Boy, that recent FCA dealer meeting was productive! No less than five Jeep models were shown (in confidence) to members of the automaker’s dealer network and now those secret images are tumbling through the interwebz like boots in a dryer. Now it’s Ram’s turn for exposure. Just hours after dark, grainy images of the future Wrangler and Grand Wagoneer surface, the heavily reimagined face of the Ram 1500 comes to light.

Granted, this is only a rendering, but it’s very likely the design Ram is close to finalizing. It also matches the description of the truck’s design leaked in September by an insider from a third-party supplier.

The truck still carries that high-hood, low-fender styling, but nearly all the details have changed. The grille now features a thick vertical bar with a larger Ram logo, the headlights taper down as they wrap around the fenders, the bumper is far more integrated into the bodywork, the horizontal fog lights are mounted above the tow hooks.

Out back, the taillights have a C-shape that looks darn close to GMC’s taillight design. The tailgate appears to have some deeply stamped metal, with the “R-A-M” scrip likely taking up much of the space.

To be honest, the design looks like a concept truck rather than something ready for production, but that might be the point. This might only be the design concept on which the production Ram 1500 will be based.

Only time will tell if this design will indeed become the next Ram 1500. We expect Ram to make the announcement in the coming months, perhaps even at the LA or Detroit Auto Shows.

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Why It Matters

The Ram truck has carried the same basic design since 1994. That raised hood and big-rig-style fenders give it a unique looks not found in its competition. The design has certainly evolved over the decades, leading to different iterations on the iconic look, but the same bones are there. That apparently isn’t changing with the upcoming generation either. It definitely is a more drastic departure from the design, but the genealogy remains very traceable.

Ram’s advancements couldn’t come at a better time. The pickup segment is heating up thanks to new and upcoming entries, along with the growing mid-size segment that’s all but guaranteed to grow. Ram has got to stay competitive in order to not lose its market share.

So, let us know what you think of this future Ram truck in the comments below.