Dodge produced the first 2013 Dart last week at its manufacturing plant in Belvidere, Ill., putting the model one step closer to our New Hampshire Dodge dealership showroom and reaffirming American manufacturing’s ability to produce competitive compact cars.

The Dart’s production is a proud event for the plant, which puts it at the forefront of a Dodge’s newest push to revamp its position in the compact car class. Replacing the Caliber, the Dodge Dart takes the name of the classic Dart nameplate and breathes new life into it, offering an appealing blend of style, efficiency and functionality.

The Dart is already earning awards in anticipation of its release, nabbing a place on the 2012 “Ward’s 10 Best Interiors” list. It was also named “Most Significant Vehicle” at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year by editors at Autoweek, a title that only hints at the model’s importance to the workers at the Belvidere plant and to the Dodge brand as a whole.

We can’t wait for the 2013 Dodge Dart to reach our dealership this summer, and we know many New Hampshire Dodge fans feel the same way. Luckily, we have a number of stylish and powerful Dodge sedans and sports cars like the Dodge Avenger and Charger for those who can’t wait. Just stop by our Concord, NH Dodge showroom and we’ll be glad to show you the entire lineup of vehicles, or just answer any questions you have about the upcoming Dart.

While some in-car technology offers more confusion than convenience, MSN Autos recently highlighted a handful of 2012 models that got it right. The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited was one of those vehicles, landing on the auto reporting website’s list of 10 cars with the best array of user-friendly gadgets. The SUV’s technology was recognized for actually helping to entertain, empower and protect drivers, rather than distracting them with unneeded bells and whistles. 

MSN Autos found that the 2012 Grand Cherokee Limited currently available at Jeep dealerships has some of the best technology in the SUV segment, praising its voice-activated Bluetooth hands-free calling for being consistent and accurate. Editors also singled out the available rear-seat entertainment system, which allows rear passengers to play DVDs, CDs, the radio, an iPod or music stored on the in-dash hard drive. All those options can be listened to on wireless headphones, meaning that front passengers can still enjoy their own music choice through the standard 10-speaker, 500-watt Alpine sound system.

“The Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited is filled with technology, but all of it was designed to be as unobtrusive as possible while providing the maximum benefit,” said Brian Duval, general manager of Concord, New Hampshire Jeep dealership Bob Mariano Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. “Owners will enjoy its ample entertainment options, and safety features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection and forward-collision warning are instrumental in helping to protect drivers and their passengers.”

A new limited-edition Jeep Grand Cherokee made an appearance at the 2012 New York International Auto Show earlier this month. Named by a Jeep fan through the brand’s recent “Name My Ride” contest, the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Altitude features a “blacked-out” look, with a black grille surround sitting over a platinum chrome mesh grille. The all-black styling continues with black headlamp bezels, a black liftgate light bar and black-gloss aluminum wheels surrounded by 20-inch tires. Altitude models of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass will make their dealership showroom debuts in May.

Inside, the Grand Cherokee Altitude will come standard with a variety of premium features, including leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and heated front seats. Buyers will also be able to take advantage of advanced technology like the Parkview rear back-up camera, the ParkSense rear-park assist system and Chrysler’s Uconnect hands-free infotainment system.

Sales of current Jeep Grand Cherokee models hit 14,096 units in the United States last month, resulting in a 43-percent increase compared to March 2011. The SUV’s popularity helped Jeep post a 36-percent year-over-year gain overall, good for its highest March sales in five years.

“The Grand Cherokee is so popular because it is built to handle all kinds of tricky situations, from staying safe on rocky terrain to navigating the school parking lot,” added Duval. “It has a wide base of fans because it has a wide range of uses, which is the real definition of capability.”

