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Chrysler's internal documents question Ram quality as workers protest

Chrysler is reportedly having a hard time ramping up production of its 2013 Ram 1500. According to The Detroit News, only 16 of the 58 trucks built at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant during the model's first hour passed final inspection. While quality eventually improved over the course of the day, just over half of the units built on Thursday were approved for shipment. Even with workers ordered to stay late to fix their mistakes, some 1,078 units remained outside the facility with defects. The problem, according to workers at the plant, is morale.
According to the report, Chrysler recently changed the shift schedule at the plant and workers are unhappy with the new situation. The new plan has workers split into three shifts, each covering four 10-hour days. With the shifts staggered, some workers now have to work nights and on Saturdays. Some employees are so upset that they've taken to protesting, though the move isn't sanctioned by the United Auto Workers.
Meanwhile, Chrysler admits there were internal issues with the launch, but that the company was able to contain them. A spokesperson has said "plant quality indicators are getting progressively better."

The AEV Recruit is a tough and capable Ram 1500, for a price

American Expedition Vehicles, or AEV, has been doing some wonderful things with Jeep and Ram trucks for the past 20 years. It's been the best source for the long-desired Jeep Wrangler pickup and for beefy overlanders like the Ram Prospector. The company's latest package, the Recruit, turns the already tough Ram 1500 into something that looks particularly fierce. Since it is an AEV product, you can be assured that it has the capabilities to back up the appearance. The Recruit package comes with a whole host of goodies like upgraded suspension and a huge snorkel. The AEV DualSport SE suspension uses Bilstein parts to increase wheel travel and adjust the suspension to balance on and off-road capabilities. The suspension, combined with the 35-inch tires, greatly increase the Recruit's ground clearance. A 4mm thick skid plate helps keep the engine from spilling its black, oily guts in the case that the increased height just isn't enough. A new hood provides better heat ventilation while a big, black filtered snorkel allows the Recruit to breathe easy, even if it's going for a swim. The AEV front bumper comes with Vision X fog lights and is capable of handling up to a 10,000 lbs winch. An optional Vision X LED light bar can provide even better visibility. Other optional features include a leather interior upgrade, a tonneau cover, retractable running boards, and a rear bumper step. All that kit doesn't come cheap. The Recruit starts at $14,950, and that doesn't include the price of the Ram 1500 that provides the canvas for AEV's artisans. Options can easily push the price to nearly $30,000. The good news is that AEV provides a 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty on their builds, so you're paying for quality from a company that stands behind its products. If you want a truck that's willing to go anywhere you want to push it, the new AEV Recruit is hard to beat. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Ram 1500 to get Pentastar V6 option in top-shelf models

Ram has seen such positive customer feedback from its 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and TorqueFlight eight-speed automatic transmission in the Ram 1500 that it's bringing the powertrain upmarket, and it's now going to be available in truck's Laramie trim level (Laramie Limited pictured above). The new choice means better fuel economy and lower pricing in one of the 1500's higher-end models.
A Ram 1500 Laramie Quad Cab 4x2 with the 3.6-liter Pentastar and eight-speed automatic will retail for $38,775, plus a $1,195 destination charge. It's a savings of over $1,000 over the trim's current starting price.
Ram says the decision to offer the V6 option was customer driven. "Today's V6 engine is a lot stronger than yesterday," said Nick Cappa of Ram Truck media relations to Autoblog. Cappa notes that dealers have reported buyers returning from test drives who can't believe there are only six cylinders operating underhood.