Jeep® and Ram Truck Brands Clean Up at 22nd Annual Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) "Mudfest"

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Apr 19, 2016, 09:00 ET

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

2016 Jeep® Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary Edition named Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary Edition voted winner of Family Utility class
2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 75th Anniversary Edition voted winner of Extreme Capability class
2016 Ram Rebel named winner in the Pickups category

Jeep® and Ram Truck brand vehicles dominated the 22nd annual "Mudfest" competition hosted by the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA), with each vehicle entered winning its respective category. In addition, the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary Edition took home top honors, being voted "Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year" by automotive journalist members of NWAPA in attendance.

"For 2016 we made both our on- and off-road courses more challenging," said Ryan Douthit, event chair and producer of Driving Sports TV. "The Ram Rebel, Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee impressed our members with their ability to not only traverse any obstacle, but to do so with a unique sense of style and comfort. That's why our members not only picked these three as best in their classes, but also selected the Jeep Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary Edition as our Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year."

The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary Edition was named the winner of the Family Utility class, and the 2016 Jeep Wrangler 75th Anniversary Edition won the Extreme Capability class. The 2016 Ram Rebel won the Pickups category.

"Jeep and Ram build vehicles that know how to win and the NWAPA members agree after testing them in the Pacific Northwest" said Nik Miles, president of NWAPA. "The company has a strong reputation for capability and they proved it with winning titles at this year's Mudfest."

More than 25 NWAPA automotive journalists spent two days testing vehicles on paved and off-road routes. Journalists tested 28 vehicles from 21 manufacturers to select winners in six categories: compact utility, family utility, premium compact utility, premium utility, pickups and extreme capability vehicles. The overall winner, the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary Edition, was selected from the class winners to be named the Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most awarded SUV ever and the vehicle that has long defined what a premium SUV should be. The Grand Cherokee Summit models receive added features, as well as a Summit California Edition appearance package that further enhances Summit's premium exterior aesthetics.

Legendary Jeep capability comes courtesy of three available 4x4 systems, Jeep's Quadra-Lift air suspension system and class-leading Selec-Terrain traction management system. Grand Cherokee boasts best-in-class towing of 7,400 pounds and a crawl ratio of 44.1:1.

2016 Jeep Wrangler
The iconic Jeep Wrangler – the most capable and recognized vehicle in the world – moves into 2016 with features such as a standard eight-speaker audio system and an improved sound bar, and an optional Premium Alpine Audio Package that includes nine Alpine speakers, a subwoofer and a 552-watt amplifier.

The 2016 Jeep Wrangler delivers unmatched off-road capability with legendary four-wheel drive and is produced with more than seven decades of 4x4 engineering experience. Wrangler continues to offer a body-on-frame design, front and rear five-link suspension system, live axles, electronic lockers, and is one of the few mid-size SUVs that offers a six-speed manual transmission, in addition to its five-speed automatic transmission – all at a starting U.S. MSRP of $23,895.

2016 Ram Rebel
The Ram 1500 Rebel brings one-of-a-kind off-road design to the full-size truck segment. The Rebel drops right into a core segment of the truck market with unique design cues and can-do attitude backed by Ram Truck engineering. Equipped with factory lift, 33-inch tires, standard air suspension, skid plates, tow hooks and other off-road-ready features, the Ram 1500 Rebel appeals to the truck owner looking for a less beaten path.

NWAPA
NWAPA (www.nwapa.org) is a professional organization of automotive journalists and media members from throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Founded in 1991, NWAPA includes 45 voting members representing more than 100 newspapers, magazines, radio stations, media groups and the Internet. Non-voting members include representatives from automotive manufacturers and related industry professionals.

About FCA US LLC
FCA US LLC is a North American automaker with a new name and a long history. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. FCA US designs, engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles under the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and FIAT brands, as well as the SRT performance vehicle designation. The company also distributes the Alfa Romeo 4C model and Mopar products. FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler, the innovative American automaker first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925; and Fiat, founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli.

FCA, the seventh-largest automaker in the world based on total annual vehicle sales, is an international automotive group. FCA is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FCAU" and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol "FCA."

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