In recent years, pickup trucks have learned to cut back their voracious fuel appetites with minimal sacrifice to their towing and hauling capabilities, but Ram is looking to make even greater strides with its new compressed natural gas-powered pickup. Based on the Ram 2500 already available at Ram dealerships across the country, the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup will allow business owners in need of a competent pickup truck to save on fuel costs without losing capability. The new Ram will be powered by a modified 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine and have both a compressed natural gas (CNG) storage tank and a backup eight-gallon gasoline fuel tank, allowing drivers to draw from either fuel source.

Why build a truck that runs on compressed natural gas? For one, CNG is cheaper than regular gasoline – it currently costs around $2.59 per gge (gasoline gallon-equivalent) in New Hampshire, whereas a gallon of 87 octane gasoline is averaging $3.69. That means substantial savings for Ram CNG drivers at the pump. And not only is compressed natural gas good for drivers’ wallets, but it’s also better for the environment: it offers lower tailpipe emissions than both gasoline and diesel fuel while generating less in the way of greenhouse gasses. It is also a domestic resource, found abundantly in the United States and Canada.

Although the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG is more fuel-efficient than its gas-powered siblings, it still excels at being a capable pickup truck. Drivers will be able to take advantage of all 1,580 pounds of payload capacity and 7,650 pounds of towing capacity. And for any New England business owner in need of a snow plow, this is your vehicle – the Ram 2500 CNG will feature a front gross axle weight rating of 5,200 pounds, making it ideal for handling any standard snow plow equipment.

Interested commercial fleet buyers can contact their local New Hampshire Ram dealer to order the newest fuel-efficient Ram. Deliveries are slated to begin in July.

Mopar, Chrysler’s in-house tuning and parts division, celebrated 75 years of service by debuting four customized cars to the 2012 Chicago Auto Show last week, including a 2013 Dodge Dart GTS 210 Tribute. As a heavily accessorized version of the all-new 2013 Dart arriving at Dodge dealerships this summer, the GTS 210 Tribute was designed to promote the Mopar customization kits that will be available to new Dart owners starting this fall. 

Mopar’s Dart GTS 210 Tribute featured just some of the more than 150 new accessories that have been developed for the 2013 Dodge Dart, the first vehicle to use that nameplate since the original Dart was discontinued in 1976. The new Dart shares design cues with muscle-bound sports cars like the Dodge Challenger and Charger, providing an aggressively styled option in compact form for commuters looking to stand out from the crowd.

“The new Dodge Dart is a showstopper without the Mopar accessories, but the little additions really send it over the top,” said Brian Duval, general manager of Concord, New Hampshire Dodge dealership Bob Mariano Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. “Today’s car buyers like to customize their cars to fit their personality, and having the full Mopar catalog at their disposal makes it easy and affordable.”

Mopar presented the Dart in Chicago with two accessory packages: an appearance package called Mopar Stage 1 and a performance package called Mopar Stage 2. Featuring leather upholstery and piano-black accents on the inside, Mopar Stage 1 also bundles matte-black exterior trim pieces like a chin spoiler, side skirts, a rear spoiler and a carbon-fiber vented hood.

Tweaking the most powerful of the Dart’s trio of engines, the Mopar Stage 2 system adds a new exhaust system and an improved air-intake system to the 2.4-liter Tigershark with MultiAir unit to boost horsepower from 184 to 210. The Dodge Dart will also be available with a standard 2.0-liter 160-horsepower engine and a 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine that produces the same amount of horsepower but more torque, reaching 184 pound-feet.

Mopar saw no reason to touch the Dart’s available Uconnect infotainment system, which Dodge claims to be the most technologically advanced in the vehicle’s class. A center-mounted 8.4-inch touchscreen controls the stereo, navigation and hands-free phone calls, while the available Garmin Navigation and SiriusXM Travel Link can offer access to fuel prices, weather updates, sports scores and movie listings. The 2013 Dart also has an optional reconfigurable gauge cluster that features a class-exclusive seven-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display, allowing drivers to keep a clear eye on their performance.

