Every year, automakers unveil vehicles with innovative designs, cutting edge technological advancements, increased safety features and improved performance. And what better venue to peruse the hundreds of models that are in dealerships now and those that are bound for showrooms in the near future than the 2012 DFW Auto Show in Dallas, March 21-25 at the Dallas Convention Center.

“This is one of the most popular annual events in the Metroplex,” said Don Herring, Jr., chairman of the 2012 DFW Auto Show in Dallas. “It’s obviously the best place to be if you’re in the market for a new car, truck or SUV, but the Auto Show also is just good old-fashioned fun.”

Energy efficient continues to be the “buzz phrase” at the DFW Auto Show this year with many manufacturers highlighting their hybrids, all-electric and low emissions vehicles such as Ford’s 2013 C-Max Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), Chevrolet’s 2012 Volt, Audi’s Q7 and A3 TDI vehicles, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Nissan LEAF and many more.

In addition to an impressive lineup of 2012s, including the all-new Fiat Abarth and all-new Range Rover Evoque, manufacturers are looking toward the future with a variety of 2013 models including: Audi A5 and A8L; Buick Encore; Cadillac ATS and XTS; Chevrolet Malibu and Spark; Dodge Dart; Ford Mustang GT500, Escape, Taurus SHO, Fusion EcoBoost and Focus ST; GMC Acadia; Hyundai Veloster Turbo; Infiniti JX and Mazda CX-5.

An expanded Ride & Drive event will take place at Lot E (the old Reunion Arena Parking Lot) where Show visitors will have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of some of their favorite cars, trucks and SUVS from Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, GMC, Jeep, Hyundai, Kia, Ram, Subaru and Volkswagen.

The DFW Auto Show in Dallas also is bringing community awareness to the Show this year as it joins forces with the North Texas Food Bank for “Fuel Up North Texas”. On Saturday only, visitors are invited to donate one can of food for a $2 discount off of a $12 admission. According to the North Texas Food Bank, items most needed include: peanut butter, tuna, beans and canned ham.  In addition, members of the Dallas Fort Worth Metropolitan New Car Dealers Association (DFW NCDA) are taking part in a Dealership Challenge with a goal of donating 3,000 cans of food to the organization.

New to the Show this year is Kids’ Day, sponsored by Univision. This one-day event on Saturday, March 24 will feature local companies, organizations and entertainment outlets that cater towards children. Univision will be on location along with an expert to discuss the safe installation of children’s car safety seats. Certified safety seats also will be given away during the presentations. The Dallas Police Department will provide a fingerprinting service for children. Other participants include the Dallas Zoo, Fossil Rim and Crew Kids.

Hours of the show are: 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, March 21 and 22; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 23 and 24; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 25. Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for senior citizens 65 and older, and children 12 and under are admitted free. $1 discount coupons are available at participating franchised new car dealerships. For more information, visit dallasautoshow.com

We are pleased to announce the launch of savvytrucksandtoys.com, our new website dedicated exclusively to car reviews and suggested road trips for driving the latest and best new vehicles!  We’ll keep reviewing the trucks and toys in Building SAVVY that we feel builders will be most interested in, and the website will allow us to provide you with all the latest news on even more vehicles.  If you’re thinking of making an investment in a new car, be sure to check out the new Facebook page for it and press “Like” so you know when we’ve posted something new.

Today, Ram Truck announced it will become the only manufacturer in North America to offer a factory-built compressed natural gas-powered (CNG) pickup truck.

The Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup is designed for fleet and commercial customers and offers cost and emissions benefits, using an abundant, domestically sourced fuel while reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil.

“Commercial customers are extremely important to Ram Truck,” said Fred Diaz, Ram Truck President and CEO Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico – Chrysler Group LLC. ”Adding a hard-working, fully capable CNG-powered truck to the Ram lineup makes a lot of sense – both economically and environmentally.”

