2017 Ram 2500 Longhorn on 2040-cars

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Color match your 2018 Ram to your tractor with new Harvest Edition

Though pickup trucks have become increasingly civilized and more common in cityscapes, they're still indispensable equipment as work vehicles, especially on farms. Recognizing this, Ram created a truck package aimed specifically at the agricultural sector called the Harvest Edition. The package features a variety of equipment as standard, like mud flaps, side steps, a rear bumper step, skid plates, rubber floor mats, a spray-in bedliner, 4G WiFi, navigation, and access to weather via Sirius radio. Rams with four-wheel drive also get tow hooks, and 1500 models receive a one-inch suspension lift. Ram 2500 and 3500 retain their normal ride heights. The Harvest Edition includes visual enhancements, most notably the addition of Case IH red and New Holland blue paint colors. But if you prefer John Deere, you won't find its signature green – instead you'll have to settle for white, black, or silver. The Harvest Edition features loads of shiny trim. The mesh grille is chrome, the mirrors and door handles are chrome, the bumpers are chrome. The wheels are chrome on 1500s, and simply polished on heavy duty models. The only visual changes that doesn't involve shiny metal are the body-color fender flares. The package is available on all four-door Ram trucks from 1500 to 3500. It's also available with two- or four-wheel drive and every engine option from V6 to Cummins diesel. The 1500 model starts at $41,305, and the 2500 starts at $47,630. The package becomes available in the third quarter, so farmers and even wannabe farmers should be able to pick one up very soon. Related Video:

2020 Ram 3500 heavy duty interior spied

The 2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks continue their steady testing regimen, and the engineers are still keeping the trucks under careful wraps. Or at least they are with the outside. As the photos above show, some test drivers got a little sloppy with interior coverings, and our spy photographer took advantage of the situation. And the good news is that the interior will be basically identical to that of the 2019 Ram 1500. We say good news because the Ram's stylish interior and well-thought-out controls are part of why it's our favorite fullsize pickup right now. This particular model has the 8.4-inch UConnect touchscreen infotainment. Since the entire center stack is the same as the 1500, we wouldn't be surprised if the monster 12-inch display were to be available on high-end trims. The small 5-inch infotainment will probably be the standard option. Another interesting detail is that this test truck does not have the rotary shift dial shared with the Ram 1500 and various other Chrysler products. Instead, it has a traditional steering column-mounted shift lever. As for the outside, nothing new is revealed to us. We shouldn't have to wait too long to see the production truck, though. We expect it to be revealed early next year. What we've seen so far seems to indicate that the heavy duty Rams will have styling a little closer to the old model than to the new 1500. Still, expect grilles and other cues from the lighter duty model, just translated to a slightly different shape. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

New auto loans could soon extend out to 84 months

Cars and trucks are more expensive than ever before. In order to boost sales and help consumers afford new vehicles, automakers are offering longer and longer terms for auto loans. This past week, Bloomberg reported that FCA's Ram Trucks division is currently offering the longest loans. Some stretch to 73 months. Jeep, Fiat and Chevy aren't far behind. More noteworthy is that we'll likely soon see lenders moving from 73-month to 84-month loans. That's seven years worth of interest. More than two-thirds of US auto sales come from light trucks like the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado and Ram 1500. The average transaction price of a new vehicle is well over $30,000. It's not difficult to spec out a heavily-optioned truck up to $60,000. Vehicles depreciate from the moment they roll off a dealer lot, and these six or seven-year loans could hurt consumers and lenders both in the long run. The U.S. Senate voted last week to kill rules that would prevent discriminatory auto lending. These Obama-era guidelines were meant to curtail lenders who offered higher loans based on race, religion, sex or national origin. Related Video: News Source: Bloomberg Chevrolet Fiat RAM Car Buying car loan car values