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The 2010 Dodge Viper enters the final year in its current design with only minor changes. Dodge plans to produce only about 500 2010 Vipers. This high-performance 2-seat sports car comes as a hard top coupe or as the Roadster convertible with a manual-folding fabric top and heated-glass rear window.

Both are designated SRT10. Vipers have a 600-horsepower 8.4-liter V10 engine. A 6-speed manual is the sole transmission. ABS is standard. Side airbags, traction control, and an antiskid system are unavailable. Wheels are 18 inches in front, 19 inches in the back. Standard features include leather-and-faux-suede upholstery, power-adjustable pedals, and xenon headlights.

A navigation system that includes satellite radio is also available. Viper coupes offer the ACR package, which includes aerodynamic improvements, performance suspension, and other racetrack-ready hardware. New for ACR-equipped models is the Hard Core Package, which has additional weight-saving measures and further track-ready tuning.

The 2008 Dodge Sprinter gets more safety and convenience features including an emergency exit window on all passenger models. Cargo vans get an optional rear bench seat. Three models are offered: 2500, 2500 cargo extended, and 3500. 2500 and 3500 are available in passenger van, standard roof, high roof, or mega roof form and come in two wheelbases: 144 and 170 inches.

The high roof adds 11 inches of interior room and the mega roof adds 19 to the standard roof height of 65 inches. Dual rear wheels are standard on 3500 models. Passenger models have room for up to 12 passengers on rear bench seats. Two engines are offered: a turbodiesel 154-hp 3.0-liter V6 or a gasoline 254-hp 3.5-liter V6. Both mate to a 5-speed automatic transmission. All models have a tire pressure monitoring system.

Available safety features include ABS, traction control, an antiskid system, dual front airbags, and front side airbags. Optional equipment includes a heated windshield with rain-sensing wipers, power sunroof, and a rear back-up alarm.

The 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 is largely unchanged. Now simply called the Ram 1500, this large pickup truck was slated to gain a gas/electric hybrid model, as well as a diesel engine, but neither materialized for the 2010 model year. Ram continues to be offered as a 2-door regular cab and two 4-door cabs with conventional doors–the Quad Cab and the Crew Cab. The regular cab offers 6.4- and 8-foot cargo beds. The Quad Cab comes with a 6.4-foot bed while the Crew Cab uses a 5.7-foot bed. Regular cabs seat up to 3 passengers, the others up to 6.

Ram 1500 models are available with three engines: A 215-horsepower 3.7-liter V6; a 310-horsepower 4.7-liter V8; and a 390-horsepower 5.7-liter V8. The 4.7 V8 is capable of running on E85 ethanol-blended fuel. Newly standard on all is Chrysler’s Interactive Decel Fuel Shut Off, which is designed to save fuel by shutting off the gasoline supply during deceleration. The 5.7 V8 has Chrysler’s Multi-Displacement System cylinder deactivation. The V6 comes only with a 4-speed automatic transmission, while the V8s use a 5-speed automatic.

ST, SLT, and Laramie trims continue. All Ram 1500s are available with rear-wheel drive or with four-wheel drive. ST and SLT have part-time 4WD that should not be left engaged on dry pavement. Standard on the Laramie is full-time 4WD that can be left engaged on dry pavement. Both systems include a low-range gear for off-roading. Maximum towing capacity is 8,950 pounds. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, an antiskid system, and curtain-side airbags. Available only on Crew Cabs, the Ram Box option includes lockable cargo-bed storage bins, and a bed divider that doubles as a bed extender.

Also available are DVD entertainment and Chrysler’s Uconnect multimedia suite, which can include a wireless cell phone link, 30-gigabyte hard drive for storing digital music files and photos, and a navigation system. A rearview camera with park assist and heated/ventilated front seats are available.

The 2010 Dodge Nitro model lineup is revised. This midsize SUV uses traditional, truck-type construction and shares its basic design with the Jeep Liberty. Nitro comes in SE and SXT models. The SLT and R/T have been discontinued. All Nitros have a 210-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine that pairs with a 4-speed automatic transmission. Optional on the SXT is a 260-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 and a 5-speed automatic.

