At this year’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), taking place from Jan. 13 through Jan. 27, dozens of production and concept vehicles appeared from such companies like Ford, Hyundai, General Motors, Dodge, Toyota and more. The mass-unveiling of next year’s models always causes a big stir in the automotive industry and this year was no different. Many companies brought new and exciting entries but none have quite as much significance as the "big-three" American companies: GM, Ford and Dodge.  They all have a lot riding on this coming year to pull them out of fiscal slumps. Dodge, under new ownership, is looking to rebuild and grab a sizeable section of the truck market with their updated Ram pickup. Ford is trying to keep their stronghold in the truck market by making critical changes to their volume seller, the F-150. Both Ford and Dodge are playing catch-up in response to GM’s new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra which are vastly improved over the previous models and selling like hotcakes.

In the next few weeks, I will introduce some of these important vehicles that will have a significant impact on the automotive world. This week – Dodge.

Dodge is looking to cash in on the truck market with their new and improved 2009 Ram 1500. Designers looked to the Dodge Charger for inspiration when working on the Ram – the grill now has a forward slant, the interior vaguely resembles that of a Charger and the entire truck now has that in-your-face stance. Dodge spent a lot of time and money on the restyling of the interior making it roomier, more comfortable and more refined. A new instrument cluster looks richer, the center console houses a gated gear shifter and the rear passengers have two built-in cooler under their feet. Optional features include a navigation system with a built-in hard drive for music storage, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats and -for the first time ever – a satellite television system from Sirius for the rear passengers.

The Ram will be powered by three different engine options and the most famous of these is the Hemi V-8. Dodge claims that the engine will have a 10 percent increase in horsepower and a 8 percent increase in torque over last year’s Hemi. The Hemi will also include many new features to help with fuel economy such as a revised version of the multi-displacement system and a more free-flowing exhaust system. A five-speed transmission is available with every engine. What does this mean for the average consumer? More power with better fuel economy – the perfect combination.

One of the most exciting things coming from the new Ram this year is the addition of an in-bed storage system called the RamBox. The illuminated storage units open upward on each bed rail revealing tons of space for odds and ends. The bed also includes a built-in cargo management system that is completely adjustable for any size item. The Rambox is a segment exclusive and could very easily attract many buyers to Dodge.

All in all, Dodge has done their homework. They have taken a close look at the competition and what buyers are wanting out of a full-sized pickup.