2024 Ram 2500 Tradesman on 2040-cars

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Chrysler flooded with over 8,000 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel orders in 3 days

The diesel, half-ton pickup has long been a Holy Grail to many truck fans, largely because of its potential to achieve both high payload and great fuel economy. Strange, then, that auto companies have seemingly been slow to react. However, Chrysler is finally wading into the pool for the 2014 model year with a version of its Ram 1500 pickup, and early claimed returns are showing the advantage of being first on the market. The Auburn Hills automaker has just revealed that its initial allocation of 8,000 EcoDiesel trucks has been filled by dealers in just three days.
That flood of orders came from February 7-10, and that strong surge of interest apparently amounts to a new Ram record for the number of customer orders placed for a vehicle in such a short period of time. In fact, EcoDiesel models accounted for over half of Ram 1500 orders over that period, despite the fact that the diesel option costs several thousand dollars more than a comparable gasoline-engined model. That impressive total did not come entirely as a shock to Ram officials, however: "We knew customers have been asking for it," Nick Cappa, Ram Truck communications officer, tells Autoblog.
The 2014 Ram 1500 with its 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 and standard eight-speed TorqueFlight automatic makes 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet - a combination good for 9,200 pounds of towing. Despite that pulling power, its fuel economy is rated at 28 miles per gallon highway (the best among trucks in its class), 20 mpg city and 23 mpg combined. Four-wheel drive variants gives up a single mpg in all categories.

2019 Ram 1500 North Edition is bundled up for winter

The 2019 Ram 1500 North Edition combines a host of features into a special edition meant to keep the abominable winter at bay. Based on the Big Horn trim, which sits just above the base Tradesman, Ram says the North Edition is "geared toward truck owners who need more capability and warmth on their frozen drive." The means 4x4 only, with your choice of crew cab or quad cab, 5'7" bed or 6'4" bed, and either the 3.6-liter Pentastar eTorque or or the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with or without eTorque. To that canvas, Ram adds some of the features from the Off-Road package, including heavy duty shocks with a one-inch lift, locking rear axle, and tow hooks. Weapons against the cold include an engine block heater, and Level 2 Package options like heated seats and steering wheel, heated and folding mirrors, and remote start for pre-warming the cabin. There are individual extras, like the 12-way power driver's seat with four-way lumbar support, instead of the eight-way seat normally part of the Level 2 package. Snow service-rated, three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) Falken LT tires toil outside to keep the rubber on the road; the standard Off-Road package uses Falken All-Terrains (AT3WA). Mopar floor mats toil inside to keep slush and grime from spoiling a good time. A monochromatic appearance package paints all the exterior trim pieces one hue. One splash of contrast comes with the 4x4 decal along the flanks, the other is what looks like a set of 20-inch, six-spoke wheels. The Ram press release didn't mention the special rims, but on the configurator, when we clicked the 20-Inch x 9.0 Aluminum Chrome-Clad Wheels, we were forced to add the North Edition package. As of writing, the configurator pricing appears to be at odds with the MSRP stated in the press release. Start with the $41,490 Ram 1500 Big Horn 4x4 on the build site, add the North Edition package, and the price shows as $45,285 before a $1,695 destination charge. Ram says the truck is available at dealers now, but lists an MSRP of $45,890 before destination. There's a $605 difference between the two numbers. The build site doesn't pre-select the 20-inch wheels with the North Edition package, though. Normally a $1,595 option, adding the wheels to the build raises the price by $200, to $45,285, leaving a $405 difference. Point being, assume the dealer will start the bargaining with the $45,890 price.

Tesla Model 3: Finding perspective

The reveal of the Tesla Model 3 this week was one of the biggest automotive events of the year. The car attracted 180,000 pre-orders in just 24 hours, gave the company's stock a jolt, and set Tesla on a more ambitious growth path for the rest of the decade. It's a staggering feat considering the Model 3 is one car, from one company that's just 13 years old. It begs the question: Is all of this attention warranted? Barclays analyst Brian Johnson urged investors to "take a deep breath," and be mindful that the Model 3 won't likely arrive in "significant volume" until possibly 2019. Though Tesla promises the car will launch in 2017, Johnson points to the slow rollouts of the Model S sedan and Model X crossover as cautionary notes. The potential extended wait didn't temper the enthusiasm of Tesla's faithful, and many put down deposits before they had even seen the car. Johnson compared the hype to a "Black Friday atmosphere," saying the social media buzz went from "insane mode to ludicrous mode," in a riff on Tesla's driving features. Still, the Barclays analyst was admittedly "curmudgeonly" when it came to Tesla's stock price. In comparison, Morgan Stanley called Tesla's shares undervalued, and expects the Model 3 to be the start of cataclysmic changes in the industry. "We have said for some time that, despite its many worthy accomplishments, Tesla had not yet truly disrupted the auto industry," according to a report led by Adam Jonas. "We are now getting a feeling that this may be starting to change." The Model 3 offers a range of 215 miles on a single charge, can sprint to 60 miles per hour in less than six seconds, and has room for five. It will also be capable of charging on Tesla's supercharging network and features the company's autonomous technology. With a starting price of $35,000 before incentives, it's arguably the most futuristic car that's attainable for a wide swatch of American buyers, though the Chevy Bolt EV is comparable (200-plus-mile range, $37,500 MSRP before incentives) in many ways. The Model 3's attainability is what partially drove the hype. It was like Elon was whispering: Y ou can own the future. The question is now: Can Tesla deliver? If it does, this early fanfare will be richly deserved. News & Analysis News: Top Gear appears to be in turmoil as Chris Evans works four hours a day. Analysis: Is this a soap opera or a car show?