Guts and Glory

Shawn Nanny Ram Heavy Duty First Look

Shawn Nanny: I was shoeing horses at the San Angelo Rodeo and there was an 18-wheeler with a dead battery so I dragged a chain out the toolbox and across the parking lot we go and pull started the big truck. My name is Shawn Nanny and I shoe horses for a living. I’m the owner, I’m the secretary, I’m the bookkeeper. I do it all. To make money, I don’t have people come to me, I go to them. And I have to have a vehicle that will get me there on time, comfortably, and the Ram truck is what I most desire. A couple weeks ago, I got a call from Ram asking me if I’d be interested in checking out their new truck and I’m excited about taking “Old Red” to the big city. We’ve got about a five and a half hour drive ahead of us. I’m looking forward to going to the state fair and checking everything out.

Mike Orman: My name is Mike Orman. We’re here today to reveal the 2013 Ram Heavy Duty truck. Fred Diaz is here. We’re also gonna talk to some customers. There’s a guy coming in by the name of Shawn Nanny. He’s going to notice differences in what we’re about to show him today.

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome president and CEO of Ram truck brand in Chrysler Mexico, Fred Diaz.

Fred Diaz: Good morning my fellow Texans. The new Ram 3500 is virtually an all-new truck from the frame up. It is so capable; we will deliver Best-in-Class towing⁺, Best-in-Class torque⁺, and Best-in-Class weight ratings⁺. Good luck and God bless. Thank you.

Shawn Nanny: Shawn Nanny.

Fred Diaz: Hey Shawn, how are you?

Shawn Nanny: Very nice to meet you.

Mike Orman: He and his family have three Ram trucks.

Fred Diaz: Really?

Mike Orman: An ’07, and ’01 and a ’97. Ask him how many miles are on his ’97.

Fred Diaz: How many?

Shawn Nanny: 413.

Fred Diaz: No kidding!

Mike Orman: We’re going to show you some things about this truck that make it the most powerful Ram ever. The most capable Ram ever. One of the things I wanted to talk to you about is something I expect you can already relate to, the reliability of the Cummins® engine. (2:15) That’s one of the things the industry loves about our pickup. This one has 850 foot-pounds of torque. Made possible because we couple it with the new AISIN transmission. (2:25)

Shawn Nanny: If I’m pulling a heavy load, am I gonna to be able to stop it?

Mike Orman: One of the greatest things about this thing is the new variable geometry turbo. Which in the ’13 has been upgraded to have a reactive exhaust brake feature. So the exhaust system knows and understands what kind of a load you’re towing.

Shawn Nanny: So the engine is going to take care of the brainwork for me.

Mike Orman: Well, it’s gonna sure help. What’s different about this Longhorn than the 2012, the EVIC system. That tells you everything from the degrees of your transmission, the setting on your electronic trailer break.

Shawn Nanny: So no more aftermarket gauges for transmission, temperature, brake control, none of that. I’ve got it all right here.

Mike Orman: When we look at the radio, we look at an 8.4-inch screen and I can make things happen here from the music or I can change the heater controls.

Shawn Nanny: Fred mentioned the improvement in the suspension; tell me a little bit more about that.

Mike Orman: It’s not just the suspension, but it’s also the frame. It’s 50,000 pounds square inch.

Shawn Nanny: Well Mike, let’s get down to the meat and potatoes. What’s it gonna do for me?

Mike Orman: We’ve got a ball receiver system set up for your gooseneck. We’ve got tow hooks available in four corners.

Shawn Nanny: So I don’t have to make any modifications?

Mike Orman: You’ll literally be able to put a ball in it that day. You’re ready to go pull cows down the road or load your horses up or whatever.

Shawn Nanny: Excellent. I found one thing wrong with it.

Mike Orman: What’s that?

Shawn Nanny: My name’s not on the title.

Mike Orman: Your name’s not on the title?

Shawn Nanny: When I’m looking for a new truck, I want something that can take a pounding day in and day out. Interior comfort would mean that I can rest up in between jobs. I got a son that’s fixing to start college; we’ve got bills to pay. The economy of driving it would save me money and keep me going down the road where I can turn and burn and the new Ram 3500 Heavy Duty met that need and surpassed it.

Justin Poteet: I’m Justin Poteet and I’m a welder. It’s a one-man operation. I like waking up every morning and knowing I get to work outside all day. I’ve worked in cold weather, warm weather, all kinds. You know, three or four feet of snow. A lot of them are spur of the moment jobs. If you have to go out to the middle of West Texas to do a job you want something that’s gonna get you there and back. So you need a truck that’s reliable because you might have to drive 4 or 5 hours to get to the next job. If it doesn’t work, I can’t either. I’ve been using Ram trucks for four years. The more money you spend in maintenance, the less money you make. As far as cost of ownership, it’s real reliable and dependable. Over the last few years, business has really started picking up. So, I’m thinking about adding another truck and another person on. People from Ram contacted me and asked me if I’d come out and look at their new trucks. I was really honored that Ram called me and asked me to be part of this at the State Fair of Texas and to come meet Fred and Mike.

Mike Orman: My name is Mike Orman. We’re here today to show the 2013 Ram Chassis Cab Truck. So we’ve got Fred Diaz and he’s gonna spill the beans on that. So I’m very excited today because we’re gonna be meeting Justin Poteet. We’re gonna talk about some of the features that might be applicable to him.

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome president and CEO of Ram truck brand in Chrysler Mexico, Fred Diaz.

Fred Diaz: Good morning my fellow Texans! The 2013 Ram Chassis Cab, a Best-in-Class standard gross vehicle weight rating of 19,500 pounds⁺ and a Best-in-Class front gross axel weight rating of over 7,200 pounds⁺. Chassis Cab delivers numerous Best-in-Class attributes. Best-in-Class towing⁺ and torque⁺in our duallies (1:54). Good luck and God bless. Thank you.

Fred Diaz: Hey buddy.

Justin Poteet: Justin. Good to meet you.

Fred Diaz: How are you Justin? Good to meet you too.

