2022 Ram 1500 Classic Slt Crew Cab 4x4 5'7" Box on 2040-cars

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Stellantis and LG launch joint venture for North American battery plant

Stellantis has struck a preliminary deal with battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) to produce battery cells and modules for North America, as the world's No. 4 automaker rolls out its 30 billion euro ($35 billion) electrification plan. Global automakers are investing billions of euros to accelerate a transition to low-emission mobility and prepare for a progressive phase-out of internal combustion engines. Stellantis and LGES's joint venture will produce battery cells and modules at a new facility with an annual capacity of 40 gigawatt hours (GWh), the two firms said on Monday. No financial details of the deal were provided. The plant is scheduled to start production by the first quarter of 2024, with groundbreaking expected in the second quarter of 2022, the companies said in their statement. Its location is under review and will be announced later. Stellantis, formed in January from the merger of Italian-American automaker Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA, has said it wants to secure more than 130 GWh of global battery capacity by 2025 and more than 260 GWh by 2030. The batteries produced under the deal will supply Stellantis' U.S., Canadian and Mexican assembly plants for installation in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, supporting its goal of e-vehicles making up more than 40% of its U.S. sales by 2030. The company, whose brands include Peugeot, Fiat, Opel and U.S. best-sellers Jeep and Ram, earlier this year announced it would invest more than 30 billion euros through 2025 on electrifying its vehicle lineup. Stellantis has said it would build three battery plants in Europe and two in North America, including at least one in the United States. Intesa Sanpaolo analyst Monica Bosio said the deal was positive, and a further step ahead in Stellantis' electrification process. It comes weeks after Stellantis and its partner TotalEnergies agreed to open up their battery cell joint venture ACC to Daimler, to expand their European sourcing of battery cells. Stellantis is also targeting more than 70% of sales in Europe to be of low-emission vehicles by 2030, and aims to make the total cost of owning an EV equal to that of a gasoline-powered model by 2026. Related video: Green Plants/Manufacturing Alfa Romeo Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Jeep Maserati RAM Citroen Lancia Opel Peugeot Vauxhall Electric Hybrid EV batteries LG

Where the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X fits into the hierarchy of off-road trucks

The world of off-road pickups sure seems like it's getting crowded, but the reality is that half-ton trucks were always pretty capable, even with what seemed like fairly basic 4x4 packages. It wasn't until recently that manufacturers really started to carve out different off-road niches for their mainstream pickup offerings. With the introduction of the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X (alongside its mechanical twin, the Chevy Silverado ZR2), the crowd has grown even thicker. Even we have trouble keeping up with the increased segmentation of off-road pickup trucks, so we threw together this handy guide to help you understand just where these various packages fit into the broader pickup hierarchy. Let's dive in.  Your basics If we say "Z71" or "FX4" to you, both will probably ring a bell. That's because they've been around a few days short of forever and their respective customers have grown so used to these package codes that OEMs got into the habit of just plastering them on the side of so-equipped truck beds. Anybody who sells a pickup truck offers some sort of basic off-road prep package like this one. Z71 is found on GM vehicles; FX4 is Ford's. Ram just calls it "Off Road Group," but no matter what you call them, they're all pretty similar.  Typical upgrades for this category include some additional ground clearance, a basic all-terrain tire, heavy-duty suspension upgrades and likely either a limited-slip or locking rear differential. These are pretty handy for anything beyond a rutted dirt road. On newer trucks — especially on higher trim levels — you'll probably also get some dedicated off-road drive modes.  Mid-range This is where things start to get interesting. To qualify for this category, a locking rear differential is a must. Most of the names in this segment are well-established too, though some (Nissan Titan Pro-4X, anyone?) may not necessarily be on your radar. The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro checks in here, as does the Ram Rebel, Chevy Silverado Trail Boss and GMC Sierra AT4 (no X!).  Realistically, if there's somewhere you need to go and one of these trucks won't do it, you might want to consider a helicopter. But it's 2021, and our thirst for capability is strong, so of course, there's a way to spend more of your money on this type of thing. Onward! Entry-hardcore Here we are, the home of the new 2022 GMC Sierra AT4X and Chevrolet Silverado ZR2. This is a tiny niche, otherwise occupied only by the Ford F-150 Tremor.

Ram 1500 custom trucks for SEMA go high and low

For SEMA, Mopar only created two in-house custom 2019 Ram 1500 trucks, and they're fairly mild in terms of modifications, many of which are existing Mopar accessories. But at the very least they show two extremely different ways to upgrade a Ram, with one being an off-road-oriented Ram Rebel, and the other being a lowered, street-oriented truck. The latter mod has become a bit unusual in a world dominated by Raptors and ZR2s. We'll start by talking about the street truck, which is the only one of the two with its own unique name: Low Down. Its defining characteristic: It sits two inches lower than a standard Ram 1500. This was done with a concept lowering kit that Mopar does not offer. Another part not yet available is the hood, which features an aggressive scoop. Finally, inside are some concept aluminum pedals. There aren't plans for any of these to come to production yet, but you can be sure Mopar will be paying attention to the public's reaction, and if things go well, they could show up at a dealer near you. The other defining feature of the Low Down is its paint scheme, which is black over silver, with a stripe separating them painted in the same Brass Monkey bronze hue available on some of FCA's wheels. The factory Ram wheels also get a custom paint scheme. Aside from the special parts and custom paint, almost everything else is right out of the Mopar catalog, including the fender flares, bed cover, spray-in bedliner, 5-inch exhaust tips and cold-air intake. The Mopar-customized Ram Rebel doesn't get a fancy name, but it still gets plenty of tweaks. It uses the factory Ram lift kit, so it sits two inches higher than a stock Rebel. It also features 35-inch tires. Up front, there's the concept hood found on the Low Down. At the back of the bed, there's a new flashy matte black decal that will be available for Ram Rebels in the near future. The bed also has an available "Rambar" sport bar, with some Mopar auxiliary lights. The bed has a spray-in bedliner and a concept spare tire carrier. Out the back are the same 5-inch exhaust tips as on the Low Down. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.