2009 Dodge Ram Production

Chrysler calls the new Dodge Ram a "game changer" with its RamBox cargo management system and solid-axle multilink coil spring rear suspension being the most notable updates to the time-honored nameplate. It's also priced lower than the outgoing model, Chrysler says.

To ramp up production of the 2009 Ram, Chrysler invested $220 million in the Warren Truck Assembly plant, a facility that dates to 1937 and is nicknamed "Dodge City." The investment included expansion, restructuring and training which among other changes, put five times more quality assurance workers on the plant floor. The plant is also going to be recycling everything from tires and oil to alcohol wipes and mop heads.

Dodge Ram regular cab, crew cab and Quad Cab pickups in five trim levels will all be built at the plant. Chrysler will also build the truck at the St. Louis North plant in Missouri, and the RamBox cargo management system will be produced at the St. Louis facility.

© Source: edmunds
We need your comments below >>

Read more...

2009 Dodge Ram

Dodge has a tough road ahead when it comes to selling the redesigned 2009 Ram. Though fuel prices have indeed dropped a bit in the last few weeks, consumers surely still have cash registers ringing in their heads when thinking of large V8 engines and four-wheel drive. So, to ease the newest Ram into the market, Dodge has decided to lower its price a bit compared to the outgoing model while also adding some unique and heretofore unavailable content to the mix. The dealings will start at $22,170 for base models with the regular cab, $26,225 for Quad Cab models and $32,530 for Dodge's first-ever Crew 1500 models.

Opting for a top-end Laramie Ram Crew 1500 4x4 will cost you $44,140, which is on par with other top-of-the-line competitors from Ford and GM. Engine options include a revised 390-horse 5.7-liter HEMI, which will allow the quickest Ram to make it to 60 mph in less than six seconds, while a 310-horsepower 4.7-liter V8 and an anemic 3.7-liter V6 with just 215 horses on tap brings up the rear.

© Source: autoblog
We need your comments below >>

Read more...

2009 Dodge Ram

(From Chrysler Press Release) Dodge Unleashes Game-changer Into Truck Market
In addition to the new-generation 5.7-liter HEMI which produces 380 hp (283 kW) and 404 lb.-ft. (548 N•m) of torque, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram offers a 4.7-liter V-8 providing 310 horsepower (231 kW) and 330 lb.-ft. (447 N•m) of torque, and a 3.7-liter V-6 generating 215 horsepower (160 kW) and 235 lb.-ft. (319 N•m) of torque; four- and five-speed automatic transmissions; part-time and on-demand four-wheel-drive transfer cases; and 3.21, 3.55, 3.92 and 4.10 axle ratios.

Equipped with the new HEMI, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram R/T regular-cab 4x2 model with a short bed and 4:10 gears blasts from 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds.

The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram is offered in regular cab, Quad Cab® and crew-size cab, with three box lengths: 8-foot (regular cab), 6-foot-4-inches (regular cab and Quad Cab), and a new-for-2009 box length of 5-foot-7-inches (Ram crew 1500). Five trim levels are available, each with a unique appearance: ST, SLT, TRX, Sport, and the top-of-the-line Laramie.

An improved frame design incorporating high-strength steel supports an all-new, first-in-segment, multi-link coil spring rear suspension that improves ride and handling characteristics without sacrificing payload (up to an estimated 1,850 pounds) and towing capability (up to an estimated 9,100 pounds).

© Source: seriouswheels
We need your comments below >>

Read more...

2009 Dodge Ram Preview

When the Dodge Ram was last completely redesigned, in 1994, with its aggressive big-rig grille and very upright appearance, Dodge's market share among full-size pickups about tripled.

Today, the appetite for full-size trucks isn't quite as strong as it's been, and competition's tough. The Toyota Tundra was redesigned and up-sized last year to take on the likes of the Ram head-to-head; GM and Ford have both also recently redesigned their full-size trucks.

Most notably, the new Ram will feature a crew cab design for the first time, called Ram Crew, with full-access rear doors that open 90 degrees. Crew cab body styles are the fastest-growing among pickups and account for about 50 percent of the market. Besides Ram Crew, the new Ram will be offered in standard and Quad Cab styles, and in five different trim levels.

The new rear suspension design also has another important benefit: a wider, deeper cargo box. And with an improved frame design, it makes no payload or towing sacrifice. Max payload remains an estimated 1850 pounds, while max towing capability is about 9100 pounds.

The 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, which about 40 percent of customers upgrade to, gets more horsepower, while fuel economy increases an estimated four percent - thanks to new variable valve timing, a variable intake, and an expanded range for the fuel-saving Multi-Displacement System (MDS). It's now rated at 380 horsepower and 404 lb-ft of torque, while the mid-range 4.7-liter V-8 has been completely revamped to make a very competitive 310 hp and 330 lb-ft. The base engine will remain a 215-hp, 3.7-liter V-6. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard with the Hemi and optional with the 4.7-liter; otherwise a four-speed automatic is offered. Part-time and on-demand four-wheel drive systems are available, plus four different axle ratios to meet various needs from towing to off-roading. Electronic stability control will be standard across the line.

© Source: thecarconnection
We need your comments below >>

Read more...