Mike Orman: His truck weighs over 12,000 pounds. Got a generator, welder, oxy-acetylene equipment and everything built into it.

Justin Poteet: Yes, sir.

Fred Diaz: That a baby.

Mike Orman: If I understand right, you want to do a little walk around on the truck today. I’d like to give you a few things to think about on the new Ram Chassis Cab truck. So it’s got the Cummins® engine in it but behind this engine is the AISIN transmission. You’ve probably got a need for electricity on the job.

Justin Poteet: Yeah.

Mike Orman: This truck has duel alternators. It’s also got the new Ram Active Air™ intake system.

Justin Poteet: What’s that do?

Mike Orman: It’ll make the decision whether to pull the air in through the fender or if things are warming up, pull it through the grille. Well Justin, now we’re going to show you the interior. One is the 7-inch EVIC.

Justin Poteet: Yeah.

Mike Orman: And that thing literally tells you anything from fuel temperature of your automatic transmission, temperature outside.

Justin Poteet: Can you change the brake controller and everything?

Mike Orman: You can change the aggressiveness of the brake controller. You can switch it from a light-duty break system to a heavy-duty break system.

Justin Poteet: Make pulling a lot easier.

Mike Orman: Make pulling a lot easier. We’ve got the 8.4-inch radio system and it’s got push-button controls. Unlike our competition, it also has the ability that if you’re jumping in this truck with gloved hands, you’ve got knobs. Nice easy-to-handle knobs with gloved hands.

Justin Poteet: Well Mike, you told me about the engine and transmission. Tell me a little bit more about the chassis.

Mike Orman: Underneath this thing is a very nice frame rail system and as standard in the industry, the truck is set up with an eight crossmember system. It’s got a very smooth frame rail deck. It makes it easy to throw upfits on top of it. The Hotchkis leaf spring suspension that this truck and a lot of trucks have but what’s unique about it is that it’s been dropped in the front, picked up in the back.

Justin Poteet: It’s a nice truck, Mike.

Mike Orman: Very good. Well, take care.

Justin Poteet: Thank you, sir.

Mike Orman: Enjoy your day at the fair.

Justin Poteet: It means a lot to have a truck that starts every day and gets you to the job every day. Mike Orman was a nice guy. He really showed me a lot about the trucks I didn’t know. As far as cost of ownership, with a little extra money you know I can go traveling or take time off work. Everything I saw today really confirmed what I believe in Ram. They build reliable and dependable vehicles so I believe Ram truck will be the way to go.

Raul Martinez está en el negocio de cargas desde la infancia. Como todo buen mexicano-americano de Texas, tiene debilidad por los rodeos –y, por supuesto, por su Ram HD 3500. Entonces cuando lo invitamos a la Feria Estatal de Texas para descubrir la nueva Ram Heavy Duty 2013 con mejores funciones en su categoría, Raúl no dudó en venir. Para ver lo que vio Raúl, mira este video.

RAUL MARTINEZ: Desde muy pequeños mis papá s siempre nos enseñaron, desde los tres años, a montar a caballo, a florear la soga, y pues siempre hemos andado a caballo.

Tenemos trailers grandes para recoger pastura para los caballos, y pues moviendo maquinaria grande como tractores, subiendo maquinaria grande pues.

Me llamo Raúl Martínez. Mi rol es como de operador. Oficialmente llevamos como unos 10 años en el negocio –yo mismo, pues mi papá tiene unos 20 - 25 años… Mi papá siempre ha tenido una Ram.

El modelo este es la Ram 3500, y yo traigo el 5.9 está ndar de 6 cambios, con carga es lo mejor. Yo tengo confianza con esta troca de que yo la voy a prender en la mañana y va a prender. Gracias a Dios, nunca hemos fallado por trocas. Siempre llegan del punto A al punto B.

AGUSTIN GARCIA: Mi nombre es Agustín García. Trabajo en la marca Ram. Y hoy estoy aquí para reunirme con Raúl, con quien voy a tener el gusto de hablar de nuestros nuevos modelos 2013 de la marca Ram.

RAUL MARTINEZ: Ram me invitó para acá. Me hablaron Fred Díaz y Agustín. Realmente estoy emocionado de conocer la troca Ram 2013.

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the President and CEO of Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler Mexico, Fred Díaz.

FRED DIAZ: Good morning, my fellow Texans! The new Ram 3500 is virtually a new truck from the frame up. It is so capable, it can deliver Best-in-Class Towing⁺, Best-in-Class Torque⁺, and Best-in-Class Weight Ratings⁺.

Good luck and God bless, and now come on up and check out these new big rigs.

AGUSTIN GARCIA: Raúl, ¿qué te pareció conocer a Fred Díaz?

RAUL MARTINEZ: No, pues es buena onda el señor, muy buena onda, me cayó muy bien y pues, mucho gusto.

AGUSTIN GARCIA: Qué bueno. Oye, estoy muy emocionado de poder presentarte la Ram 2013, la 3500, con todas las mejores que tiene en eficiencia, capacidad, tecnología, sin sacrificar la durabilidad del vehículo.

Debajo del cofre nuestro tradicional motor Cummins^®, con 850 libras/pie de torque y 385 caballos de fuerza. Para mantener eficiencia contamos con dos radiadores en el vehículo, y nuestro exclusivo sistema Ram Active Air^™, que te va a permitir mantener la eficiencia en condiciones extremas de clima o de altura.

Y aquí es donde viene lo bueno para quienes nos gustan los caballos. Ademá s de esta apariencia increíble de nuestra dually, un nuevo hitch clase 5 con 17,000 libras de capacidad para todo tipo de remolque. Pero…

RAUL MARTINEZ: Esto es lo importante…

AGUSTIN GARCIA: Ademá s, instalado de fá brica, un sistema de acoplamiento para gooseneck o quinta rueda listo para ser utilizado. ¿Listo para la charreada?

RAUL MARTINEZ: Listo, sí, vá monos.

AGUSTIN GARCIA: Listo para el rodeo! Muy bien!