“Dodge packed an incredible amount of technology into its most affordable car, which shows its commitment to providing a top-notch driving experience,” Duval noted. “The Dart is going to be a game changer, and we think New Hampshire drivers are going to find it to be the most engaging compact car on the market.”

To say that Jeep had a successful sales year in 2011 would be a bit of an understatement. The SUV manufacturer sold 128,211 more vehicles in 2011 than it did in 2010, passing GMC as America’s best-selling truck-only brand for the first time since 2006. The big sales year was fueled by recently revised models like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which saw a 51-percent sales increase at Jeep dealerships compared to 2010.

U.S. Jeep sales totaled 419,349 units in 2011, posting a 44-percent increase compared with 2010. Contributing to that rapid sales increase was a popular new Pentastar V6 engine, which produces 290 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The advanced engine is not only powerful, but fuel efficient compared to past engines with similar strength.

“Fuel efficiency is a big part of the equation for many people looking at buying a new vehicle, whether it’s a compact car or a capable SUV like the Grand Cherokee,” said Brian Duval, general manager of Concord, New Hampshire Jeep dealership Bob Mariano Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. “The fact that Jeep was able to simultaneously increase power and fuel economy with the Pentastar V6 was a big sales draw in 2011, and we think that trend will continue.”

Returning 23 mpg on the highway, the new Grand Cherokee can go more than 500 miles on a single tank, meaning it has the potential to drive the length of New Hampshire twice with miles to spare before stopping for gas. Even with that convenience, V6-equipped models can still tow up to 5,000 pounds, a number that expands to 7,400 pounds with the optional 5.7-liter V8.

The Grand Cherokee’s fuel-economy and towing capabilities should get another lift in 2013 with the return of a diesel engine option. Jeep previously offered a diesel V6-powered Grand Cherokee in 2008 with 215 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, but details about the new powerplant have yet to be released.

Along with its plans to bring diesels back to the lineup, Jeep recently announced the addition of yet another production shift at the Detroit assembly plant that produces the Grand Cherokee. Starting next year, the third shift will create 1,100 jobs, increasing production capacity to help meet demand.

“With the popularity of the Grand Cherokee growing so fast, Jeep is both making sure it has the capacity to deliver enough units to dealers and that its lineup is diverse enough to meet a variety of customer needs,” Duval noted. “Diesel engines are known for producing a lot of useful torque, which is great for those that do a lot of towing, hauling and off-roading. The diesel option should be a big seller with New Hampshire Jeep fans.”

While the Jeep Wrangler also received the Pentastar V6 for the 2012 model year, there have been no signs yet that the iconic off-roader will get a diesel engine as well. Still, buyers seem more than happy with the new gasoline-powered V6, snapping up 122,460 Wranglers in 2011 for a 30-percent increase compared with 2010.

After five days and 1,000 miles of testing, Four Wheeler magazine named the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon its 2012 Four Wheeler of the Year. Currently available at Jeep dealerships, the Wrangler Rubicon has a history of off-road excellence and was previously named Four Wheeler’s Best 4x4 Vehicle of the 2000 - 2009 decade. 

 Four Wheeler magazine let its seven judges push each competing vehicle to its limits over a range of terrain, including pavement, gravel, sand, rocks and mud that were found at altitudes ranging from sea level to more than 9,000 feet. To compete in the 2012 Four Wheeler of the Year contest, vehicles had to be all new or substantially revised from the previous model year. The 2012 Jeep Wrangler falls in the former category thanks to a new drivetrain that packs more punch while saving more at the gas tank.

 “The Wrangler Rubicon is a serious off-road machine, and this award proves its capabilities are unmatched,” said Brian Duval, general manager of Concord, New Hampshire Jeep dealership Bob Mariano Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. “Jeeps aren’t built for posing; they’re built for pounding over trails and through streams, and with the new engine they get more power and greater fuel efficiency.”

