Ram Promaster City announced

[haven]

The news embargo has been lifted, and many online sources are carrying the announcement of the Ram Promaster City. This is Fiat/Chrysler's new smaller van for USA. It's based on the Fiat Doblo XL.

Automobile Magazine has a portfolio of 50 photos of the Promaster City
http://www.automobilemag.com/featur...city-enters-compact-van-segment/photo_00.html

The Promaster City stands apart from competitors in that it has independent coil spring rear suspension, a nine speed automatic transmission, a little longer wheelbase than competitors, slightly more cu ft of cargo space (exact dimensions not available yet), and an 1800 lb cargo capacity.

This market segment now includes entries from Ford (Transit Connect), Nissan (NV200), GM (re-badged NV200), and now Ram. All have four cylinder gas engines with fuel economy in the mid-20 mpg range, and pricing starting around $23,000. All these vehicles have wheelbase and overall length similar to a Toyota Tacoma Double Cab, but with more cargo capacity and larger cargo area.

 

[haven]

Vans of this size have been converted into campers for years by European companies.

There is at least one USA company renting small camper vans based on the Ford Transit Connect. They call their camper the "Edelweiss." The company has offices in Las Vegas, Bozeman, MT, and Austin, TX. http://www.campervannorthamerica.com/

 

[zelatore]

About time....they have needed a fresh offering in this segment as the Caravan C/V (cargo van) just doesn't cut it in the commercial segment.

As the owner of an NV200, a few comments/observations:
The power figures look good, especially compared to the pathetic 130-ish of my Nissan. Since the Nissan also sports a CVT, it's particularly bad off the line or when asked for sudden acceleration. Not a good feeling when trying to merge onto a busy road!
The load floor looks to be higher than the NV and about on par with the Ford. As a commercial user, low=good. As a potential camper conversion, this may actually be a benefit if it gives a bit more ground clearance.
They seem to have the rear 60/40 doors on the wrong side. Why is the bigger door on the driver's (traffic) side?
My NV200 regularly returns 25 mpg average in mixed driving. While that's good for the class, it's really pretty poor in the bigger picture considering it's power/weight. I doubt the new Dodge will be much better, and the Ford is rated a little worse (and the Caravan C/V a bit worse yet). I don't have any Cd figures, but the aero must be killing these things. Notice the city/highway numbers are only 1 mpg different on the Nissan - an indicator of how drag is killing mpg. I've noticed if I slow down to 75 instead of my normal 80 on the highway it helps a lot. Despite being quite narrow, a box is a box.
I wish the new Dodge didn't have such a long hood/nose. It's wasted space in this segment.
It may actually be uglier than my NV200! Other than the 1st gen (10-13) Transit Connect, all of these vans are pretty ugly. Till now I was sure the Nissan took the prize but this Dodge looks to give it a run for it's money on that count.

 

[boardrider247]

Now when will they offer a van of this size with AWD?
My wife currently drives a Honda Element and while that is a fine vehicle it is aging and I would trade it in a heartbeat for a Transit Connect with AWD.

 

[haven]

Calling Chris at U-Joint Offroad!

The Promaster City uses the same drivetrain as the Chrysler 200 and the Jeep Cherokee (2.4L Tigershark and 9 speed trans). The 200 has an AWD option, and the Cherokee offers a 4x4 system with a two speed transfer case. So the major parts to convert to AWD or 4x4 are available. Price, that's a separate issue.

 

[r_w]

The long hood is CRUMPLE ZONE. You are not going to get around that with everyone wanting 5 star crash ratings as a minimum.

I agree that they are all ugly. And not a cute or quirky ugly like an element or xB. But when has an minivan ever looked good?

 

[haven]

Fiat/Chrysler announced in May that the company will stop producing the Dodge Caravan minivan, probably for the 2016 model year. They will continue to build the Chrysler Town and Country, the upscale cousin of the Caravan, for a few years more. Could Fiat/Chrysler be planning to offer a passenger version of the Promaster City under the Dodge name? That might get us an AWD version with the larger 3.2L V6 from the Cherokee.

All Promaster City models ship from Turkey as passenger vans, not utility vehicles. At the docks in Baltimore, passenger van items like side windows and rear seats are removed, and the converted trucks shipped to dealers. This extra step gets around the 25% tariff imposed on light truck imports.

Ford has done this switcharoo with the Transit Connect for years. In January 2013, the Customs Service told Ford it would have to pay the full 25% tariff on Transit Connect models converted to work vans. Ford has filed an appeal, which is still under review.
http://blog.caranddriver.com/feds-watching-fords-run-around-on-chicken-tax-riles-customs-officials/

 

[zelatore]

I am so sick of the chicken tax. I thought we were a Capitalist Country (tm) ... can't the domestics stand on their own without this 'wellfare'?

Actually, the tax was implemented so long ago that the domestics were really building vehicles in the US. These days the tax is hurting 'our' guys as much as it's hurting the 'imports'. In other words, it's hurting the consumers and the only people it's helping are the government tax collectors. It really is time for that tax to go.

Any idea what the tax (or extra cost to avoid it) is adding to the MSRP on one of these vehicles? They are relatively inexpensive little vans, with prices in the low-mid $20Ks. Even a grand would be a significant difference on that number.

 

[Joash]

I personally can't wait for this category of vehicle to take off here in the states. Once US consumers start having their say, this platform will be able to realize its full potential.

 

[zelatore]

The long hood is CRUMPLE ZONE. You are not going to get around that with everyone wanting 5 star crash ratings as a minimum.

I agree that they are all ugly. And not a cute or quirky ugly like an element or xB. But when has an minivan ever looked good?

They can get around the crumple zone issue if they want to. Just look at the full-size vans like the Promaster, Sprinter, and Transit.

As for style, I actually sort of liked the look of the first gen Transit Connect. But the new one just looks boring and impractical without the high roof of the original.

 

[Disco 2 DK]

You guys mentioned the tax on cars in the States, let me show you the tax on car in Denmark - it's in Danish kroner so divide with 5.5. Moms is a tax that you pay on the cars price AND the registration-tax

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