Qué te parece este radio? 8 punto 4 pulgadas, tá ctil, con controles de aire acondicionado incluidos dentro del mismo radio, y ademá s con la capacidad Uconnect^® de manos libres que te va a permitir tener acceso a tu teléfono, mensajes… El vehículo puede ser un WiFi spot… ¿Te ves con una Ram 3500 2013?

RAUL MARTINEZ: Sí me veo en una de ellas.

AGUSTIN GARCIA: Conocer a Raúl fue realmente único. Conectar con alguien no sólo por el gusto por las camionetas sino por los caballos, hizo de esta una experiencia realmente única.

RAUL MARTINEZ: Está muy amplia la camioneta, muy cómoda, enganchar las trailas es muy, muy importante. Mi troca siguiente sería una Ram.

JAIME ROCHA: Soy Jaime Rocha. Tengo la compañía de Rocha’s Towing.

Somos una familia. Estamos involucrado mis hermanos, hermana. Y eso me apasiona mucho porque nos mantiene juntos.

Estamos en este negocio por más de 15 años. El negocio no para. Entonces es muy importante que tengas un vehículo que puedas depender en él para vida de hacer tu trabajo correctamente. Y eso es lo que hemos encontrado con la Ram.

Actualmente acabamos de comprar dos Rams del 2011, de la 5500. Es muy versátil, muy cómoda. Es muy difícil entender cómo es que no tuve una antes.

AGUSTIN GARCIA: Ni nombre es Agustín García, y soy parte del equipo Ram. Y estamos aquí el día de hoy para tener la oportunidad de presentarle a nuestros clientes la nueva Ram 2013.

JAIME ROCHA: Fui invitado por Ram para venir a ver las nuevas camionetas que van a sacar este año para el 2013, y para ver qué nuevas cosas han sacado.

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the President and CEO of Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler Mexico, Fred Díaz.

FRED DIAZ: Good morning, my fellow Texans! Now let’s turn our attention to the big boys. The 2013 Ram Chassis Cab. From a total cost of ownership standpoint, Ram Chassis Cab has unsurpassed 5-Year / 100,000-Mile Powertrain Warranty.⁺

Good luck and God bless, and now come on up and check out these new big rigs.

AGUSTIN GARCIA: Jaime, ¿qué te parece haber conocido a Fred Díaz?

JAIME ROCHA: Muy amigable persona, y se oye como que tiene mucha pasión en lo que ha creado.

AGUSTIN GARCIA: Pues estoy muy, muy emocionado de tenerte aquí y de poder mostrarte de cerca todas las grandes cosas que está haciendo Ram con los nuevos modelos 2013 para ti y tu negocio.

Debajo de este cofre tenemos el motor Cummins^® con 750 libras-pie de torque. Tenemos también nuestro exclusivo sistema de inyección de aire Active Air™, que permite seleccionar la entrada de flujo de aire fresco para una mayor eficiencia.

Además, tenemos la mejor capacidad eléctrica de su clase, con dos alternadores de 220 amperes cada uno. ¿Qué te parece?

JAIME ROCHA: Wow! Eso es impresionante.

AGUSTIN GARCIA: Y Jaime, como bien sabes un Chassis Cab no es nada sin su upfit. Y estoy seguro que para tu servicio de grúas, lo que hemos hecho con el vehículo será extraordinario.

Nuestro nuevo frame plano completamente, que facilita la instalación, con detalles como el movimiento de todos los brackets y soportes para que sea más sencillo y más rápido la instalación de tu flatbed.

¿Jaime qué te parece el interior de nuestra Ram?

JAIME ROCHA: Wow! Muy bonito, muy bonito. Muy funcional, también.

AGUSTIN GARCIA: Extraordinaria oficina, ¿no?

JAIME ROCHA: Sí, definitivamente.

AGUSTIN GARCIA: Déjame hablarte de los radios. Tres disponibles con tecnología Uconnect® para manos libres, acceso a tu teléfono celular, texto, navegación, además de que te va a permitir bajar aplicaciones para siempre estar conectado en tu negocio.

Y un tablero de instrumentos disponible en 7 pulgadas y color, con la información que necesitas para monitorear el desempeño de tu camión… ¿Qué te parece?

JAIME ROCHA: Me parece perfecto. Me está gustando.

Estuve muy impresionado por todo lo que mencionó y las cosas que ellos pudieron diseñar para hacer un mejor producto.

Definitivamente sería una decisión muy buena, para comprar la Ram.

VO: Toughness begins here. Where the sun blisters and the heat carries weight. It’s here that we bring our truck to test to torture and to test again. There’s one goal, trucks that will perform to our customers needs and beyond. Three days. Three tests. No grades here, just pass or fail. First, an intense uphill climb. Then, it’s the Ram HD against the stagnant, oppressive temperatures of city traffic. And finally the one test where failure could render the others meaningless, the duel.

Luke Marsh – Each of these bars weighs 500 lbs. We’ll load the trucks up to their maximum gross combined weighting.

VO: The Davis Dam Run. Here is where you’ll find the two enemies of towing performance. Extreme heat and relentless grade. The goal is to tow a best in class 30,000 pounds⁺. Three and a half tons greater than the competition.

Luke Marsh – We want the truck to do that 1000 times over or 10,000 times or however many times the customer wants to get to the top of the hill. We need to make sure that the truck is going to do that.

VO: The numbers are coming in. Will the truck prove itself? The hill shows no mercy. Gravity has the upper hand here. But the truck is up to the task. The climb is complete but another challenge emerges.

Luke Marsh – We also want the truck to safely go down the hill. That’s in some ways more important that going up the hill.

VO: Now the hill pushes down hard. Losing control is a definite and dangerous possibility.

Luke Marsh – Our integrated exhaust brake — the Cummins diesel engine — works similar to the exhaust brakes that you find in big rigs. In conjunction with the way that our transmission shifts you can go down a steep grade safely and in a controlled manner.

VO: Often times the most exciting outcome is no excitement at all. True for a hill decent or what we’re about to see next, a sizzling traffic jam.

