New Ram Cargo Van is a 2012 Dodge Caravan for the Pro

The Chrysler Group’s Ram Truck division has lifted the wraps off its latest offering, the new Cargo Van or simply Ram C/V, which is nothing more than a 2012 Dodge Caravan in LCV guise with solid panels in the place of the rear windows and a flat load area.

The business sibling of the Detroit firm’s family of minivans, which also includes the Chrysler Town & Country and more recently, the Lancia Grand Voyager, is offered with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine delivering 283-ponies and 260 lb.-ft of peak torque. The V6 is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission and is claimed to return 25 mpg on the highway.

A commercial-tuned ride and heavy-duty load-leveling suspension along with a heavy-duty radiator and heavy-duty transmission oil cooler are also part of the package. According to the automaker, the Ram C/V features 144.4 cubic feet of interior storage, and a 1,800-lb. cargo payload plus a towing capability of up to 3,600 lbs.

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Mercedes-Benz Drops Mega Photo Gallery of 2012 SLK Roadster

After Monday’s release on the facelifted C-Class range, Mercedes-Benz today also published a slew of photos of its brand-new 2012 SLK hardtop roadster that goes on sale in Europe at the end of this month, with the U.S. launch to follow in June.

The third-generation of the SLK keeps the two-piece folding hardtop of its predecessors but gets a fresh design with styling cues from both the SLS AMG and the new CLS. It also comes with as a new range of fuel-efficient engines, including a 1.8-liter force-fed four-cylinder with either 184HP or 204HP, and a 3.5-liter V6 delivering 306HP in Europe and 302HP in North America.

Other highlights include the addition of the panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL, which switches to light or dark at the touch of a button, and the new COMAND system with 7-inch color display and central controller. Hit the jump for the complete gallery that also includes sketches and photos of the development prototypes like the one pictured above.

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