Ordering the 4.0 V6 also includes a sport suspension and 20-inch wheels. Newly standard on all is Chrysler’s Interactive Decel Fuel Shut Off, which is designed to save fuel by shutting off the gasoline supply during deceleration. Rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive are available. The 4WD system can’t be left engaged on dry pavement and does not include a low-range gear for off-road use. Maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds.

Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, and curtain-side airbags. Among the available features are leather upholstery, heated front seats, rear-obstacle detection, and Chrysler’s Uconnect multimedia suite, which can include a wireless cell-phone link, 30-gigabyte hard drive for storing digital music and picture files, and a navigation system.

The 2010 Dodge Journey sees no major changes following its introduction for the 2009 model year. Journey is a crossover SUV that has standard 5-passenger seating. It can also seat up to 7 with the Flexible Seating Group that includes a 50/50 split 3rd-row seat. Three trim levels are offered. The base SE has front-wheel drive, a 173-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, and a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Uplevel SXT and R/T models have a 235-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, 6-speed automatic, and front- or all-wheel drive. SE models have 16-inch wheels. Front drive SXTs have 17-inch wheels and a sport suspension. All-wheel-drive SXTs and all R/Ts have 19-inch wheels and still-firmer suspension tuning. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags that cover all seating rows, and front-side airbags.

Storage features include an available flat-folding front-passenger seat with an under-cushion storage bin, storage bins in the 2nd-row foot well, and under-floor storage in the cargo area. Chrysler’s Uconnect multimedia suite, which can include a wireless cell phone link, 30-gigabyte hard drive for storing digital music and picture files, and a navigation system with real-time traffic information, is optional. A cooled glovebox is standard on all.

The 2009 Dodge Durango lineup gets a new gas/electric Hybrid model for what is its final model year. Durango is a traditional truck-type SUV and offers seating for five, seven, or eight. It comes in SE, SLT, and Limited trims. Conventional gasoline Durango models are available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Optional on AWD versions is a low-range gear for off-roading. Hybrid models are AWD only and are not offered with low-range gearing. Maximum towing capacity is 8950 lb for conventional models and 6000 lb for the Hybrid. Rear-drive SE and SLT versions have a 210-hp 3.7-liter V6 engine. All others, except hybrids, have a 303-hp 4.7-liter V8. Optional on all but the SE is a 356-hp 5.7-liter version of Chrysler’s Hemi V8, an increase of 21 hp over the 2008 Durango.

Hybrids have a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that pairs with a battery-powered electric motor for 385 hp. It can run on either gas or electric power or both, depending on driving needs. No plug-in charging is needed. Both Hemi V8s have Chrysler’s Multi-Displacement System, which shuts down four cylinders when cruising in order to save fuel. V6 Durangos have a 4-speed automatic transmission. Both conventional V8s use a 5-speed automatic, while the Hybrid gets a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, and curtain side airbags. Rear-obstacle detection and power-adjustable pedals are standard on Hybrid and Limited and available on other Durangos. DVD entertainment is offered on SLT, Limited, and Hybrid. Newly available is Chrysler’s uconnect multimedia suite, which can include a wireless cell-phone link, 30-gigabyte hard drive for storing digital music and picture files, and a navigation system with real-time traffic information.

The 2010 Dodge Dakota gets a slightly revised suspension, but is largely unchanged otherwise. This compact pickup truck comes in two body styles. Extended Cabs have a 6.4-foot cargo bed and rear-hinged back doors that do not open independently of the fronts. They seat up to 5. Crew cabs have a 5.3-foot bed, conventional back doors, and seat up to 6. Four trim levels are offered: Base ST, mid-level Big Horn (Lone Star in Texas), off-road-ready TRX4, and top-end Laramie.

Dakota’s standard engine is a 210-horsepower 3.7-liter V6. It teams with a 4-speed automatic transmission. A 302-horsepower 4.7-liter V8 is standard on the TRX4 and optional on Big Horn and Laramie. The V8 comes only with a 5-speed automatic. Dakota is available with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The 4WD system should not be left engaged on dry pavement, but it includes low-range gearing for off-road use. Maximum towing capacity is 7,250 pounds.

Available safety features include ABS and curtain-side airbags. Also available are heated cloth or leather front seats and Dodge’s Crate ‘N Go system, which includes collapsible and removable interior storage containers.