG) technology and that we do the CNG upfitting ourselves?the fact that we?re the only company to offer a CNG upfit in the factory without having to send it to a third party?I think this is significant for the Ram Truck brand and the commercial business buyer.

To answer your second question, Bosch has been a great partner for us recently, helping us promote the use of commercial vehicles alongside their commercial-grade tools. In fact, they are here with us at the show. But really, all our partners have helped us achieve brand success, and they continue to help us create our own separate, distinctive personality, which, in turn, is letting people know that we?re here to stay and that we?re here to grow in the commercial business.

RZ: The Ram brand has a strong presence in the world of social media?the brand is active and popular on Facebook and Twitter. This interview, in fact, will appear on the RamZone blog. Is there one thing you want to say to those ?social? communities in particular?

FD: Just this: we are devoted to listening to our customers and delivering on what they need. That idea has been the fundamental key to our success as the new Ram brand.

RZ: Imagine you?re a business owner. If you had to name your favorite Ram Truck feature?or one feature that could help a business run more smoothly?what would it be?

FD: I would have to say that my number one favorite feature [pause]?man, there are so many to choose from?it?s almost an unfair question, like asking me to name my favorite child. I?ll give it a shot. [Pause] Because it can be used for business applications, recreation and for your vocation, I?d have to say my favorite feature is the RamBox. You can use it to store tools, hunting rifles, fishing rods?you can chill your favorite frosty beverage in there as well. There are just so many things that you can do with that RamBox, but I don?t know if I can stop there. The RamBox, the link coil suspension, the active air suspension?these are three of the features I love the most with the light-duty Ram Truck.

As for the heavy duty, what I love is the fact that we?ve whooped the competition?s rear end when it comes to our gross combined weight rating at 37,600 pounds and the fact that, at an incredible 30,000 pounds, we have by far the best in-class towing capability. It?s unheard of, those two numbers combined.