2013 Ram 1500 First Drive: Revitalizing Chrysler's Half-Tonner with More ... - Car and Driver
The Ram pickup has been with us since 1981, and through those three-plus decades it has played third fiddle to its Ford and Chevy rivals. 36—that’s best in class, according to the Ram hymnal. But when you get right down to it, the new truck looks a lot like the old one, and anyone who doesn’t know it’s a Ram hasn’t been driving in America since 1994. Okay, how about chassis. Chrysler—sorry, the trucks are now under the Ram brand—used high-strength steel throughout, saving about 30 pounds in the frame and chassis. And optional air springs at all four corners, an upgrade made easy by the 2009 introduction of a coil-spring rear suspension, are available on Quad and Crew Cab models. The air springs allow adjustable ride height—for example, the driver can add up to two inches of ground clearance for dirty work, then lower the truck at highway speeds to improve aero. Beyond that, they deliver exceptionally silky ride quality by truck standards, on pavement or off. a new power-locking system that secures the tailgate and side-mounted RamBoxes with one key-fob click. As before, the Ram, like its domestic competitors, continues to offer a broad array of body styles, bed lengths, powertrain choices, off-road. Source: www.caranddriver.com
