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2019 Ram 1500 prototype gives us better glimpse of grille

Though we've managed to see most of the 2019 Ram 1500 from previous spy shots, we're still discovering new details here and there in spy photos. The latest batch shown above feature a truck with camouflage that covers most of the body, but curiously leaves the grille practically bare. The grille appears to be a version of what we saw on the nearly uncovered example from a few months ago. This time, that central bar is uncovered. In some ways, it looks like a sleeker version of the grille found on current Laramie Rams; the holes on either side of the emblem area are slimmed way down, and fit a single line. We can also see that those holes line up with the turn signal/daytime running light elements in the headlights. If you're not a fan of this new grille, the good news is that there will probably be a variety of different designs available, just as there are on current Rams. There aren't many other details to glean from this prototype, though. It appears to be the longer of the four-door models and has an impressive amount of glass area. The tailgate is fully covered, so we can't tell if this has a conventional drop-down gate or the split version we've seen on another prototype. We should know much more in about a month when the Ram 1500 is expected to appear at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show. For more about the Ram including renderings of the final truck, check out our post on what we know so far. Related Video:

Ram Laramie Longhorn becomes the most luxurious Ram around

Dallas, Texas - This year's Texas State Fair was all about the deluxe trucks. Ford introduced its super-plush Limited trim for the Super Duty trucks. Ram did the same with its new Laramie Longhorn Southfork trim level. It's the new top-level luxury option for Ram, and it's available on heavy-duty 2500 and 3500 Rams as well as the light-duty 1500. The Southfork builds upon the flashy Longhorn trim level, which we aren't particularly fond of, mainly due to the tacky leather filigree pattern stickers, the plastic, barbed wire accents, and strange rose gold finish. Those elements are all still present on the Southfork. It does retain good points, like leather everywhere. Ram touts the leather's presence on the fronts, backs, and sides of the seats, as well as on the door panels. Southfork-exclusive features include a new pale ivory leather called Light Frost Beige, which is accented by a dark brown leather. The roof and pillars are also now covered in suede, which certainly upgrades the feel of the interior. There's real walnut and ash wood trim on the steering wheel and elsewhere in the cabin. Since the Southfork is the top of the line Ram trim, it carries a high price. The 1500 model starts at $52,615, and the 2500 starts at $57,015. The trim is only available on crew cab and Mega Cab trucks, but can be had with two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive and with short or long beds. See it for yourself in the image gallery above. Related Video:

Auto sales in March and first quarter down nearly across the board

Nearly every major automaker reported weak U.S. sales for March and the first quarter of 2019, citing a rough start to the year, but said a robust economy and strong labor market should encourage consumers to buy more vehicles as 2019 rolls on. GM, which no longer releases monthly sales figures, saw first-quarter sales fall 7 percent, with declines across all brands. Sales of Silverado pickup trucks fell nearly 16 percent and the high-margin Chevy Suburban large SUV dropped 25 percent. Ford also no longer releases monthly sales numbers, but is due to release its first-quarter sales figures on Thursday. According to industry data, Ford's sales fell 2 percent in the quarter and 5 percent in March. Ford representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. FCA reported a 7 percent fall in U.S. sales in March and a 3 percent drop for the first quarter. All of FCA's brands dropped in March, except for Ram, which saw a 15 percent increase in pickup truck sales. "The industry had a tough first quarter, but with spring finally starting to show its face and continued strong economic indicators ... we are confident that new vehicle sales demand will strengthen going forward," FCA's U.S. head of sales, Reid Bigland, said in a statement. Toyota reported a 3.5 percent fall in U.S. sales in March and 5 percent for the first quarter, hurt by declining demand for its Corolla sedans and Camry vehicles. "While some of our competitors are abandoning sedans, we remain optimistic about the future of the segment," Toyota said in a statement. Nissan posted a 5.3 percent drop in sales in March, and its first-quarter sales were down 11.6 percent. Honda and Hyundai bucked the trend. Honda's U.S. sales rose 4.3 percent in March and 2 percent in the quarter, while Hyundai's were up 1.7 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively. Passenger-car sales suffered throughout the January-March quarter compared with the same period in 2018 as Americans continued to abandon them in favor of larger, more comfortable pickup trucks and SUVs, which are far more profitable for automakers. The battle for market share in the particularly lucrative large-pickup truck market intensified in the quarter, as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Ram brand outsold the U.S.' No. 1 automaker General Motors' Chevrolet-brand trucks. The two automakers have both launched redesigned pickup trucks.