Power Wagon

As indicated by its nomenclature, the Power Wagon uses the regular Ram 2500 derivative instead of the smaller 1500 shown in Detroit last year as a base, but with a series off-road focused touches such as a black front facia with bold R-A-M lettering, extended wheel arches to accommodate the 17-inch alloys wrapped in 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTec all-terrain tyres, powder coated front bumper with tow-hooks, black mirrors and side steps, a standard Warn-Zeon winch rated at 5 443kg and a bespoke black bonnet insert.

Reportedly weighing in at some 13kg less than the previous Power Wagon and also featuring a nose raised by seven millimetres, the newcomer still comes equipped with solid front and rear axles, but now with an electronically decoupling function for the front, a factory approved lift-kit with Bilstein shock absorbers and electronically locking front and rear differentials.

Taking after the 1500, the interior can be outfitted with cloth, vinyl or leather seats that are heated and cooled and embroidered with the Power Wagon logo on the front seatbacks, the optional 12-inch UConnect infotainment system and a surround view camera system.

Kept unchanged is the engine with the Crew Cab only bodystyled Power Wagon coming powered by a 6.4-litre HEMI V8 that produces 306kW/582Nm, and which is now mated to a rotary dial activated ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox with a low range transfer case, surprisingly selected via a second gear lever, being standard.

Heavy Duty

Claimed to be the most powerful and capable in its segment, FCA’s rival for the Ford Super Duty range and Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty not only rates as the first to produce a torque output of more than 1 000 foot pounds, but accordingly establishes a new “benchmark in ride and handling, luxury, materials, innovation and technology” that extends “well past any competitive offerings”.

Making extensive use of lightweight materials in its actual construction and boasting an aluminium bonnet, the Heavy Duty cuts 65kg off of the previous model’s weight with a higher usage of high-strength steel, an optional self-levelling rear suspension, a strengthen rear cross member to accommodate the so-called gooseneck towing hitch, upgraded bushes and two rear mounted airbags instead of coil springs.

In addition, FCA has also outfitted the Heavy Duty with a four corner damping system known as Frequency Response Dampingthat is somewhat bullishly claimed to provide a “sports-car-like suspension for handling and a supple suspension on rough terrain”.

Like the Power Wagon, the Heavy Duty further comes with upgraded axles with the 3500 sporting an optional 12-inch AAM rear setup, better brakes and a beefed-up transfer case on four-wheel drive models, with the changes to latter bettering allowing it to cope with the Ram’s claimed towing capacity of a mammoth 35 100 pounds or 15 921kg.

With styling and an interior derived from the 1500, the Heavy Duty, depending on the trim level, comes with the aforementioned instrument cluster and UConnect system in three sizes (five-inch, 8.4-inch and 12-inch), as well as a 17-speaker, 750-watt Harman Kardon sound system, a choice of halogen, full-LED/reflector or LED/Projector headlights, the latter with Adaptive front lighting, and the so-called RamBox storage areas integrated into the rear wings that are waterproof and feature a 115-volt power outlet.

Speaking of power, the Heavy Duty will go on sale with a choice of two engines; the same 6.4-litre HEMI V8 as the Power Wagon teamed to the eight-speed ‘box activated by a new e-shift rotary dial, and the familiar 6.7-litre Cummins sourced straight-six turbodiesel that makes 276kW/1 152Nm, paired to a six-speed automatic.

The oil-burner is however available in a second output rated at 298kW, but with torque raised to a mammoth 1 356Nm or 1 000 pounds feet as mentioned. In this form, the six-speed auto ‘box has been kept but significantly upgraded to cope with the extra amount of twist. The updated powertrains though also sees the six-speed manual gearbox, until now a Ram exclusive with both the Super Duty and Silverado having dropped the three-pedal option more than ten years ago, becoming obsolete.

In spite of escalating rumours that FCA is looking into the possibility of making the Ram available in right-hand drive, both the Power Wagon and Heavy Duty are ruled out for local introduction with production again set to take place at the Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant in Coahuila, Mexico.