This year, we’ve seen a few spy shots of the upcoming 2019 Ram 1500. Shutterbugs have captured what seems to be a test mule of the brand’s fancy-pants Limited trim roaming the salty streets of Michigan.
It’s clearer than ever that the new Ram is going to lose its signature mini-Freightliner look in favor of a more streamlined appearance. A trapezoidal grille is framed by a sleek set of headlamps, with the traditional gunsight ditched in favour of a R A M billboard with chrome whiskers.
Viewed directly from the side, this crew cab looks big. Really big. This could be a result of some visual chicanery thanks to the thick vinyl camouflage, but it sure seems like the upcoming Ram 1500 crew cab will offer its biggest rear passenger compartment to date. It’s not quite in Mega Cab territory but it’s certainly approaching that level.
Six-lug hubs are now a certainty, having appeared on just about every test mule we have seen to date. This model sports six-spoke chrome rims and light-duty tires, very much in keeping with luxurious trims such as the Limited.
Another clue as to this mule’s stature in the Ram 1500 lineup are the tail lights. Much like the current model F-150, the centre of the lens seems to incorporate some sort of sensor such as the ones used for blind-spot monitoring or lane-change systems. Ford deployed these units in the tail lights as they don’t work extremely well with certain types of metal. The Blue Oval’s box is, of course, hewn from aluminum.
Making a leap and reading between the lines – and despite many reports to the contrary – the appearance of these units on the upcoming Ram’s tail lights could point toward the brand moving to aluminium as well … at least for the outer skin of the truck box. The inside of the box could remain constructed of steel.
Taking this approach would help Ram save weight on their new truck. It would also solve the perpetual problem of Ram trucks’ tendency to rust like an anchor over the rear wheelwells (the rear arches on the 2010 Ram owned by this author currently resemble Swiss cheese and have been in such a state for well over a year).
Other details of the Ram 1500 have been firmed up ahead of its debut next year. Coil springs with optional air suspension are likely to continue, as will the RamBox storage solution. New tailgate options could be on the horizon in the form of a 60/40 split unit. A hybrid and turbocharged four-cylinder are possibilities, and a more powerful V8 and Raptor-fighter are also rumored.
Expect the 2019 Ram 1500 to break cover next month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
