Archive for the ‘Vans’ Category

Over the past year, we've spoken a good bit about the 2010 Ford Transit Connect. Our own John Voelcker gave it a positive review after his test drive last May, and the fuel-efficient van aims to be a major contender in the American market. But before long, the Transit Connect will have some spirited competition: yesterday, Fiat announced plans to rebadge its revamped Doblo van and include it as part of Chrysler's new Ram lineup.

Of course, the Transit Connect will have a significant head start. Ford began selling it in the U.S. last July, but the Doblo won't arrive stateside until 2012. However, the Doblo launches in Europe this coming...

It's official: "There's an app for that" has become the most annoying catchphrase of 2009 (on par with 2001's "You are the weakest link"). And yet, we have to admit that there are beaucoup apps out there -- some of them quite good. For example, developers at Appirion UG have developed a program that turns the iPhone into a remote control for a specially rigged Dodge minivan. "The Spirit of Berlin", as the vehicle is known, may not be as flashy as the iPhone-controlled Rinspeed iChange we profiled back in February, but as the clip below demonstrates, it seems like way more fun:

[BoingBoing]

If you're eyeing your next vehicle with the classic American family road trip in mind—perhaps a visit to your favorite national park out West—you might want to consider this: Hungry bears overwhelmingly prefer minivans for their next fix.

For reasons not fully understood, at one of the country's most popular national parks, your chances of a bear breaking into your Dodge Grand Caravan minivan are far greater than if you'd chosen a Dodge Journey crossover, for instance.

According to an article in the Journal of Mammalogy, researchers looked into selective foraging habits of black bears in Yosemite National Park and found that, at least...