NAIAS - Ram Truck will introduce a special edition of the popular Ram 1500 Rebel — the Rebel Black.

• Ram 1500 Rebel Black special edition builds on brands off-road pickup leadership
• Available in all Rebel colors, the Black package is the first time the popular off-road truck has offered Black wheels, brush guard and all-black Katzkin interior
• Pricing for Ram 1500 Rebel with Black package starts at $45,590

At the 2017 North American International Auto Show, Ram Truck will introduce a special edition of the popular Ram 1500 Rebel — the Rebel Black.

The Ram Rebel Black special edition traces its origin to one of the truck brand’s fastest-selling off-road powerhouses, adapting dark features as a design component. The package is offered with all available Rebel colors, adding black wheels, brush guard and theme-matched all-black interior.

 

“Adding the Rebel Black package to an already aggressive off-road truck will continue feeding the momentum Rebel is creating for the Ram Truck brand,” said Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand and Ram Brand, FCA - Global. “The Ram Rebel is unique in the full-size truck segment with 33-inch off-road tires, air suspension and custom interior details.”

The Rebel Black interior features black anodized bezels on the doors, center console, instrument panel and gauge cluster trim rings. All-black heated seats with black “Rebel” embroidery stay to the theme, highlighted by Light Slate Gray accent stitching, which traces the instrument panel, center console lid, doors and seats. Deep rubber floor mats capture snow and mud. Additional luxury can be had with optional Black leather Katzkin seats.

The Ram 1500 Rebel Black special edition is available in crew cab with either the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 or 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 at a starting MSRP of $45,590 plus $1,320 destination. Rebel Black will start arriving in dealerships in March 2017.

About Ram 1500 Rebel

The Ram 1500 Rebel brings an aggressive, one-of-a-kind, off-road design to the full-size truck segment, offering customers a custom truck with capability.

Equipped with factory lift, 33-inch all-terrain tires, Bilstein shocks, skid plates, tow hooks and other off-road-ready features, Rebel drops right into a core segment of the truck market with unique design cues and can-do attitude backed by Ram Truck engineering. Ram 1500 Rebel also takes advantage of exclusive air suspension in order to offer increased ride height.

New front grille design and “RAM” branding offer a new styling signature for Ram Truck. Rebel is also distinguished by unique interior colors and materials, including Radar Red and Black seats with tire tread-matching patterns.

The Ram 1500 Rebel is available in three short wheelbase Crew Cab configurations with a standard 4x4/3.6-liter Pentastar V-6/TorqueFlite 8 combination, delivering 305 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque; a 4x2 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with variable valve timing, fuel-saver technology and 395 horsepower/410 lb.-ft. of torque mated to a TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission 4x2; or HEMI-powered 4x4. 

About Ram Truck Brand

Since its launch as a stand-alone division in 2009, the Ram Truck brand has steadily emerged as an industry leader with America’s longest-lasting line of pickups.

Creating a distinct identity for Ram trucks has allowed the brand to concentrate on core customers and the features they find valuable. Whether focusing on a family that uses a Ram 1500 day-in and day-out, a hard-working Ram 3500 Heavy Duty owner or a business that depends on its Ram ProMaster commercial van every day for deliveries, Ram has the truck market covered.

In order to be the best, it takes a commitment to innovation, capability, efficiency and durability. Ram Truck invests substantially in its products, infusing them with great looks, refined interiors, durable engines and exclusive features that further enhance their capabilities.

Ram continues to beat the competition in the most sought-after titles:

• Longest-lasting line of pickups
• Best-in-class ride and handling with exclusive link coil rear and auto-level air suspensions
• Best-in-class fuel economy and longest range with exclusive EcoDiesel – 29 mpg and 754 miles with Ram 1500
• Best-in-class gas towing – 16,320 pounds with Ram 2500
• Highest snow plow rating – Ram 2500 and 3500
• Most interior space with Ram Mega Cab
• Most capable fullsize off-road pickup – Ram Power Wagon

Truck customers, from half-ton to commercial, have a demanding range of needs and require their vehicles to provide high levels of capability. Ram trucks are designed to deliver a total package.