Philip Pack – Traffic testing out in Vegas, which if anyone has been to Vegas, knows that’s as extreme a condition as you can get. Sitting in the sun. You get some pretty good extreme temperature readouts. Anytime you have something that’s a little bit off or something that, you have a panel temp that’s reading a lower than you would want, you gotta dig into the data and figure out why and what’s going on and what you can do to change that. We have our A/C on full blast. If our head pressures are good and everything is going exactly how we want, that’s a great day.

VO: The big comings kept calm while the AC kept cool. Back to the Davis Dam and the test we’ve been waiting for, a showdown between two historic rivals.

Jason Shauver – We tested a 5500 Cab Chassis up against an F500 Ford Cab Chassis. On Davis Dam grade, both trucks were pitted side by side with identically prepared trailers.

VO: First truck to the top wins. They come to the bottom of the hill, dead even. Then our Ram truck makes its move. Can it hold the lead? And the Ford fades back into the desert afternoon.

Jason Shauver – The Ram ascended the hill about 2 minutes faster. Met all of its coolant temperature goals. Had a min speed on average about 5 miles an hour faster.

Jason Shauver - Do you want me to actually say “kick it’s ass?”

VO: Through the brutal heat of the desert landscape, in the hand-to-hand combat of direct competition, the Ram trucks thrived.

Philip Pack – Hot weather tests is hot!

Alex Wainwright – For these smart guys that come to the hottest places in the country at the hottest times of the year, it’s really good fun to see our engine being pushed to its limits.

Luke Marsh – We need to make sure that our trucks will perform flawlessly under the extreme weather conditions.

Philip Pack - That’s what we’re here for.

SUPER: SiriusXM^™ Satellite Radio

Sam Elliot: To take it all head-on. Channel the universe. Shorten the distances.

SUPER: Best-in-Class Fuel Economy

Sam Elliot: Push beyond the possible. Roar past convention. Shift every course.

SUPER: Revolutionary Rotary Shifter

Sam Elliot: Defy the elements.

SUPER: Active Level Air Suspension

Sam Elliot: And bring the world to its knees.

It takes the new 2013 Ram 1500. Engineered to move heaven and earth.

The road doesn’t end here. This is only the beginning.

SUPER: Guts. Glory. Ram.

Legal: Ram is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC.

SAM: To anyone who’s ever looked fear in the eye and refused to blink, we can certainly relate.

Guts. Glory. Ram.

Legal: Ram is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC.

SAM: For those who dare to be great…

Who search for answers in uncommon places.

For those who build dreams one rpm at a time…

Glory… is just around the corner.

Guts. Glory. Ram.

Legal: Professional driver on closed course. Do not attempt.

Properly secure all cargo.

Ram is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC.

SAM: A trailblazer is not afraid of the unknown.

He pioneers the way for others to follow.

Always searching for unmarked territory

On the ground or slightly above.

Guts. Glory. Ram.

Legal: Professional driver on closed course. Do not attempt.

Properly secure all cargo.

Ram is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC.

SAM: Every performer has their own set of hurdles.

It takes talent to reach this stage.

Desire.

Determination.

And a whole lot of harmony to keep it all moving in the right direction.

Guts. Glory. Ram

Legal: Properly secure all cargo.

Ram is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC.

SAM: Nature isn’t always serene.

It can be outright savage. And you need a truck with the teeth to take it head-on.

Introducing the 2012 Mossy Oak edition Ram Outdoorsman.

Fog lamps, HEMI V8, Off-road tires. Claws.

Guts. Glory. Ram.

Legal: Optional equipment shown. Ram and Hemi and RamBox are registered trademarks of Chrysler Group LLC.

Mike: Every time you come to the pump, you’re spending more of your family’s budget. In effect, gas prices control what you can and cannot do. That’s what efficiency is all about.

So when we set out to build the 2013 Ram 1500, we knew what we had to do to succeed: improve efficiency without sacrificing capability.

First, we made the frame lighter. We used lighter, stiffer, high-strength steel, which allowed us to cut weight without losing any strength.

Next, we decided to put in the powerful, yet efficient Pentastar V6, paired with the Torque-Flight 8, 8-speed transmission. This transmission is a game-changer. You won’t find it in any other light duty truck.

In our pursuit for efficiency there are less obvious things. One is thermal management.

The engine and transmission oil is most efficient at 190 degrees. But unless the truck is operating at max capability, the oil never gets that warm.

Thermal management heats the oil, so even during everyday use, it reaches 190 degrees.

Then, there’s electric power steering. It allows for refined steering feels for both parking and highway driving. It also improves powertrain efficiency, by eliminating the need to turn a traditional hydraulic power steering pump.

And lastly, there’s new stop/start technology. When you come to a complete stop, the engine shuts down, starting again only when you take your foot off the brake pedal. Obviously, that’s much more efficient.

With all that and more, this truck now gets a best-in-class 25 miles per gallon. So that it can do what it has to do. But it lets you do more of what you want to do. It’s the best of both worlds for anyone who wants to drive it.

SUPER: Guts. Glory. Ram.

Quality
Cast: Elizabeth Krear

Elizabeth: Perfection. It's not a destination. It's a journey. Along the way, you challenge yourself. You repeat what worked and change what didn't. You test, and refine, and repeat. That's the philosophy behind quality at Ram Trucks.

The pursuit of quality is a continuing process. It all comes down to eliminating flaws, turning weakness into strength. How do you do it? Simple: design the best truck you can imagine, then push it to its limits.

First, there's level testing: that's where our engineers try to break the truck. To push it beyond what a normal owner would ever do.

There are frame twists, like this.

And then there's the trailer-towing test.

We call this one the soup bowl.

Then we do extensive consumer testing. And we don't just get any consumers. We recruit what we call the 95th percentile. The group of people who are most abusive to one or another component of the truck.

For example, my daughter is in the 95th percentile of door slammers.

The new 2013 Ram 1500 is our best truck yet.

We ask every single person who buys a truck one simple question: would you recommend your new Ram Truck to a friend?

