(October 25, 2010) SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Chrysler and Ford shared top honors at the annual Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) Truck Rodeo at a ranch near here this past weekend.

Chrysler products won six awards including Truck of Texas, the Ram Laramie Longhorn, a new luxury truck introduced for the 2011 model year.

"The Texas Auto Writers felt that we got it right," said Fred Diaz, president and CEO if the Ram truck brand. "The Ram Laramie Longhorn captures the true spirit of Texas and the Southwest which appeals to people all across America."

2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn

"Ram's new Laramie Longhorn edition proved itself in the toughest truck market in the nation this weekend, said TAWA President Michael Herzing. "This new edition shows that Ram that Ram truck DNA can be both capable and comfortable. You've got to love how tough it is and how comfortable it is, especially if you're in a truck all day, like many Texans."

Other Dodge and Jeep winners included:

• Heavy Duty Truck of Texas — Ram 2500 Power Wagon
• Luxury Truck of Texas — Ram Laramie Longhorn
• Full-Size Pickup Truck — Ram 1500 Outdoorsman
• Mid-Size SUV of Texas — Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara
• SUV of Texas — Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Ford won "Truck Line of Texas" honors for overall excellence and captured Most Outstanding Feature with its new My Ford Touch System.

Other awards going to Ford were Mid-Sized CUV, Ford Edge Limited; and Full-Size CUV, Lincoln MKT.

“The auto writers in the world’s biggest pickup market know firsthand what attributes matter most to customers who count on their trucks to get the job done every day,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “We are honored that TAWA recognizes our full line of trucks as important to customers in their state and around the country.”

Double award winner Nissan Juke

The new sub-compact Nissan Juke won two awards: CUV of Texas and Compact CUV. Cadillac captured two awards: Full-Size Luxury SUV with the Escalade Hybrid; and Mid-Size Luxury CUV with the SRX Turbo.

The Toyota Tacoma Double Cab won Mid-Size Pickup Truck; the Infiniti QX56 captured Full-Size Luxury CUV honors; the all-new Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid won Mid-Size Luxury SUV honors; and the Subaru Forester captured the Compact SUV title.

— Jim Meachen