2012 Dodge Ram 1500 on 2040-cars

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Ram updates 1500 and Heavy Duty trucks for the new model year

Happy Labor Day weekend, and happy 2020 Ram truck news day. The changes for 2020 aren't huge, mostly limited to aesthetics, starting with a Night Edition package to the Big Horn and Laramie trims. A Black Appearance Package was offered for 2019, but this one is a little different. Those who choose the Night Edition won’t be limited to black paint only, meaning you can get all that black trim along with a contrasting exterior color. ItÂ’ll have a black grille, badging, exhaust tips, headlight/taillight bezels and wheels (20-inch for Big Horn, 22-inch for Laramie). The white Ram 1500 pictured here is equipped with the package. A Black Appearance package is coming to the Rebel trim, too, with 18-inch wheels, a front skid plate, front spoiler, lighting bezels, badging, tow hooks and exhaust, all finished in black. YouÂ’ll also be able to option a driver assistance package on the Rebel for 2020 that includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, auto high beams and forward collision mitigation. The 2020 Ram Heavy Duty adds a couple nice tech features. Lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, enhanced connected services and dual auxiliary camera support are all added as options for the new model year. Additionally, there are two new paint options: Olive Green and Hydro Blue. The Power Wagon doesnÂ’t change much, but there will be a new black wheel option for 2020. One final note of change for 2020 is the addition of “eTorque” badging on the hood of so-equipped Ram 1500 trucks. Previously, Ram made 1500 eTorque models indistinguishable from their non-electrified brethren.

Ram with a Hellcat V8 coming? Could be, but let's review the evidence

While Fiat-Chrysler has gradually been stuffing bigger V8s into everything it can, one brand that hasn't received any SRT or Hellcat love is Ram. This, despite showing a Raptor-fighting TRX concept with a detuned engine in the fall of 2016. But according to Allpar, there may be a Ram 1500 coming in the near future with the fabled supercharged V8, and at full power. Interesting theory, but let's take a closer look. The two bits of evidence the site points out are (a) an anonymous inside source saying a vehicle is in development, and (b) a displayed time in Ram press photos. If you look closely, some of the Ram interiors show the time 7:07 on the infotainment display. This corresponds with the Hellcat engine's 707 horsepower. Allpar further speculates that the vehicle will be Rebel-based due to a preponderance of the number in Rebel interiors. This wouldn't be the first time FCA has hinted at a future model's power via infotainment time, either, as it did so with the Challenger Demon. View 6 Photos There are some holes in this theory, though. We went back and looked at the press photos of the interiors, and the 7:07 time shows up on Bighorn Rams, too. And not every single Rebel interior has the time. There's at least one that shows the time 8:29, which appears on various other Ram interior shots. Also, while FCA did manage to make a full-time all-wheel-drive system for the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk to stand up to the Hellcat's ferocious power, we doubt that drivetrain would be used in a Ram, since it's a much different application. The final nail in this theory's coffin might be that the head of Ram Trucks communication told us that the times in the images are a "complete coincidence" and that "this theory is all speculation." All things considered, we think the odds of a Hellcat-powered Ram reaching production soon, particularly an off-road version like Allpar suggests, is pretty iffy. We wouldn't rule out some sort of Hellcat-powered Ram completely. At the very least, putting a Hellcat V8 into a two-wheel-drive Ram for a street truck would make loads of sense. It would be less expensive to develop compared to a Raptor competitor, it wouldn't have any existing competition, and it could capitalize on the history of the Viper-powered Ram SRT-10 from the mid-2000s. And as we've seen, FCA has no problem stuffing absurdly powerful V8s into everything it can, from Charger to Durango to Grand Cherokee. So, don't count on a Hellcat-powered Ram yet.

Ram shows off Ignition Orange and Black Sport with standard Hemi engine

If a buyer is even considering a pickup, Ram wants to make sure that it has a variant of the venerable 1500 ready. From the outdoorsy Rebel to the plush Laramie Limited, there seems to be something for even the smallest niche, but apparently that isn't the case. The truck maker adds two more versions later this year with the brash Ignition Orange Sport and subdued Black Sport, and they're limited to 1,000 units each. The Ignition Orange gets eye-grabbing paint over most of the truck, including the trim, except for a few black accents like the hood stripes. The same color gets carried inside for the seat inserts, stitching and logos, too. Alternatively, the Black Sport makes everything dark, including the exterior and 20-inch wheels. Even the interior is clad in black leather with some chrome accents providing some relief. Beyond the special trim, both trucks are based on the Ram 1500 Sport Crew Cab and add $1,595 to the price of one. They come with a 395-horsepower V8, eight-speed automatic and 3.92 gearing. Inside, there's an 8.4-inch Uconnect system with navigation and rearview camera. There's also a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive. Feel free to read more, below. Ram 1500 Offers Two New Buzz Models in Sport Trim Ram 1500 Ignition Orange Sport features unique interior colors, body-colored accents and limited edition bright orange paint, appreciated up close and at 10,000 feet Ram 1500 Black Sport takes design cues from popular Black Express package, offering customers a customized appearance including black 20" wheels and a sport hood New Ram 1500 Sport buzz models are limited production of 1,000 trucks each March 12, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - The Ram Truck brand announced today that it will add two new Ram 1500 buzz models in Sport trim - the Ram 1500 Ignition Orange Sport and the Ram 1500 Black Sport. "With a standard HEMI® V-8, the Sport model offers unique features for the customer who likes aggressive styling and great performance but still needs a truck," said Bob Hegbloom – President and CEO, Ram Truck Brand. "Adding limited edition Ignition Orange and Black Sport models will give our buyers a custom appearance on an already eye-catching truck with all the capability our customers expect." The limited-edition trucks are available in Crew Cab 4x2 and 4x4.