“Our commercial fleet customers have been asking us to build a CNG powered Ram,” said Peter Grady, Vice President, Network Development and Fleet – Chrysler Group LLC. “These fleets have already developed their own fleet fueling infrastructure for CNG, and are strong proponents of the technology.”

Bi-fuel
The Ram HD CNG is powered by the 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 and features both compressed gas storage tanks and an 8-gallon gasoline fuel tank. Canadian customers can opt for a 35-gallon gasoline tank.

“Compressed natural gas is a widely accepted fuel in the U.S., Europe and Asia,” said Robert E. (Bob) Lee, Vice President and Head of Engine and Electrified Propulsion Engineering — Chrysler Group LLC. “As a fuel, CNG is readily available, well-suited to run in our 5.7-liter HEMI engine and is clean-burning with a low environmental impact. In fact, CNG demonstrates a reduction of 70 to 90 percent of smog-producing pollutants and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions.”

The Ram’s 5.7-liter HEMI bi-fuel engine has been modified to run on compressed natural gas as well as gasoline. Redesigned cylinder heads with specifically designed CNG compatible valves and valve-seat materials allow the engine to burn both fuels. It also gets a second, CNG-specific fuel rail and set of injectors. New spark plugs improve combustion and durability, and a new powertrain control module allows the HEMI to seamlessly operate on either of the two fuel sources.

The Ram 2500 CNG system was fully engineered and tested by Chrysler Group and assembled at the company’s Heavy Duty truck plant in Saltillo, Mexico.

In use, the system is automatic; eliminating operator switches altogether and utilizes either CNG or gasoline, transitioning from one to the other with little discernible difference in operation or capability.

Although a small amount of gasoline is used during engine startup, the Ram CNG runs exclusively on compressed natural gas. If the CNG tanks are emptied, the vehicle will automatically switch to gasoline.

In addition to a conventional gasoline fuel gauge, a second CNG-specific gauge sits adjacent to it in the instrument cluster.

CNG-only range is estimated to be 255 miles, while the backup supply of gasoline extends the range to 367 total miles.

The Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG’s two ultra-strong 4.6 cu.-ft. (130-liter) CNG tanks are located in the forward portion of the Ram’s 8-foot pickup bed. Both tanks are mounted to the frame and covered by a painted 50 ksi high-strength steel cover. The CNG filler connection is located next to the gasoline fuel neck, accessed through the Ram’s fuel filler door.

The CNG tanks provide a gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) of 18.2 gallons.

GGEs are calculated as having the same energy equivalent as one gallon of gasoline. CNG sold at filling stations in the U.S. is priced in dollars per GGE. A gasoline gallon equivalent of CNG is approximately 14.5 liters at 3600 psi.

At current prices, which are generally $1.25 less than the gallon equivalent of gasoline, CNG promises significant cost savings over the life of the truck.

Capability
With  1,580 lbs. of payload, 4-ft.-8-in. usable bed length and 7,650 lbs. of towing capability, the Ram 2500 CNG retains its heavy-duty capability: competent towing, payload hauling and outstanding acceleration for highway merging and passing.

Chevy celebrates its 100 year anniversary and fittingly touts the Silverado as the longest-lasting, most dependable full-size pickup on the road.  An ad that debuted during the past Super Bowl, shows the Silverado navigating devastation and destruction  at the end of the world.   A group of friends, who are Silverado owners, makes its way to the designated meeting spot but notice one of their buddies is missing.  The missing friend, unfortunately, drives another manufacturer’s truck and doesn’t appear to have made it to the meeting point.  Watch it here.

Aah… a nice size, smooth riding but extremely capable truck that we enjoyed driving around the Metroplex and at the Truck Rodeo.

The 2012  Nissan Frontier PRO-4X finished first place at the Texas Truck Rodeo due to its extraordinary power and off-road athleticism.  You may have seen on a commercial during the past NFL season.   If you missed it, check it out here.   It features the Nissan Frontier traveling down a large snow covered mountain in a manner similar to a snowboarder run to illustrate these capabilities.   Frontier continues to offer an exceptional level of on- and off-road performance with the use of a 4.0-liter DOHC V6 engine rated at 261 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. A 152-horsepower 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine is also available (King Cab only). With its strong performance, combined with good fuel mileage (17 city, 21 highway, King Cab 2WD), the Frontier is a fitting truck for work or play.

