2011 Ram 1500: Trend-setting Engineering, New Innovations and Two New Models
09/14/2010
Ram
In 2011, the Ram Track brand continues to build on the 1500. The Ram Laramie Longhorn edition and Ram Outdoorsman are the newest members of the Ram truck family and offer their own unique features.
Ram Laramie Longhorn
TheRam Laramie Longhorn edition, the Ram lineup's most well-appointed model is designed for the owner who needs a truck for work or play, but won't settle for anything but the finest quality and refinement.
Inside and out, Laramie Longhorn is loaded with remarkable features.
"The Ram Laramie Longhorn edition is going to share a driveway with some fine luxury cars," said Fred Diaz, President and CEO - Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "The only difference is the Ram Laramie Longhorn edition is going to be the vehicle with the fulltime job - towing the horse trailer, taking the crew to the game, picking up supplies. It's ready to go from the dirt to downtown."
Ram Truck officials unveiled the Laramie Longhorn in the heart of Truck Country: the State Fair of Texas.
"We took Ram Laramie Longhorn's design cues from traditionally handcrafted, time-tested wares, such as the antique pocket watch, a fine pair of hand-tooled leather cowboy boots, a collector's-grade shotgun or a horseman's saddle," said Ryan Nagode, Design Program Lead. "The metal work and leather work are second to none."
Exterior
Ram Laramie Longhorn edition models are prominently commemorated with distinctive Western-style exterior badges. A chrome metal Laramie Longhorn edition badge with painted accents is mounted to the tailgate while eye-catching model-specific (1500, 2500 or 3500) Laramie Longhorn edition badges adorn the doors.
Laramie Longhorn edition is available in five color choices, including an exclusive Sagebrush with White Gold exterior paint treatment unavailable on other Ram models. Matching White Gold lower-body two-tone, wheel flares, painted front and rear bumpers and Mopar running boards complement a bright chrome grille and painted tow hooks. Other colors include Bright White, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl, Rugged Brown Pearl or Deep Cherry Red Crystal Pearl. All Laramie Longhorn edition trucks are matched with the special White Gold accent color.
The Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn edition is equipped with 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels, while 2500 and 3500 single-rear-wheel models roll on polished aluminum wheels. Ram 3500 duallies get polished aluminum wheels with Laramie Longhorn edition-badged center caps.
Interior
Ram Laramie Longhorn edition is also distinguished by its unsurpassed interior refinement. Building on the award-winning interiors of the Ram 1500 and Ram 2500 / 3500 Heavy Duty pickup trucks, Laramie Longhorn shatters truck stereotypes.
Interior Themes:
A full leather interior, engraved details and burled walnut woodgrain surfaces lend the Ram Laramie Longhorn edition an unmatched level of sophistication and style.
Laramie Longhorn is available with a choice of dark slate gray and russet or bark brown and light pebble beige interior colors. The interiors feature 100 percent leather seat coverings with laser-etched bolsters (bark brown only). The leather-wrapped steering wheel receives special stitching while door trim front and rear is also wrapped in leather and features special stitching, wood grain and LED door-handle and map-pocket lighting.
Seats:
The Ram Laramie Longhorn edition offers two seating options. The first is a sophisticated
dark slate gray with premium russet-hued seat leather. The second is southwestern-influenced light pebble beige with bark brown seat leather. The bark brown interior incorporates laser-etched filigrees, with a hand-worked appearance.
Seat fronts for both themes include a stitched-on leather Laramie Longhorn badge, either branded (russet) or laser-etched (bark brown).
Contrasting leather welts, also called piping, provide seat-edge emphasis. Additional accents are created along either side the welts by tan or dark slate-colored deck-seam stitching.
Ram Laramie Longhorn edition features unique leather front seatbacks distinguished by flap-closure pockets whose details authentically evoke saddlebags. Each pocket is secured with silver steer-logoed, tooled-metal buckle with a magnetic clasp.
Instrument Panel / Dash:
Ram Laramie Longhorn edition owners will be greeted by the highest-quality materials every time they climb behind the wheel.
Laramie Longhorn's exclusive instrument cluster takes on the appearance of hand-wrought jewelry with six liquid chrome gauge rings set against a painted taupe silver background and a tooled-metal Laramie Longhorn edition badge set inside the left-hand ring.
The two main gauge rings feature a hand-crafted look with a coined inner edge and filigrees engraved on the top surface. Set inside those rings, the lower edges of the gauge cluster dials are detailed with small filigrees that are softly backlit at night.
The Ram Laramie Longhorn edition's dash features a center stack trimmed in burled walnut wood graining. The wood grain is stained in one of two complementary shades, matched to either the russet or bark brown interior theme. Chrysler designers borrowed from high-end furniture-grade and gun stock designs in their choice of wood grain.
Painted taupe silver side bezels, resembling polished pewter, are special to the Laramie Longhorn, while chrome vent rings complete the center stack's details.