 Jeep recently equipped the Wrangler with its new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, which produces 83 more horsepower and nets two more miles per gallon than the outgoing 3.8-liter V6 engine. While every new Wrangler utilizes the Pentastar, the Rubicon gets a host of special features to prepare it for off-road duty.

 The Rubicon’s trail-ready features range from the Rock-Trac four-wheel-drive system to the Dana 44 front and rear axles built to take the abuse of rocky trails and muddy bogs. Keeping the body sturdy are heavy-duty sill guards, which Jeep calls rock rails. Bolted to the frame, these steel rails protect the rocker panels and underbody from damage from rocks, logs or other obstacles on the trail.

 Adding to the Rubicon’s off-road resume is an electronic sway-bar disconnect, which allows the Wrangler’s wheels to lower and compress 22 percent further than previous models. That amount of give is particularly helpful when one wheel is perched on top of a rock while the other is flat on the ground. Meanwhile, heavy stamped-steel skid plates protect the undercarriage and help ensure that exuberant drivers can drive home after a day out on the trails.

 “Jeeps have always been rugged, but the Rubicon takes the term to a whole new level,” Duval noted. “It’s great to see that Jeep, unlike the competition, isn’t getting softer as the years go on. The Jeep you buy today is built from the ground up for durability, just as it was in 1945.”

 More than 111,000 Wranglers have been sold this year through November for a 29-percent year-over-year increase. In November, Wrangler sales were up 40.8 percent when compared to the same month last year. Jeep’s U.S. sales have increased 44.4 percent overall in 2011, powered by the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee, which has sold more than 110,000 units this year.

New Hampshire truck drivers have relied on the Ram 1500 truck for years when it comes to getting tough jobs done, but until now law enforcement hasn’t had the same opportunity. This month, Ram is releasing a specially designed 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Special Service package aimed directly at law enforcement agencies that adds new capabilities to the popular trucks found at Ram dealerships.

 Ram engineers didn’t simply add a bull bar, flashing lights and some decals when they created the Special Service package. A number of improvements were made under the tough sheet metal of the 2012 Ram 1500 to keep first responders safe, like reinforced front doors capable of housing ballistic armor and power upgrades to keep the truck moving and connected through extreme conditions.

 “Ram is finally giving law enforcement officials the high-quality truck they deserve,” said Brian Duval, general manager of Concord, New Hampshire Ram dealership Bob Mariano Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. “Power and durability are important to first responders, and the Ram pickup has those attributes in spades. The fact that police can now use the Ram 1500’s capability to keep us safe is a benefit to everyone.”

 Getting quickly to the scene is of paramount importance to first responders, and there is no waiting for acceleration with the Ram 1500’s 5.7-liter HEMI V8. All Special Service packages come with four-wheel drive and a 3.92 axle ratio, which makes the Ram a capable off-roader well suited for game and fire wardens who operate off the beaten path. The package also includes a larger oil cooler and 100,000-mile sparkplugs to help the Ram endure hour after hour of idling at the scene.

 Law enforcement officials put a premium on usability, and Ram has taken that into consideration as well with the optional RamBox featuring 7.3 cubic-feet of lockable, waterproof storage. Meanwhile, the Crew Cab configuration offers 125 cubic-feet of space inside and includes comfortable stain-resistant cloth seats in the front row and a durable vinyl bench in the back that easily wipes clean. Special Service package trucks also feature a 220-amp alternator, which can provide plenty of power for lights and other high-amp equipment needed in the field.

 Even without the Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Special package, truck buyers have been attracted to the Ram pickup’s existing strengths, buying nearly 200,000 units through October, a month in which the truck was the sixth best-selling vehicle in America. The Ram 1500’s qualities were also recently recognized by Consumers Digest, which named the pickup and seven other Chrysler products as 2012 Best Buys. The selection of eight Chrysler products is more than double what the automaker has received in the previous two years.

 “Chrysler’s attention to detail and continued innovation are paying off big time,” Duval noted. “Vehicles like the Ram 1500 enabled Chrysler to easily outpace General Motors and Ford in sales increases in October, proving that their efforts have been well spent.”

