Auburn Hills, Mich.
, Dec 10, 2009
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The editors of Motor Trend today named the all-new 2010 Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty pickups the magazine's "2010 Truck of the Year."
"To have our all-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty named Truck of the Year by the editors of Motor Trend
really defines how great this new Ram Heavy Duty pickup is," said Fred
Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer - Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler
Group LLC. "The Motor Trend Truck of the Year Award is like a
standing ovation for the Chrysler Group designers, engineers and
planners who developed this incredible Ram Heavy Duty Truck."
Motor Trend Truck of the Year contenders are evaluated
using six criteria, which includes design advancement, engineering
excellence, intended function, efficiency, safety and value. To be
eligible, a vehicle must have been substantially changed from the
previous model.
"The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty absolutely nailed the award in terms of our
criteria, from the attractive exterior styling, to the plush and quiet
cabins, to the tough and capable powertrains, especially the impressive
Cummins diesel, which meets 50-state emissions standards without
needing expensive after-treatment technology," said Angus MacKenzie,
Editor-in-Chief, Motor Trend. "It delivers the capability heavy duty truck users demand, with style and refinement they perhaps did not expect."
Innovative New Features Strengthen Ram Heavy Duty's Capability and Performance
The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty brings increased capability and innovative new
features to the heavy-duty segment with an uncompromising attitude that
remains the standard for all full-size heavy-duty pickups.
For 2010, the all-new Ram Heavy Duty is available in five distinct
trim models - ST, SLT, TRX, Power Wagon and Laramie. Each has a unique
appearance and offers various equipment options.
Ram Heavy Duty delivers the performance and amenities customers
demand. The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickups feature a hydro-formed, fully
boxed frame with advanced torsional rigidity and stiffness. A
coil-spring suspension setup is used up front, while the multi-leaf
spring design is maintained in the rear for heavy-duty capability.
Front and rear shocks and springs are tuned for optimum ride quality
and capability.
Improved suspension tuning and new C-pillar hydra mounts were added
to the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty models to improve damping through the
frame-bending mode frequency in order to better manage shake and
after-shake response. The result is reduced shake, which means an
improved ride for the customer.
The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups offer the only standard
exhaust brake in the segment (diesel-equipped models). This feature
reduces brake fade, prolongs brake life and provides confidence and
safety when hauling heavy loads on downhill grades. Large front (360
mm) and rear (358 mm) brakes with integrated Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) increase brake life and braking stability.
An available integrated trailer brake control provides better driver
control in towing situations. Trailer brake control information is
conveniently displayed in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC), which is standard on all Ram heavy duty models equipped with a
diesel engine and available on gas SLT, TRX and Laramie models.
In addition, new 2010 Ram transmissions include Electronic Range
Select, which enables the driver to manually limit the highest
available transmission gear, allowing manual upshifts and downshifts
based on road speed and engine speed. A tow/haul mode switch enhances
tow capability while towing. Tow/haul mode is available on both
five-speed and six-speed automatic transmissions.
Customers in the heavy-duty segment have a range of needs, and most
of them involve high levels of capability. The new 2010 Ram 2500 and
3500 are designed to deliver a total package:
- Increased Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on 2500 4x4 crew cab diesel models to 9,600 pounds from 9,000 pounds
- Increased
Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) on 3500 dually models with diesel,
auto transmission and 4.10 rear axle to 24,500 pounds from 24,000
pounds. With the Max Tow Package, GCWR increases to 25,400 pounds (late
availability)
- Increased GCWR on 3500 4x2 models to 24,000 pounds from 23,000 pounds
- Increased front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on several models:
- To 5,500 pounds from 5,200 pounds on diesel 4x4 pickups
- To 5,000 pounds from 4,700 pounds on diesel 4x2 pickups
Other towing features include improved trailer-tow mirrors with
integrated turn signals, memory function and puddle lamps. The larger
7-in. x 11-in. trailer-tow mirrors offer improved visibility with
larger convex glass surfaces. Mirrors flip up and out in a vertical
configuration for improved visibility around wide trailers. Trailer-tow
mirrors are now standard on 3500. As an added convenience, a Class IV
receiver is now standard on all Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups.
Ram Heavy Duty towing, payload and axle capacity have all been
increased for 2010. Suspension upgrades and larger front-axle U-joints,
combined with increased front GAWR, result in increased front-weight
carrying capability - a must for larger snowplows.
The Ram Power Wagon also returns for the 2010 model year, equipped
with electric-locking front and rear differentials, electronic
disconnecting sway bar, Bilstein shocks, 32-inch BFGoodrich off-road
tires, underbody skid plate protection, 4.56 axle ratio for hill
climbing and a custom-built Warn® 12,000-pound winch that is accessible
through the front bumper. The 2010 Dodge Ram Power Wagon features new
exterior graphics and a lower two-tone paint scheme.
Ram Heavy Duty Powertrains Include 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel and 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8
Powertrain choices include the legendary 6.7-liter Cummins
Turbo Diesel engine, which produces 350 horsepower (261 kW) at 3,000
rpm and 650 lb.-ft. of torque (881 N?m) at only 1,500 rpm.
The most durable and reliable engine in its class, the 6.7-liter
Cummins Turbo Diesel features standard oil change intervals of 7,500
miles. It also has major-overhaul intervals of 350,000 miles, providing
more than a 100,000-mile advantage over the competition.
The Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel engine uses a diesel particulate
filter (DPF) to virtually eliminate particulate matter emissions and an
adsorber catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by as much as 90
percent, in order to meet stringent 2010.5 diesel emissions
requirements.
The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty comes standard with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8
gasoline engine, delivering 383 horsepower (286 kW) at 5,600 rpm and
400 lb.-ft. of torque (542 N?m) at 4,000 rpm. The 5.7-liter HEMI was
redesigned for 2009, with several new and improved technologies
including Variable-valve Timing (VVT), increased compression ratio,
active intake manifold with long runners for low-end torque and short
runners for high-rpm power, improved cylinder head port flow efficiency
and reduced-restriction exhaust and induction systems.
New Exterior Styling; Loads of Interior Comfort and Convenience
The all-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickup was born from the same
truck family that brought out the award-winning Ram 1500 - Strategic
Vision's Quality Award Winner.
The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty includes all-new styling, offering a tougher
more capable look with improved aerodynamics and fit and finish. To
accommodate cooling requirements of the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel
engine, the new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty grille opening is larger than the
light-duty grille. The larger grille mates to a taller hood that
incorporates louvers on each side. Access to the front winch (on Power
Wagon models) and tow hooks led to the unique front-bumper design.
The new dual-rear-wheel fenders (3500 dually only) are now
integrated into the box stamping and offer a smooth aerodynamic
appearance.
The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Mega Cab models offer best-in-class
interior room in the segment, including the largest, longest cab (143.2
cubic feet 111.1 inches long); largest interior cargo volume (72.2
cubic feet); largest cargo volume behind rear seat (7.7 cubic feet);
largest flat-floor load area (16.8 square feet); largest second-row leg
room (44.2 inches); largest rear-door opening (34.5 inches wide, 35.5
inches high); largest rear-door open angle 85 degrees); and first-ever
reclining rear seats (22- to 37-degree seat-back angle).
Ram Heavy Duty Delivers More than 25 Safety and Security Features
The all-new Ram Heavy Duty also offers 25 active and passive safety
features, including Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), advanced multi-stage
air bags, BeltAlert, Brake/Park interlock, child-protection rear door
locks, Constant-force Retractors (CFR), crumple zones, electronic
brake-force distribution, energy-absorbing steering column, Enhanced
Accident Response System (EARS), height-adjustable seat belts, HomeLink
universal home security system transceiver, interior head-impact
protection, knee bolsters, Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren
(LATCH) child seat anchor system, low-risk deployment air bag,
Parksense® rear park-assist system, power-adjustable pedals, remote
keyless entry, seat-belt pretensioners, Sentry Key® engine immobilizer,
standard side-curtain air bags, three-point seat belts, Tire Pressure
Monitoring (TPM) and Uconnect Phone.
2010 Ram Heavy Duty Pricing
The all-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty is available with a starting
U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $28,165 for
regular cab models, $31,415 for crew cab models and $36,865 for Mega
Cab models. All prices include $950 for destination. The all-new 2010
Dodge Ram Heavy Duty arrives in dealerships in late 2009 calendar year.
About Motor Trend
Motor Trend, part of Source Interlink Media, LLC was
founded in 1949 and is internationally recognized as one of the leading
brands in automotive publishing, Motor Trend comprises Motor Trend Magazine, the motortrend.com website, Motor Trend Radio, Truck Trend, Motor Trend International Auto Shows, Motor Trend en Espanol and Motor Trend Car, Sport/Utility and Truck of the Year Awards program.
