2003 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500
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Motor Trend truck of the year for 2003!
All-New Dodge Ram Heavy Duty Pickups Named Motor Trend's 2003 Truck of the Year
Dec. 16, 2002 - The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty has hauled away Motor Trend magazine's prestigious 'Truck of the Year' award.
"We are delighted that the new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty was chosen by Motor Trend as the Truck of the Year," said Dieter Zetsche, President and CEO of the Chrysler Group. "This is one of the most coveted awards in the auto industry, and it is confirmation of the tremendous strides we have taken in the re-invention of the Chrysler Group by building aspirational and high quality products."
The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 2500 pickup won Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year award following an intensive three-week competition. The Dodge duo of the Heavy Duty Ram 2500 4x2 Quad Cab with 345 horsepower worth of HEMI® Magnum power and the Ram 3500 4x4 with the High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel upstaged all others in the competition.
"From the onset of our 'Truck of the Year' competition, we knew the Ram Heavy Duty was a prime contender," said Kevin Smith, Motor Trend's Editor in Chief. "It fulfills the promise set forth last year by the introduction of an all-new Ram, and now offers the power and capability expected in the three-quarter and one-ton segments - plus features, content, and capabilities that in many ways raise the bar for this class of truck."
"Simply put, after spending weeks with our competitors, evaluating every aspect and nuance, the Ram Heavy Duty stands out as the most significant new truck for 2003," Smith added. "With its excellent powertrains, off-road prowess, smooth on-road driveability, and stump-pulling power, the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty is the hands-down winner of Motor Trend's 2003 Truck of the Year award."
"With the debut of the new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks with (standard) HEMI® ; power and (optional) Cummins power, we now have the strongest line-up of full-size trucks in the industry," said Rich Schaum, Executive Vice President - Product Development. "The Ram Heavy Duty is simply the toughest Ram ever."
Competitors for Motor Trend Truck of the Year are evaluated on significance, superiority and value. The trucks are put through thousands of miles of testing, including back-to-back comparisons examining each truck's characteristics during normal commuting, traversing mountain roads, cruising freeways, trailer towing, off-pavement running, and loaded and unloaded performance testing. Truck of the Year competitors compete not only against the trucks in the competition, but also against other trucks in their class, whether they are included in the test or not.
"All of us at Dodge are elated that Motor Trend named the all-new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty the winner of their Truck of the Year competition," said Darryl Jackson, Vice President, Dodge Marketing. "And the public is taking notice of Ram as well with sales are already up 15 percent over last year."
"The Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickups offer the ability to work hard and play hard," said Frank Klegon, Vice President, Truck Product Team. "The Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 are the personification of all things good about pickup trucks. They are fun to drive, affordable and they can haul, tow and off-road unlike any other vehicle."
The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty boasts the option of two or four standard size doors and the all-new 345 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum engine as standard equipment. The powerful all-new 5.9-liter High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel delivers a monstrous 555 lb.-ft. of torque and class-leading Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings. Ram Heavy Duty pickups are available in single and dual rear wheel applications.
Details of the Motor Trend 'Truck of the Year' competition will appear in the February 2003 edition of the magazine.
News on the new Hemi engine and 48RE transmission
The new transmission that will be available in the 2003 Ram 2500/3500 will be called the 48RE. It has been built to handle the massive 555lb-ft of torque delivered by the new 5.9L Turbo Diesel.
There was also some speculation on whether or not the 4x2 versions of the 2500/3500 Rams would receive independent front suspension. I have confirmed that they will have independent front suspension, but it looks much beefier than that of the 1500. I am not sure exactly what parts are stronger, because I only caught a glance of it.
