The 2008 Dodge Dakota TRX4 Crew CabHandout / FCA Ram trucks has made it its mission to build a new mid-sized pickup to fill a gap in its lineup. According to Automotive News, Ram CEO Mike Manley says the lack of a mid-sized truck in its range is an issue that needs fixing fast. I want that problem solved, frankly, because it’s a clear hole in our portfolio, Manley said. It will not be filled by Gladiator because Gladiator is a very, very different mission. Trust me, they’re focused on it. We need to get it fixed soon. Despite previous reports, Manley says the Ram truck will not be built on the Gladiator platform; building it around a different architecture, though, will add extra cost to the development. Being able to find a cost-effective platform in a region where we can build it with low cost and it still being applicable in the market is what they’re struggling with at the moment, the exec admitted. Despite this, Manley says Ram is focused on solving a metric ton midsize truck solution for us because it’s a big part of the portfolio and growth we want to achieve. We previously wrote about Ram’s mission to build a mid-sized truck, but at that time it seemed it was only a consideration—it’s move to a full-on mission makes its debut near-certain. Ram would do well to introduce a mid-sized truck as that market is red-hot right now with offerings like the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado and even the soon-to-be-redesigned Nissan Frontier. Whether or not the truck will wear the classic Dakota badge remains to be seen, as does the specific availability date, forecast now for 2022. Finally, Manley noted Ram plans to keep on selling its last-generation Ram Classic alongside its new Ram 1500, calling the former the real traditional workman’s truck, one that fleet and commercial customers seem to keep on snapping up, in part for its lower price versus the 2020 Ram. Automotive News hears from dealers the Ram Classic could remain on sale through to the end of
Origin: Ram confirms new mid-size truck coming, different from Gladiator
coming
Audi RS6 Avant Wagon could be coming to North America
The Audi RS6 Avant produces 553 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque. And its not for us.Handout Audi is poised to drop a bombshell on the North American market with a slew of new vehicles that haven’t yet seen our soil, including the much-fawned-after RS6 Avant Wagon. According to Car and Driver, Audi Sport’s research and development chief Oliver Hoffmann says some of its new products are going to be heading to North America. We are preparing for the biggest product offensive we ever had, he said. We will also see a new RS Q8, plus the next-generation RS7 Sportback. However, the big news here is that RS6 Avant. Audi pulled its wagons from the North American market after the C5 generation and didn’t offer the vehicles for lack of interest. That is all changing, however, with the North American market starting to turn onto wagons once again, and Audi is willing to place its bets the Avant will stand out amongst all the CUV craziness. The U.S. market is increasingly interested in real station wagons like the RS6 Avant, Hoffman adds. Therefore, it is entirely possible that we will bring it back to North America. Currently, European market versions of the fast-brake makes up to 553 horsepower from its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. The closest thing we’ve gotten to the latest generation of RS6 Avant has been the RS7 Sportback, which shares a lot of the DNA. It will be refreshing for a true wagon to come back to the continent that viewed most of the world through the rear-facing seat of
Origin: Audi RS6 Avant Wagon could be coming to North America
News Roundup: Ford entry-level Mustang coming, new Brubaker Box in the works and more
2018 Ford Mustang GTNick Tragianis / Driving Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam. Here’s what you missed while you were away. Ford announces an ‘entry-level’ Mustang 2018 Ford Mustang Graeme Fletcher / Driving The new Ford Mustang’s base model is slated to have a V8 engine under the hood, but now it seems the car will be presented with a more approachable power plant as well. A promised ‘entry-level’ Mustang may put the 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder in the current model to use—that engine makes 350 horsepower in the Focus RS, so it’s tune-able enough. The other potential power source is the 3.7-litre V6 EcoBoost, which the brand hasn’t fit into its Mustang since 2015. Expect more details on the entry-level all-American sports car later this month. Woman leads police on high-speed chase because she’s ‘late for work’ There really aren’t that many legitimate reasons for engaging authorities in a high-speed vehicular chase. A passenger bleeding out in the back seat or a bomb-on-bus Speed type scenario may be the only two that will actually get you out of trouble. The excuse one woman recently gave Ohio highway patrol officers after leading them on a dangerous, life-threatening pursuit was less compelling. The pursuit began when they tried to pull her over for having tinted windows and ended only when her vehicle was sandwiched between a cruiser and a pole. When the vehicle finally stopped moving, the driver told authorities she hadn’t pulled over because she didn’t want to be late for work. How’s that for employee dedication? Cali company plans to bring back the Brubaker Box A Brubaker Box fibreglass kit car Brubaker Box Fans The Brubaker Box was created in the 1970s to give surfers something to take their boards to the beach in, and maybe a place to get changed out of their wetsuits afterward. Unfortunately, due to liability issues expressed by VW, which was providing the chassis, the chunky minivan-esque vehicle was never fully realized, though it was sold in kit form. Now, however, a duo of Cali-based entrepreneurs are lining up the Box’s comeback, with its original creator onboard and planning to recreate the vehicles from the ground up, complete with the sole sliding door and removable roof panel. Here’s hoping that comeback is swift and glorious. Future Toyota Tundra and Tacoma to share platform Toyota’s Tacoma and Tundra TRD Pro Derek McNaughton / Driving Word on the street is that Toyota is planning to underpin its two popular pickup products, the Tacoma and Tundra, with the same modular global platform. Despite the difference in stature between full-sized Tundra and mid-sized Tacoma, the so-called “F1” platform will allegedly be at the base of both. Toyota still has it in the workshop, but it’s expected to be used in the 2021 Tundra, so we’ll likely see it in some form later this year. Mercedes-Benz unveils the 2020 AMG CLA 35 The 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 4MATIC Handout / Mercedes-Benz Following hot on the heels of the announcement of the new Mercedes-AMG A 35, Mercedes-Benz has confirmed the impending arrival of a similar beast, the 2020 AMG CLA 35. Changes have been made to the car’s performance as well as its appearance. The new AMG-class CLA 35 will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder making 302 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque, shooting the sedan to 96 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The front end, meanwhile, gets a modified grille with chrome trim and a pair of horizontal bars connecting to the brand logo in the centre, while the rear gets a diffuser and round exhaust outlets. The AMG CLA 35 will debut in full on April 16 in New
Origin: News Roundup: Ford entry-level Mustang coming, new Brubaker Box in the works and more
All about car 