Ram HD Lineup is More Efficient with New Six-speed Automatic Transmission
Ram Truck brand continues to build on the award-winning 2500 and 3500 HD lineup. Ram Truck and Cummins have developed an enhanced High Output Turbo Diesel offering an unsurpassed 800 lb.-ft. of torque. Additionally Ram HD also has a Max Tow package option for the Ram 3500 with best-in-class 22,750-lb. maximum trailer weight and up to class-leading 30,000 lb. Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
'Ram Heavy Duty truck owners need pulling power – 79 percent of them rate towing as extremely important,' said Fred Diaz, President and CEO, Ram Truck brand and Lead Executive for Ú.S. Sales — Chrysler Group LLC. 'Reliability and engine performance are tied for second – named as extremely important by 73 percent of owners. 800 lb.-ft. of torque combined with Ram Truck's unsurpassed 5-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and Cummins' proven reputation for reliability – are a direct response to our customers' high expectations. We stand behind our commitment to build great trucks with best-in-class capabilities.'
The 2012 Ram Truck is about capability, including powertrain, towing and payload capacities, driving dynamics, premium amenities and styling that truly make it the ultimate heavy-duty pickup truck.
The new 2012 Ram Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 pickups incorporate some of the design cues from the Ram 1500. The Ram Heavy Duty pickup's larger grille incorporates a taller hood that includes louvers on each side. Access to the front winch (on Power Wagon models) and tow hooks lead to a unique front-bumper design. The new dual-rear-wheel fenders (3500 dually only) are integrated into the box stamping and offer a smooth aerodynamic appearance.
The 2012 Ram Heavy Duty will be available in eight distinct trim levels – ST, SLT, Outdoorsman, Lone Star, Big Horn, Power Wagon, Laramie and Laramie Longhorn in the third quarter of 2011.
Ram's heavy-duty share of the heavy-duty segment in 2011 (March YTD) was 23.6 percent. Within the Ram brand, Ram Heavy Duty is 33 percent of overall Ram truck sales. (Source: Polk)
The truck segment is still one of the largest segments in the industry, with just more than 1.1 million units sold in 2010.
On average, Ram Heavy Duty's buyer is predominately male (90 percent) and approximately 52 years old. Eighty-one percent are married and earn an average annual income of $99,000. Forty-three percent have graduated from college. (Source: 2010 Strategic Vision NVES)
Fifty percent of heavy-duty truck buyers use their trucks for work, and 100 percent use their trucks for fun and leisure.
Últimate Hauling and Towing Capability
The backbone of the 2012 Ram Heavy Duty pickup is a hydro-formed, fully boxed frame with advanced torsional rigidity and stiffness. A coil-spring suspension setup is used in the front of the vehicle, while the multi-leaf spring design is maintained in the rear for heavy-duty capability. Front and rear shocks and springs are tuned for optimum ride quality and capability.
Suspension upgrades and larger front-axle Ú-joints, combined with increased front GAWR, result in increased front-weight carrying capability—a must for larger snowplows.
Towing capability is a strong suit of the new 2012 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups, with a standard exhaust brake (diesel-equipped models). This feature reduces brake fade, prolongs brake life and provides confidence and safety when hauling heavy loads on downhill grades. Large front (360 mm) and rear (358 mm) brakes with integrated Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) increase brake life and braking stability.
For 2012, SLT, Outdoorsman, Power Wagon and Laramie and Laramie Longhorn models feature a standard integrated trailer brake control to provide better driver control in towing situations. Trailer brake control information is conveniently displayed in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC), which is standard on all models.
In addition, Ram HDs feature Electronic Range Select, which enables the driver to manually limit the highest available transmission gear, allowing manual upshifts and downshifts based on road speed and engine speed. A tow/haul mode switch enhances tow capability while towing.
Other tow-friendly features include trailer-tow mirrors with integrated turn signals, memory function and puddle lamps. The 7-inch x 11-inch trailer-tow mirrors offer impressive visibility with larger convex glass surfaces. Mirrors flip up and out in a vertical configuration for greater visibility around wide trailers. Trailer-tow mirrors are standard on Ram 3500 models. As an added convenience, a Class IV receiver is standard on all Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups.
Últimate Powertrains
In terms of power, the 2012 Ram Heavy Duty tops the charts with the available, legendary 6.7-liter Cummins High Output Turbo Diesel engine, which produces 350 horsepower (261 kW) at 3,000 rpm and a class leading 800 lb.-ft. of torque (1083 N•m) at only 1,500 rpm.
