2022 Ram Promaster on 2040-cars

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Best-selling vehicles by state

America loves trucks. According to Edmunds, which has tracked the best-selling vehicles by state based on new vehicle registrations, 40 out of 50 U.S. states’ best-selling vehicle is a pickup. Most often, thatÂ’s the Ford F-Series, but occasional Chevy, Ram and even Toyota top the lists. Here, weÂ’ve compiled the best-selling vehicles by state, including the four runners-up for each state. Interestingly enough, only one EV shows up in a stateÂ’s top five (Tesla Model 3 in California). Read on below to see whatÂ’s most popular in your state.

Ram ProMaster enters 2022 with tech upgrades and a new transmission

Ram's full-size ProMaster van will enter the 2022 model year after receiving a round of much-needed tech updates. The changes include a more user-friendly infotainment system and a new transmission that improves gas mileage. Most of the major changes are found in the cabin, where the big van gains a seven-inch touchscreen that displays the Uconnect5 infotainment system. Ram states the software is five times faster than the last version of Uconnect. Buyers who want or need a bigger screen can pay extra for a 10-inch unit; both feature split-screen capability. The list of options also grows with the addition of a wireless charging pad, a 115-volt outlet below the USB ports, and a 7.0-inch full-color information screen in the instrument cluster (a 3.5-inch driver information screen comes standard). Switching to Uconnect5 is expected to make a significant difference. It features a customizable home screen, so users can move icons around like on a smartphone or a tablet, and it's compatible with the wireless versions of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Amazon's Alexa In-Vehicle Assistant is built-in as well, meaning motorists will be able to remotely start the engine, lock or unlock the doors, check the weather, or add items to their to-do list. If you find panel vans difficult to park, the ProMaster has you covered. It can be configured with a 360-degree surround-view camera and a digital rear-view mirror, among other electronic driving aids. Power still comes from a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, which produces 280 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, but it now shifts through a nine-speed automatic transmission; 2021 models shipped with a six-speed unit. Ram notes the three extra gears improve drivability and efficiency, though fuel economy figures haven't been released. Front-wheel-drive continues to come standard; it's an unusual configuration in a segment dominated by rear-wheel-drive. Properly equipped, the ProMaster can tow 6,910 pounds, according to Ram. Its payload checks in at 4,680 pounds. Electric power steering and a push-button electronic parking brake further improve drivability in urban environments. While there are no major visual changes, the 2022 range includes a Crew Van configuration designed for users who need to carry people and gear. It features a three-person rear bench seat, fixed side windows, and a partition. Ram dealers across the nation will begin receiving the 2022 ProMaster in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Fiat Chrysler's next-generation Uconnect is faster, built on Android

If you're a regular reader of Autoblog, you know that for a long time we've liked Fiat Chrysler's Uconnect infotainment system for its bright, clear, responsive touchscreen interface. Now, according to the company, it will be better than ever with Uconnect 5, the latest iteration of the system. It has upgraded hardware and a revamped graphic user interface (the stuff on the screen). Looking at sample screens shown above, there are characteristics shared with the old system, such as the time, status and shortcuts at the top and the menu icons at the bottom. In the middle, the major change is the addition of home screens that can be customized with favorite menus and readouts that are always available. Each of these home screens can have up to four functions and you can have five pages to flip through. The graphics themselves feature more legible fonts and updated icons. Each car brand will get its own set of icons, colors and textures to help create unique experiences. And while each Fiat Chrysler product will be able to have Uconnect, including Alfa Romeo that has until now lacked Uconnect, each brand has the ability to make small tweaks including the screen orientation. The system will support displays in landscape, portrait or square, so different brands may choose different shapes. Powering Uconnect 5 is a processor Fiat Chrysler says is six times more powerful than what's in current systems. It features 6 gigabytes of RAM and 64 gigabytes of internal storage. The processor also supports screens as large as 12.3 inches with as many as 15 million pixels, or nearly twice that of a 4K resolution TV. The system can display information on up to four screens, too. Uconnect 5's firmware is built on Google's Android operating system, joining a few other automakers in using Android as a base for their infotainment systems. Uconnect 5 brings with it a number of new features. It brings full Alexa integration, so you can use it just like you do at home, provided you have a data plan for the car. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto continue to be standard, but now they can be used wirelessly. You can also now connect two phones via Bluetooth wirelessly so you can access content from both. Navigation gets real time information and updates from TomTom. Users can create five profiles with unique climate, radio and instrument settings, plus one for a valet.