Information and specifications
All-new 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Debut as Toughest and Most Powerful Heavy-Duty Pickups Ever
Heavy Duty Rams boast most powerful diesel in heavy-duty segment and all-new, class-leading 345 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI® Magnum V-8
The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty debuts as the most powerful heavy-duty pickup, with the most powerful diesel engine on the market and the all-new 5.7-liter HEMI® Magnum V-8. The Dodge Ram Heavy Duty carries forward its reputation for toughness into a new century with class-leading towing (Gross Combination Vehicle Weight Rating), payload capacity and interior room. New from grille-to-tailgate, the Heavy Duty Dodge Rams bring an array of new powerplants, class-leading features and the "big rig" styling introduced on the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500.
"The heavy-duty pickup market has grown 34 percent since 1996 with 2500/3500 pickups accounting for 31 percent of the large pickup market," said Jim Julow, Vice President, Dodge Division Global Brand Center. "Ram 2500s and 3500s now account for a third of overall Ram sales, and with the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500, we are poised to increase those numbers significantly."
"In this market, capability is everything and the new Heavy Duty Dodge Rams are the most capable pickup trucks available," said Frank Klegon, Vice President, Truck Product Team. "We have taken the bold styling of the all-new 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, with its class-leading interior package, and added all-new, class-leading powertrains and a new chassis featuring a full-length hydroformed heavy-duty frame."
For 2003, the all-new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty is aiming at the heart of the heavy-duty market with two new engine offerings and, for the first time on a Ram, a 3500 single rear wheel option.
"Our 1500 Ram buyers are looking for a multi-use truck, but they rarely come close to its performance limits," added Julow. "Dodge Ram Heavy Duty owners are different. They also want a multi-use truck, but buy their Dodge Ram Heavy Duty with very specific tasks in mind. And those tasks require maximum capability. "They routinely push their Rams to the limit," Julow said. "That is why about 75 percent of our Ram 2500/3500 sales are diesels and 70 percent are four-wheel drive models. These trucks are being used, and used hard. Our reputation as the longest-lasting pickup, and now the most powerful diesel pickup available, will serve us well in this market."
With the new 2003 Ram 2500 and 3500, Dodge designed a truck aimed at the heart of the heavy-duty market. Dodge created a new duty cycle aimed directly at commercial customers, testing the new Ram in conditions ranging from -40 F to + 130 F and running the equivalent of 150,000 miles at 95 percent of their maximum towing and payload ratings.
Dodge Ram and HEMI Magnum = Class-leading Power and Performance
The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 herald the return of one of the most legendary names in automotive lore: HEMI. This is the Chrysler Group's first application of the new 5.7-liter HEMI - which for the Dodge Ram will be called HEMI Magnum, and will serve as the standard engine on the all-new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks. This all-new engine produces an estimated 345 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 365 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm, providing more power than competitive standard V-8 engines. In fact, versus competitive vehicles with similar size gasoline engines, it provides best-in-class acceleration and towing capability, as well as significantly improved fuel efficiency over the engine it replaces.
Redesigned Cummins Turbo Diesel = Class-leading Capability
Another returning legend is the all-new, high-pressure, common-rail injection, High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel engine. The new High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel is the most powerful turbo diesel engine available in the 2500/3500 segment, producing 305 horsepower at 2,900 rpm and 555 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,400 rpm. That prodigious torque results in a class-leading towing capability of 23,000 lbs. (GCWR).
As durable as it is powerful, the Cummins Turbo Diesel has average major overhaul intervals of 350,000 miles, providing a substantial advantage over the competition. An inline six, the new 5.9-liter Cummins has 30 to 40 percent fewer parts than typical V-8 diesels, which means added durability and better reliability.
Tough Enough To Wear the Ram Heavy Duty Name
"Building on the advances we made in safety, ride and handling on the all-new Dodge Ram 1500, we were able to create a heavy-duty truck with precise steering and a comfortable ride without compromising its work ethic," Klegon said. "We were able to do this because Ram has an extensively hydroformed frame; one of the stiffest ever on a pickup truck. That chassis stiffness provides a firm foundation for suspension and NVH fine tuning."