Toyota introduced today the all-new, seventh-generation Camry with class leading safety, fuel economy and multi-media technology.  The 2012 Camry  employs an elegantly simple but modern form, emphasizing a wider, lower stance than previous models. with a more spacious interior, improved driving dynamics and an even quieter ride than before.

Introduced in 1983, the Toyota Camry would later establish the template for the modern midsize sedan, setting benchmarks for Quality, Dependability and Reliability, along with a comfortable, quiet ride. Since that time, Toyota has sold more than 15 million Camry models worldwide earning it the honor of being America’s best-selling car for nine years running and 13 of the past 14 years.

The Toyota Camry again offers three powertrain choices, all of which have been enhanced for 2012 to provide better fuel economy and more responsive performance. All Camry models with the revised 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine now offer 178 horsepower, an increase of nine hp, and 170 lb.-ft. of peak torque. EPA-estimated fuel economy figures are 25 mpg city/35 highway, and the 28 mpg combined is two more than the previous generation Camry. The 2.5-liter engine employs Dual VVT-i (Dual Variable Valve Timing-intelligent), which controls valve timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts for optimal performance and efficiency at all engine speeds. The Acoustic Control Induction System (ACIS) helps optimize torque over a broad engine speed range.

The all-new Camry Hybrid debuts a highly revised version of the brand’s Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, including a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The 2012 Camry Hybrid LE, with EPA-estimated 43 mpg city/39 mpg highway/41 mpg combined, yields a more-than-30 percent boost in fuel economy in the EPA city and combined driving cycles, compared to the previous generation, thanks largely to the new hybrid powertrain, but also due to lighter vehicle weight and optimized aerodynamics.

Camry will be one of the first Toyotas to offer the Entune multimedia system. For the first time ever in a Toyota automobile, this new system leverages themobile smartphone to provide a richer in-vehicle experience with fully integrated access to navigation, entertainment and information services.

Savvy Publisher Steve Smirnis with Alex Cannon--6 time Indy 500 race car driver and the driver of the 2012 Toyota Camry Pace Car

Toyota recently hosted a press preview, inviting members of the Texas Auto Writers Association to take the new Camry’s on  a text drive at Cresson Motorsport Ranch.

Your Building SAVVY publishers were among 57 journalistst members of the Texas Auto Writers Association assembled for the two-day-long evaluation of new trucks, SUVs and CUVs at the Knibbe Ranch in San Atonio this past weekend.

After test driving the trucks on and off the road, votes were cast to name the following winners ofr 2011 Texas Truck Rodeo:

Ford Wins:  Truck Line of Texas, Truck of Texas for the 2012 Ford F-150, Outstanding Feature of Texas for its EcoBoost engine technology, and  CUV of Texas for the 2012 Ford Edge

Since April, the revolutionary F-150 EcoBoost has accounted for more than 40 percent of all F-150 sales. The EcoBoost engine, which can tow an industry-leading 11,300 pounds, is a $750 upgrade over the 5.0-liter V8.  With its new standard 36-gallon fuel tank, the powerful and fuel-efficient 2012 Ford F-150 EcoBoost^® pickup can drive nearly the entire length of California – from Oregon to Mexico – on one tank of gas. Other new technologies and driveline upgrades on the award-winning F-150 line-up nclude the addition of Hill Start Assist, a new automatic 4×4 system for Lariat trim level and above, and greatly expanded availability of electronic locking rear axles on 3.5-liter and 5.0-liter engines.   We practically had to  elbow our way through the line-up to drive the 2012 F-150 Raptor–always a favorite on the Knibbe Ranch 4 wheel drive off road track! It demonstrates Ford’s focus on raising the bar for off-road capabilities in a production truck.

