First of all, Happy Spring to all you Jeep brand fans and enthusiasts. For you Midwesterners and Northerners, you made it. OK, so you can probably still expect more chilly weather and another snow dump, but we'll start seeing those temperatures rise and the sun come out. That means it's a perfect time to take out your Jeep vehicle for its annual spring-cleaning. For those of you who live in warmer climates, don't rub it in! But you can - and should - still engage in this ritual.

Assuming that you take care of your vehicle with care, we've developed a very scientific spring-cleaning procedure to make sure your Jeep vehicle is raring to go.

1. Wash and rinse.

Repeat if necessary.

2. Wait and let air dry.

Hang out or, for bonus points, plan your next adventure.

3. Get your vehicle dirty all over again...

...muddy, filthy, snowy and any other way you see fit. Remember, the adventure begins where the road ends.

A thorough exterior cleaning after every off-road excursion and, in this case, at the start of a new season, is crucial. For a more in-depth look at the ins and outs of interior and exterior care and maintenance for your Jeep vehicle, please first check out our Outfitting Your Jeep Vehicle 101: Maintenance and Care guide.

Not all the memorable Dodges of the late '60s and early '70s were rip-snorting muscle cars. The 1971-72 Dart Demon (1971 model shown here) may have been mild-mannered, but it was a highly popular car of the era that owners still recall fondly today.

The Demon was essentially a standard Dart sedan but in a sporty two-door coupe version, employing fastback sheetmetal that was shared with its Chrysler stablemate, the Plymouth Duster. With its base engine, a 198-cubic-inch Slant Six, the Demon was no threat at the drag strip, but it was peppy and fun to drive with either the standard three-speed manual transmission or the optional Torqueflite automatic. And thanks to the Slant Six's legendary economy and dependability, operating costs were minimal--which made the Demon a big hit with students and commuters.

Buyers could also choose from a larger 225-cubic-inch six, a 318-cubic-inch V8, or even a 340-cubic-inch V8 with a four-barrel carb that produced 275 hp. With the 340 V8, the humble Demon was transformed into a mini-musclecar that gave the big-block performance cars a real run for their money. But naturally, the majority of Demon owners opted for the more economical Slant Six models.

The key to the Demon's popularity: this Dodge model was practical and affordable but didn't scrimp on style. Buyers could individualize their Demons with their choice of 18 bold exterior colors and stylish, all-vinyl interiors in tan, dark blue, or black. Since Chrysler was an early adopter of the music format, the Demon was among the first American cars available with a factory cassette player.

So no, the Demon wasn't exactly flashy, but it was cute, economical, and enjoyable to own and drive--the perfect first car for students and young families. And that's the stuff memories are made of. Ask a former owner about their Demon, and you'll probably generate a great big smile.

Here at RamZone, one of the things we appreciate most about our partner site, RamTrucks.com, is how useful it is, even when you're not necessarily in the market for a new truck, and especially when you are. A home for offers and incentives, a library of vehicle features, a central hub connecting the many channels of Ram Trucks social media, a place to find videos, images, specs, options and Ram-branded merchandise--RamTrucks.com is not just a website, it's a digital super-warehouse beautifully organizing all the information you could ever hope to find with regard to your favorite truck brand.

Believe it or not, RamTrucks.com is educational too. In an effort to boost what it terms "Fuel IQ," the website devotes an entire page to truck care and driving tips, identifying several fuel-saving measures, which, if implemented properly, can help lower costs by increasing fuel efficiency.

We won't steal thunder from RamTrucks.com by reprinting a complete list of its fuel-saving tips here. Instead, we'll post a small sample and then encourage our readers to read the rest on the Ram Trucks Tips for Fuel Economy page. We'll also recommend that they spend time exploring all the other features this terrific site has to offer visitors.

A small sample of fuel-saving driving tips, courtesy of RamTrucks.com:

• Accelerate with care - There's no way around it: Fast acceleration wastes fuel. Rapid acceleration and braking can lower your gas mileage by up to 33% on the highway and up to 5% during city driving.
• Go with the flow - Your Ram Truck is built to haul just about anything, but if your load is taller than the top of your cab, it could interfere with aerodynamics and decrease your fuel efficiency up to 5%. Whenever possible, try to lay down your taller cargo.

To see eight more fuel-saving tips, please visit http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/fuel_economy_tips/

The secret to great car design is knowing not just what to include, but also what to leave out. In the case of the Chrysler 300, we worked hard to create a vehicle that leaves the roar of traffic and the din of the road exactly where it belongs--outside the cabin.

The way we see it, a refined driving experience requires more than standard leather seating and premium "soft touch" materials. Likewise, it takes more than a smooth powertrain and responsive suspension. Though important, these things constitute only part of the equation. Just as a confident driver is alert in both body and mind, a total driving experience--and a comfortable one--is created when the ride is smooth, the seating is luxurious, and the cabin is quiet.

