New Ram Trucks Will Make First Appearance at Texas State Fair

Friday is the kick-off for the Texas State Fair, and fair attendees will get a special first look at some of Ram's new trucks.

Ram will be unveiling several models of the 2012 Ram 1500 pickup truck including the Ram 1500 Tradesman Heavy Duty and the Ram 1500 Express Picture. The 2012 Ram 1500 Tradesman Heavy Duty will not be available until next year, so fair-goers will get a chance to see the new models before the rest of the country.

The Texas State Fair is no stranger to auto showcases. Their auto show, according to the Texas State Fair website, has been a favorite part of the fair since 1904 when they hosted Dallas' very first auto show. In 1989, they expanded their space to 300,000 square feet spanning two buildings and an additional outdoor area.

The auto show starts Friday, September 30 and runs through Sunday, October 23. Even if you don't live in Texas, though, you can find out more about the 2012 Ram 1500 by stopping by Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge at 212-19 Northern Boulevard in Bayside, New York. You can also check them out on Facebook or Twitter.

Jeep Wrangler Celebrates Landmark Birthday

The Jeep Wrangler, one of Jeep's best-selling and iconic vehicles, will be celebrating 70 years on the road this year.

Since 1941, when the model was used as a military vehicle in World War II, the Jeep Wrangler has been an American staple. It is a favorite off-road vehicle, and those looking to buy the 2012 model will be excited to hear that the 2012 Wrangler will have a new 285 horsepower engine, compared to the 202 horsepower engine in the previous model.

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler starts at $25,545 and goes up from there depending on features and add-ons. You can check out listings for the Jeep Wrangler and the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited here, and watch Motor Trend's test drive of the 2012 Jeep Wrangler below.

To drive a Jeep Wrangler for yourself, stop by Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge 212-19 Northern Blvd in Bayside, New York, or check them out online here. You can also follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

Jeep, Activision Release Special Edition Call of Duty Jeep Wrangler

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 might not hit shelves until November 8^th, but in between re-watching the game trailers again and searching the web for screen shots, Call of Duty fans can check out the famous game franchise's newest venture: cars.

Jeep has teamed up with Activision Publishing, the company behind Call of Duty, to release a special edition Jeep Wrangler in honor of the new game. The car will be prominently featured in the game, and it will also be available for purchase in November at local Jeep dealerships. Activision Chief Marketing Officer Tim Ellis said that Activision is “very excited” about the partnership with Jeep and praised the Jeep Wrangler in particular, saying that it “perfectly embodies the authenticity and dynamic energy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.”

Cross-promoting video games and cars might seem odd, but Activision was very smart about it. The Jeep Wrangler is a rough-and-tumble sort of car, and the Call of Duty games are pretty rough-and-tumble as well. Besides that, the Jeep Wrangler is consistently a popular car both in sales and reviews with AOL Auto calling the Wrangler “one of the most fun-to-drive...Jeeps ever made.” A lot of people will already be looking at the Jeep Wrangler, so getting the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Special Edition Jeep Wrangler is just the cherry on top of an already delicious sundae.

To learn more about the Jeep Wrangler and getting a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Special Edition Jeep Wrangler, stop by Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram at 212-19 Northern Blvd in Bayside, New York or visit them online at http://www.queenschryslerjeepdodge.com/.

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Grandparents Beat Out Parents as Safest Drivers

Whether it is their years of driving or their years of experience dealing with children, a recent study has found that children are usually safer riding with their grandparents than their parents.

The study, which was conducted by State Farm Insurance, found that children riding in a car with their grandparents had a fifty percent lower chance of being injured in a car crash than children riding in a car with their own parents. This study was based on data from car crashes from 2003 thru 2007, and the children in the study were youths 15 years old or younger.

It is not clear yet why grandparents are safer drivers than parents, but if I had to take a guess, I would say there are two reasons why grandparents do a better job driving children. First, grandparents have driven with children in the car for much longer than new parents. A new parent might glance over their shoulder at the slightest sound of discomfort whereas a veteran parent would know the difference between whining and real trouble. Secondly, grandparents have worse hearing. Now, this might seem like a huge disadvantage as a driver, and it certainly can hurt a driver's performance. We aren't endorsing intentionally blocking out sounds while driving. When it comes to kids, however, sometimes it is nice to “turn down the hearing aid” and pretend not to hear the kids yelling, “He's on my side of the car!” or “She took my Nintendo DS!”

To find out more about the safest cars on the market today, call the Bayside Queens Chrysler Jeep Dodge and ask about the best (and safest) car for your family.

Debutante Programs Add Car Repair to Lesson Plans

When people think of debutantes, they think of white dresses and lovely young girls. Traditionally, car repair and debutantes should never even belong in the same sentence together, and yet today's debutantes are learning proper dining etiquette as well as how to jump-start a car.

New lessons for the modern debutante include self-defense training and car repair. In recent years, debutante classes seemed silly and cheesy at best and sexist and outdated at their worst. Today, more women than men are graduating from college, and the idea of dressing up young ladies and having a party celebrating their entry into society seems a little demeaning.

Adding classes like car repair to debutante lessons was actually a really smart idea. Every young woman should know how to jump-start a car. It is a practical skill for life, and by adding car repair class, debutante programs can help a young girl grow into an intelligent, well-rounded woman who knows her etiquette but can still take care of herself (and her car).

Looking for a car for your teenager? Check out the new and used car selection over at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.

Picture via Transfigurations

Cell Phone-Related Car Accidents on the Rise, Chrysler Backs Cell Phone Ban Bill

Phones might be getting smarter, but the same cannot necessarily be said for its users. According to a study by the U.S. Department of Transportation, 5,474 people were killed in car accidents related to cell phone use in 2009 alone. The same study shows that 448,000 people were also injured during that same year.

In response to the overwhelming evidence that cell phones lead to more distracted drivers and more car accidents, Chrysler has voiced its support for the Safe Drivers Act of 2011. If the law passes, drivers would be prohibited from using their cell phones and other mobile devices, and the federal government will have to determine in the following two years if hand-free cell phones are also too distracting to drivers. It should be noted that there is an exception written into the bill that drivers can use their cell phone in certain emergencies.

Maybe I am biased having grown up with a hand-me-down car that we affectionately named “The Ghettomobile,” but I think it makes perfect sense for car companies and consumers to back the Safe Drivers Act of 2011. If I had a nice car that I worked very hard to pay for, I wouldn't want other drivers putting my safety and my new car at risk by texting while they are driving. The Safe Drivers Act of 2011 is common sense, and several states have already put similar laws in place. This is where the country is heading, and it makes sense to go ahead and make it a federal law.

Consumers, if you want to support the Safe Drivers Act of 2011, contact your elected representatives and tell them to support this important legislation. You can also read the bill in its entirety here.

Picture via Hoax-Slayer