Chrysler Group LLC Drives Away with Highest and Most Honors at the 20th Annual Texas Truck Rodeo

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Oct 22, 2012, 01:01 ET

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Vehicles from Ram Truck and Jeep^® brands win eight of 19 awards from the Texas Auto Writers Association at this year's Texas Truck Rodeo
"Truck of Texas" awarded to the 2013 Ram 1500
Jeep Grand Cherokee - the most awarded SUV in history – captures "SUV of Texas" award for third consecutive year

Ram Truck and Jeep^® brand vehicles won significant accolades this year at the 20^th annual Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) Texas Truck Rodeo.

Judging by the 50 TAWA members occurs over two days of uncompromising on- and off-road vehicle evaluation. Consideration is given to everything from exterior styling and off-road capability to the entrant's overall utility, value and fuel efficiency.

More than 60 pickups, SUVs and crossover vehicles were entered in this year's event.

Chrysler Group vehicles receiving awards at the 20^th annual TAWA Texas Truck Rodeo:

Truck of Texas: 2013 Ram 1500
SUV of Texas: 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Truck Line of Texas: Ram Truck Brand
Full size SUV: 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Mid-size SUV: 2013 Jeep Wrangler
Full-size luxury SUV: 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit
Full-size pickup truck: 2013 Ram 1500
Luxury pickup truck: 2013 Ram 1500

Ram 1500
For 2013, the new Ram 1500 offers buyers best-in-class fuel efficiency, new technology and new features without sacrificing capability. Ram 1500 – the most recognizable pickup on the road – raises the bar with a truckload of pioneering, fuel-saving systems and first-in-segment technologies: eight-speed TorqueFlite 8 transmission, stop-start and active aerodynamics, including grille shutters and air suspension. Ram engineers changed every area of the truck – from a newly designed frame to new engines and transmissions to a new interior with the next-generation Uconnect® system. With best-in-class ride and handling and best-in-class aerodynamics, the 2013 Ram 1500 delivers unmatched content, performance and capability to truck buyers. 2013 Ram 1500 prices start at $23,585.

The 2013 Ram 1500 marks a milestone for Ram as this truck delivers best-in-class fuel economy of 18 MPG city and 25 MPG highway with a truckload of pioneering, fuel-saving systems including a more fuel efficient and more powerful 3.6-liter V-6 engine and first-in-segment technologies: eight-speed automatic transmission, stop-start system, thermal management system, pulse-width modulation and active aerodynamics, including grille shutters and air suspension. The 2013 Ram 1500 is available in nine trim levels and starts at $23,585 including $995 destination charge.

Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most-awarded SUV ever and continues to win accolades. Grand Cherokee delivers premium on-road performance while maintaining the Jeep brand's legendary four-wheel-drive, torque-on-demand two-speed transfer case and towing capability. It offers a driving range of more than 550 miles, superb on-road ride and handling, a world-class interior cabin, more than 45 safety and security features and a variety of advanced technology.

Contributing to Grand Cherokee's class-leading capability is the combination of Jeep's Quadra-Lift™ air suspension system and the Jeep Selec-Terrain™ traction control system that lets customers choose the 4x4 setting for the optimum driving experience on all terrains. Building on this legendary capability is the new 2013 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk. Equipped with rock rails, Goodyear Silent Armor tires and Jeep's Selec-Terrain and Quadra-Lift suspension systems, Trailhawk is the most capable Grand Cherokee ever.

The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee is available with three 4x4 systems, and with either V-6 or V-8 powertrains.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit
Sporting a unique front appearance that includes a fully chromed grille, tow hooks and fog lamp bezels, and riding on 20-inch bright, polished aluminum wheels, the Overland Summit model elevates the Jeep Grand Cherokee to a higher level of luxury and refinement for drivers seeking the ultimate personal driving statement in a premium sport-utility vehicle.

Inside, the Jeep Grand Cherokee features unique Black Olive burl real wood trim blended into the instrument panel. The distinctive polished trim wraps into the upper panels of both the front and rear doors surrounding passengers with the highest levels of craftsmanship. The wood trim is also used on the standard, leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel. The Grand Cherokee Overland Summit boasts a Black lower and New Saddle upper interior trim color, along with saddle-color Nappa heated and ventilated leather seats – with perforated inserts and accent piping – and Berber floor mats with Black and Chestnut accent binding. New for the 2013 model year is an available Black leather interior that features Saddle accent piping and stitching.

New standard features on the 2013 Grand Cherokee Summit include power folding exterior mirrors, high-pressure headlight washers and front parking sensors. Also standard on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit is the Advanced Warning System and Adaptive Cruise Control group, which consists of adaptive cruise control, Forward Collision Warning, Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection systems.

Jeep Wrangler
Jeep Wrangler – the most capable production off-road vehicle in the world - gets even better due to continued refinement without sacrificing any off-road prowess. Jeep continues to refine the successful Wrangler formula by combining legendary, benchmark capability with an interior that delivers rich styling, occupant comfort and versatility, and a premium appearance courtesy of items such as body-color hard tops for the popular Sahara and Rubicon models.

Features such as new seats, interior LED lighting, dual windshield washer nozzles and Alpine audio upgrade are new for 2013. A new premium Sunrider soft top features a richer appearance and three layers for reduced noise, and all soft tops on Unlimited models have been redesigned for easier operation.

The new 2013 Jeep Wrangler Moab special edition pays homage to the popular enthusiast off-roading venue and boasts winch-ready steel bumpers, rear limited-slip differential and available rear locker. Wrangler Moab is available with a black or body-color hardtop, and has dedicated off-road features like new Goodyear Silent Armor off-road tires with Kevlar reinforcement and rock rails. The award-winning 3.6-liter V-6 engine delivers 285 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, and is available with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.

About Ram Truck Brand
The Ram Truck brand continues to establish its own identity and clearly define its customer since its launch as the newest Chrysler Group LLC vehicle brand. Creating a stand-alone brand for Ram trucks has allowed the brand to concentrate on how core customers use their trucks and what new features they'd like to see. Whether focusing on a family that uses its half-ton truck day in and day out, a hard-working Ram Heavy Duty owner or a business that depends on its commercial vehicles every day, Ram has the truck market covered.

Follow Ram and Chrysler Group LLC news and video on:
Ram Trucks: http://www.ramtrucks.com
Chrysler Connect blog: http://blog.chryslergroupllc.com
Ram Zone blog: http://www.ramzone.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/chrysler and http://twitter.com/RamTrucks
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo and http://www.youtube.com/ramtrucks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RamTrucks
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramtrucks

About the Jeep Brand
Built on more than 70 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. To meet consumer demand around the world, all six Jeep models are sold outside North America - and all are available in right-hand drive versions and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options. Chrysler Group LLC sells and services vehicles in approximately 120 countries around the world.

Follow Jeep and Chrysler Group LLC news and video on:
Chrysler Connect blog: http://blog.chryslergroupllc.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chrysler
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo
Streetfire: http://members.streetfire.net/profile/ChryslerVideo.htm

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC