Ram Truck is celebrating a decade of innovation since emerging as a standalone brand in October 2009.
“Since becoming a distinct brand 10 years ago, Ram has had the benefit of being able to focus solely on trucks and commercial vehicles, allowing us to build the best vehicles possible for our customers,” said Reid Bigland, Head of Ram Brand. “We expect Ram’s momentum to continue, and we feel optimistic that we’re making the right moves, at the right time, to attract buyers.”
Ram Truck has developed a laundry list of exclusive features including SiriusXM 360L with Personalized Stations by Pandora, reclining rear seats, multi-link coil spring rear suspension, active-level four-corner air suspension, active air dam, mild-hybrid eTorque engine options, thermal axle technology, RamBox cargo management system and multifunction tailgate, to name a few.
Significant milestones mark the past 10 years
2009
In 2009, Ram Truck introduced the RamBox cargo management system. RamBox’s side bins create storage along each side of the pickup bed, space previously left untouched because of wheel-well intrusion. RamBox bins fit the length of the pickup bed and incorporate the space over each wheel well to secure cargo within a lit, lockable and drainable container.
2020 Ram 1500 Uconnect 4C with 12-in. screenRam Truck
2010
The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty trucks were available for the first time as a crew cab model – providing Ram with an entry in the highest volume part of the heavy-duty pickup segment.
In addition, the Ram 1500 Outdoorsman joined the lineup as a new trim that was designed for outdoor enthusiasts. The Outdoorsman took all of the features most useful to hunters, fishermen, campers and boaters, and packaged them into one model. Outdoorsman combined convenience, off-road capability and trailer towing hardware in one package with a name that resonated among its intended users.
2011
The Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn was unveiled as the most luxurious truck ever produced by the Company. The Laramie Longhorn was designed for the owner who needs a truck for work or play but won’t settle for anything but the finest quality and refinement.
Ram also began offering a chassis cab for the 2011 model year. By working with truck body suppliers, Ram Truck engineers gave the 2011 Ram Chassis Cab an upfitter-friendly design, providing customers with a less expensive, worry-free experience in their choice of work body adaptation to the vehicle.
2012
A new Tradesman Heavy Duty joined the lineup for the 2012 model year. 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 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 V-8 engines, and new steering wheel with cruise control buttons also debuted for 2012.
2019 Ram 1500 Multifunction Tailgate with Mopar Bed StepRam Trucks
2013
For 2013 fuel economy was improved with the addition of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine and TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. The 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 was also available with the TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission for the first time.
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
The Ram 1500 was the first modern half-ton, full-size pickup to offer diesel technology. 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.
This 28-mpg rating opened the flood gates 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.
In 2014, Ram Truck also 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 Ram ProMaster van and a positive commercial demand.
2015
The 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel introduced a one-of-a-kind design that brought robust off-road capability enabling the brand to reach even more consumers. 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.
2016
The 2016 Ram Rebel TRX concept upped off-road performance with a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V-8 with 575 hp, the most powerful Ram 1500 the Company has ever built. As part of the Company’s recently unveiled five-year plan, the Ram Rebel TRX concept has been approved for production. More information will be disclosed at a future date.
2017
2020 Ram 1500 air suspensionRam Trucks
Ram introduced a special-edition 1500 Night package that gave truck enthusiasts straight-from-the-factory customized looks. Based on the Sport model, 1500 Night added blacked-out features, including wheels, grille and badging, to pump up the already bold visual presence of the Ram’s monochromatic performance package.
The Ram 1500 Hydro Blue Sport also bowed in 2017 and tied the monochromatic exterior theme together with a body-colored front fascia, rear bumper, side mirrors and door handles. Forged, polished 22-in. aluminum wheels were standard on 4x2 models; polished 20-in. wheels were standard on 4x4 models.
2018
A few special edition trucks joined the lineup for 2018 including the Harvest lineup, 1500 Limited Tungsten, Laramie Longhorn Southfork and Heavy Duty Lone Star Silver editions.
The Ram Harvest Edition was the industry’s first agricultural market-specific truck and was visually distinguished by two new colors: Case IH Red and New Holland Blue. Case IH and New Holland farm tractors and other agricultural equipment are manufactured by subsidiaries of CNH Industrial. CNH Industrial N.V. shares a common ancestry with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
The Limited Tungsten edition, available on both 1500 and 2500, built on the popular Limited trim with an even higher level of sophistication and attention to detail.
The Ram Laramie Longhorn Southfork edition was an opulent offering building upon the well-appointed Longhorn trim with even more luxury, technology and refinement.
2019
The fifth generation Ram 1500 burst onto the scene with features never before offered in a pickup, including the Uconnect 4C with a 12-in. touchscreen that features split-screen capability, 360-degree camera views and exclusive content from SiriusXM with 360L. Active safety and security systems joined the technology onslaught with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, Blind-spot Monitoring and ready alert braking.
The upgraded eTorque version of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 debuted for the 2019 model year and continues to be the standard engine in most trim levels, specifically tuned for truck duty and rated at 305 hp and 269 lb.-ft. of torque. The 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 combines the muscle of 395 hp and 410 lb.-ft. of torque – in a smooth, broad power band that avoids the hesitation and peakiness of turbocharged engines – with performance-enhancing and fuel-saving technologies that include variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation.
Ram Truck then added a multifunction tailgate. Unlike other multi-element tailgates, the Ram multifunction tailgate does not require that the trailer and hitch be removed before opening. With a 2,000-lb. load rating, the Ram multifunction tailgate retains all of the traditional tailgate’s capability. In addition to retaining the capabilities of a fully dampened, drop-down tailgate with remote release options, the Ram multifunction tailgate adds a first-of-its-kind 60-40 split, swing-away functionality.
2020
2020 Ram 1500 eTorqueRam Trucks
The Ram 1500 is the first full-size pickup truck to be named a Top Safety Pick+, the highest rating given by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Ram sets the benchmarks for:
- 1,000 lb.-ft of torque with Cummins Turbo Diesel
- 35,100 lbs. towing capacity with Ram 3500
- 7,680 lbs. payload with Ram 3500
- Exclusive link coil rear and auto-level air suspensions
- Most interior space with Ram Mega Cab