On the passenger side, the upper glove box door - there are two - becomes a focal point with the addition of a full-length, filigree-engraved aluminum band and Laramie Longhorn edition badge.
Beneath the instrument panel is soft, new footwell lighting, providing both a functional and aesthetic interior enhancement.
Console:
The Ram Laramie Longhorn's cavernous double-stacked center console is topped with a soft, double French-stitched full-leather lid featuring either a branded (russet) or laser-etched (bark brown) Laramie Longhorn logo.
The pewter-colored highlights from the center stack flow rearward, continuing along the outer edges of the center console. A chrome ring outlines the console's center bin and cupholders.
Steering Wheel and Shifters:
Ram Laramie Longhorn's steering wheel and shifters - console mounted on 1500, column mounted on 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty models - feature premium leather. Matching X-stitch detailing sets off both the steering wheel and shifter.
The leather console shifter on 1500 models is entirely new, accentuated by taupe silver side panels and a bright chrome base. The leather column shifter on Heavy Duty models is completed by a chrome end cap.
Doors:
Armrest uppers are wrapped in premium leather and accented with the same dual French stitch used on the center console lid and instrument panel. Burled walnut-grained panels trimmed by chrome tracers add to all four doors' visual appeal.
Ram Laramie Longhorn editions receive remote lighting at the inside door handles and a full-length light that illuminates the truck's multi-function lower map pockets, front and rear.
Flooring:
Laramie Longhorn's luxurious carpet is protected by specially designed all-weather rubber mats with polished metal Ram Laramie Longhorn edition Badge and removable carpet inserts. The mats themselves incorporate the filigree designs from the dash and seats, while the snap-in inserts are a high-end, color-flecked Berber-style weave that luxuriously blends the two interior colors.
Along the doorsills new brushed-silver Ram-branded sill plates resist scuffs and add visual appeal.
Other:
Laramie Longhorn comes equipped with all of the standard equipment found on the top-level Ram Laramie and adds a navigational radio, remote start, back-up camera, front ventilated seats and rear heated seats. Power adjustable pedals with memory and front heated seats with 10-way driver's adjustment - standard on Ram 1500 Laramie models - are also added to Ram Heavy Duty Laramie Longhorn editions.
"Ram Truck owners and dealers tell us they love everything about the new Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500," added Diaz. "With so many great features, we weren't surprised to see our most well-equipped model - Ram Laramie - making up 25 percent of our sales. There's a healthy market for luxury pickup trucks and Ram Laramie Longhorn edition hits the mark."
Ram Laramie Longhorn will be available in 1500 (half-ton), 2500 HD (3/4 ton) and 3500 HD single and dual rear wheel (1 ton), Crew Cab and Mega Cab; four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive; and short- and long-wheelbase models.
Ram Laramie Longhorn models will go on sale first quarter 2011.
Ram Outdoorsman
Ram Outdoorsman takes all of the features most useful to hunters, fishermen, campers and boaters, and packages them into one model. Outdoorsman combines convenience, off-road capability and trailer towing hardware in one package with a name that will resonate among its intended users.
"We asked Ram Truck customers - boaters, campers, fishing enthusiasts and hunters - what features would they like to see in a truck," said Fred Diaz, President and CEO - Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "They answered 'more capability, more room for my gear and ready to hit the trail. And make it affordable.'"
Ram owner demographics illustrate a passion for the outdoors: 47 percent hunt, 57 percent fresh water fish, 33 percent salt water fish, 36 percent own power boats and 37 percent tow camping trailers. Overall, 62 percent of full-size pickup truck owners hunt, fish or camp.
Ram Truck engineers - many of whom count hunting, fishing, boating and camping among their hobbies - brought together features that they felt would best meet the practical needs of owners who will frequently use their Ram truck for towing or long, remote trips.
Standard trailer-towing upgrades, interior and exterior convenience, lighting enhancements, all-terrain tires and underbody protection are combined with a rugged exterior appearance to highlight the new Ram Outdoorsman.
Outdoorsman will replace the TRX4 trim level in the 2011 Ram Truck lineup.
Prices for the Ram Outdoorsman models start at $28,350, including destination charge.
Ram Outdoorsman models will go on sale third quarter 2010.
What's New
Besides the new Laramie Longhorn and Outdoorsman trim levels, Ram 1500 is available with new colors, including Saddle Brown Pearl Pearl Coat, White Gold Metallic, Hunter Green Pearl Coat, Deep Cherry Red Crystal Pearl Coat and Sagebrush (Laramie Longhorn only).
A factory spray-in bedliner also is available for 2011 on all models, providing extra protection when transporting material. New power folding mirrors are shared with the Ram 1500's big brother, the Ram HD. An active on-demand transfer case is now standard on the Big Horn, Sport, Laramie and Laramie Longhorn 4x4 models offering smart torque transfer for slick surface conditions. Additionally, the Ram 1500 is available with a new navigation system with Garmin technology.