USA - Ram Truck today announced both a new and a returning option package to bring in the buyers from December.

• Ram 1500 Rebel Mojave Sand introduces new color, debuts new all-black interior
• Rebel Mojave Sand package priced at $595
• Ram 1500 Ignition Orange Sport returns, loaded with custom exterior and interior details
• Limited-edition Ignition Orange package priced at $1,595

Ram Truck today announced both a new and a returning option package that will have truck enthusiasts knocking at their dealers’ doors.

The first is a new 2017 limited-edition Ram 1500 Rebel Mojave Sand package. This is the first time Mojave Sand exterior paint has been available on a Ram truck model and is exclusive to the limited production Rebel. 

In addition to the new body color, the new Rebel package includes a black-decaled performance hood and a new, unique fully black interior.

The new black Rebel interior features black anodized bezels on the doors, center console, instrument panel and gauge cluster trim rings. All-black seats with black embroidery replace Radar Red seat backs and embroidery. Light Slate Gray accent stitching traces the instrument panel, center console lid, doors and seats. Deep rubber floor mats are embossed with gray Ram’s head logos.

The Ram 1500 Rebel Mojave Sand limited edition is available in Rebel configurations and options. The Ram 1500 Rebel Mojave Sand starting MSRP is $45,590 plus $1,320 destination. Mojave Sand production is limited to 1,500 units, which will start arriving in dealerships in December 2016.

Ram will also reintroduce a limited run of Ram 1500 Ignition Orange Sport models.

In addition to their vivid monochromatic exterior hue with body-color grille, 2017 Ram 1500 Ignition Orange models feature a Sport performance hood with black decals, black Ram’s head grille badge, black tailgate badge and black body-side badges.

Interior treatments for the Ignition Orange Sport include “Copperhead” accent stitching throughout the cabin, Sport embroidery on the seats, accent-color Ram’s head embroidery on the headrests and colored-accent sport mesh on the seat inserts. Anodized Orange-painted spears and trim rings complete the interior.

Only 1,500 units of the bright-orange 2017 Ram 1500 Sports will be produced.

The Ram 1500 Ignition Orange Sport package is limited to Crew Cab V-8 models with a starting MSRP of $43,740 plus $1,320 destination. The trucks are arriving in dealerships now.

USA - JEEP® & RAM Trucks brands dominate at 21st Northwest Automotive Press Association “Mudfest”

• All-new 2015 Jeep® Renegade named Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year and winner of Compact Utility category
• 2015 Jeep Cherokee voted winner of Family Utility class
• 2015 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel named winner in the Pickups category
• 2015 Ram Power Wagon voted winner of Extreme Capability class

Jeep® and Ram Truck brand vehicles cleaned up at the 21st annual “Mudfest” competition hosted by the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA), with each FCA US vehicle entered winning its respective category. In addition, the all-new 2015 Jeep Renegade took home top honors, being voted “Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year” by automotive journalist members of NWAPA in attendance. 

“Following two days of extensive testing, I think it’s clear that Jeep has something special with the new Renegade Trailhawk,” said Ryan Douthit, co-chair of the event. “Don’t let its size fool you: this is one capable little machine. Even though it did extremely well in our sealed-surface slalom and braking tests, it was the smallest Jeep’s remarkable off-road abilities that really impressed our members.”

The 2015 Jeep Renegade was also named the winner of the Compact Utility class, and the 2015 Jeep Cherokee was the winner of the Family Utility class. The 2015 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel won the Pickups category, while the 2015 Ram Power Wagon won in the Extreme Capability class.

