The time has come for Ram to put out a completely new Ram 1500 pickup truck, and the new design is impressive. A new front grille and new features make it clear why the Ram 1500 is one of the most popular vehicles today, and not just in the pickup market. Some of the changes are expected, but some are entirely new.
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The Front-End Aerodynamics
You might not think that a truck needs an aerodynamic design the same way a sports car does, but when you’re driving your truck on the highway it helps to make sure you’re getting the best fuel efficiency possible. That’s why the front grille features active shutters that close when the truck is going fast enough. At high speeds, the engine still gets the air it needs to run, but by blocking the excess air, the grille shutters make the Ram 1500 more aerodynamic. It also has a front splitter that drops several inches when you drive fast enough.
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The Partial Hybrid Design
While the new 2019 Ram 1500 isn’t a hybrid in the regular sense, it has replaced the usual alternator with an electric motor that does the same job. This eTorque system helps the Ram 1500 start and accelerate quickly from a full stop, This feature doesn’t impact the Ram’s fuel efficiency numbers, but it does offer the Ram a quick burst of power: about 90 pound-feet of torque for the V-6 engine and 130 pound-feet for the V-8 models.
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The Weight Reduction
While the 2019 Ram 1500’s body and frame are still made of steel alloy, the manufacturer has switched to a new type of high-strength steel and redesigned the ladder frame. With these and other modifications, like the more lightweight electric parking brake and electric power-assist steering, the new Ram 1500 weighs significantly less than previous models.
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The New Infotainment System
Depending on the trim, you can get an infotainment system with either a 5-inch or an 8.4-inch touchscreen. However, the top trim level comes with a 12-inch touchscreen that sits vertically on the center console and replaces several of the buttons and switches when you don’t need the whole screen for your apps. The electric buttons give you more options and finer controls, and the full-screen navigation mode lets you see all the information quickly so you don’t have to glance away from the road for very long.
The list of changes Dodge has made to the new Ram 1500 is much longer than this, but at the same time, the 2019 Ram 1500 still brings over the most popular features of the last generation: the available diesel engine, the RamBox storage compartments, and an available 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. The Ram 1500 was already a good truck for any situation, but the changes Dodge has made to the 2019 design have made it even better. Stop by your local dealership to take one for a test drive today!
Image via Truck Hardware | Licensed under CC BY 2.0
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