00:00 We're here at the Chicago Auto Show with the newly updated Dodge Dakota pickup truck.
00:12 The Dakota's been on the market for several years and it was time for a refresh.
00:17 It's kind of a special pickup truck in the segment in that it's not quite as small as
00:21 some of the other so-called compact pickups like the Chevy Colorado or Ford Ranger and
00:26 yet it's not a full-size pickup.
00:28 These days with fuel prices bouncing up and down, it's probably a little bit more important
00:33 to have a more economical mid-size pickup truck like the Dakota and Dodge is going to
00:40 try to take advantage of that.
00:41 With some new sheet metal, the front end is all new, there's a new front fascia, makes
00:46 it look a little more bold and more modern.
00:49 And the addition of the 290 horsepower 4.7 liter V8 engine to the lineup, it's a 25%
00:56 increase over the previous model's most powerful engine.
01:00 In addition to the new sheet metal, the interior got an upgrade to include a lot of the sort
01:05 of things that have been going into Chrysler's latest passenger cars.
01:09 It's got an optional MyGig infotainment system, a hard drive essentially in your car that
01:16 you use to download music and it also serves the nav system.
01:21 An iPod or an MP3 player holder built into the center dash.
01:26 There's an optional Yes Essentials fabric, this is the odor resistant, stain resistant
01:31 seat fabric.
01:33 Dodge claims the largest and longest standard bed in this class of truck is 6 foot 6 inch
01:40 bed in back and that's standard on the new Dakota.
01:43 Other new features include a built-in cargo box utility rails and an under seat storage
01:50 system.
01:52 The 2008 Dodge Dakota is not an all new truck but it's a truck that needed a serious refreshing
01:58 to keep up with the market.
02:01 That puts it ahead of a lot of the competition including the smaller Toyota, Nissan and Ford
02:08 pickup trucks.
02:09 [Music]
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