“This annual competition sets the bar for outdoor activity vehicle buyers in not only the Northwest, but the entire country,” said Nik Miles, president of NWAPA. “The journalists push vehicles to their limits; this competition is not for the meek and faint of heart. FCA came to the table ready for a tough fight and they played rough and tough, driving away with a trunk full of trophies.”

More than 20 NWAPA automotive journalists spent two days testing vehicles on paved and off-road routes. Journalists tested 27 vehicles from 21 manufacturers to select winners in six categories: compact utility, family utility, premium compact utility, premium standard utility, pickups and extreme capability vehicles. The overall winner, the all-new 2015 Jeep Renegade, was selected from the class winners to be named the Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year.

2015 Jeep Renegade

The all-new 2015 Jeep Renegade expands the brand’s global vehicle lineup, entering the growing small SUV segment, while staying true to the fun-and-freedom lifestyle for which the Jeep brand is known. Renegade delivers a unique combination of best-in-class off-road capability, open-air freedom and convenience, a segment-first nine-speed automatic transmission that contributes to outstanding on-road and off-road driving dynamics, world-class refinement, two fuel-efficient MultiAir engines with more than 30 mpg, and a host of innovative safety and advanced technology offerings.

2015 Jeep Cherokee

There is a new king of the hill in the mid-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) segment: the 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The 2015 Jeep Cherokee delivers legendary Jeep 4x4 capability, premium on-road manners and superior ride and handling, a segment-exclusive nine-speed automatic transmission, fuel economy ratings of up to 31 miles per gallon (mpg) highway, world-class craftsmanship, state-of-the-art useful technology, more than 70 advanced safety and security features and best-in-class V-6 towing capability of 4,500 pounds.

Powered by a choice of two engines, the 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir2 I-4 or the 3.2-liter Pentastar V-6, which includes Engine Stop-Start (ESS) technology and three innovative 4x4 systems that feature the first use of a fully automated disconnecting rear axle, the Jeep Cherokee revolutionizes the mid-size SUV segment. The Cherokee delivers state-of-the-art, easy-to-use technology that customers value, world-class craftsmanship and clever features like the available 8.4-inch touch screen media center, the seven-inch full-color instrument cluster display, inventive storage solutions and cargo flexibility not found elsewhere in the segment with the Jeep Cargo Management system.

2015 Ram 1500

The most recognizable pickup on the road delivers best-in-class fuel economy with a truckload of pioneering, fuel-saving systems and first-in-segment technologies: TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission, thermal management system, pulse-width modulation and active aerodynamics, including grille shutters and air suspension. The Ram 1500 delivers an outstanding combination of best-in-class fuel efficiency, unsurpassed torque and a surplus of towing capability. The EcoDiesel-powered Ram 1500 earned a 29 mpg rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the best highway-cycle test result ever achieved by a full-size, half-ton pickup. It also exceeds the EPA highway rating for the top-ranked small pickup.

2015 Ram Power Wagon

Ram Truck brand’s quest to build the best pickups continues. Ram’s Heavy Duty truck line owns best-in-class towing at 30,000 lbs. and best-in-class Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) at 37,600 lbs., but there’s an additional title Ram Truck has always held: the most off-road-capable pickup. Built to master the most rigorous off-road trails, the Ram Power Wagon is based on the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty 4x4 Crew Cab, but features a number of off-road-specific engineering enhancements, including a unique suspension with more than two inches of lift, locking differentials and a 12,000-pound winch to give the truck a significant advantage over all production pickups.

NWAPA

NWAPA (www.nwapa.org) is a professional organization of automotive journalists and media members from throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Founded in 1991, NWAPA includes 45 voting members representing more than 100 newspapers, magazines, radio stations, media groups and the Internet. Non-voting members include representatives from automotive manufacturers and related industry professionals.

