2017 Ram 2500 Tradesman Crew Cab 4x4 6'4" Box on 2040-cars

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Italian coachbuilder wraps a modern-day Citroen van in a retro skin

Italian coachbuilder Caselani resurrected an obscure, often-forgotten model from Citroen's past to offer van buyers an additional retro-styled option. Called Type HG, it's based on the current-generation Citroen Jumpy. One of the French carmaker's best-known vintage vans is the Type H, which was built with only minor changes from 1947 to 1981. It's aged into a sought-after classic that's popular as a food truck and as a camper from Paris to Sydney. Few realize Citroen planned to release a smaller model named Type G which looked almost exactly like the H but used an air-cooled flat-twin engine shared with the 2CV. Several prototypes were made, but the project was canned in favor of the 2CV-based, nine-horsepower AU van released in 1951. It's this little-known prototype that only exists in Citroen's official heritage collection and in the minds of the most indoctrinated French car enthusiasts that Caselani chose to bring into the 21st century. And, because the Type G (shown below) was a shrunken copy of the Type H from a design standpoint, making a body kit that fits the Citroen Jumpy was relatively simple. Caselani liberally borrowed styling cues from its modern version of the Type H, which is based on the larger Citroen Jumper sold as the Ram ProMaster in the United States. It adds a new-look front end with a vertical grille, chromed chevrons, and round headlights positioned as far out of the body as regulations permit, corrugated body panels, and a redesigned rear end. Whitewall tires are optionally available. Caselani offers the Type HG as a passenger van, a crew-cab van, and a panel van. Pricing starts at 29,400 euros before taxes are factored in, a sum that represents about $35,000 and that corresponds to a short-wheelbase panel model powered by a 100-horsepower, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine. Alternatively, motorists who already own a Jumpy can purchase the transformation kit on its own for 14,800 euros (about $17,500). For added peace of mind, Caselani pointed out the conversion was created with Citroen's input, and the brand authorized the kit. We know what you're thinking: what on earth is a Jumpy? Glad you asked! It's a van positioned in the middle of Citroen's commercial range. It slots between the Berlingo, which competes in the same segment as the Ford Transit Connect, and the Jumper, which is marketed as an alternative to the Ford Transit.

2019 Ram 1500 truck Ram-o-rama: Many trims, options spotted on the road

We'll give Ram credit. It provided an impressive variety of 2019 Ram 1500 trucks to peruse at the Detroit Auto Show. There was a Big Horn Sport, Laramie, Limited and Rebel, with both the Quad Cab and Crew Cab on display as well. We even got to see both five- and six-passenger interiors. However, all that variety still only scratched the surface of the 2019 Ram. To help flesh things out a bit, spy photographers recently captured a bunch of 2019 Ram variations testing out on public roads. With the truck unveiled, camouflage was unnecessary, giving us unimpeded first looks at a number of trim levels, bed/cab combinations and options. Among these are the base level Ram Tradesman, which features blacked out plastic grille and other trim. There's also a single pic of the Ram Lone Star, which is really just what they call the Big Horn in Texas (look for the badge on the tailgate). We also got our first look both Big Horn and Laramie Quad Cabs with a long bed. In terms of options, there's a Big Horn with small, basic wheels and a Limited with the new bi-LED headlight option (have fun with those, oncoming traffic). There's also a Ram Rebel with a different hood that's missing the extra vents found on the truck at the auto show and in previously published pictures. Perhaps this is an option, perhaps its just the wrong hood placed on a test mule. We'll see. In any event, we'll know a lot more about all the different variants as the new Ram keeps inches closer to its on-sale date. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2019 Ram 1500: Other trim levels spied View 14 Photos Spy Photos RAM Truck

Ford F-450 claims best-in-class towing, company abandons practice of removing items to boost payload number

The ongoing heavy-duty truck battle between Ford and Ram is showing no signs of slowing down. The Blue Oval is trying to remove at least one point of contention between the two brands by testing its 2015 F-450 Super Duty using the Society of Automotive Engineers J2807 towing standard, which Ram also uses. In the new evaluation, the F-450 is rated at a max towing capacity of 31,200 pounds. That's an identical amount as under Ford's own, previous test.
"We leave no doubt with customers that the F-450 pickup truck has best-in-class towing of 31,200 pounds - whether tested using our own internal towing standards or SAE J2807," said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president for Global Product Development, in the company's release.
At the same time, Ford is also changing how it calculates the F-450's payload. Instead of using its minimum curb weight as before, the brand is now using the truck's base curb weight. The revision lowers the pickup's rating to 5,300 pounds, compared to 5,450 pounds previously. The company said in its announcement that the reason for this is "aligning its payload rating practices with other manufacturers to make it easier for customers to compare vehicles." General Motors made a similar switch for its pickups in August.