The most durable and reliable engine in its class, the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel features standard oil-change intervals of 7,500 miles.
The High Output 6.7-liter, six-cylinder Cummins Turbo Diesel reaches peak torque at 1,600 rpm. Peak horsepower is 350 @ 3,000 rpm. Ram HD trucks continue to be the only heavy-duty pickups to meet EPA emissions regulations without the need for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF).
Backing up the available 6.7-liter diesel engine is a choice of a standard, class exclusive G56 6-speed manual transmission or an available 6-speed automatic transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) The 6-speed manual has an ultra-low first-gear ratio, which makes it ideal for heavy hauling requirements, while the 6-speed automatic offers ease of drivability and towing.
The other choice for 2012 Ram Heavy-Duty customers is the standard 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 gasoline engine, which delivers 383 horsepower (286 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 400 lb.-ft. of torque (542 N•m) at 4,000 rpm. The 5.7-liter HEMI features a host of new technologies, including:
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Two 4x4 transfer cases are available: the NV 271, a manual unit standard on ST and Power Wagon models; and the NV273, an electric shift-on-the-fly transfer case, standard on remaining models.
A choice of four axle ratios are available on new 2012 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups, depending on equipment level: 3.42, 3.73, 4.10 or 4.56.
Últimate Off-road Capability
The Ram Power Wagon returns for the 2012 model year. Power Wagon features additional ground clearance, electric-locking front and rear differentials, electronic disconnecting sway bar, Bilstein shocks, 32-inch BF Goodrich off-road tires, underbody skid plate protection, a 4.56 axle ratio for hill climbing and a custom-built Warn® 12,000-lb. winch that is accessible through the front bumper. The Ram Power Wagon features new exterior graphics and a lower body two-tone paint scheme.
Power Wagon is equipped with features that are useful in extreme duty environments such as oil fields, border patrol, logging industry and emergency support, which validates its off-road, rugged DNA for personal and recreational use.
Ride Comfort
Suspension tuning and fluid-filled hydromounts improve damping through the frame-bending mode frequency in order to better manage shake and after-shake response. The result is reduced shake and improved ride.
Twenty-eight Safety and Security Features
Ram employs a two-fold approach to safety: passive safety features, including pretensioning and load-limiting seat belt retractors and active safety features, including responsive steering, handling and braking.
Following are 28 safety and security features available on new 2012 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups:
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Bold Exterior Design
The 2012 Ram Heavy Duty pickups carve out a unique design with styling differentiated from the Ram light-duty lineup.
To accommodate cooling requirements of the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine (perennially the most popular powerplant in the Ram Heavy Duty lineup with a take-rate of 84% percent), the Ram Heavy-Duty grille opening is larger than the light-duty grille. The larger grille incorporates a taller hood that includes louvers on each side. Access to the front winch (on Power Wagon models) and tow hooks led to a unique front-bumper design.
The Ram Heavy Duty grille includes a chromed surround with either black center billets (ST, SLT, Outdoorsman and Power Wagon models) or chromed center billets (Laramie and Laramie Longhorn models and Big Horn and Lone Star editions). The grille is body-mounted, while the bumper is frame-mounted.
Front fenders and headlamps of the 2012 Ram 2500 and 3500 are shared with light-duty pickup models. External mirrors are sculpted to produce a more useable area for better visibility, with aerodynamic benefit and less noise. Mirrors are equipped with turn-signal indicators, memory function, puddle lamps and adjustable convex mirrors. Mirrors are finished in black on ST, SLT, Outdoorsman and Power Wagon, or black and chrome on Laramie and Laramie Longhorn models. The larger 7-inch x 11-inch mirror for trailer towing is standard on 3500 models and available on 2500 model pickups. These mirrors flip up and out into a vertical configuration for trailer-tow use.
Front and rear doors follow the style pioneered by the Ram 1500–a design that places the door cut to the side of the truck, rather than into the roof, in order to reduce wind noise and weight.
The dual-rear-wheel fenders (3500 dually only) are integrated into the box stamping and offer a smooth aerodynamic appearance.