The pioneer of the minivan segment as we know it, the Dodge Grand Caravan will be retired in 2013 in an effort to streamline the number of models at Chrysler and Dodge dealerships. After going on sale in 1983 for the 1984 model year, the 28-year veteran has led Chrysler to more than 12 million minivan sales and ferried countless families to vacations and soccer practices.

 Manufactured at Chrysler’s Windsor, Ontario assembly plant, the Dodge Grand Caravan has introduced a number of family-friendly features to the American public, including integrated child safety seats, Easy Out Roller Seats and Stow ‘n Go seating that eliminated the need to remove seats at all. The Grand Caravan’s sister minivan, the popular Chrysler Town & Country, will continue as the automaker’s sole minivan. According to Automotive News, a new crossover will replace the Dodge minivan.

 “It’s hard to imagine a Dodge dealership without a Grand Caravan, but with Chrysler and Dodge vehicles sold in the same place, having just one minivan to choose from will make it easier for consumers,” said Brian Duval, general manager of Concord, New Hampshire Dodge dealership Bob Mariano Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. “In the future, each brand under the Chrysler umbrella will have its own distinct lineup, which will mean more diverse options for car buyers.”

Minivan fans still have plenty of time to get the Grand Caravan model they want, and recent improvements mean the current 2012 Grand Caravan is as well-equipped as it has ever been. Introduced for the 2011 model year, a 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine produces 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque while returning 25 mpg on the highway. That power makes the Dodge minivan a great fit for a family on the move, as it can tow up to 3,600 pounds while seating seven. With the two back rows folded flat, there are 143.8 cubic-feet of cargo space, giving the Grand Caravan the ability to swallow dorm rooms full of furniture.

Capability in the 2012 Grand Caravan doesn’t come at the expense of safety either, with advanced multistage front airbags and supplemental side-curtain airbags for all three rows of passengers. Helping prevent accidents from ever happening in the first place are electronic stability control, a newly upgraded suspension and available Blind Spot Monitoring, which prompts visual and audio alerts when a vehicle is in the Grand Caravan’s blind spots.

“New Hampshire families looking for a safe, capable family vehicle have always found it in the Grand Caravan,” Duval noted. “Luckily, there’s still plenty of time to buy the minivan that started it all, but when its time is up, the Chrysler Town & Country will carry on the automaker’s proud minivan tradition just fine.”

After reentering the market in 2008, the Dodge Avenger mid-size sedan is also slated to be discontinued in 2013 to make way for the new Dodge crossover. Its sibling, the Chrysler 200, will get a replacement at that time based on a Fiat platform, but may keep its name.

Best known for its heavy-hitting pickup trucks, Ram is looking to bring its hauling expertise to the commercial van market with a pair of new rides. The Ram Cargo Van, or Ram C/V, recently started rolling off the Chrysler Group’s Windsor, Ontario assembly line and is ready for orders at Ram dealers, where it will be joined by a smaller van in early 2013.

 The 2012 Ram C/V is built with the business owner in mind and draws from Chrysler’s long resume in minivan engineering. On the other hand, the smaller Ram commercial van to follow will be based on Fiat’s Doblò, which was named International Van of the Year 2011 by a jury comprised of commercial vehicle trade journalists.

 “There are times when a pickup truck isn’t the best solution for businesses, and now Ram fans have an enclosed alternative in the Ram C/V,” said Brian Duval, general manager of Concord, New Hampshire Ram dealership Bob Mariano Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. “The Ram C/V offers a secure way to transport tools and cargo while returning great fuel mileage, a benefit that the Doblò-based Ram will be able to expand upon when it reaches us in 2013.”

