Meet the 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon

The biggest news from the Chrysler Group at the ongoing 2016 Chicago Auto Show is the debut of the 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon. This new Power Wagon doesn’t get any real changes to the functional components, but the changes made to the exterior of the 2017 Power Wagon allow it to easily stand apart from the flashy Ram 2500s on lots around the country today.

The 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon is powered by the same 392 cubic inch Hemi as the current models, with 410 horsepower and 429lb-ft of torque sent to all four wheels via a heavy duty 6-speed automatic transmission. A Bilstein suspension setup tucked behind all four wheels gives this truck more off-road capabilities than any other heavy duty truck in the USA, but for those who need a truck to put in work – this badass Ram will still tow more than 10,000lbs.

Where the 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon differs from the current models begins with the new graphics package, with the Power Wagon logo running vertically along the front edge of the bedsides. The sides of the new Power Wagon also get black wheel flares, black Ram 2500 logos, black trim along the bottom of the body and new black-and-machined aluminum wheels.

Up front is the most prominent and likely the most controversial aspect of the 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon – the new grille design. As is the case with the Ram 1500 Rebel, the Ram 2500 Power Wagon does away with the traditional crosshair grille design, instead option for a more wide-open grille and the bold RAM logo through the middle. The 2017 Power Wagon also features a hood graphic and a unique front bumper with an integrated Warn winch. Out back, the 2017 Power Wagon has a massive RAM logo across the tailgate and below that is a large Power Wagon logo.

On one hand, I like the 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon for the sporty, retro design, but on the other hand, I also really like the current Power Wagon “splash” graphics. I like the current models and I like the 2017 Power Wagon, but with some people criticizing the flashier graphics of the current Power Wagon package, this new simpler design might resonate better with those buyers who want a more subdued look.

Finally, the inside of the 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon is unique from the rest of the Ram ¾-ton lineup thanks to the Power Wagon logos on the seat bolsters and the unique tread pattern stamped into the center of the front seats.

The company hasn’t announced pricing for the 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon, but with the changes being mostly aesthetic, the new models shouldn’t cost much more than the Power Wagons already on sale today. The 2017 Power Wagon will arrive in dealers later this year. In the meantime, enjoy our pictures from the 2016 Chicago Auto Show and the video of the new Power Wagon making its official debut!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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