The tailgate is sculpted for air flow, incorporating a spoiler in the upper part of the sheet metal. This tailgate also accommodates an available back-up camera for convenient trailer hook-ups and includes a lift-assist feature that makes raising and lowering a one-hand operation. Standard bedrail protection is included with both the 6-foot, 4-inch and 8-foot cargo boxes. The boxes feature bedrail caps that protect sheet metal from dents and scratching.
Interiors: Últimate Comfort, Convenience and Appearance
Inside, the new 2012 Ram Heavy Duty offers abundant amenities, comfort and convenience. Many of the comfort and convenience features were first pioneered with the Ram 1500.
Interior appointments include soft-feel door bolsters and armrests and one-piece molded door panels for premium comfort. Seats are redesigned with improved power lumbar and lateral support, which creates a comfortable cabin on even the longest workdays. Six-ring instrumentation keeps track of vehicle functions, while many controls are arrayed in the center stack for easy access to buttons and knobs.
Other available features include two-tone upholstery with full-width contrasting stitching on the instrument panel; premium seating with heat and ventilation; heated rear seats; heated steering wheel; automatic temperature control; two-tone upholstery; memory seats, radio and mirrors; navigation; adjustable pedals and numerous infotainment options, including Úconnect Multimedia with a 30-gigabyte hard drive and an available first-in-segment 10-speaker surround-sound system.
Storage is top-of-mind with many work- and leisure-oriented customers, and Ram provides many more storage locations in its new 2012 Ram Heavy Duty pickups.
An available center console features an upper bin that is large enough to hold a laptop computer (with an accessible power outlet) and a lower bin that accommodates hanging files. In addition, the console offers several other storage compartments—room enough to store business tools and personal items.
Additional storage locations are built into the instrument panel, front and rear door panels, seat backs and even the floor. In the crew-size cab, two in-floor bins located in the rear footwells offer storage enough for 10 12-ounce cans. Bins have removable liners for easy cleanout. Úpper and lower glove boxes provide a total of more than 800 cubic inches of storage.
The Últimate Cab – Mega Cab
The 2012 Ram 2500 and 3500 Mega Cab models retain their title of best-in-class interior room in the segment, including:
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The 2012 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups are built at Chrysler Group LLC's Saltillo Assembly Plant in Coahuila, Mexico. One of the company's most flexible plants, the Saltillo plant produces the Ram 1500 regular cab, the Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty and the Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs.
The manufacturing processes in use at the Saltillo facility provide the ability to balance production with demand and enable the plant to efficiently build low-volume vehicles that take advantage of market niches. As needed, the plant can quickly shift production volumes between different models within a single plant or among multiple plants. This not only allows the company to produce a high-quality product, but also to do so faster and at lower cost.
Production of the 2012 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups also will be enabled by the Saltillo plant's recent expansion, which allows the facility to manage the added complexity of the Ram Heavy Duty pickups' chassis and suspensions, including two chassis lengths, regular, crew-size cab and Mega Cab versions, 4x2 and 4x4 variants, and single- and dual-rear-wheel models.
The Saltillo Assembly Plant has more than 1,700 employees on two shifts and is one of five Chrysler Group LLC manufacturing facilities in Mexico.Source - Ram
Ram Heavy Duty Upgrades Deliver Class-Leading Torque and Towing
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Now boasting the ability to pull a segment-leading 22,700-lb. maximum trailer weight, the one-ton Ram 3500 Heavy Duty will get a performance boost to its 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine that will increase its torque by 23 percent to 800 lb.-ft. and be upfitted with a package of components that will increase its gross combined weight rating (GCWR) to 30,000 lbs.
'A Ram Heavy Duty truck owner's most important concern is towing capability – 79 percent of them rate towing as extremely important,' said Fred Diaz, Ram Truck Brand President and CEO, Chrysler Group LLC. 'Reliability and engine performance are tied for second – named as extremely important by 73 percent of owners. This 800 lb.-ft. performance upgrade -- combined with Ram Truck's unsurpassed 5-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and Cummins' proven reputation for reliability – are a direct response to our customers' high expectations. We stand behind our commitment to build great trucks that are best in class.'
800 lb.-ft. of High-Output Torque
A new powertrain control module (PCM) with revised performance calibration allows the High-Output 6.7-liter, six-cylinder Cummins Turbo Diesel to reach peak torque at 1,600 rpm and exceed the previous model's output from 1,200 through 2,800 rpm. While peak horsepower remains unchanged (350 @ 3,000 rpm), the engine's new calibration delivers more than 40 additional horsepower at typical highway cruising speeds.