Chrysler group announce April sales

• Best April sales since 2007
• 37th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains
• Seven Chrysler Group vehicles set sales records for month of April
• Dodge Dart compact car records highest monthly sales since 2012 vehicle launch
• Dodge Durango sales up 65 percent; best April sales since 2005
• Jeep® Grand Cherokee sales up 27 percent; best April sales since 2005
• Ram Truck brand sales up 49 percent; largest percentage sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand in April 

Chrysler Group LLC today reported U.S. sales of 156,698 units, an 11 percent increase compared with sales in April 2012 (141,165 units), and the group’s best April sales since 2007.

The Jeep®, Dodge, Ram Truck and FIAT brands each posted year-over-year sales gains in April compared with the same month a year ago. The Ram Truck brand’s 49 percent increase was the largest sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand in April. Chrysler Group extended its streak of year-over-year sales gains to 37-consecutive months in April.

“Chrysler Group’s best April sales in six years helped to maintain our sales momentum and drove us to our 37th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains,” said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales. “Our sales last month were solid across the board with seven Chrysler Group vehicles recording their best April sales ever.”

The Dodge Durango’s 65 percent sales increase was the largest sales gain of any Dodge brand vehicle in April and second only to the Ram Cargo Van’s 110 percent sales gain among Chrysler Group vehicles. Jeep brand sales rebounded in April as all Jeep brand models except Jeep Liberty, which is no longer in production, posted sales gains last month. Sales of the flagship Jeep Grand Cherokee were up 27 percent in April compared with the same month a year ago, its best April sales in eight years.

Seven Chrysler Group vehicles set sales records in the month of April. The Jeep Compass compact SUV and the Jeep Wrangler each logged their best April sales ever, as did the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Journey, Fiat 500, and Ram Cargo Van. The all-new Dodge Dart compact car had its best sales month since the vehicle was launched in June last year.

Chrysler Group finished the month with a 66-days supply of inventory (415,019 units). U.S. industry sales figures for April are projected at an estimated 15.4 million units Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR).

April 2013 U.S. Sales Highlights by Brand

Ram Truck Brand

Ram Truck brand sales were up 49 percent, the largest percentage sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand in April. It was the brand’s best April sales since 2007.

Sales of the Ram pickup truck were up 49 percent in April, the pickup truck’s 36th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. The 49 percent sales gain was the pickup truck’s best April sales in six years. Sales of the Light Duty Ram pickup were up 54 percent, driven by the Quad Cab pickups, while Heavy Duty Ram sales were up 30 percent. The Ram Cargo Van set a sales record for the month of April with its 110 percent sales gain.

The Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn earned a spot on Ward’s 10 Best Interiors for 2013 list in April. WardsAuto editors selected the top passenger compartments after spending February and March evaluating 46 vehicles that are all-new or feature significantly-upgraded interiors. WardsAuto said the Ram 1500 is a spectacular, emotive interior that sets a high standard other automakers will be hard-pressed to emulate.

Dodge Brand

Dodge brand sales were up 18 percent, the brand’s best April sales since 2008 and its 23nd-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. Sales of the Dodge Durango full-size SUV were up 65 percent, its best April sales in eight years. Production of the new 2014 Dodge Durango, with its standard state-of-the-art, class-exclusive eight-speed automatic transmission, is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of this year. The Durango’s sales gain was the largest percentage increase of any Dodge brand model in the month.

The Dodge Journey full-size crossover and the Dodge Challenger each set a sales record for the month of April. Sales of the Challenger increased 17 percent, while Journey sales were up 14 percent.

The all-new Dodge Dart continued on its upward sales trend with its month-over-month increase in April, the compact car’s best monthly sales since Dodge dealers began selling the model in June last year.

Two Dodge brand models earned awards this week at the Texas Auto Writers Association’s (TAWA) 2013 Auto Roundup at the Texas Motor Speedway. The Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 took home the award for Performance Coupe of Texas, while the Dodge Journey Crew earned the Activity Vehicle of Texas award. After a day of demanding driving at the racetrack in Fort Worth, journalists voted on their favorites and Chrysler Group secured seven of the possible 19 awards – the most of any participating manufacturer at the event.

