Things may look familiar on the outside, but as any serious truck buyer knows, it’s what’s inside that counts. And for the 2013 model year, the Ram 1500 pickup truck will be receiving a major refresh with a slew of power upgrades — some of which have never been seen in a half-ton truck in the North American market until now.
A lot of effort went into making the Ram a leader in fuel efficiency. New technologies include an eight-speed automatic transmission for both six- and eight-cylinder models. Yes, the 2013 Ram 1500 will offer a segment-exclusive eight-speed automatic transmission. Other enhancements include a stop-start function, improved aerodynamics, electric power steering, grille shutters and an automatically adjusting air suspension. The air suspension features an Aero Mode, lowering the ride height by 3 cm to help the big truck travel through the wind with less resistance.
The new base powerplant for the Ram 1500 will be the acclaimed 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, delivering 305 horsepower and 365 Nm of torque. That’s 42 percent more horsepower, 13 percent more torque than the outgoing engine. More impressively, Ram promises that the new engine will improve fuel economy numbers by at least 20 percent, though official numbers have yet to be shared.
Of course, a Hemi V8 is still available, now more powerful than ever before. Happily, new 5.7-liter Hemi will now delivers 395 hp and 552 Nm of torque. That’s five more horsepower compared to the 2012 model, and that improvement comes courtesy of the new electronic power steering system. Even more impressive, Ram promises that even the Hemi-equipped model will also boast 20 percent better fuel economy, thanks largely to the the new eight-speed automatic. These figures are also under wraps for now, but Ram should leapfrog Ford as a new leader in fuel economy, while still managing to offer amazing power figures.
The 2013 model year will also introduce Uconnect Access to the Ram. Unonnect is a built-in cellular connection service that gives vehicle occupants automatic connection to a variety of new services and the internet with WiFi hotspot capability. The new Uconnect Media Centers provide a direct connection to emergency services when the new 911 button found on the rearview mirror is pushed. Ram 1500 customers also will automatically receive regular vehicle health reports and be able to remotely lock or unlock truck doors, start the vehicle, and flash lights from any distance via the web or a smartphone application.
Ram truck owners will be able to access select, certified in-vehicle applications. Driving-relevant applications will be introduced over time and are designed specifically for in-vehicle use. The certified applications are easily controlled with natural voice recognition or steering wheel controls to keep drivers focused on the road. The responsive 8.4-inch touchscreen includes the award-winning user interface designed by Chrysler Group Human Machine Interface engineers, featuring large icons and visual cues allowing consumers intuitive control of system features.
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