Our scores began high and they're only going getting higher.

Test. Refine… succeed.

Eggs

Safety Cast: Drew Regan

Drew: When we set out to build a safer vehicle, this is the essence of what we do. When there's a crash, my job is to protect the passenger.

When the vehicle stops suddenly, the passengers may collide with some parts of the truck's interior. So we try to minimize the effects of that crash.

Our system is made up of two parts, the structure and the restraints. The structure is the steel that makes up the body and the frame.

The restraint system is the seat belts and the air bag. They work together to lessen the effect of the crash on the body.

The structure of the Ram starts right here with the tow hooks, which are designed to deform under impact loading. Those tow hooks are tied to the hydroformed rail tips, which are connected to the full vehicle frame underneath the structural cab.

A great feature for the new 2013 Ram 1500 is the seat-side airbag.

The seat-side airbag comes out during a side impact from this section of the seat. At the same time, a side airbag curtain deploys from the ceiling. Ram was the first truck to make a side impact curtain standard.

As engineers, we deal with moving bodies. And when a vehicle comes to a sudden stop, it's our job to make sure that energy is not transferred to the occupants.

So no matter what else goes on with the truck, we never compromise on security.

Because the most important cargo is the moving bodies inside the cabin.

Ryan: Guys who drive Ram trucks, they’re working guys. They’re used to the weather, the rain, the sleet, the snow.

My job is to create an atmosphere to make these guys feel comfortable. I always tell my team to imagine if you were outside working, 100-degree temperatures, 10 hours a day. What would you want the interior of your truck to feel like?

So here are some of the materials we put in the 2013 Ram 1500. As you go up through the model lineup, what you’re going to notice is that we have that much more differentiation between the models. So almost every single price class has different finishes in terms of materials and paint finishes. What it really starts to do is set up a uniqueness throughout the entire lineup. So we’ve improved materials on the doors. We’ve improved the seats. So you get to things like our seating cloth. So we actually have two new seating materials for the SLT. It’s got a nice touch and feel to the hand, but it’s still robust enough. We’ve even got something pretty cool on our Sport where through the perf you actually have a little bit of color coming through. So when you see the perf holes, you actually look through and see some of that accent color. You get into some finishes like our vents, and our Sport’s more of that city truck, you’ve got black chrome, you’ve got nice high gloss black finishes. One of the really cool things is on our new 2013 Longhorn we’ve added real wood. Real wood is actually more of an open pore real wood, which is really cool. The wood is actually from a European source. The trees are used as fence posts, so they wrap barbed wire fence around them. Over the years, that barbed wire gets engulfed into the wood. The wood then starts to swirl around and create this burling effect. So as you can see through the lineup, there’s tons of stuff out here, we’ve got a lot of uniqueness in the interior. So with that said, let’s go see how this looks in the truck.

I’ve worked on cars too, but this is really different. You always have to remember that this is a truck. Big giant knobs; easy to use. Not too many swoopy curves on the interior. Let’s start with the doors. That’s the first thing you’re going to notice.

We’ve wrapped them in leather; we’ve even got real wood.

I’m absolutely obsessed with these doors.

Whenever you design a truck interior, you have to compliment that truck’s mechanical nature.

This is especially true when you put in the Torque-Flight-8, 8-speed transmission. Because it requires electric shifting, as opposed to mechanical linkage, we couldn’t use a conventional shifter. So here’s what we came up with.

Totally different from any other truck. Big, bold, intuitive. 4 positions. You don’t even have to look. You can just feel it. Big trucks have had these types of controls forever. We’re the first pick-up truck to do it.

We put a lot of work into the interior. We listened to our customers. It’s a sophisticated atmosphere in an extremely functional space.

But no matter how sophisticated we get, we never forget that it’s still a truck.

That makes the new 2013 Ram 1500 the perfect place for a little peace and quiet.

SUPER: Optimize without compromise. That’s strength evolved.
SUPER: Air power
SUPER: Active grille shutters
SUPER: Air suspension
SUPER: Wheel-to-wheel tubular side steps

Dave: Work truck. Sports car. Why bring them together? This is the epitome of hard work. This is about moving through the air with ease. Our goal was to do both in one vehicle. Capability and aerodynamics. The new 2013 Ram 1500.

Trucks are built for work, so they’re not inherently aerodynamic. To enhance the way this truck flows through the air, we started with the logical place: the front end. We made the lower air dam out of a very flexible, durable material. That allowed us to increase the aerodynamic performance by placing it closer to the road without risking damage from being driven into a curb, or when driven off road.

The lower air dam is only the beginning. Take a look at this. These are active grille shutters. They allow the truck to be both capable and efficient, depending on the situation. Let me show you how. The grille on the new 2013 Ram 1500 is enormous. It has to be. When you’re towing, the engine generates a lot of heat. So you need a giant influx of air to cool it. So here, the active grille shutters are open. But when you’re just cruising down the highway, the engine is plenty cool. So all that air flowing in is nothing but a drag. Here, the shutters close automatically and the air flows around the truck, rather than into it. This is much more aerodynamic. This technology is common on big rigs, but we’re the first pickup to have it.

See this? You wouldn’t think it helps with aerodynamics but it does. We originally extended the tubular side steps to provide easier access to the truck bed. But we found through testing that by enhancing the shape, we could actually improve the airflow around the truck.

Sports cars are one thing, they’re built low to the ground to increase aerodynamics. A truck can’t always be that low. So often you need better ground clearance for capability. So we asked ourselves, how can we do both? The answer is air suspension. You get the ground clearance you need, when you need it. But at highway speeds, the air suspension lowers the truck automatically. So the truck flows through the air more like a sports car.

We completely changed the aerodynamics of this truck, without ever changing the sheet metal. The result is that we have excellent aerodynamics in a truck that works harder than ever.

Lets get back on the track.

SUPER: Guts. Glory. Ram.

SUPER: Torque-Flite 8, 8 speed transmission
SUPER: Pentastar V6

Mike Raymond: Every truck has a job to do. Whether for work or the weekend, you need to be able to count on it. The new 2013 Ram 1500 does it all.

