35 advanced safety and security technologies - New standard four-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram is
loaded with safety and security features.
"We engineered comfort and security into every single corner of our
all-new 2009 Dodge Ram," said Scott Kunselman, Vice President - Truck Product
Development, Chrysler LLC. "With 35 safety and security features, our all-new
Dodge Ram is designed to protect and perform."
In addition to offering a standard four-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
and standard Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Hill Start Assist (HSA)
and Trailer Sway Control (TSC), all-new 2009 Dodge Ram safety and security
features include standard advanced multi-stage front driver and passenger air
bags, standard supplemental side-curtain air bags and available ParkSense(R)
Rear Park Assist System.
Chrysler employs a two-fold safety approach: passive safety features
including pre-tensioning and load-limiting seat belt retractors and
supplemental side-curtain air bags, combined with active accident-avoidance
safety features including responsive steering and handling and braking.
For the 2008 model year, Chrysler offers eight vehicles that earned five
stars in governmental crash tests (front and side) from the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): Chrysler Pacifica and Town & Country;
Jeep(R) Liberty and Grand Cherokee; and Dodge Nitro, Caliber, Dakota and Grand
Caravan.
The 2008 Dodge Ram earned five-star ratings for front impact (driver and
passenger).
Following are 35 safety and security features to look for in the all-new
2009 Dodge Ram:
-- Advanced Multi-stage Air Bags: Inflates with a force appropriate to
the severity of an impact. Meets FMVSS 208 advanced air bag requirements for
small out-of-position occupants
-- Anti-lock Brake System (ABS): Senses and prevents wheel lockup,
offering improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery
conditions - advanced ABS modulates each of the four brakes individually for
optimum control and stopping performance
-- All-speed Traction Control: Senses drive-wheel slip and applies
individual brakes to a slipping wheel(s), and reduces excess engine power
until traction is regained
-- Auto-reverse Sun Roof: Advanced sensing system that automatically
engages and reverses the sun roof to the open position when an object that
restricts glass movement is detected
-- Auto-reverse Window: Automatically engages and reverses the window to
the down position when an obstacle that restricts glass movement is detected
-- BeltAlert: Periodically activates a chime and illuminates an icon in
the instrument cluster to remind the driver to buckle up if a vehicle is
driven without the driver being properly belted
-- Brake Assist: In a panic brake condition, the system applies maximum
braking power, providing the shortest possible stopping distance
-- Brake/Park Interlock: Prevents an automatic transmission or transaxle
from being shifted out of Park unless the brake pedal is applied
-- Child Seat Anchor System: Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren
(LATCH) is designed to ease installation of compatible aftermarket child seats
-- Child-protection Rear Door Locks: Disables the rear doors'
inside-release handles via a small lever on the door-shut face
-- Crumple Zones: Designed to compress during an accident in order to
absorb energy from an impact, decreasing transfer of that energy to occupants
-- Digressive Load-limiting Retractors: A two-stage load-limiting feature
that limits the maximum force on the belt webbing in order to help absorb the
energy of the occupant's upper torso during an impact
-- Electronic Stability Program (ESP): Enhances driver control and helps
maintain directional stability under all conditions. Provides the greatest
benefit in critical driving situations, such as turns, and is especially
valuable when driving on mixed surface conditions including snow, ice or
gravel. If there's a discernible difference between what the driver asks
through the steering wheel and the vehicle's path, ESP applies selective
braking and throttle input in order to put the vehicle back onto the driver's
intended path
-- Energy-absorbing Steering Column: The manual-adjust steering column
utilizes two hydroformed coaxial tubes that move relative to each other in
order to allow the column to move forward for enhanced energy-absorption
during an impact
-- Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS): Makes it easier for
emergency personnel to see and reach occupants in the event of an accident by
turning on interior lights and unlocking doors after air-bag deployment. Also
shuts off the flow of fuel to the engine
-- Height-adjustable Front Seat Belts: Allows the driver and front
passenger to raise and lower the shoulder belt. Encourages seat belt usage by
offering a comfortable fit
-- HomeLink(R) Universal Home Security System Transceiver: Stores three
separate transmitter radio-frequency codes to operate garage-door openers,
security gates, security lighting or other radio-controlled devices
-- Hill Start Assist (HSA): Assists drivers when starting a vehicle from
a stop on a hill by maintaining the level of brake pressure applied for a
short period of time after a driver's foot is removed from the brake pedal. If
throttle is not applied within a short period of time after the driver's foot
is removed from the brake pedal, brake pressure will be released
-- Inside Emergency Release: A glow-in-the-dark release handle, which may
