2014 Ram 1500 Tradesman/express on 2040-cars

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2019 Ram 1500: FCA design boss discusses truck's 'well-dressed' new look

The Ram pickup may be FCA's linchpin vehicle. It is the brand's bestseller in America, by far. In 2017, more than 500,000 of these full-size trucks rumbled off of dealers' lots, outselling FCA's second-bestseller, the Jeep Grand Cherokee by a 2-to-1 ratio. Even in an American automotive market in which sales were down by nearly 2 percent, even in the last model year of production for the truck's current generation, sales were up by more than 11,000 units over 2016. "The Ram pickup is exceptionally important. Especially since the last one was so popular," says FCA Design Head Ralph Gilles. "We're in the middle of a truck war. And the public wins." No small part of the Ram's success has been derived from its sneering appearance, its more carlike ride, and its potent Hemi engines. Sales have nearly tripled in this generation, and many of those sales are poached from competitors at Ford and GM. So, when unveiling an all-new Ram pickup, many considerations have to be weighed. It has to fit in with the heritage of the vehicle, it has to offer significant advances, and it has to capitalize on its slight underdog status in comparison with the bigger players from Ford and General Motors, whose pickups sell over 800,000 units a year. "The Ram was designed as an honest truck," says Gilles. "But with our Longhorn and Limited, we are staring to look at how far we can push the luxury end of things. And with Rebel, we are looking at how far we can push in a sporty direction. So it's kind of a dual personality thing." Gilles says that the distinctive, unique selling proposition of the Ram is based in no small part on its looks. "I think we are the most well-dressed," he says. "The truck is sleek and smart looking, and will age well." Safety features are also key, especially when creating a smoothly holistic appearance, like the new Ram has. "We want to integrate all the safety features consumers want without making the truck look like it has the measles," Gilles says. Although the automotive market overall was down in 2017, pickup truck sales were up by nearly 5 percent over 2016, a rather stunning increase. But one that is reflective of contemporary tastes. Nearly two-thirds of all vehicle purchases in America last year were light trucks (this includes pickups, SUVs, crossovers, and vans.) In an era of intense technological change, this seems somehow retrogressive.

Ram introduces Harvest Edition for chassis cab trucks

Trucks are workhorses first and foremost, and Ram is adding a Harvest Edition to its Chassis Cabs trucks to drive that point home. That means the Chassis Cabs are available in Case IH Red and New Holland Blue to match the other farm machinery in your shed. The Harvest Edition trucks are Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cab models, available in all four-door Crew Cab and two-door Regular Cab configurations. The trucks can also be 4x4s with the 6.4-liter Hemi or 6.7-liter Cummins diesel. It's not the first outing for this specific limited edition, as a year ago Ram offered Harvest Edition 1500, 2500 and 3500 models. This year, it's the chassis cab trucks' turn to go red or blue. The nod to Case IH and New Holland makes sense because both companies are owned by CNH Industrial, which in turn is related to FCA. Ram North America head James Morrison says that the color choices were originally a direct request from farmers. And for those with no feelings toward either Case IH or New Holland — or those whose blood runs John Deere Green — there's the choice of black or white exterior paint. But the trucks aren't as basic as a tractor can be: There's an exterior chrome package for the grille, side steps, door handles and mirrors, and depending on the model, the polished aluminum wheels are either 18-inch or 19.5-inch. Inside, there's connectivity tech from 4G WiFi to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For hardware functionality, there are large front tow hooks and a skid plate for the transfer case. The limited edition's pricing starts at $43,990 for the 3500 Chassis Cab, for $48,140 for the 4500 and $49,240 for the 5500. The 3500 Harvest Edition is available with either single and dual rear wheels, and the 4500 and 5500 are dualies, with 60-inch and 80-inch cab to axle lengths. The Harvest Edition goes on sale in the third quarter of 2018. Related Video:

Ram increasing EcoDiesel production [w/video]

The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel shot out of the gate with strong sales by filling its initial allocation of 8,000 orders in just three days, in February. At the time, Ram expected that the oil-burning variant would account for around 10 percent of 1500 output, but it knew there was room to grow if the demand was there. Apparently it is, as the truck maker is doubling the diesel's production mix for the 2015 model year to 20 percent of the pickup's total volume.
Since hitting the market, the EcoDiesel has been a smashing success, according to Ram. The company claims that nearly 60 percent of its sales have been conquests from other truck brands, and its popularity has boosted the 1500's average transaction price, as well. In an accompanying video, brand president Bob Hegbloom said that customers have been demanding more of them.
"Innovation sometimes comes with risk, but being first to market with a diesel engine for the half-ton segment has shown to be a great decision for the Ram Brand," said Hegbloom in the company's release.