Assisting steering and handling on two-wheel drive Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks is a new rack and pinion steering system that delivers precise feel and response tuned to give the driver control and positive feedback. On four-wheel drive Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickups, an all-new recirculating ball system improves on-center steering feel through lower internal friction and responds more precisely. In fact, the four-wheel-drive Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup has the quickest steering ratio in the industry. The 13.4:1 ratio and 2.75 turns lock-to-lock are especially effective in a heavy-duty truck when making tight turns, or maneuvering a trailer in close quarters.
Dodge Ram Heavy Duty: Designed to be Tough On- and Off-Road
With the majority of Heavy Duty Rams being ordered with four-wheel drive, the Dodge Ram's off-road performance is a key selling point.
Two new transfer cases, a conventional manual shift and a new electric shift, are available on 2500 and 3500 four-wheel drive models to provide quieter operation, and improve quality. The manual-shift unit is standard on ST and SLT models. The electric-shift unit is standard on SLT Plus models.
The four-wheel drive front axle is all-new, but retains beam construction. All-new rear axles contribute to a best-in-class payload rating (GVWR) of up to 12,000 lbs.
The refined four-wheel drive system on the all-new 2500/3500 Dodge Ram pickup provides an outstanding combination of ride, handling and off-road operating characteristics.
Front suspension on four-wheel-drive 2500 and 3500 Dodge Ram Pickups is a refined version of the five-link, coil-spring suspension with beam axle used on the previous series Dodge Ram Heavy Duty. A link-type sway bar and heavy-duty tubular shock absorbers are standard. The rear suspension, common to both two-wheel and four-wheel drive models, is equipped with new, three-inch longer leaf springs.
Dodge Rams Set New Safety Standards for the Heavy-Duty Truck Market
Just as the 1994 Dodge Rams redefined pickup safety with the first driver-side air bags, Ram 2500 and 3500 lead the way for 2003 with the first heavy-duty pickup application of side curtain air bags. Dodge Ram Heavy Duty also offers the first power adjustable pedals (on both automatic and manual transmission equipped trucks), and the first pre-tensioning, constant-force seat belt retractors in a heavy-duty pickup truck.
Designed with a holistic safety approach, Dodge Ram Heavy Duty utilizes both conventional safety features, such as air bags, and combines them with accident avoidance features such as excellent steering, handling and braking. Standard ABS, the largest brakes in its class and 17-inch wheels and tires-the largest standard wheels and tires on a heavy-duty pickup-all contribute to Dodge Ram's excellent safety capability.
Also standard on Dodge Ram Heavy Duty are next-generation driver and front-passenger air bags. The passenger side air bag can be turned off on regular cab Rams to accommodate child seats. The 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks also include a standard Lower Anchors and Tether for Children (LATCH) child seat anchorage system. The LATCH system works in conjunction with the standard child seat tether anchors to create safer child seat attachments.
Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Safety Highlights:
First heavy-duty pickup to offer side curtain air bags
First heavy-duty pickup to offer pre-tensioning, constant force seatbelt retractors
First heavy-duty pickup to offer power adjustable pedals (available on both manual and automatic transmissions)
Largest standard brakes in its class
Standard ABS
Largest-in-class standard wheels and tires
Standard child seat tethers
Standard rear seat center shoulder belt (Quad Cab) and front center shoulder belt (Standard Cab)
Design: Big, Bold and Powerful Enough to be a Dodge Ram Heavy Duty
With the most visually recognizable DNA of any pickup, a strong business case was made to combine the styling of the all-new 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 with the new heavy-duty chassis of the Ram 2500 and 3500. From the beginning of the Ram 1500 design process, engineers were already taking into account the extra capacities and development needs of the heavy-duty series of Rams. The Ram 1500's grille, for example, was designed to be large enough to incorporate the extra cooling needs necessitated by the heavy-duty Ram powertrains.
