Auto Trends

Announcing that you have made a new badge for your best sport model may not seem like much news, but Ford has done that for the 2010 Mustang. In a bid to stoke interest in the next generation pony car, Ford is signaling to rivals Dodge (Challenger) and Chevy (Camaro) that its Mustang is still king. The pony wars are back and high gas prices aren't getting in the way!

Unlike Dodge and Chevrolet which touted what their respective pony cars would look like well before production time, Ford has kept a tight wrap on its next generation 2010 Mustang, a car slated for production next year. We’ve caught glimpses of test mules photographed around Ford’s Proving Grounds and have seen camouflaged cars tucked away at various other venues, but no complete look of what we can expect in the coupe.

Teasing Us With A Fresh Look

Well, if you are frustrated at guessing what the next group of Mustangs will look like, Ford is teasing us by updating the Mustang’s badge, just as they did when the car was last updated in 2005.

“We wanted to give the Mustang pony a more realistic feel,” said Douglas Gaffka, chief designer for the 2010 Mustang. “We lifted the head to make the pony more proud, tipped the neck into the wind to give it a feeling of greater speed and better balance.

“It’s more chiseled and more defined and looks more like a wild horse,” Gaffka added. “It’s more realistic in terms of proportion to an actual Mustang.”

Mustang, which was introduced at the 1964 World’s Fair in Queens, NY ( I was there!) as a 19641/2 model, sported the Mustang badge on its hood until 1978 when it was replaced by F-O-R-D block letters. In 1983 through 1993, the Blue Oval badge was up placed up front before the Mustang badge returned for 1994 refinements included.

Now that you know that bit of history, don’t you want to see the actual car? I know that I do!

My local Dodge dealer doesn’t have them yet, but in a matter of weeks they should be carrying the 2009 Dodge Ram, the fourth-generation pickup truck that at one time sold as many as 400,000 units annually. High gas prices and sharply lower demand will probably keep sales way down for the all-new Ram, but at least the truck has one thing going for it: it is a vast improvement over the third-generation line.

Introduced At The 2008 NAIAS

I was in Detroit this past January attending the auto show when Chrysler LLC introduced the all-new Ram in, “…a unique introduction to the city as 120 longhorn cattle walked down Congress Street then turned down Washington Avenue before stopping in front of the Cobo Center (for the Detroit Auto Show or NAIAS). The steer were brought in from Oklahoma to accompany the all-new Ram as it made its journey to the auto show.”

The timing of the Ram’s introduction is unfortunate, but Chrysler LLC doesn’t have a choice — the newest Ram is ready and they’ll have to do battle with Ford, General Motors, Toyota, and Nissan for customers as each automaker also must try to push their own big trucks out of dealer showrooms.

Fortunately, the 2009 Dodge Ram has been improved to the point where large pickup truck shoppers will want to consider the truck, especially for contractors and other workers who need one. I’ve identified five areas of improvement made by Chrysler LLC with the Ram, attributes worth comparing to the best trucks on the market:

Cabin - More comfortable seats and sharper dashboard display are some of the interior improvements for Dodge. Optional equipment, including Chrysler’s U-Connect hands free communication system will certainly interest some buyers. The cabin is filled with plenty of storage compartments just perfect for holding your cell phone, coffee containers, computer equipment, tools, and related items.

Design - Less chiseled than previous models, the 2009 Dodge Ram still offers that Peterbuilt look, but with more refined edges. New for 2009 is a crew cab model along with available side cargo boxes which are part of the truck’s bed rail.

Engineering - If you are in need of big V8, the Ram certainly has one. Its 5.7L V8 HEMI offers more 390 horsepower and improved torque for 2009, but cylinder deactivation allows the capable Ram to realize an improvement in fuel economy too. You can still get a smaller V8 and a V6 while the Cummins diesel will be returning in 2009. Look for a two-mode hybrid to be added in subsequent years.

Ride - While rear leaf springs can do the job, they do little to enhance passenger comfort. With the 2009 model, Dodge has replaced old technology with multi-link coil spring rear suspension, a feature that offers a smoother ride while limiting bouncing.

Safety - The safety list for the Dodge Ram now includes side curtain airbags, stability control, and traction control as standard equipment.

Clearance Prices For Remaining 2008 Stock

While standard equipment is up for 2009, base prices for the standard Dodge Ram 1500 model are down by about $900 compared to the 2008 model. Base MSRP is just over $22,100 with certain extended cab models starting at around $41,000.

Clearly, if you’re looking for a good buy then consider the 2008 model which are being sold at clearance prices. However, if you want the latest stuff, then the 2009 model is worth a look — expect additional incentives (0% financing) to be offered at your local Dodge dealer.

(Source: Chrysler LLC)