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Ram 1500 wins Consumer Reports fullsize truck test

Vehicles that perform well in road tests by some of the most popular automotive publications, such as Car and Driver, Motor Trend and Automobile, don't always score well in in Consumer Reports' more regimented, practical test procedures, so the Ram 1500's climb to the top of CR's scoreboard is a boon for the well-received pickup truck, which CR also put on its "recommended" list.
To start off with, the freshened 2013 Ram 1500 has a lighter, stiffer chassis than before, and the four-wheel-drive Crew Cab that CR bought and tested performed flawlessly and achieved class-leading fuel economy (15 miles per gallon) with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 - the most popular engine choice for the 1500 - and the new eight-speed automatic transmission. The unique-in-its-class rear coil spring setup endowed the truck with "one of the best rides of any pickup," CR reports. That helped it earn its class-leading road-test score of 78, well ahead of the nearest competition still in production, the Toyota Tundra (69) and the Ford F-150 (68). It's worth noting, however, that the Chevrolet Avalanche outscores the 1500 by two points (80), but production of that vehicle ends after the current 2013 model year.
About the only things the publication could find wrong with the truck were a heavy tailgate and a high step up into the cabin. Get ready for the next round later this summer when CR is finished testing the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, which is doing well so far in the publication's tests.

AEV Ram Concept is an aftermarket Power Wagon

American Expedition Vehicles showed off its simply named Ram Concept at this year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Starting with a 2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab and a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel, the Michigan-based team at AEV, which has made a name for itself building ultra-capable Jeeps, promises that this Ram is a "complete vehicle package."
As part of that "complete vehicle package," the AEV Ram has been lifted three inches in front and two in the back, in order to give it a level ride. The suspension tweaks don't end there, though, as the geometry has been changed and custom shocks fitted, while AEV modified the truck's steering to make it more precise.
It rides on massive BF Goodrich rubber and 17-inch AEV wheels. The front bumper is from stamped steel and can accommodate a winch and auxiliary lights, as needed. Other body mods include flared fenders that can handle the larger rubber.

2020 Ram 3500 dually spied with updated styling and new lighting

Just yesterday, we got our first look at the upcoming Ram 2500 Power Wagon, a replacement for FCA's aging heavy duty truck lineup. Today, we get a look at the new Ram 3500 dually, big workhorse of HD lineup. Like with the 2500, we expect the new truck's styling to fall in line with the new 2019 Ram 1500. Expect a full reveal sometime early next year. Just like with the Power Wagon in yesterday's photos, this Ram 3500 is covered with copious amounts of camouflage. You can make out some LED lighting through the front, but that's about it as far as details go. The fenders appear to sit higher than the current model, though it should still have a bit of a drop from the hood. Though it's hard to see here, the grille is likely to lose the crosshair design, too. Really, just imagine the new Ram 1500 cranked up a notch or two and you'll have the new HD lineup. We don't know what powertrains the new Ram 3500 will use, but expect a mix of Hemi V8s and Cummins diesels. The new eTorque system might make it's way over, too, helping provide a slight boost to both torque and efficiency. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.