2014 Ram 3500 Tradesman on 2040-cars

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Marchionne: Midsize pickup still not in the cards; Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler could use aluminum

During the Fiat-Chrysler briefings on Tuesday, Reid Bigland, head of Ram Trucks, outlined the new product plans for his brand, including confirmation that an all-new light-duty Ram 1500 will launch in 2017. From there, discussions spun off in two directions, with the main questions being: will Ram build a midsize pickup? And, following Ford's move to extensively use aluminum in its new 2015 F-150, will Chrysler be using this weight-saving material for the next round of its fullsize truck, as well?
"I think there is room for a Ram 1000," Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne (pictured above) told members of the media, saying this is a conversation the automaker has been having internally for several years now. "We've tried this ... we've actually taken it to clinics," Marchionne stated, adding that the "response has been lukewarm."
"I have better use of aluminum in this house than a pickup truck." - Sergio Marchionne

Ram fiddles with 1500 Classic options sheet for 2022

Mopar Insiders took a peek at early order guides for the 2022 Ram 1500 Classic, spotting tweaks to the options list that feel like responses to customer requests. The basic run-of-show doesn't change, next year's Classic coming in Tradesman, Express, SLT, and Warlock. For some reason the SLT has disappeared from the automaker's online configurator at the time of writing, but this could be a temporary pause due to any number of unusual situations in the auto industry happening now. Two years ago, though, the Classic offered nine trims, so rationalization isn't new for the line. Next year will also bring Regular Cabs with the 6'4" or 8' beds, Quad Cabs with the 6'4" bed, and Crew Cabs with the 5'7" or 6'4" bed. The first thing that's new is the step up to Uconnect 5 for the Electronics Group, on the same 8.4-inch touchscreen found across Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler products. MI says the guide also shows Uconnect 4C NAV as a standalone option. At the moment, that's a $795 extra that can only be had on the Warlock, and requires the $795 Electronics Group. MI didn't specify if the other three trims would get the option and if standalone truly means standalone. The only change we spot is no mention of an HD radio, which could be a matter of this being an early order guide, or a victim of the chip shortage, or something else. What's left out of the order guide for now is one convenience item, and one work item we figure Tradesman Classic buyers will miss. The first is the power sunroof, the $1,095 option nowhere to be seen, the second is the Ram Box storage system, the $1,295 also gone AWOL. What's been added are a couple of packages for getting more out of the truck when it's time to hit the dirt. The 2021 Tradesman offers a $745 Off-Road Package for some configurations that bundles tow hooks, a front suspension skid plate, anti-spin rear differential, extra-heavy-duty rear shocks, 265-section all-terrain tires, and either a 3.92 or 3.55 final drive. Next year, according to the guide, the package picks up a couple items offered in the current-gen Ram's Off-Road Package, adding a skid plate for the transfer case, a higher ride height — but we don't know by how much, a full-sized spare tire, and it specifies Yokohama tires. The package costs $840 for the current Ram right now, so the Classic price could go up considering the extra gear. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

2023 Ram ProMaster detailed with many updates

The 2023 Ram ProMaster is here, and it’s sporting a bunch of great upgrades over the outgoing model. Starting on the design front, Ram gave the ProMaster a new (thoughtful) front end. The headlights are positioned out of the collision zone in a direct frontal crash now to save them in the event of an accident. Plus, the bumper has an integrated step that allows you to step up and either clean the windshield or swap wiper blades far easier. The headlights themselves are also improved. Standard halogen lights provide 15% more range of light, and optional LED headlights provide 50% more range. The popularity of black appearance packages has made it into the van world now, too, as this ProMaster is available with exactly that, blacking out grille, badges and wheels. Lastly on the appearance side of things, Ram introduced two new colors: Ceramic Gray and Spitfire Orange. Ram says these colors were designed specifically with its #vanlife customers in mind. Unfortunately, no images of these colors were available upon this storyÂ’s publishing. A new extra-high roof option is available for 2023, adding 10 inches over top of the previous high-roof option. Additionally, Ram is offering a new roll-up door in case that would fit a customerÂ’s lifestyle better than a traditional rear door. ItÂ’s made of anodized aluminum to be easier to use. There are 19 configurations available in total for the 2023 ProMaster including three roof heights, three wheelbases and four vehicle lengths. Every single one of them will come equipped with the Pentastar V6 (just like before) that makes 276 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. All of the vans are also front-wheel drive only. And lest you forget, Ram is still planning on releasing its electric ProMaster in 2023 — Amazon will be taking delivery of thousands of those electric vans next year. Interior and tech upgrades are aplenty for the 2023 ProMaster. For example, the ProMaster uses the latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The standard display is a 7-inch screen, but you can tack on an optional 10-inch screen. That means it has wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. You can spec a wireless phone charger, and the interior features both USB-A and USB-C ports. Safety and convenience features are made readily available. Standard safety equipment includes collision warning, crosswind assist, drowsiness detection and traffic sign recognition.