Motor Trendhas named the 2010 Model Year Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty pickups as its 2010 Truck of the Year after evaluating six criteria, which includes design advancement, engineering excellence, intended function, efficiency, safety and value.

Motor Trend has named the 2010 Model Year Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty pickups the magazine’s 2010 Truck of the Year.

“To have our all-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty named Truck of the Year by the editors of Motor Trend really defines how great this new Ram Heavy Duty pickup is,” said Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer – Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “The Motor Trend Truck of the Year Award is like a standing ovation for the Chrysler Group designers, engineers and planners who developed this incredible Ram Heavy Duty Truck.”

Motor Trend Truck of the Year contenders are evaluated using six criteria, which includes design advancement, engineering excellence, intended function, efficiency, safety and value. To be eligible, a vehicle must have been substantially changed from the previous model.

“The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty absolutely nailed the award in terms of our criteria, from the attractive exterior styling, to the plush and quiet cabins, to the tough and capable powertrains, especially the impressive Cummins diesel, which meets 50-state emissions standards without needing expensive after-treatment technology,” said Angus MacKenzie, Editor-in-Chief, Motor Trend. “It delivers the capability heavy duty truck users demand, with style and refinement they perhaps did not expect.”

Innovative New Features Strengthen Ram Heavy Duty’s Capability and Performance

The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty brings increased capability and innovative new features to the heavy-duty segment. For 2010, the all-new Ram Heavy Duty is available in five distinct trim models — ST, SLT, TRX, Power Wagon and Laramie. Each has a unique appearance and offers various equipment options. Ram Heavy Duty delivers the performance and amenities customers demand. The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickups feature a hydro-formed, fully boxed frame with advanced torsional rigidity and stiffness. A coil-spring suspension setup is used up front, while the multi-leaf spring design is maintained in the rear for heavy-duty capability. Front and rear shocks and springs are tuned for optimum ride quality and capability. Improved suspension tuning and new C-pillar hydra mounts were added to the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty models to improve damping through the frame-bending mode frequency in order to better manage shake and after-shake response. The result is reduced shake, which means an improved ride for the customer.

The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups offer the only standard exhaust brake in the segment (diesel-equipped models). This feature reduces brake fade, prolongs brake life and provides confidence and safety when hauling heavy loads on downhill grades. Large front (360 mm) and rear (358 mm) brakes with integrated Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) increase brake life and braking stability. An available integrated trailer brake control provides better driver control in towing situations. Trailer brake control information is conveniently displayed in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC), which is standard on all Ram heavy-duty models equipped with a diesel engine and available on gas SLT, TRX and Laramie models.

In addition, new 2010 Ram transmissions include Electronic Range Select, which enables the driver to manually limit the highest available transmission gear, allowing manual upshifts and downshifts based on road speed and engine speed. A tow/haul mode switch enhances tow capability while towing. Tow/haul mode is available on both five-speed and six-speed automatic transmissions.

Customers in the heavy-duty segment have a range of needs, and most of them involve high levels of capability. The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 are designed to deliver a total package: Increased Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on 2500 4x4 crew cab diesel models to 9,600 pounds from 9,000 pounds; Increased Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) on 3500 dually models with diesel, auto transmission and 4.10 rear axle to 24,500 pounds from 24,000 pounds. With the Max Tow Package, GCWR increases to 25,400 pounds (late availability); Increased GCWR on 3500 4x2 models to 24,000 pounds from 23,000 pounds; Increased front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on several models: To 5,500 pounds from 5,200 pounds on diesel 4x4 pickups and to 5,000 pounds from 4,700 pounds on diesel 4x2 pickups.

Other towing features include improved trailer-tow mirrors with integrated turn signals, memory function and puddle lamps. The larger 7-in. x 11-in. trailer-tow mirrors offer improved visibility with larger convex glass surfaces. Mirrors flip up and out in a vertical configuration for improved visibility around wide trailers. Trailer-tow mirrors are now standard on 3500. As an added convenience, a Class IV receiver is now standard on all Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups. Ram Heavy Duty towing, payload and axle capacity have all been increased for 2010. Suspension upgrades and larger front-axle U-joints, combined with increased front GAWR, result in increased front-weight carrying capability — a must for larger snowplows.