It’s capable. It’s reliable. And it’s efficient.

This truck was already capable. We knew that. Our goal was to add what the customer was asking for: efficiency. That starts with the engine: the Pentastar V6.

We had used the Pentastar in other vehicles. It could tow, it could haul, and it was efficient.

The Pentastar is 94 lbs lighter than the old 3.7L.

Then we added the TorqueFlite-Eight 8-speed transmission, which took efficiency to a whole new level. When it comes to efficiency, 8 gears are much more effective than 4. This is the only light duty truck, which offers an 8-speed.

With the combination of the Pentastar V6 and the TorqueFlite-Eight 8-speed transmission, you can tow larger loads, haul more weight, and be more efficient.

There isn’t much the new 2013 Ram 1500 can’t handle.

Your truck always has a job to do, and you’re the guy who’s always happy to do it.

Fred Diaz Reveals The New 2013 Ram 1500

Sam Elliot: This is a city of energy. A land of tough love, thick skin, and hard choices a place where accomplishment doesn’t come easy. To accomplish something, you have to earn it. You meet challenges head on. Hone your craft. Go beyond what’s expected. You rise before dawn and go home only when the job is done. This is why we get up every morning. To fight another day. To roll up our sleeves and do it all again. For the love of hard work and for the sake of accomplishment. In a city that never backs down. It’s guts, it’s glory, it’s Ram.

Fred Diaz: Hard work. Accomplishment. Never backing down. Those words and spirit are what the Ram Truck brand is all about. And nobody does it in a better and more recognizable way, than the booming voice of Ram, Mr. Sam Elliot.

From the steel to the glass to the concrete canyons of Manhattan, to the oil fields of Texas, to the docks of Seattle, Americans have a real need for a hard working truck. And from a night on the town in Miami to the trout streams of the Rocky Mountains, to off-roading in Baia, Americans also have a real need for a truck that fits their everyday lives. Be it in the big city or Big Sky country. Put it all together and whether your working hard or playing hard, today’s Ram is the most capable, hardest working truck, period.

Good morning everyone. Thank you very much for joining us today at the Ram truck press conference. And a big welcome to all of our friends and family watching online. Thank you for joining us this morning. We are honored to be a part of this prestigious auto show in the media capital of the world, New York City. The city that never backs down. Now, New York? Ram Trucks? The two don’t necessarily come to mind when you think about one or the other. Or do they? As you’ve seen with our last two Super Bowl commercials and with the Halftime in America spot we just aired over the weekend, you know that Chrysler, the new Chrysler, is not afraid to be boldly different. And the Ram Truck version of this spot is called Tommy and the Ram. It expresses America’s persistence, and dedication and determination and pride in Americans going back to work with the phrase, “Where there’s a truck, there’s a job.” And there’s also an obvious storied romance between a woman and a man, as the husband champions whatever it takes to provide for his bride. Take a look.

Woman VO: Tommy, I know you’re busy but I’m leaving you this message. I just wanted to tell you I know it’s been hard. And you never once stayed home feeling sorry for yourself. You just said where there’s a truck, there’s a job. You were so stubborn. You wouldn’t even let us take help from Dad. And you were right. Have a good day today babe. I know you’ll be late. But there will be supper in the oven. And I love you.

Fred: Now that, that right there, is pure Ram. It shows that while Ram is tough and rugged and scrappy, Ram is passionate, and again, Ram Trucks are not afraid to be boldly different. And that’s another reason why, revealing a Ram Truck here in New York City does make absolute sense.

But there’s still a bigger reason why we’re here taking the road less traveled. And while it’s not common knowledge, the New York market is actually the fourth largest truck market in the entire United States. And here is where Ram Trucks belong. In fact, more and more people now belong to the Ram Truck family here in the New York area as well as all across North America than ever before. And in 2011 our Ram pickup truck sales were up 23% versus 2010. And the momentum continues in 2012 with Ram pickup sales being up 26% this first quarter of the year. Along with our best March in four years. All together, the Ram Truck has racked up 23 consecutive months of year-over-year sales gains. And in January, this past January, the Ram Truck brand grew market share an amazing three and a half points year-over-year. I’d give my left arm for three tenths of a point. But three and a half points, that’s amazing.

Now I need to stop here for a moment and I need to tip my hat to the many New York dealers that are here in the audience with us today for their outstanding performance. In fact among all the major markets in the US, New York is our number one in market share in light duty pickups at an amazing 27%. So thank you dealers of New York.

And also a heartfelt thanks to my Ram team. You know what man? 23 months of consecutive sales gains doesn’t happen by accident. We’ve been building an all-star team since the very beginning of the Ram Truck brand almost three years ago. The growing popularity of the Ram Truck Showroom, with its distinctive brand image and innovative line-up of trucks shows that by creating the Ram Truck brand, we are serious about trucks, we are committed to the commercial market, we are incredibly passionate about carving out our rightful place as the leader in the industry.

And that’s yet another reason why we’re here today. To keep that momentum going. We’re here to be very clear, Ram trucks, first and foremost, we are truck people. We get truck people. We understand truck customers like nobody’s business. And we’re here today to show the world that the new Ram truck really pushes the envelope and the boundaries of trucks like you’ve never seen before.

And it all starts by delivering what’s on the top of every consumer’s mind today: Best-in-class fuel economy. This new truck integrates a number of new pioneering fuel-saving technologies that give owners that power and capability they need and expect from a truck and yet allows them to go farther on a single tank of gas. The new Ram also offers advanced, class-leading technologies and several segment firsts, we’ll talk about a few of them shortly. Along with exclusive, innovative features and refinements that will help owners get the job done easier, faster, and better, day in and day out.

