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2017 Ram Rebel Mojave Sand preaches subtlety, revived 1500 Ignition Orange Sport doesn't

The traditionally green Los Angeles Auto Show isn't normally the place for pickup trucks, but that's not stopping Ram from bringing a pair of limited-edition trims for its popular 1500 pickup to sunny SoCal. First up, we have the 1500 Rebel Mojave Sand. Limited to just 1,500 units, this truck gets its name from its Mojave Sand exterior paint, which looks nothing like the identically named color Jeep sells on the Renegade. The cute ute's shade has a lot more tan than the almost-white color coming to the Ram Rebel. Of course, the Renegade doesn't get the Rebel's neat black graphics on the performance hood. Inside, the special-edition Rebel replaces the Radar Red seatbacks with all-black thrones, while Light Slate Gray stitching covers the IP, doors, and seats. Black anodized touches round out the cabin changes, and contribute to what is quite frankly a very business-like cabin. It feels out of place for a vehicle like the Rebel, but that doesn't mean it looks bad. If you think the Rebel Mojave Sand looks too muted, the new 1500 Ignition Orange Sport is anything but. A revival of a previous limited-edition package from 2015, the new truck brings back the bright orange exterior color, body color grille surround, black hood decals – which are identical to the Mojave Sand – and black badges. The main exterior difference between 2015 and 2017 are the wheels. Presumably 20-inchers, the five-spoke design is black for 2017 rather than silver. The cabin gets "Copperhead" accents and stitching throughout the cabin, with anodized orange trim pieces on the door panels and trim rings. Prices for the Rebel Mojave Sand start at $46,910 including $1,320 in destination charges. Deliveries should start in December. The Ignition Orange Sport, meanwhile, is only available on the 5.7-liter, V8-powered Crew Cab and kicks off at $45,060, also sans destination. The Jack-O-Lantern-themed trucks are hitting dealers now. Related Video:

2019 Ram 1500 eTorque First Drive Review | The un-hybrids

Misinformation is already being passed around about the 2019 Ram 1500 eTorque – reports calling the new electrified version of the full-size half-ton pickup truck a hybrid and saying its eTorque system adds torque to the truck's engine increasing payload, towing capacity, and performance. Don't believe a word of it – this isn't a hybrid in the conventional sense of the word. eTorque does not increase the truck's power or capability. Instead, the system feeds in some electric torque at low RPM, which helps with fuel efficiency by spinning up the engine during start/stop operation, smoothing gearchanges, and harvesting some energy from braking – that's basically it. Ram is partially to blame for the hybrid confusion. Although the "h"-word does not appear anywhere on the truck or the vehicle's window sticker, the automaker has chosen to call eTorque a "mild-hybrid system", which implies that it might be able to propel the truck on electric power. But the Ram's small battery pack and single electric motor cannot – it's more similar to the original GM Parallel Hybrid Truck system than the later two-motor, two-mode hybrid system circa 2009. Also, eTorque applies power to the engine and the wheels briefly at very low engine speeds and during gear changes. These applications of power only last for fractions of a second at any given time, some as quick as the blink of an eye. So it's a labeling fiasco, but Ram's explanation of the eTorque system's operation and its benefits, which are significant, can also be perplexing. And the resulting discombobulation is unfortunate, because eTorque is clever, and it really does work. Earlier this week we drove two Rams with the system, one a V6 and one a Hemi, through Kentucky horse country, and came away impressed by its measurable contributions to the truck's fuel efficiency, drivability and smooth operation. We also interviewed Mike Raymond, the Chief Engineer on the Ram 1500, and Brian Spohn, Ram's Vehicle Electrification Manager, Powertrain Engineering, to better understand what it is and how it functions. How eTorque works Ram will offer the 3.6-liter 24-valve V6 with eTorque as the standard engine in most models. The V6 will not be available without eTorque, although we'd be surprised if it wasn't added to the menu at a later date.

Fiat Chrysler profit up as it closes in on retiring its debt

MILAN — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles reduced its debt by more than expected in the first quarter, putting the carmaker well on course to become cash positive later this year. Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne expects to cancel all debt during 2018 — possibly by the end of June — and generate around 4 billion euros ($5 billion) in net cash by the end of the year. Marchionne has said that forecast does not include any one-off measures, nor the impact of the planned spinoff of parts maker Magneti Marelli, which he hopes to execute by early 2019. The world's seventh-largest carmaker said on Thursday net debt had fallen to 1.3 billion euros ($1.6 billion) by the end of March, well below a consensus forecast of 2.6 billion euros in a Thomson Reuters poll of analysts. FCA said capital spending fell 900 million euros in the quarter due to "program timing," which analysts said implied higher investments for the rest of the year. The Italian-American group said first-quarter operating profit rose 5 percent to 1.61 billion euros, below a consensus forecast of 1.74 billion, as a weaker performance from its North American profit center weighed. Shipments there were higher due to the new Jeep Wrangler and Compass models. But currency moves hit revenues and earnings, and costs related to new product launches added to the pressure. FCA's shift to sell more trucks and SUVs boosted margins yet again in North America to 7.4 percent from 7.3 percent in the same quarter a year ago, although they were down from the 8 percent recorded in the preceding three months. Marchionne, preparing to hand over to an internal successor next year, is close to his goal of ending a margin gap with larger U.S. rivals General Motors and Ford. The 65-year-old has said becoming debt free and being able to compete on a par with U.S. peers would mean FCA no longer needed a partner to survive and could well succeed on its own. The CEO has previously said tying up with another carmaker would help to meet the huge costs in an industry investing in electric vehicles and automated driving. FCA shares fell immediately after the results, but recovered to trade up 3 percent at 19.71 euros by 1150 GMT, outperforming a 0.4 percent rise in Europe's blue-chip stock index. ($1 = 0.8214 euros) Reporting by Agnieszka FlakRelated Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.