The Ram Power Wagon also returns for the 2010 model year, equipped with electric-locking front and rear differentials, electronic disconnecting sway bar, Bilstein shocks, 32-inch BFGoodrich off-road tires, underbody skid plate protection, 4.56 axle ratio for hill climbing and a custom-built Warn® 12,000-pound winch that is accessible through the front bumper. The 2010 Dodge Ram Power Wagon features new exterior graphics and a lower two-tone paint scheme.

Ram Heavy Duty Powertrains Include 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel and 5.7-liter HEMI V-8

Powertrain choices include the legendary 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, which produces 350 horsepower (261 kW) at 3,000 rpm and 650 lb.-ft. of torque (881 Nm) at only 1,500 rpm. The most durable and reliable engine in its class, the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel features standard oil-change intervals of 7,500 miles. It also has major-overhaul intervals of 350,000 miles, providing more than a 100,000-mile advantage over the competition. The Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel engine uses a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to virtually eliminate particulate matter emissions and an adsorber catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by as much as 90 percent, in order to meet stringent 2010.5 diesel emissions requirements.

The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty comes standard with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 gasoline engine, delivering 383 horsepower (286 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 400 lb.-ft. of torque (542 N•m) at 4,000 rpm. The 5.7-liter HEMI was redesigned for 2009, with several new and improved technologies including Variable-valve Timing (VVT), increased compression ratio, active intake manifold with long runners for low-end torque and short runners for high-rpm power, improved cylinder head port flow efficiency and reduced-restriction exhaust and induction systems.

Exterior Styling and Interior Comfort

The all-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickup was born from the same truck family that brought out the award-winning Ram 1500 — Strategic Vision’s Quality Award Winner. The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty includes all-new styling, offering a tougher more capable look with improved aerodynamics and fit and finish. To accommodate cooling requirements of the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, the new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty grille opening is larger than the light-duty grille. The larger grille mates to a taller hood that incorporates louvers on each side. Access to the front winch (on Power Wagon models) and tow hooks led to the unique front-bumper design. The new dual-rear-wheel fenders (3500 dually only) are now integrated into the box stamping and offer a smooth aerodynamic appearance.

The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Mega Cab models offer best-in-class interior room in the segment, including the largest, longest cab (143.2 cubic feet 111.1 inches long); largest interior cargo volume (72.2 cubic feet); largest cargo volume behind rear seat (7.7 cubic feet); largest flat-floor load area (16.8 square feet); largest second-row leg room (44.2 inches); largest rear-door opening (34.5 inches wide, 35.5 inches high); largest rear-door open angle 85 degrees); and first-ever reclining rear seats (22- to 37-degree seat-back angle).

Ram Heavy Duty Delivers More than 25 Safety and Security Features

The all-new Ram Heavy Duty also offers 25 active and passive safety features, including Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), advanced multi-stage air bags, BeltAlert, Brake/Park interlock, child-protection rear door locks, Constant-force Retractors (CFR), crumple zones, electronic brake-force distribution, energy-absorbing steering column, Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS), height-adjustable seat belts, HomeLink universal home security system transceiver, interior head-impact protection, knee bolsters, Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) child seat anchor system, low-risk deployment air bag, Parksense rear park-assist system, power-adjustable pedals, remote keyless entry, seat-belt pretensioners, Sentry Key engine immobilizer, standard side-curtain air bags, three-point seat belts, Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM) and Uconnect Phone.

2010 Ram Heavy Duty Pricing

The all-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty is available with a starting U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $28,165 for regular cab models, $31,415 for crew cab models and $36,865 for Mega Cab models. All prices include $950 for destination. The all-new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty arrives in dealerships in late 2009 calendar year.

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