The EcoBoost engine may have also been the deciding factor putting the 2012 Ford Edge at the top of the very competitive Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) category.

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee  Retains SUV of Texas Title

The 2012 Grand Cherokee Overland Summit edition is the most luxurious, distinctive and comprehensively equipped production Jeep vehicle ever, elevating Grand Cherokee to the peak of indulgence and refinement.  Its stunning interior with unique Black Olive burl real wood trim and gorgeous saddle leather and equally impressive exterior with fully chromed grille and fog lamp bezels along with exclusive 20-inch bright/polished aluminum wheels make it a deserving winner for “Luxury SUV of Texas.”  The Grand Cherokee line, a huge success for Jeep, retained its SUV of Texas title for the second year in a row.

Other category results:

Full-Sized Pickup Truck-First Place, 2012 Ford F-150; Second Place, 2012 Ram 1500; Third Place, Chevrolet 1500 & Toyota Tundra (tie)

Mid-Sized Pickup Truck-First Place, 2012 Nissan Frontier; Second Place, 2012 Toyota Tacoma.

Luxury Pickup Truck-First Place, 2012 Ford F-150 Platinum EcoBoost; Second Place, 2012 Ram 2500 Mega Cab Laramie Longhorn; Third Place, 2012 GMC Sierra Denali 2500 HD Crew Cab.

Heavy Duty Pickup Truck-First Place, 2012 Ford F-250 King Ranch; Second Place, 2012 Ram 2500 Power Wagon; Third Place, 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD.

Full-Sized SUV-First Place, 2012 Dodge Durango; Second Place, 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee; Third Place, 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe.

Full-Sized Luxury SUV-First Place, Jeep Grand Cherokee; Second Place, Range Rover Evoque; Third place, Mercedes Benz ML350

Mid-Sized SUV-First Place, 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited; Second Place, 2012 Toyota 4Runner; Third Place, 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser.

Mid-Sized Luxury SUV – First Place, Toyota 4Runner

Compact SUV-First Place, 2012 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X; Second Place, 2012 Jeep Compass; Third Place, 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan.

Full-Sized CUV-First Place, 2012 Buick Enclave;

Mid-Sized CUV-First Place, 2012 Ford Edge Limited with EcoBoost engine; Second Place 2012 Dodge Journey; Third Place, 2012 Chevrolet Equinox

Compact CUV-First Place, 2012 Toyota Rav4; Second Place, Kia Soul!

Full-Sized Luxury CUV-First Place, 2012 GMC Acadia Denali; Second Place, 2012 Mercedes-Benz R350 Blue TEC.

Mid-Sized Luxury CUV-2012 Cadillac SRX Premium.

Arthur Barcelo, of Dallas’ Artcelo Custom Design was selected to star in new commercials promoting Ram trucks and the real life success stories of their drivers.  The TV commercials will appear in both English and Spanish.

Drew Pearson is Leader for Team Escalade Texas

Cadillac rolled out its 2012 Escalades in grand fashion this week.  The first 12 Escalades rolled off the assembly line at the Arlington plant and were driven in a caravan to Fair Park by celebrities taking part in Team Escalade Texas.  This multimarket, multimedia campaign involves six charities, 19 celebrities, four cities and one bold drive to change lives. The goal of Team Escalade Texas is to educate fellow Texans about the six chosen charitable organizations as well as to increase interest, volunteers and donations for those charities. Team Escalade Texas (www.TeamEscaladeTexas.com) in underway and continues through Oct ober 30, 2011.

Football great Drew Pearson, who spoke at the press conference, is the leader of Team Escalade Texas. Pearson will travel to all markets to attend events and conduct interviews. Each charity also has been given an exclusive team that supports its individual mission. Each team consists of a charity, three celebrities, a radio station in Dallas and one in Houston that provide station personalities, events, on-air support and more.