The Chrysler 300 goes to great lengths to provide a quiet cabin, including the following:

• A laminated acoustic windshield
• Fiber acoustic wheel liners
• Two full-length acoustic underbody closeouts

A quiet cabin can provide solace on the drive home after a busy day at work--that's a given. Not to be overlooked, however, is the fact that any premium music or auditory experience must begin with a blank canvas. This is to say, to get the most from your Chrysler 300's available Uconnect 8.4N/RBD Media Center, with all its entertainment, phone, and navigational features, a quiet cabin is the first thing required.

At this year's North American International Auto Show, we unveiled the vehicle refresh that was on everyone's mind: the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. We've already written about its luxurious, technology-forward interior, but fear not - we're not neglecting the rip-roaring powerful (and luxurious) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT from Chrysler Group's SRT (Street and Racing Technology) brand. After all, can you really ignore Grand Cherokee SRT's aggressive stance, improved performance, capability and fun-to-drive factor?

2014 Grand Cherokee SRT Is Luxurious

Luxury and technology come together in Grand Cherokee SRT's race-inspired and high-performance interior. The new Uconnect 8.4AN radio touchscreen display shows SRT-exclusive Performance Pages, including track times, lateral acceleration, 0?60 mph acceleration times and more. You can also share your data with other SRT enthusiasts with a built-in 3G connection.

The new gauge cluster features a 7-inch, full-color, customizable instrument display, allowing drivers to select from various layouts and information. The redesigned, SRT-exclusive heated three-spoke steering wheel with a flat bottom features a myriad of comfort, convenience and connectivity controls. It?s positioned to provide an optimal view of the beautiful new cluster.

True carbon fiber accents sweep across the driver's door, instrument panel and front passenger door. SRT's Laguna leather interior is available in Torque (black) and a new Sepia combination.

For audiophiles, the available 825-watt, 19-speaker premium SRT performance audio surround-sound system from Harman Kardon delivers an innovative 32-volt tracking power supply (TPS) 12-channel Class D amplifier to deliver amazing acoustics and multi-dimensional, quality sound for everyone.

2014 Grand Cherokee SRT Is Muscular

The 2014 Grand Cherokee SRT's signature seven-slot upper grille with black screen insert is flanked by adaptive, bi-xenon headlamps surrounded by signature LED character lamp treatment. The brawny grille and headlamps feature a black background, further distinguishing the jewel-like appearance of the new SRT model.

Tail lamps with a black surround give the illusion of floating lamps. The aerodynamically efficient rear spoiler integrates into the all-new, one-touch, electronic lift-gate.

The 2014 Grand Cherokee SRT will be available in the following exterior colors: Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat, Bright White Clear Coat, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat, Deep Cherry Red Pearl Coat, Granite Crystal Pearl Coat, Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat and Redline Pearl Clear Coat.

Own the Grand Cherokee SRT to Own the Track

Owners of any Chrysler Group SRT vehicle receive one day of professional driving instruction as part of the SRT Track Experience, designed to maximize their driving knowledge and skills on the street or track. Sessions are held throughout the year at selected tracks.

This year marks the 61^st anniversary of the Detroit Autorama, and when it comes to indoor custom car shows, this is the granddaddy of them all. Over the past six decades, iconic street rods and customs have left an indelible mark on the minds of car enthusiasts as they gazed at the candy apple metallic paint jobs, chrome wheels and fat tires.

Of all the cars that have been on display at the Detroit Autorama, the one that probably stands out the most among Dodge enthusiasts is the Deora. This infamous show car dazzled onlookers and inspired a generation of automotive designers and custom car builders. It was also one of the first custom cars to be successfully marketed to children through various toy companies. How it ended being named the "Deora" was a great marketing strategy by a model car company, and we'll get to that in a moment.

Based on a 1965 Dodge A100 compact pickup truck, the Deora was heavily modified by a Detroit-based custom house run by two brothers. The A100's roofline was chopped, while the body was sectioned and channeled. One of the neat features of the Deora was the front windshield that would lift up and the lower gate would swivel, allowing the driver/passenger access into the car through the front of the cab. The result was a futuristic-looking pickup that looked like it came out of a scene from the Jetsons.

Despite its 21^st century looks, which would've been considered light years away in 1967, it was powered with a basically stock slant-six engine and a three-speed manual transmission, which were moved rearward 15 inches to allow for the severely customized cab. The bed was covered with a hard tonneau cover and the truck was emblazoned in gold paint complemented by chrome wheels while the interior featured some pretty trick modifications for the era.

Because of its outrageous design, a major plastic model car company and a diecast toy manufacturer offered scaled-down versions for sale to the growing youth market. To help promote the launch of the model version, the model car company ran a naming contest, and it was a 13-year-old who came up with the name "Deora." Loosely translated, it's Spanish for "golden." Other toy manufacturers quickly offered miniature versions of the Deora in plastic and metal, and soon it was one of the hottest-selling toy cars of the late 1960s.

The Deora made its public debut at the 1967 Detroit Autorama and won the prestigious Ridler award that recognizes the skill and creativity of custom cars and their builders within the industry. It also caught the attention of the Chrysler marketing folks who really loved the look of the Deora. They leased it for two years and put it on tour going around the United States with other factory concept cars to complement the Dodge displays at the new car shows during the late 1960s.

