2000 Chrysler Town & Country - Was Company Work Van, New Inspection on 2040-cars

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2015 Ram 1500 Rebel is rugged, oddly styled

Feeling rebellious? Ram has you covered for 2015 with its new 1500 Rebel model, which, though nowhere near as focused as the Ford F-150 Raptor with which you may think it competes, is skewed toward the always-nebulous "outdoor lifestyle" set that marketing teams the world over seem to covet so much. For such hiking/camping or otherwise outdoorsy types, the Ram Rebel offers an extra inch of suspension travel over regular-grade 1500 models, along with 33-inch tires, a new bumper that affords a better approach angle, tow hooks and a center skid plate. Those are the kind of upgrades many buyers consider mandatory for basic off-road capability, and it's nice that Ram has baked them into a single model. We're less enthused by the in-your-face styling of the rebel, particularly up front, where the traditional crosshair grille has been replaced by a protruding proboscis that's nothing if not unique. There's also massive RAM lettering on the tailgate, just in case you weren't sure who made the Rebel... The show truck's red exterior is mimicked inside, and the leather seats are embossed in a tire-tread pattern. Subtle, it is not. Buyers will have the choice of a 3.6-liter V6 or 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, mated to an automatic transmission and the choice of two- or four-wheel drive, though we don't understand why anyone would choose a Rebel without 4x4. In any case, check out the live pics above and the press release and videos below for more details. New 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel Makes a Statement 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel takes advantage of exclusive air suspension in order to offer increased ride height Standard 33-inch tires provide capability and rugged looks First time 3.92 axle ratio available on 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine Equipped with factory lift, skid plates, tow hooks and other off-road-ready features New front grille design a significant styling departure for Ram Truck brand New interior colors and materials, including Radar Red and Black seats with tire tread-matching pattern January 13, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - The new 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel brings a one-of-a-kind off-road design to the full-size truck segment. "Offering an off-road-style package on the Ram 1500 has been on our to-do list for some time but the right combination didn't present itself until now," said Bob Hegbloom, President and CEO - Ram Truck Brand, FCA US LLC.

Chrysler celebrates 90 years with special trim levels

Ninety years is a long time for any business to stick around, and it's especially difficult in the auto industry. Chrysler is celebrating the milestone this year by loading on extra tech with 90th Anniversary Edition packages for the 200, 300, and Town & Country. Chrysler's 90th Anniversary Edition for the 2016 300 is based on the Limited trim, and it includes an 8.4-inch UConnect infotainment system with navigation, SiriusXM radio, and a custom splash screen. In addition, buyers get a dual-pane sunroof and floor mats with the anniversary logo. Separately, the 2016 300S is available with a retuned suspension and steering that includes increased spring rates, larger sway bars, and set of Goodyear Eagle F1 tires. The 200's 90th Anniversary Edition is also based on the Limited trim, and the package adds an 8.4-inch Uconnect system without navigation, sunroof, heated mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power seats, and custom floor mats. For 2016, the Limited also has blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-path detection as a standalone option, and it and the S version get a standard backup camera. The 200C now comes with a heated steering wheel, as well. Finally, the Town & Country is due for a replacement in early 2016, but the current version gets to celebrate the 90th anniversary, too. Based on the Touring-L trim, the package adds a power sunroof, bright door handles, heated seats for the first two rows, a heated steering wheel, and keyless ignition. Plus, there are special logos on the splash screen and floor mats. 90th Anniversary of Chrysler Brand Marked by Nearly Complete Refresh of Vehicle Lineup September 1, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - With two of the brand's three vehicles either recently renewed – from the refreshed flagship and iconic 300 full-size sedan earlier this year, to the completely new 200 mid-size sedan last year – Chrysler is gaining momentum. Add to that the upcoming sixth-generation of the vehicle that created the minivan segment more than 30 years ago, coming next year, and that qualifies for a serious roll. 2015 also marks the Chrysler Brand's 90th year, which it will celebrate by offering special 90th anniversary models of its 300, 200 and Town & Country models. "Clearly 2015 is a very exciting time for the Chrysler Brand," said Al Gardner, President and CEO - Chrysler Brand, FCA — North America.

Michigan ponders its automotive future in the connected age

Few people take cars more seriously than Michiganders. I've been to the home of BMW in Germany. I've been to Kia's HQ in Korea. I've seen Honda's goods in Japan. No one, from the factory worker to the executive in her pinstriped suit, is more obsessed with cars than Michigan Inc. That's why it was interesting this week to see the state have a moment of introspection four hours north of the Motor City on a scenic island called Mackinac. Ironically, cars are not allowed here. Normally a tourist trap, it played placed host to the Mackinac Public Policy conference this week. While politics took center stage ( I may be the only person here not considering a run for governor) the evolution of the industry through connectivity and data was a theme of the conference. If you're reading this in New York, Silicon Valley, or one of the automotive heartlands listed above, you do care about this. If Michigan rethinks its approach to the car business – and makes moves to become more competitive – that affects you the consumer and enthusiast. It's jobs. It's technology, and it's a competition to see who's going to be the leader. More than a century after Henry Ford made mass production a thing, more than 70 years after Detroit's Arsenal of Democracy helped win World War II, and nearly a decade after the historic bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler, the car business is on solid footing again and looking to the future. What's next? Michigan is still home to thousands of auto workers, tech centers (including gleaming facilities built by Toyota and Hyundai), and the headquarters of the three American carmakers. Just because the economy is good doesn't mean it's a given connected cars and mobility advancements are going to come from this state. A lot of it's not. Tesla, Uber, Lyft, Faraday Future, and other transportation mediums have spouted up other places. Michigan leaders and Detroit's carmakers understand this reality. Reflecting on the past means admitting the future is not a given, a key undertone this week in Mackinac. It's about using existing resources, like skilled labor, to move forward. "We do have the number of technicians and technical expertise here in this state," says Stephen Polk," conference chair and former CEO of auto data firm R.L. Polk & Co. To that end, Ford is placing increased emphasis on a division called Smart Mobility, which is an in-house unit focusing on autonomy, connectivity, and forward-looking ideas.