"Despite our competition's need to toughen the look of their heavy-duty pickups, we didn't feel it was necessary to stray from the bold Ram design to provide a more masculine look for the 2500 and 3500," said Rick Aneiros, Vice President of Design and Ram Design Team Leader. "The massive horse collar grille is bigger and bolder, and still the most recognizable Dodge Ram feature. This truck makes the type of statement a heavy-duty truck needs to make. It says Ram."
The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty will begin production in the summer of 2002 at the Saltillo, Mexico and St. Louis North Assembly Plants.
The return of a legend and the most powerful heavy-duty diesel truck engine available
Auburn Hills, Mich., Feb 7, 2002 - The toughest Dodge Ram pickups ever made need powertrains to match, and nothing less than the legendary HEMI® and Cummins names are worthy enough to power the all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty.
More than just a famous name, the all-new, 345 horsepower, 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum V-8 is a melding of the much revered hemispherical combustion system architecture and modern materials, electronics and manufacturing technology. Designed to create class-leading performance while maintaining heavy-duty truck durability, the new HEMI Magnum boasts best-in-class acceleration and towing.
Powerful and with legions of loyal owners, the name Cummins is as well respected in the heavy-duty market as HEMI is in relation to Chrysler and Dodge. With the new high-pressure, common-rail Cummins Turbo Diesel, the Cummins legend grows. The new 5.9-liter inline six turbo diesel is now simply the most powerful heavy-duty truck diesel engine available. Period.
"The new 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum V-8 engine and the new High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel are essential to the success of the 2500 and 3500 Dodge Rams," said Rich chaum, Executive Vice President, Product Development and Quality. "Powertrains and Powertrain choice are absolutely critical in this market segment, and Dodge Ram Heavy Duty owners are some of our most technically savvy consumers. They are also the most loyal, making Dodge Ram Heavy Duty the Chrysler Group's top vehicle for owner loyalty."
"When you combine the advances we have made in hydroformed frames, chassis design and the class-leading interior packaging, with the new 345 horsepower, 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum gasoline engine and new High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel—which produces the most torque of any production diesel truck engine in its class—you get the best heavy-duty truck on the market," added Schaum.
Ram V-10 Rounds Out Class-leading Powertrain Offerings
Rounding out the engine offerings for the all-new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty is the famous 8.0-liter, V-10 Magnum engine. Known for its massive 450 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,800 rpm, the V-10 Magnum provides effortless acceleration and powerful towing capabilities. Ram was the first V-10 powered truck, and the durable V-10 Magnum returns to offer Ram customers one of the most complete powertrain lineups of any manufacturer.
The legend returns...
The all-new 345 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum V-8
The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 herald the return of one of the most legendary names in automotive lore, HEMI. The new 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum engine is the standard engine on the all-new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty, producing a class-leading 345 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 365 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm. The 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum provides more power than competitive standard V-8 engines. In fact, versus competitive vehicles with similar size gasoline engines, it provides best-in-class acceleration and towing capability.
Although the name is legendary, the new HEMI is no throwback. It features cross-flow aluminum cylinder heads with hemispherical combustion chambers and investment cast, steel rocker arm actuated splayed valves for high air flow; two spark plugs per cylinder for fast, efficient combustion; and a new direct ignition system with high-power coils ensuring consistent, complete combustion. A fully-balanced, cast, nodular iron crankshaft running in cross-bolted steel main bearing caps reduces deflection and vibration for better drivability.
"Although based on the legendary HEMI engine design, this is one of the most technologically advanced engines ever engineered by the Chrysler Group," said Floyd Allen, Vice President, Product Powertrain Team. "The new 5.7-Liter HEMI Magnum utilizes such advances as a composite integrated air fuel module and electronic throttle control. The hemispherical head design allows the use of larger valves and provides better air flow to the combustion chambers."
To power a Dodge Ram Heavy Duty, an engine needs more than just class-leading power and a great name. Reliability and dependability are hallmarks of Heavy Duty Dodge Rams, and to ensure that the new 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum upholds those traditions, it was subjected to a rigorous reliability program, accumulating more than 7.5 million customer equivalent miles.
