Ram launches major upgrade

The new 2019 Ram gets a new grill/light approach and a refined nose for 2019. Under this new-shape body is a host of new engineering including a weight cut of 225 pounds compared to the previous model. There are two engine choices, and an innovative eTorque system for a kind of electric enhanced power boost.

This Ram Limited is one of the top end models, but you'll also find the Laredo package too. In 4x4 trim the suspension offers a 1-inch lift, electronic locking rear axle, tuned shocks and Hill Descent control. The new design also features a new aluminum tailgate that not only has damping during opening, but integrates a lift assist measure. The system used nitrogen and oil-charged strut for consistent assist even in cold weather. And the latch and lock mechanism are now electronic, which allows you to lower the tailgate with an interior switch, or with the key fob.

Ram showed off the Rebel trim as well. This model keeps a more familiar grill look, though updated. This package includes 18-inch wheels with 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires driven by an electronic-locking rear differential. The Rebel predecessor has Ram's Active-level four corner air suspension; while air suspension is still available the new Rebel comes standard with coil spring suspension and a 1-inch factory lift.

That Rebel package has newly designed Bilstein shocks with remote reservoirs to keep shocks cool and work with the unique rear suspension geometry to keep tires in traction. Rebel also has hill-descent control, hefty tow hooks in wide bumper openings and under-body protection features including skid plates on the transfer case, steering system, oil pan and gas tank. Go anywhere, really.

The 2019 Ram 1500 gets two power plants. First is the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 that uses cylinder cutoff to save fuel. This engine delivers 395 hp and 410 pounds feet of torque, with a broad power band. And the 2019 version gest a new 850-watt electric cooling fan using pulse width modulation to tailor the fan's energy draw to the cooling demand. The fan is no longer mounted to the front of the engine, which boosts fuel economy and reduces parasitic losses and fan noise.

The 2.6-liter Pentastar V-6 offers 305 hp and 269 pounds-feet of torque. This is the standard engine in most trim levels for 2019. This newest version has advanced tech including wide-range variable valve timing and two-step variable valve lift for optimum economy while delivering power. Another addition – for both engines – is an Interactive Deceleration Fuel Shut Off feature that pauses fuel flow to the engine cylinders when the vehicle is decelerating. This is an economy booster.

For2019, Ram 1500 trucks will have the eTorque mild hybrid system. This system uses a belt-drive motor generator unit with a 48-volt battery pack for the start/stop function, short-term torque assist and brake energy regeneration. ETorque adds up to 90 pound-feet of torque to the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and up to 130 pound-feet to the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8. The system is mated to the 8-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission and is said to improve performance, fuel economy, payload, towing capabilities and driveability.

Advanced safety gear is all over this truck with more than 100 safety and security features. From the full-cab airbag system shown to adaptive cruise control with stop, go and hold; forward collision warning plus braking assist if impact appears imminent; trailer sway damping control, LaneSense Lane Departure Warning, ParkSense Parallel/Perpendicular Park and Hill-start Assist. This is a sensor- and computer-filled truck. And that's the short-list, this truck is filled with safety features.

The Ram focuses on ride comfort and quiet operation. Frame-mounted active tuned mass modules and active noise cancellation in cabin combined with the cylinder cutoff on the Hemi enable a cabin that the company claims is 67.1 db – that's quieter than sitting in a library.

These are the innards of the new Frequency Response Damping shocks which are on all four corners of the new pickup. When the truck experiences slower input, common during cornering and heavy breaking, the bypass valve is closed for more aggressive damping, which provides added stability and poise. When driving normally, or exposed to faster shock inputs – which is common on rough roads or higher speeds, the valve will open to soften the damping, for improved comfort and control.

The new frame drops 100 pounds thanks to the use of a wide range of higher-strength materials. The frame boasts 98% high-strength steel. Overall the truck is 225-pounds lighter. Lightweight aluminum is being used for selective components including the tailgate, engine mounts, front-axle-center section, front-suspension cross member, transmission cross member and steering system gear. And composite materials are also in use for the truck to save weight as well.

Yes we're talking aerodynamics for a vehicle that's pretty much a brick moving through the air. Yet Ram has been redesigned to move that air more easily. The truck uses active aerodynamics and styling to get a 9% boost on the new truck with a .357 drag coefficient. There was a time when that was great for a Porsche 911. For example, when the truck approaches 35 mph, a standard active front air dam extends down 2.5-inches (non-air-suspension and Rebel trucks). The optional air suspension system lowers the truck 0.6 inches to improve efficiency. It's all about air management to reduce fuel use. Even the bed has been redesigned to improve airflow.

The new cab for this truck, depending on the trim level, will offer a range of unique colors and premium materials for 2019. And a modular design provides for more customization too. All models get a push-button start, an electronic parking brake and a redesigned rotary e-shifter dial. The center stack has been raised and brought closer to the driver to accommodate the new U-connect system. And the new HVAC system has 25% more airflow at lower noise levels, including larger front defroster vents. And you'll find plenty of storage – in fact 151 liters of interior storage volume.

In the center of this new operating dash is a new option – a 12-inch U-Connect screen, perhaps the biggest one on the market. This is a fully configurable display offers you plenty of options. There are tailor-made graphics for each Ram model and personalization is easy with a new split-screen so you can run two different applications – for example, Apple CarPlay and HVAC at the same time. Or you can have navigation across the whole screen (as shown).

The rear seating area has a flat floor design, and depending on the model those back seats can recline and have forward-rearward adjustments. The bottom of the seat can fold up for added storage too.

The 1500 continues to offer the lockable RamBox but now there's a 115-volt outlet and relocated overhead lighting in the box. This system continues to offer weatherproof and drainable storage bins in the bed rails. And those bed rails are now 1.5-inches higher, and aligned with the beltline of the body to create a stronger profile, and it offers aerodynamic benefits too.

The Ram offers an in-bumper step to be pulled down for easier bed access. But the redesigned rear bumper features an improved lower step-in height on the center of the bumper too for easier bed access.

The new cab is bigger – in fact the cab has increased by four-inches and the C pillar has been moved an inch rearward; and the rear of the cab is pushed an added two inches. The front and rear doors are now an inche larger on Crew Cab configurations, while the reard door is one inche shorter on Quad Cab models. That new 33.3-inch by 34.4-inche panoramic sunroof gives passengers 10 square feet of sky view and added natural light.

Okay, so the 'shifter' is gone and has been for awhile in the Ram. But this new knob has been redesigned to offer easier control that intelligently groups new feature buttons, including engine stop-start from eTorque, Hill-descent control, axle lock and transfer case controls, when equipped. Speaking of the transfer case, there are two available. The BorgWarner 48-12 for part-time 4-wheel drive operation with hi and low ranges; and the BorgWarner 48-11 for on-demand 4-wheel drive. Both transfer cases engage via the rotary gear selector on the instrument panel.

That 12-inch Uconnect display brings along some other features. There's a new kind of SiriusXM offered for the first time – Sirius XM with 360L – which is a next generation in-car system for personalized listening with more variety, smart content and on-demand streaming audio. And the 2019 Ram is the first to offer the system. That big display could be a game changer in an operating environment that many already think of as an office.

Here is a look at two of the new models. There are three new, longer frame lengths – a 144.5-inch wheelbase on Crew Cab short beds and a 153.5-inch wheelbase on Crew Cab long beds, which is four-inches longer than the predecessors. The Quad Cab long bed has a wheelbase of 140.5 inches, and the turning radius for this new truck is just 46.2 feet, curb to curb.