Ram Trucks has unveiled its tenth new trim for its Ram 1500 pickup truck. Aptly named the Ram Rebel, the crew cab, four-door, light-duty pickup truck veers away from the traditional crosshair grilles found in all Ram trucks and boasts a number of hardware upgrades for serious drivers who want to go off the road.
At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Ram Trucks CEO Bob Hegbloom took the wraps off the Rebel, which is a style upgrade as it is a mechanical improvement.
The most distinct change one will notice first in the Rebel is the completely new front bumper, which features an interlocking grille design and the Ram name in huge silver letters instead of the usual ram's head logo. A powder-coated skid plate, LED fog lights and a twin-snorkel front hood give the Rebel a sporty look. The back of the truck echoes the same stylish design with the Ram name again emblazoned in big, bold, black letters and dual exhausts.
"We needed to create a truck that really says this is who I am," Hegbloom said. "It is very expressive. It will be for active lifestyles."
The interior also receives a major upgrade, which follows a similar theme. The dashboard features a red-and-black trim and the seats are embroidered with the same tread pattern on the Rebel's 33-inch all-terrain Toyo tires around the 17-inch black-and-silver aluminum wheels. The front seat bolsters, the upper glove box, and the gauge cluster are all embossed with the Ram logo. Ram has also added more space in the center console for the cupholder and a storage compartment for mobile devices.
To complement its new wheels, the Rebel gets a one-inch air suspension and air springs, which can be adjusted to provide more ground clearance when off the road or better aerodynamics for highway driving. Ram claims a best-in-class 10.3 inches of ground clearance. The truck also features Bilstein front and rear shocks for additional off-road usability.
Under the hood, buyers have the option between a standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 powertrain and a 5.7-liter Hemi V8. Both configurations come with a TorqueFlite 8 eight-speed automatic transmission, and the Hemi is available as a four-wheel and rear-wheel drive. The Pentastar will be available only as a 4x4. Ram executives say they are also considering adding EcoDiesel V6 in the future.
"Offering an off-road style package on the Ram 1500 has been on our to-do list for some time but the right combination didn't present itself until now," said Hegbloom. "The Rebel drops right into a core segment of the truck market with unique design cues and can-do attitude backed by Ram Truck engineering."
The Ram Rebel will be available in Flame Red, Brilliant Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal Metallic, and Bright Silver Metallic. Ram will start selling the truck in the second half of 2015 and will disclose the price nearer its release date.
In recent years, the Fiat Chrysler-owned company has introduced new trims for its Ram 1500, including the Tradesman for the contractor, the Outdoorsman for the hunter and camper, and the Laramie Longhorn for the luxury buyer.
Ram hopes the introduction of a new sports-style off-road vehicle could help boost its steadily growing sales, which saw a 27.5 percent increase to nearly 470,000 vehicles in 2014.