Behind the powerful, High-Output Cummins lies a new higher-rated torque converter. The Ram's new torque converter improves engine/transmission integration for better towing capability on grades and optimizes engine performance.
In addition to the new PCM and torque converter, the 800 lb.-ft. High Output Cummins-powered Ram Heavy Duty trucks receive a new crankshaft damper, reducing engine noise and vibration (NVH).
Ram Trucks with the uprated 800 lb.-ft. Cummins will feature a special 'High Output Cummins' badge on their tailgates.
Ram Exclusive: No Diesel Exhaust Fluid Required
Cummins Turbo Diesel-equipped Ram pickups are the only heavy-duty pickups to meet 2010 EPA emissions regulations with an engine and aftertreatment system that has been proven in more than 250,000 customer trucks since 2007 and without the need for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF).
Best-in-Class Maximum Towing
When equipped with the 'Max Tow' towing-optimization package, the Ram 3500 Heavy Duty maximum trailer weight is rated up to 22,700 lbs., the highest trailer weight in its class.
Since the launch of the new Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty for the 2010 model year, towing capability has been the trucks' strong suit, with a long list of towing features including the most powerful standard exhaust brake in the segment (diesel-equipped models). This feature reduces brake fade, prolongs brake life and provides unmatched confidence and safety when hauling heavy loads on downhill grades.
Ram has the largest brakes of any heavy duty pickup; 14.17-in.x1.54-in. front and 14.09-in.x1.34-in. rear with an integrated anti-lock brake system (ABS) that increases brake life and braking stability.
Tow ratings for the Ram 3500 Heavy Duty meet 100 percent of 2013 model year SAE testing standards. ( posted on conceptcarz.com)
30,000 lbs. GCWR
Dual-rear-wheel-equipped Ram 3500 Heavy Duty pickups with the Max Tow package are now rated at 30,000 lbs. GCWR – up from 24,500 lbs.
For maximum towing, Chrysler Group Powertrain engineers gave the Ram 3500 an improved dual-rear wheel axle with a 4.10 gear ratio, new rear-axle pinion, new helical gears, upgraded bearings and a heat-dissipating, finned aluminum differential cover.
As part of the Max Tow upgrade to the Ram 3500, the truck will also get a new engine-mounted, oil-to-coolant transmission cooler to moderate operating temperatures during trailer towing.
All Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups will also get upgraded power steering oil coolers to manage the larger loads.
Cummins Turbo Diesel
If you looked up 'bulletproof' in the dictionary, you'd find a picture of the Cummins Turbo Diesel engine. With its inline-six architecture and cast iron block and head, this engine has been providing decades of reliable service in everything from agriculture and construction equipment to over-the-road heavy trucks.
Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks powered by Cummins diesel engines have been the benchmark of power, durability, reliability and fuel economy since 1989, the first model year that Ram offered the Cummins engine. This partnership is defined by more than two decades of long-lasting, hard-working history – more than any other diesel pickup combination in the marketplace.
The one-ton Ram 3500 Heavy Duty comes standard with the Cummins Turbo Diesel.
Ram 2500 Heavy Duty pickups equipped with the optional 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel and automatic transmission (5.7-liter HEMI engine is standard) also get the 800 lb.-ft. performance upgrade. Because it uses a single rear-wheel axle, Ram 2500 GCWR remains unchanged at 22,000 lbs. Manual transmission-equipped Ram Heavy Duty pickups retain their 350 hp./610 lb.-ft. of torque performance ratings. Max Tow is available for regular and crew cab Ram 3500s only.
High Output Cummins-equipped Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups and the 30,000 GCWR Max Tow package will go on sale in the second quarter 2011.
About Ram Truck Brand
With a work-hard, play-hard attitude, the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest, most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.
Introduced in 2008, the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to 'outsmart' and 'out-tough' the competition with its bold exterior design, crafted and refined interior, engineering excellence, superb innovation and best-in-class features and amenities.
The Ram Truck brand added to its award-winning truck lineup with the introduction of the 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks. Ram heavy-duty trucks provide customers with first-time innovations and features along with new standards of strength, utility and driveability, building on the Ram's leadership in the heavy-duty pickup segment.
The Ram Truck brand is further enhancing its commercial vehicle presence with a 'new crew' of commercial-grade work trucks: the new 2011 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all-new crew cab, the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis, and engineered for maximum uptime, optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.
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