Texas Cadillac dealers will produce public service announcement videos for each of the six charities and provide them with paid media support to publicize and promote the PSAs at various location from now through October 30.  During the month-long campaign, people are encouraged to vote, click and hare their favorite charity’s video.  The charity that receives the most votes for its PSA through midnight October 30 will win additional paid media support valued at $150,000.

The teams and celebrities are:

• Cure Duchenne — Team CureDuchenne (http://www.cureduchenne.org)
Daryl Johnston, Rocket Ismail, Dan Pastorini

• Taylor’s Gift Foundation — Team Gift (http://www.taylorsgift.org)
Everson Walls, Danieal Manning, Mike Renfro

• Love Hope Strength — Team Strength  (http://www.lovehopestrength.org)
Mike Modano, Brent Severyn, N.D. Kalu

• Ronald McDonald House Charities — Team House (Dallas: http://www.rmhdallas.org Fort Worth: http://ftworthrmh.org; Houston: http://www.rmhhouston.org; San Antonio: http://www.ronaldmcdonaldhouse-sa.org)
Randy White, Jay Novacek, Matt Bullard

• Special Olympics Texas — Team Champion (http://www.sotx.org)
Carly Patterson, Laura Wilkinson, Zina Garrison

• The YMCA — Team YMCA (http://www.ymca.net)
Brian Cardinal, Derek Harper, Alphonso Roundtree

Exclusively built in Texas, the Escalade is the No 1-selling full-size luxury SUV in America and topped the 2011 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (SM)–the highest-performing vehicle in its segment for the second consecutive year.

Compact SUVs Strive for Sport and Style: 2011 Infinity EX 35 Journey RWD, 2011 Rougue SV FW

U.S. News & World Report named the 2011 Infinity EX 35 Journey RWD “Best Luxury Compact Crossover for the Money 2011.”

The compact category of crossovers is for the person needing a bit more space than a sedan would allow while delivering sporty performance and style.  Rear wheel drive vehicles like the luxury class Infinity do a better job at the sports sedan comparison, but Nissan did a nice job overall with the Rouge in the more affordable category.  Also in the compact category, the Kia Sportage has come a long way.  If you’re looking for cargo space, the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander is a good choice and also delivers a sporty performance with available seating for seven and has a long warranty.

Nissan hopes to position the Rouge as a crossover with Z-car characteristics in performance, stylish looks, and good affordability, including slightly improved fuel efficiency on the new model.

The 2011 Sportage has evolved into a stylish and well-rounded compact crossover SUV.

Available seating for seven and its exterior size say the Kia Sportage is a midsize SUV, but its price and standard four cylinder engine say compact SUV.

Our 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport text model featuring all-wheel drive, good fuel economy and a roomy interior with awesome panoramic moon roof is a great car for the money and capability.

Options for Everyone in Midsizers

The 2011 Kia Sorento straddles the line between compact and midsize SUVs and provides the perfect example of how KIA continues to surprise with design innovation, quality and value.   The 2011 Sorento has lost its truck-=based platform and has been rated oneof the most comfortable-riding and powerful midsize crossovers available.

The reborn 2011 Ford Explorer may look rough and rugged on the outside, but inside, it feels more like a sedan than a truck.

Ford’s Explorer, Nissan’s Xterra PRO-4X, Toyota’s 4Runner, and Subaru’s Forester 2.5 XT Turbo retain a rugged look outside with improved comfort inside.   All remain strong contenders for crossover shoppers seeking a car that suits their needs for every day in the city but will also cut it on the trip to Colorado.  Toyota’s FJ Cruiser, on the other hand, delivers on style and off-road ability but leaves something to be desired in in the way of on-road handling, not to mention some blind spots that will rattle the urban driver.

The current Subaru Forester started life in 2009 with a Motor Trend SUV of the Year award, and gets better with the 2011 model

The Toyota 4Runner boasts old-school brawn and has the reputation as a durable vehicle -- off-road and on.

The previous off-road model renamed Nissan Xterra PRO-4X definitely delivers the rugged exterior while offering great improvements in the area of comfort.

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is fun and capable off-road.