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The 2018 Ram 1500: What we see coming down the line
by David Zatz, with thanks to Ram Man and Steven St. Laurent
Ram’s plan shows a 2018 “major update.” While Ram has been good at keeping secrets, we can make some projections based on leaks and patent filings.
With Ford expected to add a diesel and ten-speed to their aluminum-bodied F-150s for 2017, Ram engineers are working hard —*likely*focusing on many different bottlenecks, rather than a single technology.
When 2018 comes, there will also be a “commercial”*version of the Ram 1500, with enhancements for heavy duty work cases. The chart below suggests that a Ram Commercial version of the 1500 will appear earlier, but that would likely show up separately if it were true. (The years appear to be*calendar*years, not model years.)
Powertrain
Six-speed automatics*will be relegated to the entry level models, with the*eight-speeds*become more common. The company’s work on cutting parasitic losses will probably be showing more dividends as time goes on, and we expect more sophisticated,*belt-starter generator stop-start systems to be used on many models.
The sexy news may be upgrades to the engines themselves. The*Pentstar Upgrade, or “PUG,”*is coming, with an expected power boost (beyond 300 hp) and perhaps higher economy. Meanwhile, the*5.7 liter “Apache”*Hemi engines*are also being upgraded, with some sources claiming a target of 400 hp. Details are lacking on the dates for either upgrade, but the PUG is said to be fairly hefty, with dual-lift hydraulic cams and other upgrades.
There are also hints of the*diesel*gaining in towing capacity, possibly through gearing, calibration, and possibly upgraded internal parts upgrades could push it beyond 10,000 pounds (it’s currently rated at 9,200).
It is unlikely that the eight speed will jump to ten any time soon. ZF’s chief executive already dismissed that, saying the rewards were lower than the costs —*and this is coming from a company that supplies Rolls-Royce.
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Tailgates and seats
The 2016 or 2018 Ram 1500 pickups are likely to get the new split tailgate, which can open horizontally as well as up-and-down, as shown in this image from the patent filing:
In the illustration, one can see a built-in step, suggesting that a copy of Ford’s drop-down steps are still in the future.
Stow-and-Go seats for Ram pickups
Engineer*Steven St. Laurent forwarded a patent for new stowable seats. Chrysler minivan seats easily fold seats into the floor, for a completely flat surface; when not in use, owners can use the under-floor space for added storage. This new design also has unobstructed space between the bottom of the seat and the floor, for other passengers’ feet. In Mr. St. Laurent’s words,
Chrysler is seeking to have rear and middle seats in new-generation trucks and SUVs fold completely into the floors — a flat surface vs a*5-10° incline... *The seat back will be the surface of the floor. [It could also be helpful for using] the rear of the quad-cab Ram truck for sleeping when driving on long trips, by folding the seat and placing a mat on top when switching drivers.
Package and appearance changes
Despite the appearance of new grilles on Rebel and Laramie Limited, we’ve been told to expect few major changes, —*which makes sense. It seems likely that the Ram badging on the rear will grow to make it more obvious when you see them on the road.
The diesel’s value is reportedly to be increased with various add-ons, given its high cost, including HID headlamps, LED DRLs, and a revised front bumper and grille for better airflow (possibly also to aid towing capacity increases). Engine badging is likely to become more obvious, too.
To differentiate the refresh without insanely high cost, we do expect a new front fascia, grille, headlights and bumper.
Interior and comforts
While there will be inevitable cosmetic redesigns, most everything is likely to stay where it is, with the possible exception of the climate control system and stereo/telematics systems.
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