Jeep® Brand

Improving Jeep production in April helped Jeep brand sales to rebound with an 2 percent year-over-year sales gain for the month, the brand’s best April sales since 2007. All Jeep models in production recorded sales gains in April compared with the same month a year ago.

The Jeep Compass compact SUV and the Jeep Wrangler each set a sales record for the month of April. Sales of the Compass were up 23 percent, while sales of the Jeep Wrangler, winner of Four Wheeler magazine’s prestigious 2013 Four Wheeler of the Year Award, were up 10 percent in April.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee’s 27 percent increase was its best sales month so far this year and its best April sales in eight years. The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT earned TAWA’s Performance Utility of Texas award at this week’s Auto Roundup in Texas.

FIAT Brand

The Fiat 500 set a sales record for the month of April with its 1 percent increase. It was the model’s 14th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. The Fiat 500 Abarth, with its 22 percent sales gain, had the largest year-over-year percentage increase of any of the 500 models in April. The Fiat 500 Turbo took home the award for Sub-Compact Car of Texas during this week’s TAWA Auto Roundup at the Texas Motor Speedway.

This summer, the all-new 2013 Fiat 500e electric vehicle will join the 500 model lineup in the state of California. The 500e will be offered to California residents at launch with a $199 a month/$999 due at signing lease for 36 months, same as the current lease offer on a Fiat 500 Pop powered by a gas engine.

Chrysler Brand

The Chrysler Town & Country minivan logged a 4 percent sales increase in April, its best April sales in three years. The Town & Country this year won the Polk Automotive Loyalty Award in the “Minivan” category for a record 12th-consecutive time. Chrysler brand sales were down 13 percent compared with the same month a year ago.

Two Chrysler brand models earned awards this week at TAWA’s Auto Roundup. The Chrysler Town & Country Limited minivan took home the award for Minivan of Texas, while the Chrysler 300C John Varvatos Luxury Edition earned the Best New Interior award.

The Chrysler brand has two special edition models coming to dealerships shortly. Production of the 2013.5 Chrysler 200 S Special Edition began in April. It will begin arriving in dealerships this month. The 2013 Chrysler 300C John Varvatos Limited Edition is expected to arrive in dealerships later this quarter.

Chrysler group sales - March

• Best monthly sales since December 2007
• 36th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains
• First-quarter sales up 8 percent compared with same quarter a year ago
• Dodge, Ram Truck, and FIAT brands each post sales increases in March compared with same month a year ago
• Ram Truck brand sales up 24 percent in March; best March sales since 2007
• Ram pickup truck sets all-time sales record with 25 percent year-over-year sales gain
• Dodge brand sales increase 15 percent; best March sales since 2007
• Dodge Dart sets all-time sales record with 5 percent month-over-month sales increase
• Dodge Avenger mid-size sedan sets all-time sales record with 33 percent sales gain
• Dodge Challenger muscle car sets all-time sales record; sales up 42 percent in March
• Dodge Durango sales up 19 percent; best March sales since 2005
• New 2014 Dodge Durango debuts at the 2013 New York International Auto Show
• Fiat 500 sets sales record for month of March with 3 percent sales gain
• Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan sets all-time sales record with 11 percent sales gain
• Chrysler brand and Carhartt team up to introduce the 2013.5 Chrysler 200 S Special Edition mid-size sedan at the New York International Auto Show
• Chrysler brand named ‘Most Refined Brand’ in Kelley Blue Book’s 2013 Brand Image Awards
• All-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee mid-size sport-utility vehicle debuts at the New York International Auto Show
• Jeep® and Mopar reveal six new concept vehicles for 47th Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari in Utah
• Jeep Compass sets sales record for month of March with 28 percent sales gain
• Jeep Patriot sales up 8 percent; best March sales since 2008
• Jeep Wrangler sales up 3 percent; best March sales since 2007

Chrysler Group LLC today reported U.S. sales of 171,606 units, a 5 percent increase compared with sales in March 2012 (163,381 units), and the group’s best monthly sales since December 2007.

