Three new SRT8 vehicles debuted for the 2012 model year: Charger (plus Super Bee edition?), 300C and Grand Cherokee; they will be followed by the PF and PK compact cars for Chrysler and Dodge, to be built at Belvidere; and a B-class Jeep entry-level CUV, sharing with the Fiat 500 and (maybe) built at Toluca. The eight-speed ZF automatic will be on V6 Chargers and 300s (as a base-model option, otherwise standard), while Durango, Ram, and Grand Cherokee get the new six-speed 6xRFE truck transmission with their V8s. (Charger R/T and SRT8, 300C, and all Challengers stick with the five-speed Mercedes automatic for another year; they are not expected to get eight-speeds now until model year 2014, when Chrysler has taken over manufacturing.)

Dodge Ram

Reliable source MooseEater wrote that Ram will be launching its exclusive RamBox integrated storage system “for a special price” on both 5’7″ and 6’4″ beds, on 2012 regular and quad cab models. A new steering wheel will also be adopted, putting the cruise control onto the front, and a monochrome paint option will be added to Outdoorsman and Longhorn (on the latter, replacing White Gold running boards with Mopar tubular side steps and polished wheels). A Longhorn Two-Tone will still be available.

Ram will also gain new power folding trailer towing mirrors and chrome side mouldings. The ST, however, loses its bright grille, reverting to black. (Some of these features, including the RamBox and mirrors, are set up for late availability.)

The 310-horsepower 4.7 V8 will continue to accompany the Hemi, but in Canada at least, there was no mention of the 3.7 V6 (which was closely based on the 4.7, but did not receive the 4.7′s refresh.) The 4.7 and 5.7 will both (as Allpar noted earlier) move to a six speed automatic, which appears to be standard in Canada and likely in the US as well.

Of interest, it seems that the Ram series is the #3 selling vehicle in Canada, and that Canadian buyers overwhelmingly go for the 4×4 models; regular cabs account for just 5% of sales, with the rest roughly evenly split between Quad Cab and Crew Cab. Most 4×2 sales are restricted to the regular cab. Laramie and Longhorn Crew Cabs seem to have taken off in sales.

The Ram Heavy Duty is the #1 selling diesel in Canada so far this year, and it gained a torque boost to 800 lb-ft, providing best in class towing of 22,750 lb and a gross weight rating of 30,000 lb. For 2012, it can be ordered with the RamBox in all price classes, with lowered pricing; again, a six speed replaces the five speed. Towing capacity was increased for the Hemi as well as the diesel, and midyear seat-mounted side airbags will become standard along with a black grille and bumpers on ST. Most Ram 2500 buyers opt for the crew cab and SLT or Outdoorsman; while most Ram 3500 buyers go for the Crew Cab and Laramie or Longhorn.