 The new Ram C/V allows business owners to save money on fuel, yet delivers the performance that gets jobs done faster to satisfy demanding customers. With 25-mpg highway capability and a 20-gallon fuel tank, Ram’s cargo van allows drivers to go up to 500 miles between fill-ups, better than any vehicle in its class. Meanwhile, the cargo van still reaches 283 horsepower thanks to its responsive yet efficient Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

 Of course, the focus of any cargo van is the space in the back, and the Ram C/V offers 143.8 cubic-feet behind the front seats and a 1,800-pound cargo payload, which is more than any Class 1 commercial vehicle on the market. Those features give room and support for tools and equipment or large cumbersome loads that simply won’t fit in a smaller ride. A low loading height makes getting cargo in and out of the rear easier, and the Ram C/V is even capable of towing up to 3,600 pounds.

Instead of carpet, which can absorb stains and moisture, the Ram C/V features a rubber floor covering in the front and a structural aluminum floor in the rear, which means easy cleanup and maintenance. There are also dual gloves boxes, which help keep paperwork organized when on the road, and an auxiliary 12-volt power supply to keep a laptop or other devices charged up and ready to go.

“It’s tough to beat the versatility of a well-designed cargo van, and the C/V has the business driver in mind with every angle and accessory,” Duval added. “You can securely store tools and equipment in the back without fear of theft, and the flexibility of the design means the C/V can function in many capacities, from a delivery vehicle to a mobile workshop.”

Many new parents view the buying of a minivan as the final goodbye to their days of coolness, whether real or imagined. Fortunately for them, there are alternatives, and perhaps none more attractive than the 2011 Dodge Durango. Car and Driver magazine recently compared the three-row SUV with the Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer as spacious alternatives to minivans, and the Durango came out on top. Meanwhile, the Dodge SUV has also earned a 2011 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick, adding to its credentials for keeping families protected.

In its search for an ideal three-row SUV for parents with minivan aversions, Car and Driver wasn’t shy when it came to heaping praise on the all-new Dodge Durango. Editors were impressed by its willing handling, intuitive technology, exterior styling and interior quality that made the Durango feel like it should be much more expensive than both the Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer.

 “The Durango offers parents a rugged, safe and reliable vehicle that stands out from the pack in a different way than a minivan does,” said Brian Duval, general manager of Concord, New Hampshire Dodge dealer Bob Mariano Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. “And its success in the IIHS crash tests means you can feel safe loading the family in for a vacation filled with crowded highways.”

Currently available at New Hampshire Dodge dealerships, the 2011 Durango is the fourth Dodge vehicle to earn a 2011 IIHS Top Safety Pick. The Durango earned the honor by receiving a top rating of Good in frontal, side, rear and rollover tests from the IIHS while meeting a basic requirement of having electronic stability control as a standard feature. Dodge’s SUV did particularly well in the roof strength test, which gauges rollover protection by requiring a vehicle to resist four times its own weight. The Durango’s roof held up 4.67 times its own weight, which equals roughly 23,626 pounds.

Modern parents may need safety, but they also want style, and Dodge designers and engineers delivered by giving the 2011 Durango a more upscale exterior and interior. On the outside, Dodge’s new split crosshair grille marks the front end, while sleek design lines throughout wouldn’t look out of place in a luxury car showroom. Inside, an abundance of soft touch materials and LED lighting set a relaxed mood.

Though the new Durango is refined, it is a Dodge at heart, which means powerful engines and transmissions that make the SUV both handsome and handy. The standard powerplant is Chrysler’s new 290-horsepower Pentastar V6, and there is also an available HEMI V8 that produces 360 horsepower. An available all-wheel-drive system means the Durango is ready for whatever Mother Nature can dish out, which in New Hampshire can mean plenty of nasty winter weather.

“The Durango has the capability, comfort and style to appeal to anyone looking for versatile ride, but it has enough cargo space and safety features so that parents don’t feel like they are downgrading if they decide against a minivan,” Duval noted. “It also does a great job of making advanced technology accessible without having to read a 100-page manual, while featuring American engineering you can count on.”