The Dodge, Ram Truck and FIAT brands each posted year-over-year sales gains in March compared with the same month last year. The Ram Truck brand’s 24 percent increase was the largest sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand in March.

Chrysler Group extended its streak of year-over-year sales gains to 36-consecutive months in March. This sales milestone tops a previous sales streak of 35-consecutive months that occurred from February 1992 through December 1994.

Despite the extension of the sales streak, shipment volumes and sales in the first quarter of 2013 were negatively affected by the end of Jeep Liberty production in Q3 2012 and the product launches during the quarter of the new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Jeep Compass, and the new 2013 Ram Heavy Duty truck line, as Chairman and CEO of Chrysler Group LLC, Sergio Marchionne, pointed out in the 2012 Q4 and full-year earnings call at the end of January.

“With our 5 percent sales increase in March, Chrysler Group has now achieved year-over-year sales gains in every month for the past three years,” said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales. “Furthermore, in spite of limited inventory last month on some of our most popular models, we also managed to record our strongest monthly sales since December 2007.”

Five Chrysler Group vehicles set all-time sales records in March. Sales of the Ram pickup truck were up 25 percent in March, its best sales ever. Both the Light-Duty Ram and Heavy-Duty Ram pickups were substantially refreshed for the 2013 model year. The Ram 1500 is Motor Trend’s 2013 Truck of the Year.

In addition to the Ram, three Dodge models recorded their best sales ever in March. The all-new Dodge Dart compact car set an all-time sales record with its 5 percent month-over-month sales gain. Dart sales have increased in every month but one since the all-new model was launched in June last year. In addition, the Dodge Avenger mid-size sedan and the Dodge Challenger muscle car each set all-time sales records in March. The Challenger recorded its best sales ever with a substantial 42 percent sales gain. The Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan also recorded an all-time sales record with its 11 percent sales gain.

Chrysler Group finished the month with a 66-days supply of inventory (419,084 units). U.S. industry sales figures for March are projected at an estimated 15.6 million units Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR).

March 2013 U.S. Sales Highlights by Brand

Ram Truck Brand

Ram Truck brand sales were up 24 percent, the largest percentage sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand in March. Ram Truck, the most-improved brand in the J.D. Power and Associates 2013 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, had its best March sales in six years. March sales represented the Ram Truck brand’s 20th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains.

The new Ram 1500 is resonating well with consumers in the marketplace. Sales of the pickup truck were up 25 percent in March, an all-time sales record. The new Ram Heavy Duty line of trucks, now shipping to Ram Truck dealers, will build on the brand’s momentum in the marketplace.

March was the pickup truck’s 35th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. Sales of the Light Duty Ram pickup were up 30 percent in March led by the Quad Cab pickups. Heavy Duty Ram sales were up 28 percent, driven by the Crew Cab model. The Ram 1500 was named 2013 Rocky Mountain Truck of the Year by the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press Association during the Denver Auto Show in March.

Dodge Brand

Dodge brand sales were up 15 percent, the brand’s best March sales in six years and its 22nd-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains.

Three Dodge brand vehicles set all-time sales records in March led by the all-new Dodge Dart. The compact car, with its 5 percent month-over-month sales increase, had its best monthly sales performance since Dodge dealers began selling it in June last year. Like the Dart, the Dodge Avenger mid-size sedan and the Dodge Challenger muscle car each set an all-time sales record. The Challenger’s 42 percent increase was the largest year-over-year increase of any Chrysler Group vehicle in March, while the Avenger’s 33 percent increase represented its 18th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains.

