2022 Ram 2500 Tradesman Crew Cab 4x4 6'4" Box on 2040-cars

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2015 Ram ProMaster City Tradesman First Drive [w/video]

From the perspective of a reviewer, there's a refreshing clarity to be hand when approaching a vehicle like a small commercial van. Where the inherent value equation for most vehicles is composed of both objective facts (price, fuel economy), and subjective opinions (looks, emotional response while driving), the reckoning of something like the new Ram ProMaster City is more straightforward. The light commercial van segment in the US has seen a remodel over the last half-decade, moving from paneled-over minivans to the versatile, economical, European-style boxes on wheels you see with increasing frequency today. Ford, Nissan and Chevrolet are all players here (though Chevy's City Express is essentially a rebadged version of Nissan's NV200), and though Ram's entry could be seen as late to the party, it also matches up very nicely in many of those straightforward areas of measure. Kindly, Ram brought along both the Nissan and the Ford for us to test alongside its new product, so we could get firsthand comparative impressions. The 2015 ProMaster City is roomier, more powerful and more maneuverable than its competition, though it trades those advantages for a higher price and a thirstier engine around town. We headed down to Texas where, between breaks for tacos and Topo Chicos, our goal was to see if Ram had created the new best box van in the US. Based on the already successful Fiat Doblo van from Europe, the baby ProMaster's visual transformation after its continental hop isn't radical. Ram has fitted a crosshair grille, new headlights and taillights, but largely the curvaceous, nose-forward styling remains the same. As we mentioned at the top: style is going to be very low on this list of priorities for a buyer of light commercial vans. Still, we'd rate the City as mid-pack for the options in the US; more attractive than the Nissan/Chevy twins and less so than the crisp Ford Transit Connect. (Though the optional five-spoke wheels of our test vehicle make it seem downright sporty in this group). Open the driver's side door and slide into the almost totally flat front seat, and any notion of "style" goes right out the window. Surfaces are almost exclusively black and gray, with workaday textures and frustratingly easy-to-scratch-plastics. This is a functional space though; trays, cubbies, cupholders and bins are far more numerous than you'd expect from a compact, two-seat cabin.

Ram drops second of five 1500 Built to Serve Editions

In November, 2019, Ram launched a year-long campaign of releasing five special-edition 1500s (two colors each) to honor the five branches of the United States armed forces. Ram first showed off a 1500 in Gator green, and the most recent examples are seen in Patriot Blue and Ceramic Gray. Each model has several special-edition features, such as a plethora of American flags, and each color is limited to 500-1,000 examples. Ram's Built to Serve model program launched last year around Veteran's Day and continues this week with Flag Day, June 14, 2020, as the peg. Ram doesn't specify which color set goes with which military branch, but it's fairly easy to connect the dots. The first launch, which included Gator (1,000 units) and Diamond Black (1,000 units) is likely a nod to the army. This launch, which includes Patriot Blue (1,000 units) and Ceramic Gray (1,000 units), is almost certainly a nod to the navy.  The next three sets will release in the future. Anvil (1,000 units) and Billet Silver (1,000 units) might be for the U.S. Air Force, while Tank (1,000 units) and Flame Red (1,000 units) could honor the Marines. The most limited release will feature Spitfire (500 units) and Bright White (500 units) paint schemes, and likely links to the coast guard. The exterior of every Built to Serve truck wears an American flag and "Built to Serve" decal on each rear quarter panel. They also have 20-inch Technical Gray aluminum wheels, body-color wheel arches, a black grille, black grille surround, black bumpers, black-bezel lighting, black badging, black side steps, and black dual four-inch exhaust tips.  Available on all body styles and powertrains, the Built to Serve Package is a $2,795 option. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. The interior of each Built to Serve 1500 has been dressed to fit each branch, as well. The first round had Light Frost contrast stitching, this round features Light Ambassador Blue stitching, the next will feature Light Diesel Gray, then Core Green, then Orange. Built to Serve embroidered Velcro panels are found on each front seat, and buyers can add their own patches on a separate Velcro panel on the inside shoulder of the front seats. The back of each front seat has Pouch Attachment Ladder System/Modular Lightweight Load-bearing Equipment (PALS/MOLLE) webbing.

Stellantis and LG announce Canadian EV battery joint venture

SEOUL — South Korean battery giant LG Energy Solution (LGES) said on Wednesday it plans to invest $1.5 billion to set up a joint venture with Stellantis in Canada. LGES owns 51% of the joint venture, tentatively named "LGES-STLA JV" and Stellantis owns 49%, LGES said in a regulatory filing. In October, LGES and Stellantis NV struck an electric vehicle (EV) battery production joint venture, targeting to start production by the first quarter of 2024 and aiming to have an annual production capacity of 40 gigawatt hours of batteries. In a separate regulatory filing, LGES said it plans to acquire a stake worth $542 million in ES America to respond to demand from EV startups in the United States. LGES is considering building a factory in Arizona to meet demand in the United States, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters, adding that the plant is expected to primarily produce cylindrical battery cells. LGES has its own factory in Michigan and two battery joint ventures with General Motors in Ohio and Tennessee. "We are considering a new production site, but nothing has been decided yet," said a spokesperson at LGES. LGES, which counts Tesla, GM and Volkswagen among its customers, currently has battery production sites in the United States, China, Poland, Indonesia and South Korea. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Green Plants/Manufacturing Chrysler Dodge Fiat Jeep RAM Electric