Ram Truck’s full-size pickup lineup will be bolstered in the second half of this year by the addition of the 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel, a new off-road package that was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
The Ram 1500 Rebel features: a one inch raised ride height for improved off-road approach, departure and break-over angles; Bilstein supplied front and rear shocks with unique tuning; a new steering calibration; a softer rear stabilizer bar for improved dynamics; and new specialty 33-inch LT285/70R17E Toyo Open Country A/T all-terrain tires mounted to the all-new 17-inch silver and black cast aluminum wheels.
“Offering an off-road-style package on the Ram 1500 has been on our to-do list for some time but the right combination didn’t present itself until now,” noted Bob Hegbloom, president and CEO of the Ram Truck division of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC. “The Rebel drops right into a core segment of the truck market.”
Hegbloom also highlighted the new Ram 1500 EcoDiesel “HFE” model – an acronym meaning “high fuel efficiency” – during a press conference at NAIAS this week.
The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel HFE model gets 21 miles per gallon (mpg) in city driving and 29 mpg on the highway for a combined rating of 24 mpg.
Turning back to the Ram 1500 Rebel, the pickup features a range of exterior enhancements, including an all-new grille with prominent billet silver “RAM” letter badge.
That badge is complemented by a new black off-road front bumper design with a durable powder-coated surface, which incorporates a powder coated, billet silver skid plate, new front tow hooks and new LED [light emitting diode] fog lamps.
The rear bumper is also treated with durable black powder coating with flared cutouts around dual chrome-tipped exhausts, with optional equipment including a backup camera to provide a better field of vision when maneuvering.
The OEM said its new Ram 1500 Rebel will be available in five colors, including: Granite Crystal Metallic, Bright Silver Metallic, Flame Red, Bright White and Brilliant Black, with both monotone and two-tone paint options available.
Inside, an all-new center console bin incorporates a cellular phone/tablet holder with molded insert allowing for various-sized devices.
The 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel will be available exclusively as a crew cab model with 5-ft. 7-in. bed length in 4x2 or 4x4 configurations. Both the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, generating 305 hp and 269 lb.-ft. of torque, and 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 cranking out 395 hp and 410 lb.-ft. of torque engines will be offered, connected to Ram’s TorqueFlite 8 eight-speed automatic transmission.
When equipped with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, the Rebel is available in 4x4 only with a 3.92 gear ratio, allowing the engine to leverage its power and torque, Ram said.
“These trucks complement our diverse portfolio,” Hegbloom said during the OEM’s press conference – noting that Ram Truck’s sales in 2014 were 25% higher compared to 2013, with its pickup truck market share increasing by five percentage points last year to 23%.
“They are why we’re looking at another big year for Ram,” he added. “We’ve never lost sight of our commitment to focus on building the best pickups as well as the best commercial vehicles in the industry.”