After its tour of duty on the show circuit, the Deora was sold and put in storage for more than 30 years. Finally, after a light restoration, the Deora reappeared and made its "second debut" at the 50^th anniversary Detroit Autorama in 2002.

Now, 11 years later, enthusiasts young and old will once again see one of the few surviving Dodge show vehicles that toured the country during the 1960s, as the Deora will be on display during this weekend's 61^st annual Detroit Autorama.

In years to come, the 2013 Ram 1500 will likely prove to be one of the most dependable trucks the Ram brand has ever built--that statement is one we make confidently.

Achieving world-class dependability does not happen overnight, however. It takes years of R&D as well as exhaustive product testing, engineering, and re-engineering. In fact, much of the dependability on display in the latest model-year Ram Trucks can be traced to vehicles from the recent past. Judging from one recent vehicle dependability study, that is not at all a bad thing.

According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2013 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), Ram Trucks is the most improved brand, moving up 20 positions in the rankings compared to the 2012 VDS, with 30 percent fewer problems reported per 100 vehicles. VDS measures the problems experienced in the previous 12 months by original owners of three-year-old 2010 model-year vehicles based on responses from more than 37,000 surveys.

"When we redesigned the majority of the Ram lineup in 2009-2010, customers immediately took notice of the interior refinements and improved ride," said Doug Betts, Senior Vice President - Quality, Chrysler Group LLC. "After three years in service, owners are now experiencing the benefits of all the behind-the-scenes development we did, including enhanced durability testing and more stringent quality targets."

Reaching our targets for quality is something we?ve continued to strive for beyond model-year 2010. For this reason we believe vehicle dependability will be just one of the many great features enticing future Ram owners onto Ram dealer lots and into new Ram Trucks for many years to come.

If you're shopping for a safe, powerful mid-size family sedan packed with value, take a careful look at the Avenger. As the Dodge folks like to say, this car comes standard with everything but compromise.

America' s most affordable mid-size car, the Avenger is priced thousands below other leaders in its class. Buyers can choose from three models - SE, SXT, and R/T - each one loaded with standard features and fun-to-drive factor.

Let's start with the SE and its long and impressive list of standard equipment, from air-conditioning to premium cloth interior and keyless remote entry. Other standard features include four-speaker CD audio and speed control with integrated steering wheel controls. The luxury-oriented SXT adds to the list with 17-inch aluminum wheels, eight-way adjustable driver seat, and much more. The Avenger R/T is the performance leader of the group, naturally, with its sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch wheels, center-mounted tachometer, and aggressive interior and exterior trim.

Avenger buyers can select from two class-leading engines. Standard in the SE and SXT is an advanced DOHC 16-valve 2.4-liter four with 173 hp. Available on the SE and SXT and standard in the R/T is the engine that's the star of the industry - named one of Ward's 10 Best Engines for 2012 - the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with 283 hp that has Best-in-Class V6 highway fuel economy at an EPA estimated 29 mpg. Few sedans in any class can offer this stunning combination of performance and value.

One more important consideration: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named the Dodge Avenger a Top Safety Pick again in 2013. This was the fourth consecutive year the sedan earned the Top Safety Pick honor in grueling, scientific impact tests. And that's on top of a long list of standard safety features, including multi-stage front passenger and front seat side air bags, electronic stability control with traction control, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, supplemental side curtain air bags and LATCH child seat anchor system.

 The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee redefines the premium SUV, thanks to its world-class craftsmanship, exceptional fuel economy, user-friendly technology, on-road refinement and legendary Jeep brand capability. We're going to take an in-depth look at the Grand Cherokee's new interior. You spend so much of your day driving your vehicle - don't you deserve to be enmeshed in a meticulously crafted, technology-forward space? Yeah, we thought so.

"From a mechanical and technological standpoint, the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee reaches a new level of refinement, so we needed to create a premium interior that pushes the boundaries of interior design even further," said Klaus Busse, Head of Interior Design - Chrysler Group LLC. "Inspired by locations around the globe, we employed colors, tones and textures that not only portray the go-anywhere nature of Jeep, but that also enhance the luxury experience."

A panel of Detroit News reader-judges recently named the Chrysler Town & Country the "Best Family Hauler" for 2013. Given the importance the Chrysler brand places on family safety, family security and comfort, the honor is one we don't take lightly. Here's something else we don't take lightly: this is the eighth year in a row that the Town & Country has earned this award.

More than anything, an award like this serves to strengthen our resolve, suggesting to everyone who has a role in designing, engineering and building the Town & Country that our work, while never done, is always worthwhile, and that our progress, while never finished, always advances in the right direction--toward a safer and more secure vehicle, an even more comfortable ride, an ever more family-functional experience.

While we can't talk about what the Town & Country might look like in the future, or if this award will remain ours for another eight years, we will guarantee that the same thinking that inspired today's popular features-- like a segment-exclusive Blu-ray DVD player, standard leather on every model and  Stow 'N Go Seating--will continue to play a factor in a vehicle which, currently, is the most innovative in its class*.