2024 Ram 1500 Tradesman on 2040-cars

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Will Nissan's Cummins deal upset Ram's marketing mojo? [w/poll]

Ram has used Cummins engines in its heavy duty trucks since 1989, and it is the only pickup truck brand to use products from the Indiana-based engine maker. With the announcement that the next Nissan Titan will also use a Cummins powerplant, and a Nissan spokesman having already said "We will definitely leverage the Cummins brand name," a piece in Automotive News wonders whether the deal will affect the way Ram markets its tie-up with Cummins.
The question really is, how intense is this competition? While it is the first time that trucks from two different brands have used Cummins engines, they'll be two different engines in two different kinds of trucks; Nissan is going to put a 5.0-liter turbodiesel in a non-heavy-duty Titan, Ram only uses its 6.7-liter, inline six-cylinder turbodiesel in heavy-duty offerings. The diesel that Ram will offer in its light-duty, half-ton 1500 is a 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel with 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque - compared to about 300 hp and 550 lb-ft expected from the Titan's Cummins - and its marketing so far has focused on the fuel economy gains.
If Nissan was going to prove its commitment to the segment, it had to do something compelling. If we're talking about sales competition between Ram and Nissan, Ram has sold 201,633 trucks as of July this year, up 24.2 percent, 31,314 of those sales coming last month; Nissan has sold 10,020 Titans through the end of July, down 21.1 percent, and just 1,168 in July itself. Nissan's new truck boss - who hopped there from Ram - said that buyers have asked for a powerful turbodiesel in something other than a heavy duty pickup, and from what we've read on various comment boards, the pickup truck crowd is excited about Nissan's move.

The 2019 Ram 1500 will wear a brand-new face

A day after a dealer meeting leak gave us a look at the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL and 2019 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, we now have this, our first look at the 2019 Ram 1500. The renderings, which come from a printout titled "Ram Brand Lit Signatures" on the wall of a dealer meeting, gives us a clear look at the next-gen truck's front and rear fascias. At the front, the 2019 1500, codenamed DT, gets a more modern, sophisticated look with a refined grille that boasts a massive vertical bar and a skinner horizontal slot. The headlights are slimmer than the current model's square-like units and feature modern LED lamps. The lower end of the front fascia also has slim lighting elements that could be used for fog lights, along with an off-colored skid plate. The hood continues to sport the same bulge as the current model's, but is shaped like a pyramid instead of a massive rectangle. It looks like Ram took a page out of Ford's design book at the back with a rugged design that imitates the 2017 F-150. The taillights, while retaining the same overall shape, have an unlit section that would most likely be used for the reverse lights and turn signals. With the front end benefiting from LED lamps, the rear taillights would probably get LED units, as well. With Ram still testing new configurations of the 1500 and a document revealing FCA's future products, we expect the next-gen 1500 to come out in the near future as a 2019 model year. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2019 Ram 1500 Dealer Leak Spy Shots Image Credit: KGP Photography Design/Style Spy Photos RAM Truck rendering

2022 Ram 1500's G/T package reportedly includes Mopar goodies

Ram will fill the gap between the Hellcat-powered, 702-horsepower TRX and the rest of the 1500 range with an option package called G/T, according to a recent report. It will allegedly make its debut for the 2022 model year. Enthusiast website Mopar Insiders learned from unnamed sources that the G/T package will be available on the Sport, Rebel, and Laramie models. While it won't send shivers down the TRX's spine, it will add a cold-air intake system from the Mopar catalog, a 3.92 rear axle, and a specific exhaust system. G/T-only exterior decals and what Ram refers to as a Sport Performance Hood (likely one with a vent) will add a sporty touch to the design. Inside, G/T-spec trucks will ditch the standard 1500's knee-high shift dial in favor of a TRX-like console-mounted gear selector and shift paddles. Leather on the steering wheel, a floor console, power-adjustable front bucket seats, LED footwell lighting, and package-specific trim pieces are also on the list of upgrades included in the bundle. There's a memory function to save your preferred seat, radio, and mirror settings, too. But, if you can't find a comfortable position by moving the eight-way driver's seat, you'll be able to electronically adjust the pedals as well. What remains to be seen is how much Ram will charge to add the G/T package to a Sport, Rebel, or Laramie truck. It hasn't announced that the bundle is on its way, let alone revealed pricing information or availability. If the report is accurate, we expect that additional details about the 1500's sportier sibling will emerge in the next few months. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.