2021 Ram 2500 Limited on 2040-cars

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FCA nears plea deal in diesel emissions fraud probe

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is nearing an agreement to plead guilty to criminal conduct to resolve a multiyear emissions fraud probe surrounding Ram pickup trucks and Jeep sport-utility vehicles with diesel engines, people familiar with the matter said. FCA lawyers and U.S. Justice Department officials are brokering a plea deal that could be unveiled in coming weeks and include financial penalties totaling between $250 million and $300 million, the people said. Such a resolution with FCA, which is now part of Stellantis NV, would come more than four years after Volkswagen AG pleaded guilty to criminal charges  to resolve its own diesel-emissions scandal involving nearly 600,000 vehicles.It would also mark the final significant chapter in the government crackdown on automakers' emissions practices that was precipitated by Volkswagen's deception, which became known as "Dieselgate." The FCA investigation focuses on roughly 100,000 diesel-powered vehicles that allegedly evaded emissions requirements. The plea negotiations are fluid and some terms, including the size of any financial penalties, could change as discussions continue, the people said. Justice Department officials are preparing paperwork that will likely be negotiated with FCA to finalize the plea deal, which could result in changes and also present an outside chance for the agreement to fall apart, the people said. A plea agreement would cap a series of investigations dating back to 2015 surrounding diesel-powered vehicles in FCA's U.S. lineup. The current criminal investigation targets the U.S unit of the Italian-American automaker. The affected vehicles span model years 2014 to 2016. Representatives for FCA parent Stellantis and the Justice Department declined to comment. The scandals over emissions cheating tarnished diesel technology and accelerated the industry's shift to electric vehicles. The European automakers had promoted "clean diesel" technology as a way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and ease a transition to an all-electric future. When regulators on both sides of the Atlantic uncovered evidence that diesel vehicles polluted far more in real world driving, the argument for a slower transition to battery electric vehicles was shredded. Now, automakers are accelerating battery electric vehicle development to comply with tougher, post-Dieselgate pollution standards.

2019 Ram HD Sport trim revealed

Most of the 2019 Ram HD was revealed at the Detroit Auto Show, but Ram held back one tidbit of info in the form of the just-announced Sport Package. Don't get your hopes up for some sort of SRT-style Ram HD; this is exclusively a trim package, but at least it looks nice. The package swaps chrome bumpers, door handles and grille surround for body color versions. Inside, Sport Package Ram HDs get a black interior with piano black trim pieces. To sweeten the deal, parking assist sensors are standard with the package. To get the Sport Package, you'll have to get your Ram HD with at least the Big Horn trim. Lone Star and Laramie trims also offer the package. Within those trims, the Sport Package is available with any cab or engine combination. Pricing isn't out yet, but based on the outgoing model's pricing, a Big Horn Ram HD will likely start a little under $45,000, and the Sport Package will probably cost about $2,500. We should have more exact pricing details closer to the on-sale date. Related Video:

1.8 million Ram trucks recalled to fix shifter problem

Fiat Chrysler is recalling 1.8 million mostly heavy-duty Ram pickups to fix a part that could allow the truck to shift out of park and roll without depressing the brake pedal, a problem the automaker knows to be potentially related to seven injuries and a "small number" of accidents. The company says tests revealed that the interlock, which is supposed to keep the transmission from shifting out of park without the driver's foot on the brake and without a key in the ignition, may malfunction if subjected to high temperatures for long periods. The recall is limited to vehicles equipped with shifters mounted on the steering columns; those with rotary-dial shifters or floor-mounted shifters aren't affected, and model-year 2017 trucks built after Dec. 31, 2016, are excluded. Trucks covered by the recall are certain 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups; 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs; and 2016 and 2017 Ram 3500 chassis cabs of less than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Certain 2009 through 2017 Ram 1500 pickups are also included in the recall. Most of the affected trucks are in the U.S., with the rest in Canada and Mexico, plus about 15,000 outside of the North American Free Trade zone. FCA recommends that customers always use parking brakes and not leave children unattended in parked cars.Related Video: Featured Gallery Mojave Road in a 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon View 31 Photos Recalls RAM Truck ram 5500 ram 4500