Article from northjersey.com.

The Van Duren family, which sells Chryslers, Subarus, Volvos and other makes of cars at nine Bergen County dealerships, is consolidating its two Mitsubishi lots — in Upper Saddle River and Maywood — and moving them into a former Jeep dealership on Route 17 south in Paramus.

Todd Van Duren of Ramsey Auto Group at the Paramus showroom his company is leasing. Two Mitsubishi dealerships will be merged for the move.

“We expect to do more business in that location than we did at the other two combined,” said Todd Van Duren, co-owner of Ramsey Auto Group. There will be no layoffs, he said.

The family has been selling Mitsubishis for 24 years in Upper Saddle River and for 10 in Maywood.

Van Duren said Tuesday that the lease on Maywood Mitsubishi is up at the end of the month and the more visible property in Paramus was available for lease at attractive terms, which were not disclosed.

The number of new-car dealers statewide has fallen to 530 today from 650 in January 2007, said Jim Appleton, president of the trade group New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers.

Reflecting the broader industry, sales have been down the past two years at all but one of the Ramsey Auto Group dealerships.

“Subaru is the only one that’s up,” Van Duren said.

The new Mitsubishi location will open Monday with about 300 vehicles for sale, new and used, Van Duren said. Van Duren said he will use the Upper Saddle River Mitsubishi lot, which is next door to their Ramsey Nissan dealership, to sell Nissan trucks.

Chrysler shut down 30 dealers statewide last year as part of its bankruptcy reorganization, although some are trying to reverse the decisions through arbitration. The ousted dealers included Jeep Eagle Inc., which used to occupy the site the Van Durens will lease.

Van Duren, whose family owns Chrysler Jeep and Dodge in Ramsey, said Chrysler’s bankruptcy did affect them. “We were low on cars for awhile. But I think Chrysler has turned the corner. We are very excited about Chrysler.”

Mitsubishi Motors continues to deliver uncompromising performance and industry-leading technology to consumers, capturing prestigious awards along the way. The latest honor comes from the independent Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), which recently named Mitsubishi’s advanced Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system as the “Best New Technology” for 2009 and is standard on the acclaimed Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

“Mitsubishi’s grasp of advanced all-wheel drive technology comes in part from many successful years in the Dakar and World Rally Championship where the demands far exceed those for a street car,” said Mitsubishi Motors North America Executive Vice President of Operations John Koenig. “The best news is that so much of what we’ve learned from rally competition works to our advantage on the streets and circuit as well.”

The Mitsubishi S-AWC system was chosen from a list of seven entries for the “Best New Technology” award, and judged by a panel of AJAC members with specific technical qualifications who regularly report on industry engineering and technical trends.

“The AJAC Best New Technology award was established to allow a group of technical writers to identify new and innovative technologies of significant benefit to the consumer,” explained Canadian Car of the Year and Technology Award Chairman Richard Russell. “The significance of the Best New Technology award has been growing steadily over the past few years as has the degree of rigor to which entries are submitted.”

The S-AWC is not just another all-wheel drive system, but an advanced vehicle dynamics control system that reads and reflects driver intent in real time. S-AWC regulates drive torque at each wheel by controlling a network of dynamic handling technologies, including Active Center Differential (ACD), Active Yaw Control (AYC) rear differential, Active Stability Control (ASC) and Sport ABS brakes.

The ACD uses an electronically controlled hydraulic multi-plate clutch to vary the front/rear distribution of torque up to a ratio of 50:50 during acceleration and deceleration to improve overall traction and cornering.

The AYC rear differential enables the electronic control of torque between the left and right rear wheels to assist cornering. Importantly, AYC also limits the yaw moment acting on the vehicle as traction conditions change. The system also employs a helical-type limited-slip front differential that constantly biases torque to the wheel with more traction.

Mastered by the S-AWC system, ASC works in concert with Sport ABS to further control vehicle behavior by regulating torque transfer to each wheel through braking when necessary. ASC may also be turned off for track driving.
The entire system is enhanced by choosing one of three modes to match road surface conditions: tarmac, gravel or snow. When employed, these components allow for heightened safety and unparalleled driver control.

For a more detailed description of Mitsubishi’s S-AWC system.

****One Lucky Listener to Drive Away with a 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid***

New York, (NYSE: CCU) – Z100, New York’s Hit Music Station, and Ramsey Auto Group will host the Z100 Pay Your Bills Grand Prize Party on Saturday, December 22nd from 9:30am-1pm at Ramsey Nissan, 401 Route 17 South, Upper Saddle River, NJ. The event is the culmination of one of the largest Z100 contests, with thousands of dollars awarded up to 350 winners since September 2007.

Danielle Monaro of Elvis Duran and the Z Morning Zoo will be on site to host the event along with the Z Party Patrol cheering the crowd. Each ZVIP will be given a key on site to open the Grand Prize – 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid, courtesy of Ramsey Auto Group, and a year free of gas. Additionally, anyone who shows up on site that day will be entered into a special “Last Chance” drawing for the final key. Registration will take place from 9:30am-11:30am.

Z100 Pay Your Bills contest originated September 2005. Now in its third year, it has become the largest single contest at the station. Since September 2007, up to 350 winners have had a bill paid by Z100. Listeners submitted bills (up top $1000) and listened for their name to be announced at 7am, 11am, 1pm, 5pm, and 7pm. They had 30 minutes to call back to have their bills paid. Pay Your Bills Winners that were ZVIP members automatically qualified for a chance to win the Grand Prize which will be awarded on December 22nd.