And of course, all of these new improvements are wrapped up in that handsomely rugged look of the Ram truck. So, as you may have guessed by now, what was supposed to be a routine mid-cycle refresh has turned into virtually and all new truck, from the ground up. In fact, Sergio is extremely passionate about trucks and he told us, y’know what guys? Go big or go home. And make this truck, the best in class in every way. And when our Ram team took our proposal to Sergio and our leadership team, the green light was given and we immediately got to work. So as a result, the changes are so significant, we actually decided to bring the factory, right here, to the floor of the New York Auto Show. Now you can witness the design and build of the new 2013 Ram 1500 firsthand.

This is a story of how we have forged and hardened the strength of the new 2013 Ram 1500. It begins with advanced materials, molten high strength steel to deliver Ram Truck capability, reliability, durability, and best-in-class fuel economy. From the inside out, virtually nothing has been left unchanged. Yes, we’re starting with the guts of this truck, the very core of its capability, and we made it better in every way. And let me repeat, virtually nothing has been left unchanged.

We went all the way down to the foundation and the backbone of this truck and redesigned the entire frame. As a result, the frame of this new 2013 truck is now 20% stronger. But it’s also lighter. And all without sacrificing, durability thanks to the use of high strength steels. From the get go, our goal was to take out weight all while increasing the truck’s capability and increasing the content, and also improving fuel economy, which is, as I mentioned, a primary purchase consideration in the light-duty segment. That’s why we’re proud to announce that the new Ram 1500 will deliver best-in-class fuel economy thanks to a number of powertrain improvements that are segment firsts: the segment first, electronic 8-speed transmission. We call it TorqueFlite 8.

Now, this unique class exclusive transmission comes standard with the new 3.6 Pentastar V6 engine. And as you know, that engine is one of Ward’s Ten Best Engines. It delivers best-in-class horsepower and fuel economy. And the 8-speed transmission will also be available in the proven and loved 5.7 liter Hemi V8.

And the Hemi has been refined and tuned with Fuel save technologies that also boost fuel economy, making it best-in-class as well. Now, in addition to this engine and transmission combo, we’re achieving impressive jumps in fuel economy thanks to a total of 12 actual pioneering first in segment technologies and systems.

I’ll tell ya, our Ram engineers have totally outdone themselves. Unfortunately, we simply don’t have time to talk about all twelve of them, so I’ll give you some of the key highlights: we added powertrain thermal management system, which gets the engine and transmission oil up to operating temperature as quickly as possible to maximize efficiency. There’s also an electric power steering. It only draws power when it is required, so it lowers the engine’s parasitic losses. It’s also quieter than a conventional hydraulic system, while providing excellent road fill. Next is a pulse width modulated fuel pump and cooling fan that operate only as required, based on the engine’s demand. It actually improves a vehicle’s fuel efficiency by cutting down on the electric energy used by the truck.

We’re also introducing stop-start technology, which contributes additional gains to fuel economy, especially when driving in the city. And finally, we’ve applied state of the art aerodynamics, such as active grill shutters that reduce drag by closing off engine compartment airflow when it’s not needed. Now despite the fact that we already have best-in-class ride and handling, with our class-exclusive link-coil suspension, you know what?

We decided to raise the bar yet again with another segment first, active air suspension. Never has an active air suspension ever been offered in the pick-up industry, ever. With this technology, ride height is lowered at cruising speeds for improved aerodynamic efficiency, which is another improvement in our quest to extract every single ounce of added fuel economy for our consumers. But there’s also more benefits to this air suspension system. The beauty of it is that it also adds to the capability of the truck by providing greater ground clearance when you’re going off road and also a kneel mode for ease of loading the pickup bed when you’re having to put cargo in the back of the pickup bed. And also the ability to step in and out of the truck, rather than having to feel like you’re climbing in and out of the truck. Plus automatic load leveling for improved ride control whenever you’re hauling a load or pulling a trailer. And this improvement and this great new truck are just beneath the surface.

We’ve significantly upgraded driver and passenger touch-points with class-excusive interior refinements including the addition of what we call all secure. What all-secure lets you do, is it allows you to lock all the doors, the RamBox, and the tail gate, all with one touch of the remote. And there’s also the convenience of keyless enter and go and push-button start in our new Ram. And Ram Truck drivers will also appreciate an innovation that replaces the column-shifter as well as the floor shifter.

Ram has designed a convenient, dash mounted, easy to understand, and most importantly, easy to operate, electronic rotary shifter which provides total control of this sophisticated TorqueFlite 8 transmission. This thoughtful, innovative approach has a proven technology that already is used in class 6 through 8 big rigs. So it’s perfect for truckers, especially when a trucker is in those positions where they have to make those quick blind-shift transitions from reverse to drive and back again and when towing or navigating out of sticky situations such as mud, snow, tight parking spaces and even crowded work sites. It also gives drivers far more functional storage space in the center console, which we lovingly refer to as Manhattan, because as you know, that console is considered prime real-estate. Now, as quality shift detents provide seamless blind-shifting operation without even having to look, it allows you to do that, even when you’re wearing gloves. An innovative, class-exclusive benefit created by Ram, which every truck driver will appreciate.

And finally, we’re significantly upgraded the instrument panel and interior trim with new colors and premium materials. On top of the interior refinements, we’ve added yet another Ram breakthrough that lays the foundation for new and future class-leading technologies. Now this was fundamentally a strategic upgrade. When we redesigned the frame, we also beefed up Ram’s electrical backbone with the addition of Powernet. This feature significantly increases the truck’s electronic bandwith, so we can expand content, features, and the speed with which they work.

A direct result of this Powernet upgrade is the ability to support next gem Uconnect systems. Hands down it’s the most forward-thinking, most technological solution in the market today. And this will help Ram truck drivers get the job done better than ever. In fact it will turn the truck into a rolling wifi hotspot. And Uconnect is easy to operate and it features a large, 8.4 inch touch screen. Intuitive steering wheel controls, voice recognitions to provide total control over features such as hands-free calling and navigation, as well as the ability to download apps to your rig.

Now, moving to the instrument cluster. The most critical driving information appears at a glance on the seven-inch customizable information system with easy to read graphics. With Uconnect, Ram truck owners will have access to the truck via remote, from their smart phones from their computers. Imagine, a trucker being able to remotely lock and unlock and start their truck with the use of a smart phone or a computer.

