The Ram Truck brand has been named the “Most Ideal Popular Brand” in AutoPacific”s 2013 Ideal Vehicle Awards based on owners’ ratings of their 2013 cars and trucks. Additionally, the 2013 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, for the third year running, was named “Most Ideal Mid-size SUV”.
“For any business, positive recognition from customers is the ultimate compliment and we take their input very seriously,” said Jack Rodencal, Managing Director of Chrysler Group Middle East. “We’re proud to say that Chrysler Group is delivering the most of what consumers are looking for.”
The Ideal Vehicle Awards are based on responses to AutoPacific’s New Vehicle Satisfaction Survey. AutoPacific asked owners to indicate a desire to change their vehicle in 15 different categories, ranging from power and acceleration to safety features and storage, after having owned and driven their vehicle for 90 days.
“The Ideal Vehicle Awards show that marketeers, product planners, researchers and engineers have developed and launched a vehicle executed best for their target market,” said Dan Hall, Vice-President of AutoPacific.
Based on a survey of more than 52,000 new car and light truck owners, vehicles with the least amount of desired changes are recognized as ideal.
“The Ram Truck brand continues to establish its own identity and clearly define its customer since its launch as the newest Chrysler Group LLC vehicle brand,” said Rodencal. “Creating a stand-alone brand for Ram trucks has allowed the brand to concentrate on how core customers use their trucks and what new features they’d like to see. Whether focusing on a family that uses its half-ton truck day in and day out, a hard-working Ram Heavy Duty owner or a business that depends on its commercial vehicles every day, Ram has the truck market covered.”
“The new Ram 1500 is the most capable, best-looking half-ton pickup in the world and delivers best-in-class fuel efficiency, new technology and new features along with an upgraded interior and exterior. We changed every area of the truck – from a newly designed frame with air suspension, to a new eight-speed transmission to a new interior with the next-generation Uconnect® system. With best-in-class towing and payload, best-in-class ride and handling and best-in-class aerodynamics, the latest Ram 1500 delivers unmatched content, performance and capability to our customers.”
The Ram 1500 is powered by the legendary 5.7-litre HEMI® V8 with MDS (fuel-saving cylinder shut-off) and VVT that delivers 395hp, 407 lb.-ft. of torque and best-in-class fuel economy for V8 trucks, linked to either a standard 6-speed or available new class-exclusive TorqueFlite 8-speed transmission.
Owners will appreciate the innovative new rotary e-shift dial that replaces both column and floor shifters on trucks equipped with the new TorqueFlite 8-speed transmission. This exclusive rotary e-shift dial enables intuitive operation with a direct and confident feel – the convenient, dash-mounted, easy-to-understand and operate system provides total control of the sophisticated eight-speed transmission. Ram’s innovative approach to electronic shifters allows quick blind-shift transitions from “Reverse” to “Drive” and also creates additional space for more storage in the console.
The new Ram 1500 continues to maintain its ruggedly handsome appearance with new exterior design elements. Extensive wind tunnel testing honed the latest Ram 1500’s exterior shape, resulting in continued best-in-class aerodynamics. The Ram 1500 Regular Cab 4×2 coefficient of drag (Cd) is .360 – compared with a Cd of .386 for the previous model.
Adding yet another award to its collection, the 2014 Jeep® Grand Cherokee delivers an unprecedented combination of best-in-class fuel economy and driving range, legendary benchmark capability, world-class craftsmanship, and a host of advanced user-friendly technology and safety features.
“Jeep Grand Cherokee – the most awarded SUV ever and the vehicle that has long defined what a premium SUV should be – is even better for 2014,” said Rodencal. “There have been four generations of Grand Cherokee over the years and each one has improved on the last – for the 2014 model, we have taken the industry’s most highly acclaimed SUV and elevated it to an even higher level – Jeep has now separated the Grand Cherokee even further from its competitors by enhancing its unique elegance, efficiency, capability and technological features.”
“Styled for, and targeted at customers in the important mid-size SUV segment and with a high level of equipment on offer, drivers across the Middle East will find it even more of a pleasure to drive – on any and all roads, on the most demanding trails and in all weather conditions. We’re very proud of what the Grand Cherokee achieved, sales-wise, for Jeep last year in the Middle East and we look forward to more great things from this latest model.”
For 2014, Grand Cherokee offers a new eight-speed transmission on all Grand Cherokee engines, including the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 – achieving up to 25 mpg and more than 600 miles driving range – and the 5.7-litre V8, now achieving up to 22 mpg.
“As our passion for innovation that spans more than 70 years demonstrates, the Jeep brand doesn’t rest on its laurels,” said Rodencal.“Legendary Jeep capability comes courtesy of highly advanced 4×4 systems, Jeep’s Quadra-Lift air suspension, Selec-Terrain traction management and an improved crawl ratio of 44.1:1, while refined exterior design – complete with signature LED running lamps – provides a premium appearance, with interior amenities including Natura leather, exotic open-pore wood and new colour options.”
The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is available in four trim levels – Laredo, Limited, Overland and the new top of the line Summit.