For up-to-minute information, listen to Z100, New York’s Hit Music Station, or log on to www.z100.com keyword: Bills

Bergen County Executive, Dennis McNerney, presented Maywood Mitsubishi with a Certificate of Commendation for their efforts in excellence and customer satisfaction. A representative from the Executive’s office says that they keep an eye out in the community for those that go above and beyond. Maywood Mitsubishi caught their eye because of the two awards they received last month from Mitsubishi Motors.

“This is the first time we’ve ever received this award,” said general sales manager Kevin Gilbertson of Maywood Mitsubishi. Their team over at Maywood Mitsubishi has always been dedicated to giving their customers the very best, so it’s a privilege for them to be recognized by Bergen County.

Maywood Mitsubishi has been honored with several awards so far this year including the Sales Leadership Award for the Top Volume Sales Record in the Northeast Region from Mitsubishi Motors. In addition, they received the 2007 Diamond Chapter Award for Excellence & Customer Satisfaction in the Northeast Region for Sales, Service, & Parts Performance for the 6th straight year.

Maywood Mitsubishi is a member of the Ramsey Auto Group. The group has 10 dealerships along Route 17 in Bergen County. Ramsey Auto Group is a leading automotive retailer in New Jersey for new and pre-owned vehicles. Current dealerships include Ramsey Volvo, Ramsey Subaru, Ramsey Nissan, Ramsey Infiniti, Parkfield Saab, Ramsey Mazda, Ramsey Chrysler Jeep, Ramsey Pontiac GMC, Ramsey Mitsubishi, and Maywood Mitsubishi.

Ramsey Auto Group is excited and honored to be a part of Ramsey’s 100th Birthday Celebration. The town of Ramsey has been a part of the Ramsey Auto Group family for many years. Founded by Ray Van Duren, Ramsey Auto Group is a family run company that has been in operation for over 40 yrs. Ray attended Ramsey High School and their entire family is deeply rooted in Bergen County. He opened up the first dealership in 1968 on Route 17 in Ramsey and the company has expanded over the years into 10 successful dealerships in Bergen County.

A staple in the community, Ramsey Auto Group has donated over $1 million in goods and services to local organizations and events, such as the Ramsey Police Dept, Ramsey Day, Ramsey Summer Concert Series, the Bergen Bike Tour, local food and clothing donations and more. The group has been supporting their family and friends in the town of Ramsey for years and in turn, the community continues to support Ramsey Auto Group.

Ramsey Auto Group is a leading automotive retailer in New Jersey for new and pre-owned vehicles. Current dealerships include Ramsey Volvo, Ramsey Subaru, Ramsey Nissan, Ramsey Infiniti, Parkfield Saab, Ramsey Mazda, Ramsey Chrysler Jeep, Ramsey Pontiac GMC, Ramsey Mitsubishi, and Maywood Mitsubishi.

With 10 locations in the northern New Jersey area and over 400 employees, Ramsey Auto Group strives to provide the highest level of customer service through knowledgeable and helpful sales representatives, as well as service and parts personnel. Ramsey Auto Group dealerships have been honored with several outstanding achievements, such as the coveted Global NSSW Award, which honors dealerships that achieve and maintain the highest standards of performance in customer satisfaction globally.

For your convenience, their website lists the latest specials and deals for the month, as well as the most up-to-date listing of new and pre-owned inventory! Please visit RamseyCars.com for more details on the group and a listing of all 10 of their locations in the area.

HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY, RAMSEY!

Maywood Mitsubishi received the highly coveted Sales Leadership Award for the Top Volume Sales Record in the Northeast Region from Mitsubishi Motors. In addition, they received the 2007 Diamond Chapter Award for Excellence & Customer Satisfaction in the Northeast Region for Sales, Service, & Parts Performance for the 6th straight year. Located on Route 17 North in Maywood, the award-winning Maywood Mitsubishi has been a part of the Ramsey Auto Group and the town of Maywood for the past seven years.

Ramsey Auto Group is a leading automotive retailer in New Jersey for new and pre-owned vehicles. Current dealerships include Ramsey Volvo, Ramsey Subaru, Ramsey Nissan, Ramsey Infiniti, Parkfield Saab, Ramsey Mazda, Ramsey Chrysler Jeep, Ramsey Pontiac GMC, Ramsey Mitsubishi, and Maywood Mitsubishi.

Founded by Ray Van Duren, Ramsey Auto Group is a family run company that has been in operation for over 40 yrs. A staple in its community, Ramsey Auto Group has donated over $1 million in goods and services to local organizations and events, such as the Ramsey Police Dept, Ramsey Day, Mahwah Day, the Bergen Bike Tour, local food and clothing donations and more.

With 10 locations in the northern New Jersey area and over 400 employees, Ramsey Auto Group strives to provide the highest level of customer service through knowledgeable and helpful sales representatives, as well as service and parts personnel. Ramsey Auto Group dealerships have been honored with several outstanding achievements, such as the coveted Global NSSW Award, which honors dealerships that achieve and maintain the highest standards of performance in customer satisfaction globally.

For more information on Ramsey Auto Group, log onto www.RamseyCars.com