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With nary another a truck in sight, the 2013 Ram 1500 has won the North American Truck/Utility vehicle of the year award. The RAM beats out the Mazda CX-5 and Ford C-Max for the honor – as though there was any doubt.
Chrysler will debut its new “Uconnect Access” service in the 2013 RAM 1500 pickup truck and 2013 SRT Viper supercar and will offer both groups of buyers a free trial of the service.
Thanks to a new 3.6-liter V6 engine and an 8-speed automatic the 2013 RAM 1500 can now lay claim to being the most fuel efficient pickup in its segment.
Designed for hunters, fishermen, campers, and boaters, RAM is updating its Outdoorsman model for the 2013 model year 1500, combining convenience, off-road capability, and trailer towing hardware in one package.
10. 2013 Lexus ES
Over the past few years Lexus has been referred to as a Japanese Buick, with the number one reason being the ES front-drive luxury sedan – a car that drew direct comparisons with the not-quite-Cadillac GM premium brand. To erase those comparos the new 2013 ES gets a more stylish exterior with a GS-themed front nose and a profile more like the flagship LS.
Swapping its Camry underpinnings for an Avalon platform it has, however, grown even more in size – a notable Buick trait. Plus, to challenge the eAssist mild-hybrid LaCrosse, there’s finally now an ES300h hybrid system getting 39 mpg average.
According to brand CEO Fred Diaz, the 2013 Ram 1500 was due to receive a mid-life freshening. However, what’s ultimately emerged is an extensively re-engineered truck, despite looking familiar on the outside.
Key developments, many in a gesture toward improved fuel economy, include a re-designed frame that’s both lighter and stronger than last year’s true. In addition, there’s also an eight-speed automatic transmission (the TorqueFlite 8), that’s teamed not only with the base 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 but also the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. There’s also a rotary shifter on the center stack designed to make engaging gears easier and free up additional interior room.
After multiple teasers, RAM has officially unveiled its 2013 1500 packed with a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, with a 5.7L HEMI V8 as an option.
The new 3.6L V6 packs 42 percent more horsepower, 13 percent more torque and at least 20 percent better fuel economy compared to its 3.7L V6 predecessor, according to RAM. The new figures are 305-hp and 269 lb-ft and its fuel economy figures should be around 17-mpg city/24-mpg highway based on a 20 percent increase from the former 14-mpg city/24-mpg highway rating.
GALLERY: 2013 RAM 1500
As we draw closer to the New York International Auto Show, Ram continues its slow release of teaser images ahead of its official unveiling later this week.
The latest teaser image features two more macro shots, this time of what looks to be the interior trim of the Ram truck – the first of an interior light, the second of a piece of trim from the dashboard. While teaser images are considered by many automakers to be a fun and effective marketing trick to raise awareness and excitement, these obscure images fail to convey exactly what we should expect from the next generation Ram. Its official reveal will be during the New York International Show and we will share more substantial information regarding the new truck later in the week.
So far, we know that development of the new 2013 Ram 1500 truck heavily focused on the mechanicals, featuring a fuel efficient package that combines Chrysler’s Pentastar V6 along with an eight-speed transmission. What’s more, the new Ram will also feature the air bag suspension system from the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The RAM 1500 will be debuting this week at the New York Auto show with new engine choices, a new transmission and a new airbag suspension system. In preparation for the event, RAM is releasing five teaser shots, and today’s is the third in the series.
This newest teaser shows us what is probably a piece of the front bumper, but it is quite indistinct and could be just about anything. The RAM logo appears as a 2-D decal, unlike the 3-D RAM logo we have known from the past. Whether the logo is due for replacement on the new truck, we can’t be sure.
The biggest RAM announcements are all mechanical, as the truck will now be offered with Chrysler’s Pentastar V6, along with an eight-speed transmission. The eight-speed is initially only going to be offered with the V6, but it likely won’t be long until you can get it mated to all of RAM’s engine options. The new RAM will also be getting an air bag suspension system sourced from the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Click back to AutoGuide for live coverage from the 2012 New York Auto Show.
The second of four teaser images for the upcoming 2013 RAM 1500 has been released, hinting at some sort of rotating knob, perhaps infotainment related.
The first teaser clearly showed off the grille of the new 2013 RAM 1500, but this image is a little bit more obscure. The RAM 1500 will make its debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show sporting the Chrysler Group’s new 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Two more teaser images will be on their way before the truck’s debut on April 4th.
Ram 1500 Teaser:
The Ram 1500 will be getting some upgrades and a refresh which will be shown off at next week’s 2012 New York Auto Show.
The teaser is captioned reads: “a giant awaits,” and shows us a tiny bit of the grille as well as the front RAM logo.
In 2013 the RAM will be getting a new engine and transmission option, the pentastar 3.6-liter V6 and an eight-speed transmission. This is one of the biggest powertrain changes for the RAM in a long time, so hopefully the company does something equally as interesting with the exterior design of the truck.
Stay tuned for more RAM teaser images, as there will be a new teaser every day from now until the trucks debut next week at the 2012 New York Auto Show.
The upcoming 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 refresh will also be getting some new tweaks to its suspension, employing the services of Jeep‘s Grand Cherokee.
The new truck will be getting the air suspension setup found in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, giving the truck a whole new level of riding comfort. The 2013 Ram 1500 will be getting plenty of new goodies with Dodge looking to enhance the trucks’ luxury department as well as some new tech toys. It’ll be making its debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show.
[Source: Auto Evolution]