The Latest News, Rumors and Changes in the Truck World

FCA Announces Sweepstakes Winner

FCA US LLC is pleased to announce Michaela Calhoun as the grand prize winner of its 2018 National Sweepstakes. News of Calhoun’s name being drawn was shared with the Cleveland, Ohio, native just shy of 12 months after entering the contest at the 2018 Cleveland Auto Show. Calhoun is one of more than 560,000 registrations in the annual sweepstakes.

“When I received the news that I had won, I was ecstatic,” said Michaela Calhoun. “Winning a vehicle from FCA at this time could not be more ideal. I chose a Ram truck for the towing capability and having it as my everyday vehicle will allow me to do what I love, which involves transporting horses in a trailer. As a new truck owner, a huge weight has been lifted, because now I can focus on graduating from college and starting my career while continuing to pursue my passion.”

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As the winner, Calhoun received a $45,000 voucher to put toward her choice of any Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, or FIAT brand vehicle. Without hesitation, Calhoun selected the all-new Ram 1500 Tradesman Crew Cab with a V-8 Hemi in Delmonico Red. Featured at the 2018 Cleveland Auto Show, Calhoun’s official registration into the giveaway occurred at the main FCA booth followed by a ride on Camp Jeep. Calhoun’s choice of a 2019 Ram 1500 was especially fitting because of her need for towing capability, often using a trailer to transport horses for competition. Junction Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Chardon, Ohio, will have the pleasure of delivering the prize vehicle to its proud new owner.

FCA continues to hold its annual vehicle sweepstakes, making entry accessible at FCA consumer experiences held nationwide. At FCA vehicle experiences, consumers are fully immersed in information regarding Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram or FIAT brand vehicles and are encouraged to enter the National Sweepstakes onsite. Consumers engage with knowledgeable product specialists at branded stations and test drive vehicles from the FCA product lineup at no cost.

The entries from 2018 were collected through a number of hands-on FCA brand initiatives that took place all over the country, including the Camp Jeep off-road drive course, Ram Truck Territory test tracks at auto shows, and numerous test drive and community fundraising events involving the FIAT, Chrysler and Dodge brands as well.

Purchase is not required to enter or win. For the official sweepstakes rules and details on how to enter, please visit www.fcaentertowin.com The 2019 sweepstakes ends December 31, 2019. Stay in the loop with the latest product and brand news by visiting www.fcanorthamerica.com

Total Cost Involved Engineering Celebrates 45 Years

IN 1974, Total Cost Involved Engineering Founder and President Ed Moss turned his passion into a successful classic car and truck restoration business.

It began with a simple approach to develop chassis and suspension components that would improve the factory offerings into a more solid foundation for performance, drivability and safety. Today, that philosophy has evolved into state-of-the-art systems that smooth out the ride, and enhance the cornering and braking potential of the popular line of Chevrolet C10 and GMC K10 mid-size pickup trucks built from 1963-72.

Whether you’re a fan of a “spirited” daily-driver or a “G-force-inspired” high-performance Pro Touring ride, or just in search of the perfect combination of a solid and comfortable ride for your tow vehicle or hauler, TCI has model-specific products to help your project meet and exceed the performance level you expect.

Over its 45 years, TCI has perfected the fabrication processes and research and development techniques employed in its modernized, 32,000-square-foot facility to create second-to-none products that provide customers and their projects with the most precise fitting and quality suspension and chassis components available in the market.

Learn more on the company’s website about how it will be giving away specially designed anniversary merchandise. And don’t miss entering its raffles for suspension and other valuable prizes. See full details at www.totalcostinvolved.com

VW Tarok Concept Shows at NYIAS to Gauge Market Reaction

Based on the MQB platform, the Tarok concept is a compact pickup that is 193.5 inches long yet has the ability to carry loads up to 73.2 inches long, thanks to an innovative design that allows the pickup bed to extend into the cab.

Alongside the Atlas, the Tarok concept is one of the largest MQB-based Volkswagen vehicles designed to date. The Tarok concept is 72 inches wide (without wing mirrors) and 66 inches high (without roof rails). The wheelbase is a comparatively long 117.7 inches, which leads to short overhangs of 36 inches at the front and 39.8 inches at the back.

The key to the Tarok concept’s versatility is a variable load area. The floor space can be enlarged not only by opening the tailgate, but also using a newly developed mechanism for folding down the bottom of the passenger cabin’s rear panel.

The width of the load area between the wheel arches is 42.9 inches, with a bed length of 47.5 inches with the tailgate in place. Drop the tailgate, and the load area is extended by 27.4 inches. Opening or folding the door to the cabin and folding the rear seats extends the load area by another 25.8 inches. Payload is 2,271 pounds.

The rear seats are unlocked and folded using a mechanism that is quick to operate. The rear panel is then locked from the inside via an electrical system. A sealing mechanism helps ensure that the interior is optimally protected against moisture.

The Tarok concept design shows a close relationship with other Volkswagen SUVs, such as the Atlas and the new T-Cross. It has a tall hood, horizontal bars in the grille that run into the headlights, and LED headlights and daytime running lights. Tarok also gets an underbody skid plate and a roof and A-pillars finished in gloss black.

From the side, the most striking feature is the C-pillar that looks like the bar on a Targa top. The aluminum frame extends from one side of the vehicle to the other, covering the Tarok concept’s rear panel. The other main features are a tornado line designed as a sharp undercut above the door handles and a powerful shoulder section that emerges above it. The 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels are fitted with 235/70 tires.

A continuous LED strip dominates the rear of the Tarok concept. This wide light strip is located on the top section of the tailgate and then merges outwards into both rear lights, helping to create an unmistakable light signature at night. The tailgate itself extends right into the bumper, giving a low load height.

The interior features a fully digital design for the instruments and air conditioning control system, and matches the expressive exterior in terms of style as well as color. A glass-covered 9.2-inch infotainment system and a configurable Volkswagen digital cockpit are the central elements within the color-keyed instrument panel. These two elements create a continuous digital and networked cockpit, designed to help make use of a maximum range of online services and apps. Another clever feature is a speaker in the center console that can be removed and connected to a compatible smartphone via Bluetooth.

Located behind the shift lever is the 4Motion Active Control—a multi-functional rotary knob that is used to control the all-wheel-drive functions and associated driving modes. The driver uses it to activate four higher-level modes and different pop-up menus. If drivers turn the switch to the left, they access two “Onroad” and “Snow” profiles. If the switch is turned to the right, “Offroad” (automatic setting of off-road parameters) and “Custom Offroad” (variable settings) are activated.

The 4MOTION Active Control can be used to adapt all relevant assist systems to the drive situation in seconds. The “Comfort,” “Normal,” “Sport,” “Eco” and “Individual” driving profiles, also selected via 4Motion Active Control, are also integrated. These profiles are used to customize parameters such as the throttle response, gearshift, climate control and steering.

To demonstrate the vehicle’s off-road ability, the Tarok has an approach angle of 23.8 degrees, a departure angle of 26.4 degrees, and a breakover angle of 22.1 degrees. The minimum ground clearance is 9.6 inches.

The Tarok concept is powered by a 1.4L, 147hp, four-cylinder turbocharged and direct-injection TSI engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and permanent 4Motion all-wheel drive.