New for Chrysler in 2010: Not much
2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty – Click above for high-res image gallery
Chrysler's in a tough spot right now. The beleaguered automaker survived the Daimler fiasco only to be picked up by an indifferent Cerberus team before ultimately ending up in bankruptcy court. Chrysler came out of those proceedings with a new dance partner in Fiat, and while the new company has a healthier balance sheet, a lack of funding has left the Pentastar with a nearly empty cupboard when it comes to new 2010 products.
In fact, Chrysler's new-product roster for the coming model year can be counted on one finger. The heavy duty 2010 Dodge Ram arrives with new sheetmetal, a significantly improved interior, a new crew cab configuration, and upgraded gasoline and diesel engines. It'll eventually be followed by commercial versions, with model designations ranging from 2500 to 5500.
As for the rest of the lineup, Chrysler did the most it could with its limited resources. Among the running changes for the 2010 model year are an improved Dodge Caliber interior, an updated, smooth-hooded Chrysler Sebring (as if anyone's going to notice) and plenty of fuel economy-related updates. The Dodge Nitro, Jeep Liberty and light-duty Ram receive a fuel cutoff feature during deceleration. The Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot add entry-level 2.0L four-cylinder models that deliver nominal fuel economy gains (2 mpg in the Dodge, 1 mpg in the Jeeps). The 3.5L Dodge Journey, a car that we'd all but forgotten about, will also see tweaks that will allow it to pick up an additional mpg as well.
Finally, Chrysler hopes to entice buyers by making previously optional equipment standard for 2010, while also adjusting pricing. The Dodge Caravan cost of entry has been lowered by $2,180 to $21,800, giving families a budget-priced option in the minivan market. Oh, and one last thing -- a limited edition Dodge Challenger SRT8 will be offered in Plum Crazy for 2010. Now that sounds genuinely interesting.
Gallery: 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty
[Source: The Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Tyler 3:43PM (9/06/2009)
2011 Ford Super Duty is where it's at!
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James 4:15PM (9/06/2009)
Dodge Ram, a heck more utility than a...Crosstour.
;p
Tool 2:58AM (9/07/2009)
See The Brand New 2010 Chrysler's . . . . . .
. . . . . . at your favorite Rent-A-Car location.
tanooki2003 9:05AM (9/07/2009)
LOL @ James
+1
tanooki2003 9:06AM (9/07/2009)
LOL @ James
Randy 11:06PM (9/07/2009)
Is it me or does this somehow look like an Ford F Series? I'm thinking the paint color? Not the front clip of course, but the side of it.... hmmm
why not the LS2LS7? 3:45PM (9/06/2009)
Ow.
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Randy 3:47PM (9/06/2009)
If Chrysler didn't close so many service centers the new Ram would be worth looking into...
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Matt (that likes ford) 3:56PM (9/06/2009)
Those hips don't lie.
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Nick 3:57PM (9/06/2009)
If only they would drop the 2-tone body color.............these beige wheel wells are truly killing an otherwise nice truck.
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Other Man 8:02PM (9/06/2009)
You can order the Laramie models in a single tone paint scheme. Thank the Lord.
On another note, the ribbed hood was the only real distinctive feature found on Sebrings and was a Chrysler touch that I liked. Oh well; the replacement cannot arrive soon enough.
Galley 3:57PM (9/06/2009)
No more hood strakes? It seems I was the only one who liked them.
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artandcolour 4:07PM (9/06/2009)
nah, i thought the hood strakes were the only interesting part of the Sebring also. they have a history at Chryco beyond the Crossfire, too. i've seen grooved trunklids on some Chrysler cars from the late 50s/early 60s, possibly the DeSoto.
Jim in Tampa 9:33PM (9/06/2009)
I liked the strakes too. They look good on our Pacifica.
Jay Cannaday 4:01PM (9/06/2009)
Nick, the two tone paint is an option. Matt, ever look at the "hips" on a Super Duty dually? Same thing. Grow up.
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artandcolour 4:08PM (9/06/2009)
agreed. where else are dual rear wheels going to fit? you can't make the track super narrow and take away cargo capacity. i don't think old-fashioned separate fenders would look any better.
Matt (that likes ford) 4:26PM (9/06/2009)
Jay, I have examined the "hips" on every super duty that is currently available. And, I have come to the conclusion that these look to be the curviest of the bunch. My reference the "Hips don't lie" was a mere attempt at humor that apparently your mind couldn't grasp. Usually, a female with rather curvy hips is attractive. I'm not sure on your preferences, but thats beside the point. The Super Duty has more of a rigid, muscular look in it's hips not as curvy as these here or the Silverado HD. I'm really sorry that I offended you with my immature comment. I wasn't inferring that it's a bad thing, so you sir, should go ahead and wake up on the right side of the bed tomorrow.
dakota 4:58PM (9/06/2009)
If anyone actually noticed that those "hips" on the Ram are part of the bed, they aren't cheap add-on's thats found on the Chevy and Ford.
Matt (that likes ford) 5:24PM (9/06/2009)
Dakota, I'm pretty sure this is part of the bed:
http://blogs.cars.com/photos/uncategorized/chevy3500side.jpg
as for the Ford, their dually arches are tacked on to save money.
Duncan 7:12PM (9/06/2009)
While I don't understand the ridiculous argument about truck "hips", I will simply note that the Ford's fenders, while tacked-on, are no doubt easier to replace should they become damaged.
You know, like from doing work. Which is becoming a rare thing for some pickups these days.