"Our owners want a tough, durable truck that gets the job done, no questions asked," said Frank Klegon, Vice President Truck Product Team. "And that is exactly how we designed the all-new Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500."
The All-New High Pressure Common Rail Cummins Turbo Diesel:
Torque, torque and more torque!
Delivering 555 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,400 rpm and 305 horsepower at 2,900 rpm, the new 5.9-liter High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel is the most powerful turbo diesel engine available in the 2500/3500 market. The new High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel also delivers a class-leading trailer towing rating of 23,000 lbs. (Gross Combined Weight Rating).
With nearly 75 percent of Ram 2500/3500s being sold with the Cummins Turbo Diesel engine option, it has developed one of the most devoted followings of any heavy-duty pickup. Cummins owners will accept nothing but the best, and the new high-pressure, common rail fuel-injection turbo diesel delivers.
"Dodge Cummins owners are very exacting in what they want," said Dennis Hurst, Executive Director, Cummins Engineering. "Simply put, they want the strongest and most durable product available and they will not be disappointed with this engine. We have delivered the most powerful diesel available in this class, while improving the drivability, durability and fuel efficiency. This new engine is also much quieter than its predecessor, but still retains the diesel power, torque and toughness that our customers demand."
In fact, the new 5.9-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel is so tough it is certified to a longer engine life compared to the diesels offered by top competitors from Chevrolet and Ford. The Cummins engine has an average major overhaul interval of 350,000 miles, providing a substantial advantage over the competition. An inline six, the new 5.9-liter Cummins has 30 to 40 percent fewer parts than typical V-8 diesels, which means added durability and better reliability.
New High-Pressure Common Rail Injection System
More than just the master of big twist, the new Cummins Turbo Diesel has been radically overhauled. Quietness, power and durability are the hallmarks of the new high-pressure, common rail fuel-injected Cummins. The new high-pressure common rail fuel injection systems designed for the 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty utilizes pilot injection—the injection of a small amount of fuel that starts combustion, before the main, power-producing, fuel charge is injected. This has the effect of smoothing out combustion pressure in the cylinder, which can be the primary source of low- and mid-range speed noise in diesel engines.
A gear-driven injection pump delivers fuel to the rail and is electronically controlled to optimize fuel pressure at the individual injectors. The system provides injection pressures up to 23,200 psi (1600 Bar) and is less dependent on engine speed than traditional pump-line injection system. The result is cleaner combustion and higher low-speed torque with better vehicle response and acceleration.
In addition to the use of pilot injection to smooth combustion pressure, the fuel-injection calibration - timing, pressure and quantity- has been refined across the entire range of speeds and loads to ensure smooth, quiet combustion. The use of pilot injection during starting also provides gasoline engine-like cold starting capability (verified at -40 F).
Class-Leading Power and World Beating Durability
Not only is the High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel the most powerful diesel engine available in a full-size pickup, it is also one of the most drivable throughout all operating ranges. Maximum torque for the common rail injected Cummins Turbo Diesel occurs 400 rpm lower than the GM Duramax, and 100 rpm lower than the Ford Power Stroke. The Cummins Turbo Diesel engine also produce 20 percent more torque at 1000 rpm, and 10 percent higher clutch engagement torque than its predecessor. That relates to noticeably better vehicle launch when towing and accelerating, better drivability and fewer and smoother shifts.
The new High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel engine is as powerful as it is durable, delivering class-leading trailer towing capability (23,000 lbs. GCWR), which is the result of class-dominating torque of 555 lb.-ft. at 1,400 rpm and 305 horsepower at 2,900 rpm. The standard Cummins Turbo Diesel, which also employs high-pressure, common rail injection, boosts its horsepower rating to an impressive 250 horsepower at 2,900 rpm (up from 235 horsepower at 2,700 rpm) and produces an equally impressive 460 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,400 rpm.
All data provided by DaimlerChrysler
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