Ram Celebrates 10 Years of Independence as a Solo FCA Brand
2012
Tradesman Heavy Duty
A new Tradesman Heavy Duty joined the lineup for the 2012 model year and brought with it class-leading towing, payload and gross combined weight rating. The Tradesman, which is aimed at one of the pickup truck segment’s largest traditional customer bases, continues to be a value-priced option package designed to meet the hardworking needs of small-business owners, construction jobsites and commercial fleets.
A new six-speed automatic transmission, available on the 4.7-liter and 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engines, and new steering wheel with cruise control buttons also debuted for 2012.
2013 – Reinventing the Segment, Again
The 2013 Ram 1500 featured new exterior design cues, including an all-new grille and front fascia, improved quad projection headlamps and LED front turn signals and tail lamps. Best-in-class fuel economy was achieved with the addition of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine and TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 was also available with the TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission for the first time. Inside, the 2013 Ram 1500’s upgraded interior features included standard and premium multiview display, passive entry, Keyless Enter ’n Go, steering wheel with controls, wood accents, updated door panels, instrument panel, interior colors and premium materials.
Also new for 2013 was the remote central locking RamBox cargo management system and tailgate combined with door locks. Rain-sensing wipers, SmartBeam headlamps, power-folding mirrors and power-sliding rear window with defrost also joined the lineup as available options in 2013.
2014
3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel Engine Introduced
The Ram 1500 was the first modern half-ton, full-size pickup to offer durable, efficient diesel technology. With the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel’s historic debut, Ram customers could enjoy class-leading fuel economy and range, along with torque that was unsurpassed by any full-size truck with a V-6 engine. The EcoDiesel-powered 2014 Ram 1500 earned a 28-mpg rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the best highway-cycle test result ever achieved by a half-ton, full-size pickup. It also exceeded the EPA highway rating for the top-ranked midsize pickup.
This 28-mpg rating opened the floodgates when dealers opened for orders – more than 8,000 trucks equipped with the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine were sold in the first 72 hours of availability. Initial demand was strong as demonstrated by the amount of orders already paid for by customers — twice the corporate average of sold customer orders on a truck that had yet to be test driven at the time.
Ram Commercial is Formed
In 2014, Ram Truck launched a new division to focus on commercial truck development, sales and support in a growing market. Embodied by the Tradesman trim level available on all models, the Ram Commercial organization continues to offer a full line of industrial-strength trucks and vans.
The timing of Ram Commercial’s launch aligned with the 2014 model year launch of the all-new Ram ProMaster van and a positive commercial demand.
Ram Commercial targets countless businesses in a variety of industries, including service and repairs, construction, transportation and shipping, large-medium-small businesses and agriculture. ProMaster has also become a popular option for the Van Life movement.
Ram ProMaster – A One-Stop Mobile Shop
The 2014 Ram ProMaster joined the lineup as the brand’s latest addition to its popular commercial lineup and put Ram Truck back into the expanding, purpose-built, full-size van segment with a number of best-in-class features focused on the commercial customer. The unique van created additional opportunity in Ram’s work truck lineup. ProMaster continues to prove that it’s a workhorse with an incredible combination of durability, value, efficiency and capability like none other in its class. Additionally, the ProMaster was the first offering in its competitive set to provide both a chassis cab and cutaway from the factory.
2015
Ram 1500 Rebel – For Those Who Push Back
The 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel kicked in the door, for both the brand and segment, with the introduction of a one-of-a-kind design that brought robust off-road capability, enabling the brand to reach even more consumers. The 1500 Rebel ushered in a new “cross-hair” grille design, black off-road front bumper with a durable powder-coated surface that incorporates a Billet silver skid plate, new front tow hooks and new LED fog lamps. The “RAM” stamped tailgate with blacked-out lettering also debuted on 1500 Rebel.
Off-road capability was bolstered by the introduction of Bilstein front and rear shocks with unique tuning and a new steering calibration that is matched to the Rebel’s increased ride height.
‘Ram Celebrates 10 Years of Independence as a Solo FCA Brand’ continued…