The 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty is available for the first time in a crew-size cab model. Today at the Chicago Auto Show, Dodge introduced the new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy-Duty lineup.
"This is the continuation of the reinvention of our Dodge Ram lineup," said Mike Accavitti, Director - Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep Brands. "Over the past five years, Dodge has gained market share in the heavy-duty pickup segment, and to stay on that track, Dodge keeps innovating. Our new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups will continue to build on our momentum."
The 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty is available for the first time in a crew-size cab model. Today at the Chicago Auto Show, Dodge introduced the new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy-Duty lineup.
"This is the continuation of the reinvention of our Dodge Ram lineup," said Mike Accavitti, Director - Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep Brands. "Over the past five years, Dodge has gained market share in the heavy-duty pickup segment, and to stay on that track, Dodge keeps innovating. Our new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups will continue to build on our momentum."
New for 2010, the Crew Cab with 6-foot 4-inch box replaces the Quad Cab to meet Heavy-Duty customer needs and focus on overall vehicle refinement and ride comfort.
The pickups have 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.
Other features:
- Increased Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on 2500 4x4 crew cab diesel models to 9,600 lbs. from 9,000 lbs.
- Increased Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) on 3500 dually models with diesel, auto transmission and 4.10 rear axle to 25,400 lbs. from 24,000 lbs.
- Increased Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR) on 3500 4x2 models to 24,000 lbs. from 23,000 lbs.
- Increased front Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) on several models: To 5,500 lbs. from 5,200 lbs. on diesel 4x4 pickups. To 5,000 lbs. from 4,700 lbs. on diesel 4x2 pickups
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 diesel models and available on gas SLT, TRX and Laramie models.
In addition, new 2010 Dodge 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.
In terms of power, the new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty tops the charts with the available, 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 N*m) 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 life-to-major overhaul intervals of 350,000 miles.
The Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel engine uses a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to virtually eliminate particulate matter emissions and an absorber catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by as much as 90 percent, in order to meet stringent 2010.5 diesel emissions requirements.
Backing up the 6.7-liter diesel is a choice of either a G56 six-speed manual transmission or a 68RFE six-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed manual has an ultra-low first-gear ratio, which makes it ideal for heavy hauling requirements, while the six-speed automatic offers ease of driveability and towing.
The other choice for 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy-Duty customers is the standard 5.7-liter HEMI(R) 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 new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy-Duty pickups will be built at Chrysler's Saltillo Assembly Plant in Coahuila, Mexico. One of the company's most flexible plants, the Saltillo plant also produces the Dodge Ram Mega Cab, Ram Power Wagon, and Ram 3500 and 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs.
A key enabler in bringing new Dodge Ram trucks to market is Chrysler's Flexible Manufacturing Strategy (FMS). Based on extensive use of robotics in the body shop, FMS provides the ability to balance production with demand. FMS also affords the company the ability to efficiently build low-volume vehicles that take advantage of market niches and, as needed, to quickly shift production volumes between different models within a single plant or among multiple plants. It not only allows the company to produce a high-quality product, but to do so faster and at lower cost.
Production of the new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups will also be enabled by the plant's recent expansion, which allows the facility to manage the added complexity of the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickups' chassis and suspensions, including two chassis lengths, regular, crew-size cab and Mega Cab versions, 4x2 and 4x4 variants, and single- and dual-rear-wheel models.
The Saltillo Assembly Plant has 1,700 employees working on two shifts and is one of five Chrysler LLC manufacturing facilities in Mexico.