2016 Ram 1500 Will Debut at 2015 Detroit Auto Show
Tim Esterdahl | Nov 12, 2014 | Comments 6
The news out of Ram Trucks is that the 2016 Ram 1500 will debut at the January, 2015 Detroit Auto Show. The truck is expected to be just a mild update.
A mildly refreshed 2016 Ram 1500 will debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show.
While the refreshed truck is interesting news, a statement from Ram’s President and CEO Bob Hegbloom maybe the quote of the year.
During a media meeting in Detroit, Hegbloom said:
“I’ve never heard anyone ask for an aluminum truck,”
Hegbloom was responding to a direct question on any definitive plans to switch to aluminum.
He did concede: “Do we have to lightweight the truck? Absolutely.”
The reality is that all truck makers have to drop weight in the trucks. Why? The physics are simple, lighter weight means less energy (fuel) is required to propel it forward. With truck’s having the aerodynamics of a brick, dropping weight is the answer.
Hegbloom says Ram is looking hard at meeting fuel economy targets. These are the same targets that the now, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles consistently fails to meet.
Other interesting statements he made were:
- On regular cab pickups: “You’ll always have it. Someone needs it for a work-type configuration.”
- Ram convinces more customers to switch to them than any competitor. He said Ram “conquested” 1.4 buyers for every buyer it lost to Ford. The ratio is about the same for Chevrolet. (no word on Toyota).
- Half of all Ram pickups sold are priced above $50,000.
- On the midsize pickup market, Ram can’t make the business plan work for them to re-enter the market.
We will have to wait and see what Ram has planned for the new 2016 truck. Our guess is that it will have some “ghee whiz” feature up their sleeve, but we have no idea what it will be. It could likely be “stealing” whatever feature they really like from the new Ford F-150 and putting their own name on it.
What do you think Ram needs to offer on the new truck?
Filed Under: Auto News
they just came out with almost an all new truck in 2013, hard to believe there will be much to it.
I think the big updates are a few years after that.
will you be at the show to cover it?
Yep. I’ll be in Detroit.
Honestly, they are on such a roll, I can’t see them messing with anything. Like I said though, they will probably take 1-2 features they like from Ford and incorporate it.
-Tim
News Flash:
Ram continues to have major increase in sales. Two big reasons:
1. Ram is a good truck.
2. The release of the 2015 Ford
Randy,
I agree the Ram is a pretty good truck. Interesting that you point out the Ford as being a driving force for Ram sales.
-Tim
You know me; I am always the contrarian view of planet earth. LOL
I will admit there a lot of little things to like about the 2015 Ford. I learned today that the blind spot monitors are in the “plastic” taillights; thus you can have chrome rear bumper if you want on your truck? At least that is what I read on the net. Still out of the four half tons to choose from, Ford is dead last for me.
Ford is also last for me.
no large V8.
next time shopping will be considering
tundra, Ram 5.7 8 speed, Gm 6.2 8-speed