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Here's why automakers roll out those Texas-themed pickup trucks

Every year, automakers with a full-size truck link make a big show of the Texas State Fair, usually involving a reveal of a new model. Sometimes they show a whole new truck, and other times a special edition centered on the Lone Star state. While some people might write this off as a quirk of the industry, others might be wondering, "What's the big deal with Texas?" As it turns out, part of the big deal with Texas is big truck sales. According to Dave Sullivan, product analysis manager at AutoPacific, Texas buys more trucks than any other state in the country. It's not a small margin either. Edmunds.com, one in five trucks sold in the US are sold in Texas. The state also accounts for 15 percent of the country's large truck sales, which is more than twice that of California, the second largest truck market in America. Even when you break down sales only in Texas, trucks are a huge piece of the pie - Sullivan says that a quarter of new vehicle sales in Texas are trucks. One in five trucks sold in the US are sold in Texas. But it's not just sales that make truck builders give attention to Texas. As Sullivan explained, "Pickups are life in Texas." Both he and Hugh Milne, marketing and advertising manager for the Chevy Silverado line, said that trucks are key fixtures in Texas society, as both work trucks and luxury vehicles (or Texas Cadillacs as Milne called them). Milne said Texas is so important in the truck market that if you want to be successful in the rest of the country, "you've got to be successful in Texas." As for the State Fair, it has become a prime location for reveals in part because of the importance of the Texas market and because of how big the fair is. Milne also revealed that the State Fair also hosts its own auto show, so it's an ideal venue for a vehicle introduction. So there you have it. Why do truck builders obsess over Texas? It's because Texas obsesses over trucks. When you have one market that loves your product that much, you give it the attention it deserves. Related Video: Image Credit: Donovan Reese via Getty Images Auto News Marketing/Advertising Chevrolet Ford RAM Truck f-150 texas state fair

2019 Ram 1500 gets vertical touchscreen infotainment system

Truck buyers have grown to expect more than class-leading payload, towing, and torque figures. Today's pickups entice buyers with roomy cabins, luxurious interior materials, and the latest technologies that automakers have to offer. In the case of Ram, that includes FCA's well-regarded UConnect infotainment system. And judging by this latest set of spy shots, the 2019 Ram 1500's UConnect 4.0 package will include an inverted LCD screen. Vertical-oriented touchscreens are already available in certain Tesla, Volvo, and Toyota Prius Prime models, but this is the first such system we've seen in a pickup truck. The tall screen is flanked by hard buttons – some of which duplicate on-screen climate controls – and an additional set of software buttons appear at the bottom. Toggle switches below the screen include an option to manually raise and lower the Ram's air suspension setup. And finally, two dials remain for audio volume and tuning functions. A look at the 2019 Ram 1500's key fob shows that it, too, will get buttons to adjust the truck's ride height. That should make it easier to bring the pickup closer to the ground for entry and to load the bed, even from outside the cabin. We expect to see the Ram 1500 to debut in production spec at the Detroit Auto Show in January of 2018. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2019 Ram 1500 interior: Spy Shots Image Credit: Brian Williams Spy Photos RAM Technology Infotainment Truck

2015 Ram 1500 Rebel priced from $43,985

Ram has announced the prices for the two newest members of its 1500 family, with the new Rebel starting at $43,985 and the Laramie Limited kicking off at $51,870. Those prices include the $1,195 destination charge. The Rebel's starting price is only for the two-wheel-drive variant. Adding four-wheel drive elevates the price to $45,915 and includes the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. If you fancy four-wheel drive and FCA's 5.7-liter Hemi V8, you'll need to write a check for $47,565. The luxurious Laramie Limited comes in a few more varieties, and can be had with either two- or four-wheel drive, and gas or diesel power. The base model uses the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and rear-wheel drive, for a total price of $51,870. Plan on an extra $3,120 to replace the Hemi with the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6. Adding four-wheel-drive adds $3,505 regardless of engine. Scroll down for the official pricing release from Ram, and then hop over to our original coverage of the Laramie Limited and Rebel for even more details on the new trucks. Related Video: Ram Truck Announces Pricing for 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel and Ram 1500 Laramie Limited • Ram 1500 Rebel makes a statement with increased ride height, standard 33-inch tires, skid plates, tow hooks and unique interior starting at $42,790 • Chrome accents, prominent badges, Argento wood and premium leather are key ingredients of new Ram 1500 Laramie Limited with a starting price of $50,675 The Ram 1500 continues to move forward with two mid-year 2015 offerings that carry into the 2016 model year – the Ram 1500 Rebel and Ram 1500 Laramie Limited. The Ram 1500 Rebel brings a one-of-a-kind off-road design to the full-size truck segment. The Rebel drops right into a core segment of the truck market with unique design cues and mechanical innovation backed by Ram Truck engineering. Rebel features an all-new grille with a prominent billet silver "RAM" letter badge. Departing from the brand's iconic "crosshair" designs, the blacked-out Rebel grille tops a completely new black off-road front bumper design with a durable powder-coated surface. It also incorporates a powder coated, billet silver skid plate, front tow hooks, 33-inch Toyo tires and an all-new 17-inch aluminum wheel. Inside, Rebel is every bit as brawny and rugged as it is outside. The truck features industry-exclusive seating elements finished in Radar Red and black with fabric inserts embossed with the Toyo tire tread pattern, matching the Rebel's actual footprint.