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2015 Ram 1500 Rebel is rugged, oddly styled

Feeling rebellious? Ram has you covered for 2015 with its new 1500 Rebel model, which, though nowhere near as focused as the Ford F-150 Raptor with which you may think it competes, is skewed toward the always-nebulous "outdoor lifestyle" set that marketing teams the world over seem to covet so much. For such hiking/camping or otherwise outdoorsy types, the Ram Rebel offers an extra inch of suspension travel over regular-grade 1500 models, along with 33-inch tires, a new bumper that affords a better approach angle, tow hooks and a center skid plate. Those are the kind of upgrades many buyers consider mandatory for basic off-road capability, and it's nice that Ram has baked them into a single model. We're less enthused by the in-your-face styling of the rebel, particularly up front, where the traditional crosshair grille has been replaced by a protruding proboscis that's nothing if not unique. There's also massive RAM lettering on the tailgate, just in case you weren't sure who made the Rebel... The show truck's red exterior is mimicked inside, and the leather seats are embossed in a tire-tread pattern. Subtle, it is not. Buyers will have the choice of a 3.6-liter V6 or 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, mated to an automatic transmission and the choice of two- or four-wheel drive, though we don't understand why anyone would choose a Rebel without 4x4. In any case, check out the live pics above and the press release and videos below for more details. New 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel Makes a Statement 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel takes advantage of exclusive air suspension in order to offer increased ride height Standard 33-inch tires provide capability and rugged looks First time 3.92 axle ratio available on 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine Equipped with factory lift, skid plates, tow hooks and other off-road-ready features New front grille design a significant styling departure for Ram Truck brand New interior colors and materials, including Radar Red and Black seats with tire tread-matching pattern January 13, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - The new 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel brings a one-of-a-kind off-road design to the full-size truck segment. "Offering an off-road-style package on the Ram 1500 has been on our to-do list for some time but the right combination didn't present itself until now," said Bob Hegbloom, President and CEO - Ram Truck Brand, FCA US LLC.

Ram boss thinks midsize truck could fit in the lineup

The execs at Ram are changing their tune about the possibility of a midsize truck in the US. Nothing is certain yet, but the chances now look a little more favorable. "I think there's opportunity there in the US if you look at what's happened in the mid-size segment here – significant growth last year," Jeep and Ram boss Mike Manley told the Detroit News. "I think that space is big enough, certainly, to have two offerings there." The other product that Manley alludes to is the forthcoming Jeep Wrangler-based pickup that's due in 2017. However, there might not be much customer overlap between the Jeep and those looking for a more traditional Ram-branded model. Manley admitted the most likely candidate for a midsize Ram would be for the company to use an existing Fiat platform, according to the News. One possibility could be rebranding the Fiat Toro pickup, but it's rather small at 20-inches shorter than a Chevrolet Colorado. This greater openness to a midsize Ram is a complete change from the company's position in the past, though. Last spring, the brand's CEO for North America said he couldn't find a strategy to make the model work. FCA boss Sergio Marchionne made the same point in 2014, when he admitted the company showed a Ram 1000 at design clinics, but the response was "lukewarm." Over the past couple years, the midsize truck market has a renaissance of fresh products. The Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon are successes both critically and commercially. The latest Tacoma is on sale, and the new Honda Ridgeline is imminent. We know Nissan has a Frontier successor under development, and there are always rumors of Ford reviving the Ranger in the US. With so much development in the segment, it's easy to see why Ram would want to be at the party. Related Video:

2019 Ram HD Chassis Cab trucks: tough on the outside, comfy on the inside

The past year or so has been big for Ram. FCA's truck division went from having some of the most dated (though still solid) pickups on the market to introducing the 2019 Ram 1500, arguably the new segment leader. A year later, at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, FCA revealed the new Ram Heavy Duty. Yesterday, Ram announced the 1500 was getting a trick tailgate to compete with the power tailgate on the Chevy Silverado and MultiPro tailgate on the GMC Sierra. Today, at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show, FCA will present the new Ram 4500 and 5500 chassis cab models. Like the Ram 2500 and 3500, the new chassis cab trucks appear to share a lot with the current crop of Ram HD trucks. The cab itself appears to be unchanged from the outside, though the front fascia has been updated to reflect Ram's current design. As with most things, it's what's inside that counts. The chassis cab models get the fantastic interior from the 2019 Ram 1500. It's a handsome and well-appointed cabin. Even base Tradesman models benefit from the new design and packaging. There's new tech, too. The 12-inch infotainment screen is nice to look at, but customers are likely to enjoy features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking (with trailer brakes). The safety tech is available on all trim levels. The trucks also pack parking assist and a 270-degree camera view. There are also camera features to help hook up trailers (including fifth-wheel goosenecks). The Ram Chassis Cab 3500, 4500 and 5500 represent Class 3, 4 and 5 GVW ratings. As such they pack some punch under the hood. The standard engine is the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 making 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque, though 4500 and 5500 models only make 370 horsepower. The Ram 3500 features cylinder deactivation to improve fuel economy. The three trucks are available with a 6.7-liter Cummins turbo-diesel inline-six. The engine makes 360 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque. An Aisin six-speed auto is available on V8 models and standard with the diesel. Both engines are available with dual alternators. The trucks are available in four industry-standard frame lengths measured in inches from the cab to the rear axle: 60, 84, 108 and 120. Upgraded brakes should shorten stopping distances and improve pedal feel. Thanks to high-strength steel and aluminum, the truck should weigh about 120 pounds less than before.