2012 Sport Utility of the Year contender: Dodge Durango, Motor Trend, Oct. 12
The Dodge Durango is a new breed of crossover ??? one whose metamorphosis from body-on-frame to unitized construction has brought an increase in the mainstream V-6's towing capacity from 3750 to 6200 pounds, Motor Trend said. Even better news: A 19 percent reduction in aero drag and the Pentastar V-6's quantum efficiency improvement help boost EPA ratings to 16/23 mpg, the magazine said. (V-8s also eke out an extra highway mpg, the article said.).
This Durango feels solid, and our judges had near unanimous acclaim for the steering, the article said. Design takes a significant step forward with pleasing lines outside and in, the article said. If the intended function of a big crossover is carrying people and stuff, the Durango deserves big points, the magazine said.
2012 Jeep® Wrangler - 'A new heart, the same soul,' The Epoch Times.com, Oct. 12
Jeep® has increased its share of the SUV market to a commanding 15.8 percent and there are several reasons for the increase, The Epoch Times said. Horsepower is up to 285, an improvement of 40 percent; torque has increased 10 percent to 260 lb-ft of thrust; the engine roars from a stand-still to 60 mph in only 8.4 seconds, the article said. To drive the heavy-duty Rubicon model up cliffs where goats feared to tread was an exuberating experience, the article said.
Ram Outdoorsman among amazing gadgets for fall hunting, Fox News.com, Oct. 13
Fox News listed the latest advancements in hunting technology that will help hunters this fall. The 2012 Ram Outdoorsman is meant specifically for hunting -- there's a minimal amount of chrome siding to reduce glare that can scare animals away, the tires and 4x4 features are designed for pushing through deep mud, and there's a side box specifically for storing rifles and other hunting gear, the article said. Tow hooks are available for
pulling logs and debris out of the way or retrieving a stuck ATV, and the Outdoorsman can tow a large duck boat, dual-ATVs on a trailer or a full camper, Fox News said.
2012 JK Wrangler, 4 Wheel Drive and Sport Utility, Oct. 11
The 2012 JK Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is a great improvement over earlier models, 4 Wheel Drive and Sport Utility said. The real star is the W5A580 5-speed automatic - the transmission is a gem, the article said. The new Wrangler never has a problem finding the right gear; manual shifting is easy; ledge climbing and crawling is accomplished
without a whimper, the article said.
Truck sales continue to grow; Ram leads, Transport Topics, Oct. 13
Despite the drop in consumer confidence and less-than-glowing economic reports in September, sales of medium-duty trucks continued to grow at a steady pace, Transport Topics said. Truck makers reported selling 240,356 new medium-duty (Classes 3-7) trucks through September, 24 percent more than over the same time last year, according to figures released Thursday from WardsAuto.com, the article said.
Ram is the leader with 31 percent of all sales in Classes 3-7, thanks to its dominance in Class 3 where it captured 50 percent of the sales through September, Transport Topics said.