Sales of the Dodge Durango were up 19 percent, the full-size SUV’s best March sales in eight years. The new 2014 Dodge Durango made its world debut in March at the New York International Auto Show. Building upon its best-in-class attributes, the three-row Durango adds several new class-exclusive features for 2014, making it the Dodge brand’s most technologically advanced, fuel-efficient and stylish Durango ever.

FIAT Brand

The Fiat 500 set a sales record for the month of March with its 3 percent sales gain. It was the 13th-consecutive month in which the 500 has set a sales record, including an all-time sales record in September last year. The new 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio, which began arriving in FIAT studios in March, combines turbocharged, track-capable performance with a clever open-top design for a high-performance four-passenger cabrio with the most interior space, rear-seat legroom and shoulder room among key competitors.

Coming this quarter to FIAT studios in California, the FIAT brand is adding the all-new 2013 Fiat 500e to its product lineup. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rated the stylish Fiat 500e’s highway-cycle performance at 108 MPGe, which is unsurpassed by any electric vehicle (EV) on the U.S. market. MPGe is the EPA-devised measure for determining how many miles an EV can travel on a quantity of battery-generated electricity that has same energy content as a gallon of gasoline.

Chrysler Brand

Chrysler brand sales were up 35 percent month-over-month in March on strong sales of the Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan, but the brand’s year-over-year sales were down 2 percent. The 200 set an all-time sales record with its 11 percent increase in March. The flagship Chrysler 300 full-size sedan and the Chrysler Town & Country minivan each recorded their best sales months so far this year in March.

The Chrysler brand and Carhartt teamed up in March to introduce the 2013.5 Chrysler 200 S Special Edition mid-size sedan at the New York International Auto Show. The Chrysler 200 S Special Edition accelerates the successful relationship with Carhartt, which started with an exclusive made in the USA Carhartt/Imported from Detroit clothing line in November. The special edition model celebrates the traits that both companies share – hard work, ingenuity, perseverance and a “never say die” attitude. The 200 S Special Edition brings style and customization in the mid-size sedan market to a whole new level.

The Chrysler brand was named “Most Refined Brand” by Kelley Blue Book in its 2013 Brand Image Awards in March. The Brand Image Awards recognize what KBB.com shoppers perceive to be the most outstanding automakers in a number of categories. Kelley Blue Book noted that the Chrysler brand combines an air of confidence with a sense of flair, resulting in a lineup and a brand that feel a class above their competitors.

Jeep® Brand

Jeep brand sales were up 27 percent month-over-month in March, but the brand’s year-over-year sales were down 13 percent due to Jeep Liberty production ending in August and the ongoing product launches of and launch preparations for the new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Jeep Cherokee (the Liberty replacement), and the Jeep Compass and Patriot. The Jeep brand did log its best sales month so far this year in March.

The Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot, and Jeep Wrangler all had solid sales during the month. The Compass set a sales record for the month of March with its sizeable 28 percent increase, while the Patriot recorded its best March sales in five years. Wrangler sales were up 3 percent while the Jeep Grand Cherokee charted its best sales month so far this year.

The all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee mid-size SUV debuted at the New York International Auto Show in March. The Cherokee completely redefines the mid-size SUV segment, delivering legendary Jeep 4x4 capability, a segment-first nine-speed automatic transmission, fuel economy improvements of more than 45 percent (versus the outgoing Liberty model), superior on-road ride and handling, a cutting-edge, revolutionary design, world-class craftsmanship, class-exclusive technology and more than 70 advanced safety and security features. The Cherokee will be built at Chrysler Group’s Toledo Assembly Plant in Toledo, Ohio, and will arrive in dealer showrooms in the third quarter of this year.

Jeep and Mopar revealed six new concept vehicles for the 47th Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari in Utah in March. Thousands of die-hard, off-road enthusiasts looking to enjoy a week of wheeling on some of the country’s most famous and challenging trails attended this year’s event. Since 2002, Jeep and Mopar have teamed to create nearly 40 unique concept vehicles for enthusiasts who attend the popular Easter Jeep Safari.