RAM Trucks gets serious about giving Rivian some competition with this concept car.
RAM was once just a pick-up truck model sold under the Dodge brand. Today, it exists as its own brand under the Stellantis group and is known as Ram Trucks. The company sells its vehicles mostly in North America, South America, and Europe. That doesn’t mean Malaysians aren’t interested at all in keeping up with what they’re up to!
At CES 2023, Ram Trucks finally showed a glimpse at its electrification plans with the Ram 1500 Revolution – a battery powered electric vehicle concept to give the Rivian R1T some competition. Ram says the 1500 Revolution electric pick-up truck will be production ready by 2024, built on the Stellantis shared EV truck platform known as STLA Frame. It will be the leader in range, towing, payload and charge time, according to the company.
What’s more, their entire line-up of products will feature electrified options as part of Stellantis’ Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.
Going with the concept of ‘brutiful’ (“brutal yet beautiful”, I’m not making this up) the exterior design features a new face for Ram trucks featuring animated daytime running lights in the shape of tuning forks.
There aren’t B-pillars on this concept model and the rear doors are rear-hinged as well. It features a powered front-trunk for additional storage, a powered charge port door as well as a powered tailgate. The design integrates flush-mounted door handles, flush and pivoting tow hooks in front, powered side steps and a powered rear step with an active diffuser. It sounds like this isn’t a work truck at all and more of a lifestyle luxury vehicle, but this is the future of the electrified truck in the USA.
The side view mirrors are completely digital, allowing for a smaller design that makes for better aerodynamics and reduced drag. The Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept features air-suspension with self-leveling capabilities and it sits on 24″ wheels with static center caps that light up.
Ram says that the STLA Frame EV and the electric motors they’re using allow for a more cab-forward design and thus a roomier cabin without compromising on bed length.
They’re also claiming that a third row of jump seats can be configured on the bed or outside the vehicle!
If the seats are not required, the ‘mid-gate’ between the passenger cell and the trunk can be opened to enable a pass-through that extends all the way into the frunk to transport objects up to 18 feet (5.4m) in length even with the tailgate closed. All very interesting ideas that show just how electrification is changing vehicle design.