Plus Ram owners will have the first and only ability to enjoy a variety of 12 new Latino channels from SiriusXM Radio. Channels such as La Luna, Radio Caliente, and Deportes En Vivo. Each and every one of these electronic upgrades demonstrates our commitment to give Ram Truck owners the most technologically advanced and capable truck on the road today.

So, as you can see, we’ve thoroughly updated the guts on this new Ram and we’ve wrapped it in a rugged handsome exterior, and around these countless improvements, to give you the glory that we have all come to love and expect from Ram Trucks.

Introducing the guts, the glory, the new 2013 Ram 1500.

We started with the most aerodynamic, best looking, and most recognizable full-size pickup on the road. Customers told us to be sure, whatever you do, keep Ram’s unmistakably rugged good looks. So you know what? We listened. We listened, but we found a way to build on those great looks. All new larger, bolder, more heroic grill and front fascia enhance Ram’s tough, rugged, big rig look. And check out the sculpted badge, the new Ram badge. We also have bi-halogen projector head beams and headlamps with new LED turn signals and tail lamps and a wraparound bumper that is both stronger and more tailored. Wheel to wheel sidesteps provide access to the front of the truck-bed. And finally, there’s an entirely new wheel line-up for each model.

Ladies and gentlemen we give you the guts. Virtually nothing has been left unchanged on this new truck. All to deliver the glory. Twelve pioneering, first to segment technologies to deliver best-in-class fuel economy all backed by Ram’s unsurpassed, 5 year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Add to that a host of advanced, class-leading technologies and segment first, never even before thought or even considered for a truck. Please be sure to visit our unique Ram display downstairs where you can see and experience for yourself, more guts, more glory, more Ram. Thank you New York.

Fred Diaz Talks about The New 2013 Ram 1500

Fred: The reveal and launch of this new 2013 Ram is by far, the most significant and important truck we have launched in not only the history of the Ram Truck Brand, but also the history of the corporation. There are so many things inside this new truck, that’s almost impossible to talk about all of them in a short segment.

But a few points that I want you to make sure you take away is first off styling. Arguably, from the researched we’ve received from all the tons and tons of research that we’ve done, arguable, our truck has the best styling in the entire industry. We were told, whatever you do, do not mess with the styling. So we didn’t, but we added some extra pieces of refinement and call it jewelry if you will, to make the truck even more beautiful than it already is, but without losing that rugged, strong, bold appearance known within the Ram Truck Brand.

Bob: So the first thing that we focused on was the grill. We wanted to make that much more bolder, really in your face, so we expanded on the crosshairs, we made those bolder and stronger on the front of the truck. We also gave it a modern look on the ends of the grill just to give it a new interpretation.

We’ve got integrated fog lamps, they used to be horizontal, now we’ve got those, they’re more vertical. We used to have dual headlamp. Now we’re going with quad headlamps in the front to really give that projection of light in particular for those customers in rural areas.

We also have the bi-halogen projector headlamps that will give you that performance that premium vehicles in the market give. We’ve got a little Ram’s head integrated in, as well as the name Ram, that if people look for it, they’re gonna see it. Those are those delights that people find and they say “wow, that’s a great touch.”

Another thing we were able to do was to enhance our RamBox feature. It’s exclusive in the industry and what customers said was “it’s sometimes difficult for me to go around and make sure I’ve locked all of my bins.” So we’ve integrated into the remote keyless entry, one button you can push and it will lock the four doors on the vehicle, it will lock the two RamBox bins as well as our locking tailgate.

And the badging on the side of the vehicle, we also went with a vertical stacked look and what this does is it allows the small businesses more real estate on the door to put their company name. We’ve got wheel to wheel sidesteps now, so if you’re accessing stuff in the bed of the truck, you’ll be able to stand on the sidestep to access that.

We also get an aero benefit from that, which will help improve the overall fuel economy of the vehicle. So all new for the 2013 Ram 1500 will be a four-corner air suspension. You’ll have an off road one and an off road two, so that will get you in a great position, depending on the terrain that you’re on and you’ll go into what we call an aero mode when you’re driving down the highway and what this does is this will set the vehicle at an optimal position for your aerodynamics and your overall fuel economy.

We’d put our interior up against any other product in the market. And we didn’t want to stop there because we know everyone’s gonna come after us. So we improved in every single area. Some of the touch points, we even now go to the rear arm rest on the vehicle where those on the door panels will be all leather, soft touch, we’ve carried all of those appointments throughout the vehicle.

The Unveiling of the 2013 Ram 1500

Fred: So, as you can see, we’ve thoroughly updated the guts on this new Ram and we’ve wrapped it in a rugged handsome exterior, and around these countless improvements, to give you the glory that we have all come to love and expect from Ram Trucks. Introducing the guts, the glory, the new 2013 Ram 1500.

Introducing the guts, the glory, the new 2013 Ram 1500. We started with the most aerodynamic, best looking, and most recognizable full-size pickup on the road. Customers told us to be sure, whatever you do, keep Ram’s unmistakably rugged good looks. So you know what? We listened. We listened, but we found a way to build on those great looks. All new larger, bolder, more heroic grill and front fascia enhance Ram’s tough, rugged, big rig look.

And check out the sculpted badge, the new Ram badge.

We also have bi-halogen projector head beams and headlamps with new LED turn signals and tail lamps and a wraparound bumper that is both stronger and more tailored.

Wheel to wheel sidesteps provide access to the front of the truck-bed. And finally, there’s an entirely new wheel line-up for each model.

Ladies and gentlemen we give you the guts. Virtually nothing has been left unchanged on this new truck. All to deliver the glory. Twelve pioneering, first to segment technologies to deliver best-in-class fuel economy all backed by Ram’s unsurpassed, 5 year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Add to that a host of advanced, class-leading technologies and segment first, never even before thought or even considered for a truck.

Please be sure to visit our unique Ram display downstairs where you can see and experience for yourself, more guts, more glory, more Ram. Thank you New York.