The Dodge RAM, known plainly as the RAM in the US and Canada, started production back in 1981. It comes in six different trims - ST, SXT, SLT, TRX, Sport Laramie, and Power Wagon - and four different cab options - Crew Cab (new for 2010), Mega Cab, Quad Cab, and Regular Cab.
The RAM is powered by a plethora of engine options, including a 3.7L V6 producing 215 HP and 235 lb-ft of torque, a 4.7L V8 delivering 310 HP and 330 lb-ft of torque, a 5.7L V8 with 355/390 HP and 395/404 lb-ft of torque, and a 6.7L turbodiesel I-6 getting 350 HP and 610/650 lb-ft of torque. These engines are mated to either a 6-speed manual or a choice of three different automatics: 4-, 5-, or 6-speed.
The SEMA Auto Show doesn’t get going until next week, but we already have a good idea of what will be coming to the show in Las Vegas. Today, Chrysler’s Mopar Underground department has just unveiled three new off-road vehicles for the aftermarket show.
The first on offer will be two Jeeps, the J7 Stripper and the NuKaiser 715. The former will be a stripped down Wrangler with a two-inch lift kit and 35-inch Mickey Thompson off road tires. The latter will be based on the Egyptian-built J8 military-spec Jeep. It has a diesel motor and an AEV-sourced pickup bed. That bed is connected to a custom cab. It will also feature a few Mopar toys, such as rock rails, a winch bumper, and 38-inch Mud-Terrain tires.
On top of those Wranglers, Jeep will also bring one more, the Sahara Mopar Edition. There are no images of this vehicle as of now, but we do know that it will be lifted and given 35-inch tires with AEV alloy wheels. For playing in the rough stuff, the Sahara will feature steel front and rear bumpers, an integrated rear tire carrier, and a Mopar/AEV hood to add protection.
Hit the jump to see what other projects are heading to SEMA, plus a sneak preview video.
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Dozens of automotive writers representing the Texas Auto Writers Association have just named the Jeep Grand Cherokee the “SUV of Texas.” Not a bad choice, as we found the new Jeep to be brilliant and a massive step forward for the company.
Jeep also managed to get the 2011 Wrangler Unlimited a trophy for being the “Mid-size SUV of Texas”. We’re not sure about this one, but to each their own, especially in the great state of Texas.
More than 40 members were given two-days of on- and off-road evaluation time with the Grand Cherokee and the Wrangler, as well as their competitors. Everything was taken into consideration, including exterior style, off-road ability, and the overall value and fuel efficiency.
Though it might seem like Chrysler had a big day already, more was yet to come, as the 2011 Dodge Ram Laramie Longhorn was named the “Truck of Texas.” The Ram swept every category it entered, dominating the competition.
Well done Chrysler. Texas sure does love you.
Our motto at this website is ‘no boring cars’. Whether that’s sports cars, Italian exotics, or super luxurious sedans, we love them all. For this review though, we decided to change things up a bit. We wanted to find out what you can and can’t do in a truck during a week test and, living up to our motto, we went all out and got one of the biggest heavy duty trucks on the market, the 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Mega Cab.
The Ram 2500 might not be everyone’s choice for a daily driver and to be honest, it wasn’t ours either, but we put all that aside and used this four-door, four-wheel drive turbo diesel behemoth every day of the week, during which time we never came close to the truck’s full capabilities.
Although it couldn’t fit in our garage, or in a normal parking space, we did our best. Hit the jump to see how the week went and our new review style.
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There’s no better place to reveal a special edition Ram than good ol’ Truck Country, especially considering the new edition is called the Ram Laramie Longhorn. The special edition will be offered in ST, SLT, Outdoorsman, Sport (1500 only) Laramie and Power Wagon (2500 only) trim levels and will go on sale in the first quarter of 2011.
The car’s exterior will be distinguished by distinctive Western-style exterior badges, a chrome metal Laramie Longhorn edition badge with painted accents, and Laramie Longhorn edition on the doors. It will be available in five exterior colors, including an exclusive Sagebrush with White Gold exterior paint treatment unavailable on other Ram models. Matching White Gold lower-body two-tone, wheel flares, painted front and rear bumpers, and Mopar running boards compliment a bright chrome grille and painted tow hooks.
The interior gets leather, engraved details and burled walnut woodgrain. The Laramie Longhorn is available with a choice of dark slate gray and russet or bark brown and light pebble beige interior colors. The interior features 100 percent leather seat coverings with laser-etched bolsters (bark brown only). The leather-wrapped steering wheel receives special stitching while the door trim front and rear is also wrapped in leather and features special stitching, wood grain, and LED door-handle and map-pocket lighting.
Press release after the jump.
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We can now finally put this rumor to rest; there will be no pickup trucks coming from Hyundai anytime soon. That’s what the horse’s mouth made very clear when the Korean automaker shut down the rumor that was floating around last week involving Hyundai being in talks with Chrysler LLC to sell a version of the Dodge Ram pick-up re-badged under Hyundai in the US.
In a statement released by Hyundai, the automaker said: ""Hyundai Motor Co. denies that there are any current plans to bring a pickup truck of any type into the U.S. now or in the foreseeable future."
"Hyundai is not in discussion with Chrysler in regard to a selling a rebadged Chrysler Corp pickup truck, or any other vehicle, in the U.S," the statement concluded.
So there you have it, fellas. There won’t be a re-badged Dodge Ram pickup truck in Hyundai’s future, now or in the foreseeable future.
