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.

Click here to head into the DodgeForum.com 4th generation Ram section to discuss this awesome new pickup!

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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