2024 Ram 3500 Tradesman on 2040-cars

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Truck Week, Jeep Grand Commander, and RIP Ford sedans | Autoblog Podcast #538

On this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Green Editor John Beltz Snyder and Associate Editor Joel Stocksdale. We talk about driving the 2018 Ford F-150 and 2019 Ram 1500 Tradesman we have at the office this week. We discuss Ford discontinuing most of its cars, salute the Jeep Grand Commander, and reminisce about our favorite car toys. As usual, we'll also spend a listener's money on a car. Autoblog Podcast #538 Your browser does not support the audio element. Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Ford kills off all cars but Mustang and Focus Active Jeep debuts three-row Grand Commander at Beijing Motor Show Trucks in the office: Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 Tradesman Our favorite car toys Spend my money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Podcasts Toys/Games Beijing Motor Show Ford Jeep RAM Car Buying Truck SUV Sedan ram 1500 tradesman

Watch the 702-horsepower Ram 1500 TRX terrorize the Nurburgring

Warning: Video above contains NSFW language. Ram's massive, Hellcat-powered 1500 TRX views performance differently than, say, the 2022 Audi RS3. It was designed for the dunes, not for the track, but that didn't stop a British YouTuber from taking the behemoth to the Nurburgring in Germany to find out what it can do. While the famously challenging track is often open to anyone willing to pay to get in, regardless of whether they're in a Porsche 911 GT2 RS or in a rented Kia Rio, officials have reportedly started turning away folks who show up in massive trucks, so getting the TRX past the gates was a small victory. Once on the track, the supercharged, 6.2-liter V8's prodigious 702-horsepower output quickly pelts the pickup towards its 117-mph speed limiter. Ram conservatively quotes a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds, and the TRX has no trouble pulling it off. That's great on a drag strip, but on the 'Ring? You need to turn, and sharp handling doesn't appear on the TRX's resume; you may as well ask a Honda Civic Si to blast across the desert at 90 mph. It leans into turns like a fighter jet, but the Hellcat V8 pulls it out of a bend with ease as it completely dwarfs every car it passes — except a first-generation Land Rover Defender, which looks equally out of place. Interestingly, it sounds like the biggest issue the 6,400-pound TRX ran into while lapping the 'Ring was related to its braking system. There's no word on what shape the different parts were in before the run, but the front brakes can be seen smoking — and smelled, according to the man in the camera car — relatively early on in the run. But, here again, this is not the type of situation they were developed to perform in. "My brake pedal is about halfway down the floor at the moment, but it still has some functionality ... a little bit," the driver says at one point. And yet, the overall experience was positive. "This was a great thing to do! I'm really glad I did it," he concluded. As a bonus, the off-road-tuned suspension lets the TRX pass other cars (including a lot of high-end models) by simply moving two wheels from the track to the grass. We've embedded the full, 17-minute-long video above; note that it includes some NSFW language. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

2021 Ram TRX VIN #001 heads to Barrett-Jackson

The very first production example of the 2021 Ram TRX is headed to auction, the company confirmed Thursday. The truck, in Launch Edition Anvil Gray, will cross the block at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale on March 26 to benefit the United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s 2-1-1 helpline. Being one of the 702 Launch Edition models makes it special already, but this particular example will come with a presentation box with a bound book custom-developed by the Ram Brand team. This book highlights the vehicleÂ’s design development and comes with exclusive photos and video, a speed-form model, and a Ram Truck cover developed by the vehicleÂ’s design team. “The award-winning 2021 Ram 1500 TRX bolsters the brandÂ’s strong history of high-performance trucks while expanding the light-duty lineup with the segmentÂ’s best combination of performance, capability, luxury and technology,” said Mike Koval Jr., Ram Brand chief executive officer. “When Ram 1500 TRX VIN #001 rolled off the assembly line last month, it instantly became an incredibly exciting one-of-a-kind collectible truck that enthusiasts will clamor for – especially when it goes through the Barrett-Jackson auction lane in March. “More importantly, we expect this first production Ram 1500 TRX to raise significant funds that will go directly to the United Way for Southeastern MichiganÂ’s 2-1-1 helpline to provide services to veterans and their families,” Koval added. “At Ram, we offer unique ‘Built to ServeÂ’ editions of our Ram 1500 pickup as a way to honor all those who serve or have served in the U.S. armed forces with distinction. This is an important mission at Ram, and this auction is another way we can honor our veterans.” The truck will be on display in Scottsdale during the auction March 20-27. You can also bid on it online or by phone if you can't (or don't want to) bid in person. Good luck! Related video: