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Ram helps power Chrysler to 11% gain in May

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. Scroll down to read more detail in Chrysler's press release.

Ram 1500 custom trucks for SEMA go high and low

For SEMA, Mopar only created two in-house custom 2019 Ram 1500 trucks, and they're fairly mild in terms of modifications, many of which are existing Mopar accessories. But at the very least they show two extremely different ways to upgrade a Ram, with one being an off-road-oriented Ram Rebel, and the other being a lowered, street-oriented truck. The latter mod has become a bit unusual in a world dominated by Raptors and ZR2s. We'll start by talking about the street truck, which is the only one of the two with its own unique name: Low Down. Its defining characteristic: It sits two inches lower than a standard Ram 1500. This was done with a concept lowering kit that Mopar does not offer. Another part not yet available is the hood, which features an aggressive scoop. Finally, inside are some concept aluminum pedals. There aren't plans for any of these to come to production yet, but you can be sure Mopar will be paying attention to the public's reaction, and if things go well, they could show up at a dealer near you. The other defining feature of the Low Down is its paint scheme, which is black over silver, with a stripe separating them painted in the same Brass Monkey bronze hue available on some of FCA's wheels. The factory Ram wheels also get a custom paint scheme. Aside from the special parts and custom paint, almost everything else is right out of the Mopar catalog, including the fender flares, bed cover, spray-in bedliner, 5-inch exhaust tips and cold-air intake. The Mopar-customized Ram Rebel doesn't get a fancy name, but it still gets plenty of tweaks. It uses the factory Ram lift kit, so it sits two inches higher than a stock Rebel. It also features 35-inch tires. Up front, there's the concept hood found on the Low Down. At the back of the bed, there's a new flashy matte black decal that will be available for Ram Rebels in the near future. The bed also has an available "Rambar" sport bar, with some Mopar auxiliary lights. The bed has a spray-in bedliner and a concept spare tire carrier. Out the back are the same 5-inch exhaust tips as on the Low Down. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

UAW papers reveal release dates for new Dodge, Jeep and Ram models

Documents published by the United Auto Workers union reveal key information about some of the products Dodge, Jeep and Ram will release during the early 2020s. All three brands will try to capitalize on the growing demand for trucks and SUVs in the United States. The agreement between the UAW and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) outlines what the period between 2019 and 2023 will look like from an employee's vantage point. The $4.5 billion factory the automaker is building in Detroit will begin manufacturing a three-row Jeep model in 2020, and it will add the next-generation Grand Cherokee to its roster the following year, according to CarScoops. The new Grand Cherokee will also roll out of the Jefferson North facility that makes the current model scheduled to retire shortly before its successor arrives. The Dodge Durango will continue to be built there, and the UAW papers mention a mild-hybrid variant of the SUV due out before the end of 2020. Two body-on-frame Jeep models tentatively scheduled to revive the heritage-laced Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer nameplates will break cover in 2021. They will be built alongside Ram pickups at the Warren Truck plant, and odds are the three models will share several components under the sheetmetal. Adding the two Jeep models is expected to create 1,400 jobs, FCA predicted. Speaking of Ram, the high-performance TRX model (pictured) aimed at the Ford F-150 Raptor's jugular is penciled in for a 2020 launch. The concept that previewed the model made its debut in 2016, so it's reasonable to assume it will have changed considerably by the time it reaches showrooms. It will be based on the newest variant of the 1500, not on the last-generation model still sold as the Classic. What won't change is the supercharged, 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 between its fenders. The plug-in hybrid Wrangler remains on track for a 2020 launch. The Cherokee will continue to come out of Belvedere Assembly in Illinois, but the UAW's documents mention "fresh models / features" off of its unibody platform. Whether that means new trim levels or additional body styles remains to be seen, but it sounds like something new and Cherokee-related is around the corner. The ancient Dodge Journey shares at least one thing with the beater you drove in high school: a four-speed automatic transmission. The gearbox is finally on its way out, according to the UAW, and the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that powers the entry-level model isn't long for this world, either.