2020 Ram 1500 Big Horn/lone Star on 2040-cars

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Chrysler's internal documents question Ram quality as workers protest

Chrysler is reportedly having a hard time ramping up production of its 2013 Ram 1500. According to The Detroit News, only 16 of the 58 trucks built at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant during the model's first hour passed final inspection. While quality eventually improved over the course of the day, just over half of the units built on Thursday were approved for shipment. Even with workers ordered to stay late to fix their mistakes, some 1,078 units remained outside the facility with defects. The problem, according to workers at the plant, is morale.
According to the report, Chrysler recently changed the shift schedule at the plant and workers are unhappy with the new situation. The new plan has workers split into three shifts, each covering four 10-hour days. With the shifts staggered, some workers now have to work nights and on Saturdays. Some employees are so upset that they've taken to protesting, though the move isn't sanctioned by the United Auto Workers.
Meanwhile, Chrysler admits there were internal issues with the launch, but that the company was able to contain them. A spokesperson has said "plant quality indicators are getting progressively better."

Ram partners with Lucchese on a range of luxury boots

A few months ago, Ram announced a partnership with Michigan-based Wolverine boots on a range of work boots based on the Ram 1500 Tradesman, Rebel, and Limited trims. The number two full-size truckmaker so far this year in sales isn't finished with footwear, Ram announcing a range of dress boots in collaboration with Texas-based boot company Lucchese. There are five styles in total, three for men, two for women. Since these Western-themed cowboy specials are based on the $58,565 10th Anniversary Limited Longhorn Edition, which lives at the opposite end of the trim range to Tradesman, the Lucchese models can cost more than 10 times the Wolverines. Whereas the entry-level Wolverine Tradesman cost $229, the top-dog Lucchese men's Tooled Western Boot runs $2,495. That money gets luxury features and Lucchese's hand-worked processes that pass each boot through as many as 120 pairs of hands on the way to being finished. That $2,495 boot is made with a hand-tooled quarter, which is the shaft of the boot that runs up the leg above the ankle, and a giant gator vamp, the vamp being the lower portion of the boot that covers the foot. The men’s Caiman Horseman Boot includes a hand-cut inlay quarter and giant belly caiman vamp for $995. The menÂ’s Ostrich Horseman model wears a fancy stitch quarter and hand stained ostrich vamp for $745. The women's Giant Gator Western Boot is made with an inlayed quarter and a giant gator vamp for $1,395. The final model, the women's Horseman Boot, gets a side seam quarter and inlay with a goatskin vamp for $695. Each boot is also emblazoned with some kind of automaker logo which can include the word "Ram" or "Longhorn," or the Ram bighorn sheep logo. And if a Ram owner needs to get even more on-brand where the leather meets the ground, Ram sells a three-pack of branded socks for $25. Ryan Nagode, chief designer for Ram interiors, said this partnership can be traced back to a visit to Texas with his design team more than a decade ago. The group noted the creativity and attention to detail on the wares at boot and saddle shops, aspects that would increasingly make their way into Ram interiors as trucks got more luxurious from top to bottom. Closing the circle, Lucchese boot designer Trey Gilmore strove to re-create certain aspects of the 10th Anniversary Longhorn truck, like the Mountain Brown leather interior. The boots are available for pre-order now at the Lucchese site.

Hennessey Mammoth is a Ram 1500 TRX turned three-row SUV

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is a thoroughly incredible machine that's great for pounding across dunes and flying over jumps, and you can even bring along some friends and their gear along for the ride. But what if you want to bring more friends along. Well, Hennessey Performance has the solution in the Mammoth SUV. What it is, is a TRX turned into a three-row SUV. It's something that Hennessey has experience with, as nearly a decade ago, it started converting some of its upgraded Ford F-150 Raptors (called VelociRaptors after being tuned) into custom SUVs. Like those Fords, the Mammoth will get a custom roof, rear pillars, glass and unified interior to provide more covered space. The company will also replace the second-row bench with captain's chairs and add a third row with a folding bench seat. While Hennessey could probably simply sell these TRX SUVs just with the body modification, the company will also add additional performance. An upgraded supercharger, pulleys, fuel injectors, engine calibration, intake and high-flow catalytic converters bring output to an absurd 1,012 horsepower and 969 pound-feet of torque. Hennessey claims it will get to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 11.4. The company also raises the truck an extra 2.5 inches and fits a custom off-road bumper with LED lights and 20-inch wheels with 35-inch tires. The whole thing will cost $375,000. That's no small amount, but there's a lot of custom work in the vehicle. Plus, it's exclusive, with only 20 units slated to be produced. If it's what you're looking for, the company is taking orders now. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.