be activated in the event of an adult or child being inadvertently trapped
inside of the RamBox
-- Interior Head-impact Protection: Interior pillars above the belt line
and instrument panel, including areas around windshield and rear window
headers, roof and side-rail structures and shoulder-belt turning loops are
specifically designed to limit head-impact force
-- Knee Bolsters: The lower instrument panel and the glove-box door are
designed to properly position the occupant, enabling air bags to work
effectively
-- ParkSense(R) RearPark Assist System: Assists at low speeds in Reverse
to detect stationary objects. Consists of visible (interior lights seen with
rearview mirror) and audible warnings for the driver
-- ParkView(R) Rear Back-up Camera: Provides a wide-angle view of the area
immediately behind the vehicle, giving the driver greater peace of mind before
backing up. Also aids in lining up a trailer to the vehicle's trailer hitch,
when so equipped. The image automatically displays on the navigation screen
when the transmission is shifted into Reverse
-- Power-adjustable pedals: Allows brake and accelerator pedals to move
toward or away from the driver in order to achieve a comfortable seating
position for improved vehicle control
-- Remote Keyless Entry: Locks and unlocks doors, and turns on interior
lamps. If the vehicle is equipped with a vehicle-theft security alarm, the
remote also arms and disarms that system
-- Remote Start: Conveniently starts the engine from outside the vehicle
by using the Remote Keyless Entry fob while maintaining vehicle security
-- Safety Cage Body Structure: Protects occupants by managing and
controlling energy in the event of an impact
-- Seat-belt Pretensioners (both front seat belts): During a collision,
impact sensors initiate front seat-belt pretensioners to immediately remove
slack from seat belts, thereby reducing the forward movement of occupants'
heads and torsos
-- Sentry Key(R) Engine Immobilizer: Utilizes an engine key that has an
embedded transponder with a pre-programmed security code to discourage vehicle
theft. When the key is inserted into the ignition, the controller sends a
random number to the transponder and the engine is allowed to start. If an
incorrect key is used, the engine will shut off after only a few seconds
-- Side Guard Door Beams: In front and rear doors, provides occupant
protection during a side impact
-- Supplemental Side-curtain Air Bags: Extends protection to all outboard
front- and rear-seat passengers. Each side air bag has its own impact sensor
which autonomously triggers the air bag on the side where an impact occurs.
Available on Quad(R) and crew cabs
-- Tire-pressure Monitoring (TPM): Pressure-sensor modules within the
valve stems of all four road wheels send continuous radio-frequency signals to
a receiver and the system informs occupants when tire pressure is too low
-- Trailer Sway Control System: Reduces trailer sway and improves
handling in adverse towing conditions caused by crosswinds and traffic.
Software monitors the vehicle's movement relative to the driver's intended
path, then applies brake pressure to slow the vehicle and increases the
pressure on one front wheel to counteract sway induced by the trailer
-- uconnect phone: Uses Bluetooth(R) technology to provide
voice-controlled wireless communication between the occupants' compatible
mobile phones and the vehicle's onboard receiver
-- Vehicle Theft Security Alarm: Deters vandalism and theft, frequently
lowering insurance premiums. System protects the vehicle from theft by
monitoring door- and liftgate-ajar switches and the ignition circuit for
unauthorized entry
Dodge Brand
With a U.S. market share of 6.2 percent, Dodge is Chrysler LLC's
best-selling brand and the sixth largest nameplate in the U.S. automotive
market. In 2007, Dodge sold more than 1.3 million vehicles in the global
market.
The Dodge brand's first crossover vehicle -- the all-new 2009 Dodge
Journey -- arrived in dealer showrooms in the first quarter of 2008, and is
now available outside North America in petrol and diesel powertrains in both
left- and right-hand drive. The limited-edition 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8
with a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine that boasts 425 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of
torque started hitting the streets this past spring. Later in 2008, Dodge will
add three more vehicles to its product lineup -- the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram
with game-changing exterior and interior design, innovations, best-in-class
features and craftsmanship; the all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger, a modern
interpretation of the American muscle car; and the 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI
Hybrid, a hybrid electric vehicle that combines fuel-efficient advance hybrid
technology with full-size SUV performance and capability.
Last fall, America's best-selling minivan, the all-new 2008 Dodge Grand
Caravan, was introduced with 35 new or improved features including the newest
innovation, the Swivel 'n Go(TM) seating system. In 2007, Dodge sold 33,500
commercial vehicles, a 285 percent increase over 2003 when the company
returned to the commercial vehicle market and is now the sixth largest
manufacturer of commercial vehicles sold in the U.S. Also in 2007, the Dodge
Avenger and Nitro entered key volume segments outside North America, joining
the Dodge Caliber, the highest sales volume vehicle for the company outside of
North America.
SOURCE Chrysler LLC
