Crack open the popcorn folks, this is the 692bhp Hellcat-engined 1500 TRX – the first major competitor that the Ford Raptor has had to deal with in the history of ever. And it’s got what all those Raptor naysayers want: a big ‘ol thirsty V8 with a supercharger whacked on top – not some sissy twin-turbo V6. Their words, not ours.

This absolute anvil of power (and biggest flex at Jewsons possible) follows on from the news that every single model in Dodge’s range can have a Hellcat-powered, 700+ horsepower SRT version. But FCA’s truck brand wanted in on the looney asylum, so has followed suit, by dropping the familiar 692bhp (702 American horsepower) and 650 lb ft supercharged 6.2-litre V8 in a crew-cab pick-up.

That’s not all though, as there are some rather comprehensive upgrades. And you should hope so too – given that it starts at $71,690, nearly $14k more than a crew-cab Raptor. Fully loaded, you can expect the TRX to be nudging $90,000. Yowch. So what do you get? Well, it may not look like it, but it is actually a RAM 1500 underneath. It’s just grown a bit. Quite a bit. The arches are a whopping eight inches wider than standard, to hold a track width increase of six inches. But to be able to not bend like a banana at Full Send, the frame and suspension have been beefed up – just like a Raptor’s.

Underneath there’s new suspension, with an independent front axle and new forged aluminium control arms up front. Out back, there’s the standard Dana 60 solid axle but with a new five-link setup while Bilstein has developed chunky 2.5-inch remote-reservoir dampers all round for when you pound the sand. And make no mistake about it, the TRX has been designed to run hard and bait out that blue oval.

That’s why Ram engineers have fitted that monster 6.2-litre engine with a new airbox (mounted above the engine so it’s not rattled to death) fed by the grille and the hood scoop, so the motor can breathe through massive filters so it gets a clean supply even during high-speed desert running. There’s also a new oil pan and a new alternator, mounted higher up to increase wading depth to 32 inches. Or navel height for most people, if you need some dubious scale. Ram even went to the extent of moving the front axle forward to give the TRX 13-inches of suspension travel front and rear, plus a ground clearance of 11.8-inches, a near three inch growth spurt.

Flattering the Raptor, there’s also a “Baja” mode. This doesn’t mean a lot to us You-row-pee-ans, but it basically means that with one press of a button the truck is set up to smash across a slither of Mexico thanks to a special desert calibration for the four-wheel drive system, stability control, engine and transmission maps. We’re sure it’d work in Bedfordshire too. If the mahoosive truck could fit down the lanes, that is. But because ‘Murica’, Ram has also developed the truck to run on tarmac. Well, sticky drag strip bitumen.

Weirdly, Ram is very proud of having produced a pick-up truck that can not only beat up the Atacama, tow 3,600kg (8100lbs) and swallow 600kg of whatever in its bed, it can also tear up the drag strip. Equipped with a dedicated launch control button secreted in the dash, once activated, Ram claims the TRX will hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, 100 mph in 10.5, and it’ll run the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds with a 108-mph trap speed. It’ll run out of puff shortly afterwards, with the top speed being 118 mph. But only because all those numbers have been run on knobby 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory All-Terrain rubber. Which is crazy.

Inside, a TRX is very similar to all the other Ram trucks. Which is no bad thing, as they’re the most car-y trucks on sale. There’s a Tesla-esque 12.0-inch portrait centre touchscreen, plush seats and paddles to play around with the ZF eight-speed automatic ‘box it comes with.

So, if you’ve been waiting out for a TRX since the concept in 2016, your dream has come true. Mainly because they’ve given you a couple of hundred more horsepower on top of that. But would you have one of these over a Ford Raptor? Let us know in the comments below.

Ram's on-again, off-again sub-1500 pickup is allegedly on its way to production, but we haven't seen it yet. In the meantime, the company's Mexican division introduced a trucklet named 700 built on a unibody architecture.

The 700's positioning suggests it picks up where the Dakota left off, but it's a completely different breed of truck. And, while its unibody bones are reminiscent of the Honda Ridgeline, it's a much smaller model that's essentially a badge-engineered version of the Fiat Strada. No, not the hatchback briefly sold in the United States from 1979 to 1982; we're talking about the little, economy car-derived pickup sold in dozens of global markets.

Think of the 700 as the Dodge Rampage's distant heir. Visually, its front end borrows a handful of styling cues from the 1500, including an upright grille characterized by a bold Ram emblem and mesh inserts. Called SLT, the base model wears a decidedly downmarket look with black plastic bumpers and steel wheels covered by plastic hubcaps. The mid-range Big Horn blurs the line between a commercial vehicle and a crossover with a practical cargo box, while the range-topping Laramie variant is aimed at motorists who want an outdoorsy daily driver.

Ram offers two- and four-door models, though only the SLT is available in the former configuration. The 700 boasts a usable 1,653-pound payload and an 880-pound towing capacity.

Power comes from a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that sends 84 horsepower to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. Buyers can pay extra for a turbocharged, 1.3-liter four that delivers 98 horsepower. It doesn't appear that four-wheel drive is available, and there's no automatic transmission on the menu.

