2013 Ram 1500 wins Motor Trend Truck of the Year
To those DodgeForum.com members who are lucky enough to daily drive a new Ram 1500, it probably comes as no big surprise but the folks at Motor Trend have announced that the redesigned 2013 Ram 1500 is their Truck of the Year. The 2013 1500 beat out a small field of trucks that fit the requirements which are all either all new or heavily refreshed for the new model year. Those trucks that meet those standards are then judged by the folks at Motor Trend on six criteria – Design Advancement, Engineering Excellence, Efficiency, Safety, Value and Performance of Intended Function.
“We had a small but solid field of contenders for Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year,” said Edward Loh, Editor-in-Chief of Motor Trend. “But in the end, the choice was clear: Ram 1500 not only withstood our rigorous testing, it impressed at every step along the way. Our judges were won over by the performance of Ram 1500’s broad array of standard and optional equipment. It’s a truck that can be tailored to meet most anyone’s needs. For these reasons and more, we’re excited to name the Ram 1500 the Motor Trend 2013 Truck of the Year.”
While the 2013 Ram 1500 has been refreshed on the outside with improved aerodynamics and some cool, high tech projection headlights, the real story on the new Ram 1500 is under the hood. Motor Trend praised both the tried and true 5.7L Hemi with 395 horsepower and 407lb-ft of torque as well the new Pentastar
V6 that offers up 305 horsepower and 269lb-ft of torque. These engines are both incredibly fuel efficient on their own but when you add in the new 8-speed automatic transmission, the active aero package featuring grille shutters and an adjustable air suspension system that allows the driver to lower the truck on the highway – the new Ram is the most fuel friendly half ton truck on the market today. More impressively, it can claim those fuel economy bragging rights while also being among the most powerful and the most capable trucks available today so with the 2013 Ram, there is no compromise.
“The new Ram 1500 makes a powerful statement about our company and the Ram Truck Brand,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico (shown above on the right with the Motor Trend Truck of the Year award). “Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year is an amazing honor; truly one of the most prestigious awards an automaker can achieve. It reaffirms the fact that Ram has the best truck on the road today. Bar none.”
Finally, the people at Motor Trend applauded the fact that the 2013 Ram 1500 is available in so many different configurations and with so many unique options like the RamBox in-bed storage compartment, it can truly meet the needs of any buyer. Unlike some companies that try to jam every new truck buyer into 4 trimlines, the Ram comes in 11 trimlines including Tradesman, Express, SLT, HFE, R/T, Lone Star, Big Horn, Outdoorsman, Sport, Laramie and Laramie Longhorn. From hardcore work truck to high performance sport truck to a high end luxury truck – the 2013 Ram 1500 offers a package for every new truck buyer and that was one of the reasons that the Ram is once again Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year.