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2019 Ram 1500 Sport trim is exclusive to Canada, can be replicated in America

Ram already revealed one region-exclusive 2019 Ram 1500 pickup in the form of the Lone Star trim for Texas. It's basically a Big Horn with fancy badges. But that's not the only one, as it has introduced a Sport trim that will only be available in Canada. Just like the Lone Star, the Sport has an analogue buried among the many trims and options for American-market Rams. But before we get into how U.S. buyers can re-create the Sport, let's take a look at what makes the Sport ... sporty? It's only available with a 5.7-liter V8 making the standard 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. Both two- and four-wheel drive are available as are quad and crew cabs. The exterior features standard LED lights, a body-color grille and other body-color trim, along with a number of black bits of trim including badges. The standard wheels are 20-inch units, while black and silver 22-inch wheels are optional. Also optional is the more aggressive Sport hood. The interior is all black with either cloth and premium vinyl seats or optional leather. It also has diamond-plate steel pattern trim from the Rebel, plus a Sport badge on the dash. Now, the trim looks quite nice, and it's easily re-created in America. To get the same features such as the LED lights, simply choose the Laramie trim level. It can be equipped with the Sport Appearance package which includes everything you see on the body, including the aggressive hood. The one difference is the lack of black badging. The same 22-inch wheels are also available as an option. And, if you want to save a little bit of money with almost the same looks, you can choose a Big Horn Ram, which doesn't have the LED lights, but the Sport Appearance package is still available, along with 20-inch wheels. But if you really want those LED lights, they are an option on the Big Horn. The Big Horn also opens up the option of the V6, if you're feeling especially frugal. If you're in Canada and like the look of the Sport, it goes on sale in the second quarter of 2018. And if you're in the U.S., just spec out a Big Horn or Laramie. Related Video:

Stellantis ready to kill brands and fix U.S. problems, CEO Tavares says

  MILAN — Stellantis is taking steps to fix weak margins and high inventory at its U.S. operations and will not hesitate to axe underperforming brands in its sprawling portfolio, its chief executive Carlos Tavares said on Thursday. The warning for lossmaking brands is a turnaround for Tavares, who has maintained since Stellantis was created in 2021 from the merger of Italian-American automaker Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA that all of its 14 brands including Maserati, Fiat, Peugeot and Jeep have a future. "If they don't make money, we'll shut them down," Carlos Tavares told reporters after the world's No. 4 automaker delivered worse-than-expected first-half results, sending its shares down as much as 10%. "We cannot afford to have brands that do not make money." The automaker now also considers China's Leapmotor as its 15th brand, after it agreed to a broad cooperation with the group. Stellantis does not release figures for individual brands, except for Maserati which reported an 82 million euro adjusted operating loss in the first half. Some analysts say Maserati could possibly be a target for a sale by Stellantis, while other brands such as Lancia or DS might be at risk of being scrapped given their marginal contribution to the group's overall sales. Stellantis' Milan-listed shares were down as much as 12.5% on Thursday, hitting their lowest since August 2023. That brings the loss for the year so far to 22%, making them the worst performer among the major European automakers. Few automotive brands have been killed off since General Motors ditched the unprofitable Saturn and Pontiac during a U.S. government-led bankruptcy in the global financial crisis in 2008. Tavares is under pressure to revive flagging margins and sales and cut inventory in the United States as Stellantis bets on the launch of 20 new models this year which it hopes will boost profitability. Recent poor results from global carmakers have heightened worries about a weakening outlook for sales across major markets such as the U.S., whilst they also juggle an expensive transition to electric vehicles and growing competition from cheaper Chinese rivals. Japan's Nissan Motor saw first-quarter profit almost completely wiped out on Thursday and slashed its annual outlook, as deep discounting in the United States shredded its margins. Tavares said he would be working through the summer with his U.S. team on how to improve performance and cut inventory.

Angry teen drives Ram pickup into Walmart after argument with girlfriend

Caleb Wilson, a 19-year-old from Eldoarado, Texas, went shopping with his 18-year-old girlfriend at the Walmart in San Angelo, Texas, just after midnight Thursday morning. Wilson and his girlfriend apparently got into an argument that they carried into the parking lot after leaving the store. A female bystander, concerned for the girlfriend, went outside and convinced the girl to go back into the Walmart. Wilson waited in his 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup just outside the store. When the woman and the girlfriend went outside a little later to see if Wilson had left, Wilson hit the gas and drove into the Walmart, trying to run the two women over. Just as police arrived, Wilson turned his truck around and sped out. He crossed the parking lot, colliding with a parked, unoccupied Toyota Camry, and finally came to a stop at a Murphy USA gas station at the edge of the lot. Police noticed fuel leaking from the Ram, and another bystander noticed sparks from something dragging along the asphalt. Police got Wilson out of the truck, after which he briefly resisted arrest, then took Wilson to the hospital for mental health evaluation, where he remains. Police believe he was under the influence of an intoxicant. Incredibly, neither the women nor any of the store's customers were hurt. That wasn't for lack of trying on Wilson's part, though - the teenager rammed his way past the bakery, produce, frozen food and canned veggies sections before finally reaching the cereal aisle. One shopper said she heard screaming and was sure there was a gunman in the store, before realizing it was a man in a vehicle. Wilson stopped two aisles away from where the shopper hid. Another customer said Wilson spent several minutes burning rubber inside the store, as store employees helped customers hide and get out. Security cameras caught the rampage, and San Angelo police estimate he did $500,000 in damage. Wilson has been charged with suspicion of first degree felony criminal mischief and two counts of aggravated assault with deadly weapon. Repair crews worked overnight to fix the damage. After "an employee pep talk," the Walmart opened again at 9:30 am. Related Video: News Source: Go San Angelo Auto News Weird Car News Dodge RAM Truck Videos dodge ram 2500