Small and cheap doesn't necessarily mean basic. The 700 can be equipped with a seven-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, a rear-view camera, and electronic driving aids such as ABS brakes and traction control, plus LED headlights. Laramie models also benefit from partial leather upholstery.

Ram will release the 2021 700 in the Mexican market this month, but we're not expecting the model to find its way north to the U.S. Drivers who want a small, unibody truck will need to wait until Ford releases the Maverick, which will ride on the same basic platform as the Escape and the Bronco Sport. It's tentatively due out in 2021 as a 2022 model.

Ram will build an electrified pickup, FCA CEO Mike Manley confirmed during the company's third-quarter earnings call Wednesday. Manley provided no details, but confirmed that electrification is on the way for its truck brand. This also means that it's not clear whether this truck will be a full electric, or if it will be a conventional or plug-in hybrid. It's still significant, though, since this is the first time we've heard a clear message from FCA leadership that electrification will be a priority for Ram.

“I do see that there will be an electrified Ram pickup in the marketplace, and I would ask you just to stay tuned for a little while, and we’ll tell you exactly when that will be," Manley said, according to the Detroit Free Press.

With concrete plans starting to emerge from both Ford and General Motors, FCA is now looking like the odd one out. Company representatives have been tough to nail down on the question of electrification. Without ruling it out entirely, Manley and other shot-callers have been somewhat dismissive of the notion in previous announcements and interviews. "The reason we haven't spoken much about electric pickup trucks is not because we view that market as non-existent. We've always had a slightly different view of timing and adoption rates, particularly in North America in terms of full electrification. We are very committed to our electrification strategy — most of which we have revealed," Manley, said in August.

Of course, what had been revealed at the time did not include a pickup. That hasn't exactly conclusive, either, as FCA's future product roadmap has been nebulous (to put it charitably) for essentially the past decade. The announcement of a merger with PSA resulted in yet another strategic reboot, and we've yet to see exactly how Stellantis will integrate existing PSA electrification plans with FCA's fast-and-loose approach to EVs.

Given the fact that PSA is not a player in the full-size pickup game, it stands to reason that Ram's development would likely come from this side of the pond. Whether FCA/Stellantis will keep the development in house or tap one of America's electric startups as a potential partner or supplier remains to be seen. Either route has potential, with a number of electric truck start-ups in the U.S., and extensive EV and hybrid experience within FCA and the soon-to-be-integrated PSA group. In fact, the plug-in hybrid powertrain from the Wrangler 4xe shows some potential for being shared with something like the Ram 1500. For now, though, we'll just have to wait and see.

The chip shortage is a bit of a problem for the automotive industry, an issue that could translate to $110 billion in worldwide losses according to experts. Ford is feeling the brunt of the semiconductor crunch in terms of F-Series sales, which contracted to 158,235 units for the second quarter.
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That’s 45,562 fewer workhorses than in the first quarter of the year, but more importantly, the F-Series line has lost its crown to the Ram P/U family of half-ton and heavy-duty pickups. Previously known as FCA, Stellantis reported 164,232 sales for the second quarter and a half-year tally of 313,068 vs. 362,032 for the F-Series. In this respect, the F-Series is king of the hill.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 117,275 units to its name while the GMC Sierra 1500 finished the quarter with 53,640 trucks. As for the heavy-duty lineup, make that 44,431 and 21,855 examples, respectively. In other words, the F-Series has also lost to the light- and heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado.

Moving on, Toyota Tundra sales have contracted from 48,880 in the first half of 2020 to 43,865 this year. As a brief refresher, the all-new Tundra is looming on the horizon with a TT V6 that cranks out more horsepower and torque than the current N/A V8. Because of the ongoing chip shortage, Nissan sold 17,776 Titans in the first half of 2021 compared to 12,196 units last year.

This being said, let’s also talk about pricing for the base models. The Ram 1500 starts at $32,795 for the fifth-gen DT while the old-gen DS soldiers on as the Ram 1500 Classic from $28,855 excluding destination charge. The Silverado 1500 comes in at $29,300 for the plastic-bumpered Work Truck, and the most affordable F-150 undercuts the Chevrolet pickup by just $10.

Toyota charges $34,025 for the Tundra, and in its defense, Toyota throws in a DOHC V8 as standard. Last, but certainly not least, Nissan lists the Titan at $36,950 for the King Cab S with RWD and the 400-horsepower V8.

Ram is now the second member of Detroit's Big Three to announce a release date for its own battery-electric half-ton pickup. The confirmation came this morning during parent company Stellantis' EV Day event, revealing a few details about the future-facing product that will rival Ford's F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet's still-mysterious electric Silverado. What's more, the Ram brand plans to deliver fully electric models "for all of its segments no later than 2030."

While the prospect of a zero-emissions one-ton truck is something to explore, the real focus here is the Ram 1500 EV. We know little about it right now, though the automaker did drop a wholly unique rendered design as well as an infographic showing Stellantis' four full BEV platforms.

The auto group is set to offer unibody EV platforms in three sizes—small, medium, and large—one of which could underpin Ram's new midsize truck that was teased by Stellantis Head of Design Ralph Gilles. A dedicated EV body-on-frame architecture is also on the way, so expect the Ram 1500 EV to be built atop that; Stellantis claims 500 miles of range from this setup.

Ram CEO Mike Koval explained why the company is waiting until 2024 to deliver a full-size BEV by saying, "Truck customers are open to electrification, as long as it doesn't sacrifice power, performance, or capability." Presumably, those first two won't be a problem given the impressive numbers we've heard pertaining to electric pickups thus far. Koval didn't define Ram's parameters when it comes to expected capability, but you can bet it wants to beat the F-150 Lightning's max tow capacity of 10,000 pounds.

One feature mentioned in Ram's presentation that we haven't yet seen from the marque is onboard power. It was listed under the "E-Technologies" banner, alluding to a mobile generator of sorts similar to Ford's ProPower Onboard system. Again, we don't know exactly how much juice the Ram 1500 BEV will be able to provide, though it's clear the manufacturer wants to capitalize on the inevitably huge battery supply that'll come with it.

The late '90s and early '00s street truck fad was great; I miss it. There are still high-performance pickups, of course, though they're Baja blasters instead of pavement pounders. Cheesy alliteration aside, there are plenty of folks out there who want to see more muscle trucks on the road—and apparently, some of them work at Ram.

That's what the company's new G/T Package will have you thinking, what with its factory cold air intake and sport exhaust. It also ditches that much-maligned dial transmission shifter for a more traditional console-mounted lever with paddles behind the steering wheel. If you can't have a manual, you might as well have those.

Now, the G/T Package can only be equipped on crew-cab Laramie and Rebel trucks with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 eTorque powertrain. That's a fairly potent combo with 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, and that output gets sent through an eight-speed shiftable automatic. You can't help but wonder what it's like to tune that mild-hybrid...

Real truck aficionados will acknowledge the G/T Package's street cred once they spot those unique graphics on the bedsides. Should they peek inside, they'll also notice the bucket seats that are presumably better at holding you in while you cane your 6,000-pound truck around corners. That sounds pretty fun, really, and you can even view metrics like zero to 60 times and g-force on the vertical infotainment display. It's just like a Hellcat, then. Sorta.

Finally, a cold-end exhaust system projects only the nicest sounds out the dual pipes that should definitely be re-routed to exit just in front of the rear passenger wheel. It seemed to work for people in the past, and I wouldn't knock you for trying it.

Pricing for the Ram 1500 Laramie G/T Package starts at $57,175 including destination, while the Rebel variant is a bit cheaper at $57,070. It only goes up from there once you add other options like available four-wheel drive, so don't expect to buy one of these for less than you could build a V8 Dakota from yesteryear. Then again, that Dakota probably doesn't have leather seats...or a 48-volt hybrid system...

Ram will offer an all-electric version of its every model by the end of the decade. But before the company and customers are ready to move entirely to electric power, Ram has to make the best out of its existing lineup. To further boost the demand for its 1500 truck, the company is introducing a special edition model that will go on sale in the third quarter of this year.

The so-called 2022 Ram 1500 BackCountry Edition builds on the success of the 1500 Big Horn and Lone Star models. It will make its first public appearance during the Chicago Auto Show later this week. It comes equipped with additional off-road equipment complemented by visual upgrades inside and out.

Starting with the hardware upgrades, the BackCountry Edition for the 1500 truck brings the 4x4 Off-Road Group, which includes features such as tow hooks, skid plates for the front suspension, transfer case, power steering and fuel tank, rear electronic locking axle, off-road calibrated shocks, hill-descent control, and all-terrain tires. Also part of the factory equipment is the Bed Utility Group, which adds upper adjustable tie downs, bed extender, deployable bed step, bed lighting, and spray-in bed liner.

From the outside, you’ll be able to recognize the new special edition truck by the 18-inch black wheels and two-tone exterior paint. There’s a sort of a black design package with black badging, exhaust tips, headlight bezels, mirrors, and running boards, as well as body-colored grille surround.

The same color theme can be found inside the cabin where there’s a pair of black bucket seats at the front and all-weather Mopar mats all around. A BackCountry badge on the seven-inch infotainment screen corresponds with the exterior badging.

Ram says the 2022 1500 BackCountry Edition will be offered with two versions of the brand’s 5.7-liter V8 - a naturally aspirated one and a hybridized one. The special edition truck will go on sale with an MSRP of $40,085 before the $1,695 destination charges.

Ram's massive, Hellcat-powered 1500 TRX views performance differently than, say, the 2022 Audi RS3. It was designed for the dunes, not for the track, but that didn't stop a British YouTuber from taking the behemoth to the Nürburgring in Germany to find out what it can do.

While the famously challenging track is often open to anyone willing to pay to get in, regardless of whether they're in a Porsche 911 GT2 RS or in a rented Kia Rio, officials have reportedly started turning away folks who show up in massive trucks, so getting the TRX past the gates was a small victory. Once on the track, the supercharged, 6.2-liter V8's prodigious 702-horsepower output quickly pelts the pickup towards its 117-mph speed limiter. Ram conservatively quotes a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds, and the TRX has no trouble pulling it off.

That's great on a drag strip, but on the 'Ring? You need to turn, and sharp handling doesn't appear on the TRX's résumé; you may as well ask a Honda Civic Si to blast across the desert at 90 mph. It leans into turns like a fighter jet, but the Hellcat V8 pulls it out of a bend with ease as it completely dwarfs every car it passes — except a first-generation Land Rover Defender, which looks equally out of place.

Interestingly, it sounds like the biggest issue the 6,400-pound TRX ran into while lapping the 'Ring was related to its braking system. There's no word on what shape the different parts were in before the run, but the front brakes can be seen smoking — and smelled, according to the man in the camera car — relatively early on in the run. But, here again, this is not the type of situation they were developed to perform in.

"My brake pedal is about halfway down the floor at the moment, but it still has some functionality ... a little bit," the driver says at one point. And yet, the overall experience was positive. "This was a great thing to do! I'm really glad I did it," he concluded. As a bonus, the off-road-tuned suspension lets the TRX pass other cars (including a lot of high-end models) by simply moving two wheels from the track to the grass.

We've embedded the full, 17-minute-long video above; note that it includes some NSFW language.

Ram's answer to the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Chevrolet Silverado EV is due out in 2024. Official details about the electric pickup are few and far between, but a recent trademark filing might have revealed the nameplate that the model will wear when it lands in showrooms.

Parent company Stellantis asked the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to trademark the name "Ram Revolution" in January 2022. Discovered by CarBuzz, the filing applies to "motor vehicles, namely, passenger trucks" so it's not for a toy or an event. The filing has fueled speculation that Revolution will be the name given to the 1500's electric sidekick. It's a move that would make sense; Ram pledged to redefine the segment, so the pickup will be more of a revolution than an evolution, and the word "revolution" has "EV" in it.

Unlike rival Ford, Ram doesn't have an EV-friendly nameplate in its attic that's waiting to be dusted off. Dodge's trucks were lumped under the D-Series umbrella for decades, and its limited-edition models wore names like The Dude, Warlock, and Macho Power Wagon. We suppose that the Li'l Red Express could become the Li'l Green Express, but that territory is arguably best left unexplored. And, following Chevrolet's lead by tacking "EV" after the "1500" nameplate is seemingly not creative enough for the company's marketing department.

As always, a trademark filing is not a guarantee that a nameplate will see the light that awaits at the end of a production line. If it was, Volkswagen would sell the Amarok in the United States and the Falcon would again be part of the Ford lineup. Ram hasn't commented on the trademark filing, and it hasn't revealed what it plans to call its first series-produced electric truck. More details should emerge in 2022.

Tesla promised in 2019 it would sell an electric pickup truck by 2021, and nothing has happened so far. Ford followed suit, and its F-150 Lightning should arrive in the next few months to join the Rivian R1T as an option with a battery pack. RAM has no rush: it launched RAM Revolution to ask its customers what they want in an electric pickup truck.
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In the YouTube video embedded below, RAM recognizes it will not be among the “first come, first served” car companies in that market segment. That said, the Stellantis brand wants to sell “the best electric truck” instead. That’s why it states that the revolution will only begin when the RAM 1500 BEV “rolls off the line,” which the automaker expects to happen by 2024.

With the official name of the future electric truck seemingly defined, that may mean two things. The first is that the RAM 1500 BEV is probably entering development only now that the Rivian R1T proved this could be an attractive market segment. The second is that RAM is probably waiting for better battery tech to start fighting for its slice of this cake.

That is wise. With the current cells, a pickup truck powered by a battery pack would be heavier than its competitors and would not travel as far. While that may be just fine for a leisure vehicle, it can be a hassle in one that people intend to put to work. Ford will put that to the test with the F-150 Lightning.

If Stellantis manages to get a solid-state battery until 2024 – or at least something that could take fast charges without the same reliability concerns that current cells present – that may already put it at an advantage against the older competitors. If Stellantis is promising that the RAM 1500 BEV “will haul anything, anywhere, on your command,” it has to ensure that it is feasible. We’re convinced that most of the requests the company will get at RAM Revolution will relate to their range needs. Any other demand will be much easier to solve.

Ram is making a big deal about the full-electric Ram 1500 coming in 2024, as well it should. It will be a major competitor to the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevy Silverado EV, and it will have an interesting development process with input from Ram fans. An all-electric model would generally be big enough product news, but it's getting an interesting addition: a range-extender model.

We learned this in an interview with Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr. He noted that it will be a part of Ram trying to respond to customer interests and concerns, as well as offering more than expected. He didn't go into detail about the powertrain, but it will launch alongside the electric model in 2024. It sounded as though it will be based on the electric truck, but with some sort of gasoline engine to provide power. It's not clear if it would be a pure series hybrid a la BMW i3, or if the engine would engage the wheels to provide some propulsion.

We think there's one big area where this powertrain makes sense: towing. While capable of towing huge amounts, electric vehicles tend to lose a drastic amount of range when towing. And especially with an underdeveloped charging network, it would make towing any distance frustrating — and a big issue, when towing is a big reason for owning a large truck. Introducing an internal combustion engine for occasional towing would mean that a Ram buyer could have a much more efficient experience, and still have full EV capability when not towing.

A report out of Brazil from Auto Segredos (translated), picked up by CarBuzz, claims the U.S. is going to get a baby Ram pickup. The outlet was part of a group of local car media speaking to Antonio Filosa, president of Stellantis South America. Filosa's big announcement was that there'd be a new Ram 1200 truck for our neighbors in the next hemisphere, part of a product onslaught involving 16 new models and 26 revised models over the next three years. The key Auto Segredos line for us is, "The pickup will also be sold in the American market to face the Ford Maverick." If it's true, then this is enormous news.

Other details in the report leave us a touch cloudy on what such a pickup will look like for the American market, though. At one point, the AS article says the truck will be built on the Small Wide 4x4 platform used by Stellantis family products like the Jeep Renegade and Alfa Romeo Tonale. The architecture will be resized in Brazil "to be a medium-sized pickup" competing with the segment including the Chevrolet S10 (which is still on sale down there), Toyota Hilux, and Ford Ranger. Ram had a 1200 pickup on sale in the Middle East that was based on the Mitsubishi L200 and fought the Hilux and Ranger, but the Mitsu has always been body-on-frame and we'd wonder at Ram sending a cushy-riding pickup to battle hardcore work trucks.

In the U.S., however, we're told the Ram 1200 would fight in the class below that, in the growing field of compact pickups dominated at the moment by the Ford Maverick. The most confusing bit: AS writes, "In the U.S., there are plans for the Ram 1200 to have a chassis-mounted version." The way the piece is translated, Brazil would be getting a midsized Ram unibody pickup to challenge midsized body-on-frame pickups while the U.S. would get a compact Ram body-on-frame pickup to compete against a compact unibody pickup.

Something's either been lost in the Google translation, or Ram is truly operating in the fourth dimension if this comes to pass as we're reading it.

The common traits among both descriptions are four-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic, both of which would start a potential small Ram competitor on the right foot. AS goes through engine options for the Brazil market that include the 2.0-liter Tigershark and 2.2-liter Multijet turbodiesel, neither of which we get here, as well as a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbodiesel that doesn't exist yet.

So we'll put this report here as a marker and see where a new Ram pickup lands — if it happens. The Dakota still gets a whole lotta boys to the yard, so we know there are plenty in the Ram family who'd love to see something, anything, here to slot in below the 1500.

American automakers have no problem selling tons of new trucks every year, but light-duty diesel trucks are going the way of the dinosaurs that power them. Ram announced that 2023 would be the last model year it offers its EcoDiesel powertrain in the Ram 1500. The engine will be available in most configurations of the 2023 truck and can be ordered now.

Ram is following Ford’s lead in discontinuing the diesel powertrain option in its full-size truck line. Ford nixed the Powerstroke option for the F-150 in 2021, and once Ram is done, only the Silverado and Sierra will be available with an oil burner option. The GM twins have the advantage of a brand-new Duramax unit, so there will likely be a diesel option on sale there for some time to come.

The Ram 1500 was a pioneer in its class, as it was the first half-ton, full-size truck to offer a diesel. The powertrain got a significant overhaul in 2020 after the debut of the all-new fifth-generation Ram trucks. At 3.0-liters, the EcoDiesel V6 produces 260 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque.

Slow sales could be part of the decision, but as Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr. noted in the press release, the brand is looking toward electrification. Simplifying its truck lineup allows Ram the opportunity to shift resources to electric truck development. The automaker has confirmed that it will release a battery-electric truck in 2024 and says it will offer electrified options in most vehicle segments by the end of the decade.

We sat down with Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr. at the Detroit Auto Show, and he dropped a number of interesting tidbits about some of Ram's plans for the near future. In particular, he made it sound like Ram is seriously considering adding smaller trucks to its lineup. But it also has bigger pickup reveals coming up both for the heavy duty line and our first look at what will become the electric Ram 1500.

With smaller trucks, Koval's exact words were that they are "actively and aggressively" looking at trucks smaller than the current Ram 1500. We asked specifically about midsize trucks, but he added that they're also quite interested in even smaller vehicles than that, which in the U.S., at least, would be Maverick-sized. Koval also noted that Ram might be able to leverage Stellantis' wide array of brands for additional models. Another factor that may have Ram interested in smaller options is that it's expanding in other markets. Koval said Ram has seen record sales in international markets, with standouts being South America and Australia.

As for potential platforms for smaller Rams, the Gladiator platform would seem like a strong choice for a midsizer, since it's a traditional truck construction-wise, is already U.S.-certified, and has gone through some truck reinforcements. Outside American options, Peugeot sells a small to midsize pickup called the Landtrek, which was co-developed with a Chinese company. Ram also sells sub-compact pickups in Mexico and South America that are Fiat-derived. These latter two options would probably require significant alterations to bring them up to the refinement and performance standards of U.S. buyers, though.

Koval also gave us a little hint at more concrete Ram product reveals in the near-term. Apparently it will have a major Ram HD announcement in October. He wouldn't say what exactly, though. With Ford Super Duty getting a refresh soon, we wouldn't be surprised if the same will be happening with the Ram HD.

After the HD, Ram will show the Revolution concept in November, which will preview the electric Ram 1500. With a date like that, we're betting a reveal at or near the L.A. Auto Show. The production Ram 1500 electric pickup will be coming in 2024, and it will be accompanied by some sort of plug-in hybrid, possibly in a range-extender series-hybrid setup.

Ram unveiled the new 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel at the State Fair of Texas. This new model expands the brand's heavy-duty lineup and offers a unique and exceptional combination of off-road performance without sacrificing towing and payload capabilities.

The new 2023 Ram Heavy Duty Rebel, positioned between Laramie and Power Wagon, further fortifies Ram trucks as North America's off-road and performance truck leader.

"Ram Heavy Duty Rebel buyers will enjoy that the newest addition to our versatile lineup offers a combination of off-road performance without having to sacrifice capability," said Mike Koval Jr., Ram brand CEO - Stellantis. "Ram has a deep, rich and strong history of the most capable off-road trucks, and the new 2023 Ram Heavy Duty Rebel adds to that history while delivering the segment's benchmarks in comfort, luxury materials, innovation and technology."

Ram Heavy Duty Rebel models offer a choice between a 6.4-liter HEMI® V-8 with cylinder deactivation and variable-cam timing (VCT) and 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel I-6 engines. Other features include a unique suspension, rear limited slip differential, rear electronic locker and an available 12,000-lb. winch installed from the factory.

The new 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel offers off-road truck buyers an even wider selection with increased off-road performance and towing and payload capability. Ram Heavy Duty Rebel features a unique combination of technology, performance and a distinctive exterior appearance straight from the factory.
The Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel uses Power Wagon's structure and off-road prowess as a base while offering an alternative that off-road truck customers have been clamoring for, an available 6.7-liter Cummins Standard-Output Turbo Diesel I-6 engine that produces 370 horsepower and 850 lb.-ft. of torque with a powerband that provides ample torque starting at 1,700 rpm. The 68RFE six-speed automatic transmission is standard with the turbo diesel option. The standard 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 with cylinder deactivation and VCT provides 410 horsepower and 429 lb.-ft. of torque and is paired with the 8HP75 eight-speed automatic transmission.

Exterior styling cues are shared with Power Wagon, but Rebel features unique badging and a sport performance hood from Mopar. Ram Heavy Duty Rebel also features a unique off-road suspension, a rear limited-slip differential and rear electronic locker, 20-inch wheels (optional 18-inch wheels - late availability), 33-inch off-road tires and skid plates that protect the fuel tank and transfer case. Cargo tie-downs are standard while a spray-in bedliner, LED bed lighting and bed step are available.

An integrated front-mounted WARN Zeon-12 winch, rated at 12,000 lbs., is available on 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel models equipped with the 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 engine. The winch is installed at the factory and features a unique fairlead and fairlead retainer that utilizes a synthetic line that is maneuverable and won't kink or fray.

Ram Heavy Duty trucks already feature a segment-leading suspension system with the best ride and handling, loaded or unloaded. The new 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel uses this exclusive five-link coil design that provides enhanced load-carrying characteristics and articulation. An available rear air suspension system is also available and further enhances best-in-class ride and handling qualities. Maximum towing for the 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel is 16,870 pounds and maximum payload is 3,140 pounds.

Inside, the new 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel offers three different seating options, including a cloth bench or bucket seat, a Bristol leather bench or bucket seat and a full Natura Plus leather bucket seat. Rebel also features a 360-degree Surround View camera, which includes forward-view camera gridlines to help navigate obstacles. This system provides a single display-screen view of both sides of a trailer to assist drivers in maneuvering towing setups. An available 12-inch frameless digital gauge cluster features nearly two dozen different menus. The full-color cluster features five reconfigurable tiles for at-a-glance data, or quick and easy access to the most used information. Drivers may choose between analog or digital instrumentation. All cluster settings can be saved to a user profile.

Available safety features include adaptive cruise control, full-speed forward-collision warning plus, Lane Keep Assist, Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection, automatic headlamps, digital rearview mirror with tow mode and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel is available in a crew cab configuration with a six-foot, four-inch box.

The new 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) starts at $67,045 plus $1,895 destination.

New 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel models go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Mopar Insiders had a look at Ram's fleet information for the coming model year and discovered an omission: No regular cab with the six-foot four-inch short box for 2023. The fifth-gen pickup has never offered that configuration, but Ram has maintained the fourth-gen Ram Classic as a stubby for the past four model years and up to now on the entry-level Tradesman and the Express trims. According to the paperwork, the regular cab with the eight-foot long box survives into next year. If this comes to pass for 2023, it will lift the price of a two-wheel drive Ram Classic Tradesman a "whopping" $300, from $32,130 after the $1,895 destination fee to $32,430. The Express MSRP jumps by a genuinely large amount, because the option above the regular-cab short-box is a Quad Cab short-box. The Express goes from starting at $33,630 to $40,990.

Pruning the model would also leave Ford and Chevrolet as the only pickup makers in this market that sell a full-size truck with two doors, one row of seats, and one diminutive bed. Ford makes that setup available on the F-150 in XL and XLT forms, Chevy does so only with the Work Truck.

Unlike the other makers, however, Ram stashed an Easter egg in some of the 1500 Classic builds. There are 13 low-volume colors available for $450 apiece, compared to the $100 or $200 up-charges for standard monotone exterior colors. Anyone who wants a shorty in hues like Light Green (pictured), National Safety Yellow, School Bus Yellow, or Republic Blue should get on it. MI says the Ram will start production of the 2023 1500 Classic on January 3, 2023.

On January 5, 2023 Ram plans to introduce the world to what it calls "The truck of the future." This is expected to be the Ram Revolution Concept pickup, the battery-electric rig anticipated to hit the market in 2024 offering up to 500 miles of range and a conservative fast-charging max of 150 kW. Ram's taking a different approach compared to other battery-electric pickup makers, though, by planning to put a range-extended Ram on the market alongside the full-electric truck. When CarBuzz performed its usual survey of records at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, it found Fiat Chrysler had applied to trademark the term "Ram 1500 REV" on December 20. CarBuzz wonders which version of the coming electrified Ram the name will refer to, since "REV" could refer to the Revolution tag we've tied to the pure-electric model or could stand for range-extended vehicle. Mopar Insiders believes the term will be used for the range-extender.

Other than Ram CEO Mike Koval, Jr. confirming the two-pronged approach, we don't have details on the range-extender powertrain. We'd expect a meaty all-electric range, but it's not clear if the powertrain would be a pure series hybrid a la BMW i3, or if the engine would engage the wheels to provide some propulsion. Koval said the two-pronged approach is Ram responding to customer concerns and doing more than expected — going the extra mile, as it were. Towing and cold-weather performance remain the first counterpoints when discussing the Ford F-150 Lightning, and a page on Ram's web site touting the electric pickup features this quote from a possible attendee of the Ram Real Talk tour, "I don't know if it's doable, but longer range and shorter charge time, with a fast charger."

The same day FCA applied to get Ram 1500 REV, it applied for the phrase "Freedom is Electric." It's been used before on the Jeep side of the family, expect it to hit big on January 5.

Many automakers promised to attack the pickup truck segment with electric vehicles. Rivian arrived first, but it was Ford that tackled it with an affordable option: the F-150 Lightning. Anyone arriving late will have to come up with something better. Stellantis states that this something may be an 800V architecture that recovers 100 miles in 10 minutes. This is what the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept promises.
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All other electric pickup trucks currently for sale offer 400V systems, which demand more charging time and can cope with lower charging speeds than 350 kW, which is what Stellantis says the concept can accept. Unfortunately, that seems to be the only advantage the future Ram 1500 Revolution may offer in terms of technology. All other appeals have more to do with design than anything else.

The concept is the first to propose third-row jump seats, which may make it a six-seater (there are only two seats in the second row). They are placed on the powered mid-gate that gives access to the truck bed and allows the vehicle to carry objects up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) long.

The Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept is powered solely by a battery pack and two motors, one per axle. Stellantis seems particularly proud of the “cavernous frunk” and the tuning fork interior. We have to agree that it looks pretty good.


However, we expected the carmaker to share how big the battery pack is and how powerful the motors are. None of that is disclosed, probably not to anticipate too much on the STLA Frame architecture that the production version of this pickup truck will introduce. As crucial as the range is for battery electric vehicles, just saying it will charge faster than its competitors is not enough to make the latter fear the newcomer.

As usual, the concept is free to present elements that should be very hard to spot in the production version, such as the lack of B-pillars, massive 24-inch wheels, and 35-inch tires. The gigantic glass roof is another thing we can visualize in leisure vehicles, but not that much in a pickup truck that should also be a working instrument for several people.

One way to make an electric pickup truck travel longer is to make it lighter and more aerodynamic. Stellantis gave the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept a very streamlined profile. As for the weight, the automaker said it developed lightweight seats and side-view mirrors to help. If that helped the battery pack be smaller for the same range offered by its main competitors, that could also bring competitive gains. A smaller battery pack is also a cheaper one.

To make the concept more maneuverable, Stellantis gave this electric Ram four-wheel steering. The rear wheels have up to 15 degrees of articulation, which will allow drivers to think they are driving something much smaller than the electric pickup truck really is. Stellantis just has to rush that a bit: if the production version of the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept takes too much time to hit dealerships, it may have to offer more than 800V to attract customers.

When Ram unveiled the 1500 Revolution BEV yesterday, there was one glaring omission. The conceptual truck was showcased exclusively with electric power despite a previous statement made by a high-ranked official about the availability of a range extender. As a reminder, Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr. said nearly a year ago the pickup would get a gasoline engine to enable the workhorse to travel farther compared to the purely electric ute.

As it turns out, a range-extending ICE is still planned. During a roundtable interview at CES 2023 in Las Vegas, Ram's parent company Stellantis through the voice of its CEO Carlos Tavares said a gas engine is planned to juice up the battery pack. It's good to hear considering a pure EV doesn't exactly excel in terms of efficiency when it comes to towing, which pickups tend to do more often than basically any other type of vehicle.

Separately, Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr. told The Drive the electric-only truck version remains the top priority. He went on to mention other powertrains are being considered to help differentiate the 1500 from its two main rivals – the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Chevrolet Silverado EV. Koval mentioned prototypes of the 1500 BEV will hit the streets in a couple of months prior to 2024 when sales of the series production model are scheduled to commence.

In the meantime, Ram says the Revolution concept has been engineered with dual motors granting all-wheel drive. It sits on massive 24-inch wheels wrapped in chunky 35-inch off-road tires and boasts four-wheel steering along with third-row jump seats. Other highlights include a pass-through to the frunk creating enough space to store items up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) long, along with support for 350-kW charging and 28 inches of screen real estate.

Although other major technical specifications have not been provided, we do know the electric 1500 rides on the STLA Frame platform. Previously, Stellantis has said the body-on-frame architecture will accommodate large batteries (159 kWh to more than 200 kWh) with up to 500 miles (805 kilometers) of range. Ram and Jeep models that will use these underpinnings will be 212.5 to 232.3 inches (5,400 to 5,900 millimeters) long.

Prior to its 2024 market launch, the production-ready Ram 1500 BEV will be officially unveiled in the coming months.

A supposed Ram truck has been spotted again. The small pickup hints at an upcoming Ram that will slot below the 1500, and could be either called the 1200 or as rumors suggest, the Ram Dakota.

Internally called "Project 291," the prototypes were spotted in the northern regions of Sweden while undergoing rigorous cold weather testing alongside other Stellantis vehicles – the most notable of which was the Fiat Toro. According to reports, the Ram 1200 will be based on the Toro but with significant changes, especially in the powertrain.

As with the similar prototype caught at night before, the alleged Ram truck does come with heavy and boxy concealment to keep its design hidden away from prying eyes. However, the headlights could make you think you're looking at a Jeep pickup but they could be just placeholders like the rear Fiat Toro taillights seen here.

Up front, the concealment tries to hide a huge front grille with horizontal slats. Meanwhile, there is considerable clearance from the ground when viewed from the side. The upcoming Ram 1200 will be built on the Small Wide 4x4 platform, which also underpins other Jeep vehicles such as the Compass and the Commander.Size-wise, it is expected to fall between the Fiat Toro/Ram 1000 and the RAM 1500. Production is believed to be done at the Jeep factory in Pernambuco, Brazil. However, the Ram 1200 could be offered as a 4x4 variant only, unlike the Fiat Toro which has versions that run on the front axle alone.

Our friends from Motor1.com Brazil have confirmed in good authority that one of the engines Ram will offer is going to be a turbodiesel 2.2-liter that could offer around 200 horsepower (149 kilowatts) and 441 Newton-meters (325 pound-feet) of torque.

The Ram 1200 is expected to hit the worldwide market in 2024, so expect a launch sometime later this year. It is unclear at this point whether this small truck will reach the US shores where it could compete with the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick.

Say, "Hello," to the 2025 Ram 1500 REV, Ram's first-ever electric pickup truck. And while there are obvious design cues based on the Revolution concept, we're a bit surprised to see that a lot of the truck is carryover from the gas-powered Ram 1500 we know today.

Yes, the Revolution suggested a completely new exterior with wild lines, and a massive cab able to squeeze in a third row of seats. But the production REV only takes the front and rear-end designs and the wheel designs for itself. So it has the fancy LED headlights in a grille-less nose, and the taillights extend into the tailgate. And they've all been grafted on to the body and bed of the current model. Even the one glimpse of the interior shows that's basically the same as the current one, but possibly with an updated center screen and a screen in front of the passengers.



The Ram REV's hood isn't opened up in any shots, though the cut lines that extend into the front fascia suggests there probably is a front trunk like on the concept, the F-150 Lightning and Silverado EV. Also, with the conventional cab and body, we're guessing the mid-gate from the Revolution Concept isn't reaching production.

The results are still certainly attractive, at least in the eyes of this author. But it does feel like a bit of a bait-and-switch after seeing the concept. It should still get the completely new STLA Frame chassis and, obviously, electric powertrain, just under a familiar shell. It's very much the Ford F-150 Lightning (which we like very much) strategy of combining familiarity with forward-thinking, rather than the more radical approach from Chevrolet.

If you like what you see, you can reserve a spot in line to order one. Just visit RamREV.com, fill out a form and pay a $100 refundable fee. Production of the truck starts next year and deliveries will begin at the end of 2024.