Introduced the Ram 1500 REV with an improved design.
Ram is ready to start talking about its upcoming production electric pickup truck.
On Sunday, Sterantis' truck division unveiled a look at the Ram 1500 REV in a Super Bowl LVII game-day commercial.
Although it is not yet taking pre-orders, Ram has begun taking a refundable $100 fee from customers to get in line to pre-order the Ram 1500 REV.
The design of the Ram 1500 REV, which will go into production in 2024, is an evolution of the current gas engine truck rather than a complete revolution, as previewed by the Ram 1500 Revolution Concept at CES in January.
The concept truck's split LED daytime running lights, which pierce the blacked-out sealed grille and sculpted hood, will all be production-ready. The taillights are similar to those on the concept and continue through to the tailgate. The wheel design is similar to the concept's, but the production truck's wheels do not appear to be the huge 24-inch wheels that the flashy concept wore.
Ram boxes can be seen on the sides of the truck bed, and the charging port is mounted on the driver's side front fender. The cab door, roof, front fender, and rear bedside all appear to be carryover units from the current gas truck.
The concept coach doors are gone. No rear C-pillar sail, no midgate, no extra-long cabin (the concept's rear jump seat allowed for three rows of seats), and no concept split tailgate.
The Super Bowl commercial, cheekily titled "Premature Electrification," pokes fun at competitors who may not be able to deliver the range consumers expect from pickup trucks when it comes to the job. A glance at the interior of the Ram 1500 REV shown during the commercial reveals that it is the latest version of today's gas engine trucks. A large vertical touchscreen dominates the dashboard, augmented by buttons, knobs, and what appears to be a new passenger-side dash-mounted touchscreen, similar to the options on the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee. The gear selector remains rotary.
While the exterior has evolved and appears similar to the current truck, what lies beneath is not. The Ram 1500 REV is mounted on a new STLA frame chassis, one of four modular EV chassis designs that will underpin the future Sterantis lineup.
Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr. told Motor Authority that a range of 300 to 400 miles seems to be the sweet spot for consumers considering using an electric pickup truck. Sterantis said the STLA frame platform is capable of a range of up to 500 miles.
Ram and Koval have forcefully argued that Ram outperforms its competitors when it comes to range, towing capacity, payload, and charging time.