Ram 2500 Diesel 4x4 on 2040-cars

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2014 Ram 1500 Diesel

Remember when Mahindra & Mahindra was close to offering a compact diesel pickup here? A million voices from the truck-and-bed-loving tribes of the Internet cried out at once in anticipation, only to be silenced in disappointment when it didn't happen. And this was for a jitney with a bed that didn't exactly look robust in its press photos. The message these fans had was clear: light-duty truck + a diesel engine = a prayer answered for a significant contingent of truck buyers.
Ram tells us a fullsize diesel half-ton has been the number-one demand from customers, and it will be the first manufacturer to grand the wish when the 2014 Ram 1500 goes on sale early next year - "late availability" in Q1 of 2014 is the official word - with a 3.0-liter, six-cylinder turbodiesel provided by VM Motori. If you're wondering about the engine source, VM Motori has been a Chrysler supplier since 1992. DaimlerChrysler bought VM Motori in 2000, and after a few ownership-stake changes since then, it is presently a 50-50 joint venture between General Motors and Fiat. That will change shortly, however, with Fiat recently announcing it will buy GM's share and take full control of the company.
Driving Notes

2015 Ram Laramie Limited brings more luxury, tweaked style to Chicago

Once upon a time, the Chicago Auto Show was where truck manufacturers chose to introduce their wares. New HD truck? Go to Chicago. Entry level, midsize pickup? Chicago. Flagship dually? Chicago. While that's far from a rule nowadays, Ram still looked to the Windy City to introduce the new version of its flagship trim – the Laramie Limited. Featured in light-duty 1500, heavy-duty 2500 and I-need-to-tow-Australia 3500 bodies, the Laramie Limited is the latest proof that pickups are no longer limited to work, but are proper luxury vehicles in their own right. To reflect this, Ram has upholstered the Laramie Limited's cabin in gorgeous black Natura Plus leather. We're pretty fond of the Graystone piping on the seats, while the pinstripe theme found throughout on the Black Argento wood and contrast stitching certainly ups the styling ante. The center stack is home to most of the cabin's brightwork, with K-black Dark Metallic paint, while LED accent lighting is found throughout. Ram was liberal with the application of Liquid Graphite finishes, adding it to the center stack's bezels and the gauges and needles in the handsome instrument cluster. For the exterior, Ram has thrown the whole idea of subtlety out the window. There's plenty of inspiration from the Ram Rebel that was shown at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, only instead of the dark finishes of that vehicle, the Laramie Limited features lots, and lots of chrome. Like the Rebel, the flagship truck gets a restyled grille, complete with a domineering "RAM" badge, although the nose of the Laramie Limited is nothing compared to its tailgate. The rear of the truck is home to an enormous, 20-inch wide "RAM" badge that the company hilariously explains away in its press release, saying it's there "so onlookers can clearly identify the truck." Okay. Beyond the borderline obnoxious badges, Ram has finished the front and rear bumpers and mirror caps in chrome, and opted for a stylish dark housing for the halogen-only headlights. Those units crown LED turn signals, while the taillamps are straight LED throughout. We have an extensive gallery of images detailing the new Laramie Limited, and you can bet that we'll be complementing the official shots with live images from the floor of the 2015 Chicago Auto Show. Until then, head into Comments and let us know what you think of Ram's not-so-subtle flagship.

Ram midsize pickup will be body-on-frame, built alongside Jeep Scrambler

Ram's still far-off midsize pickup is shaping up to be a rugged body-on-frame pickup if this report from Automotive News is correct. We would assume that because its supplier sources claim the smaller Ram will be built at the same Toledo plant as the current JL Wrangler and upcoming Wrangler pickup, aka Scrambler. It's already been a long road of back and forth about whether or not Ram would build the small pickup. Mike Manley, now the CEO of FCA following Sergio Marchionne's passing, confirmed the brand's intentions of bringing a midsize truck to market when explaining the company's five-year plan a few months back. At the time, rumors pointed to a unibody construction with production taking place in Mexico. The possibility of Ram bringing a version of the 1200 pickup here has been tossed around, but we doubt Ram would come to market with a rebadged Mitsubishi against the developing stiff competition. That segment is quickly becoming crowded with the impending arrival of the Ford Ranger and the already successful Colorado/ Canyon twins and venerable Toyota Tacoma. Ram could try using the Dakota name to jumpstart sales, but it looks like it'll be last to the party in this midsize truck renaissance. Its Jeep cousin is expected to be revealed later this year and on the market in 2019, and we've already seen a lot of it in spy shots, and even on the Rubicon Trail. The report predicts we'll see a midsize Ram as a 2021 model, going on sale sometime in 2020. However, back in June this year, FCA's presentation pegged the smaller Ram's arrival for 2022. It's a long ways out either way, so we'll keep you up to date as the small Ram saga continues. Related Video: