2013 Ram 2500/3500 pickups, moving like Fred Astaire: Motoramic Drives

You don’t have to travel far from Chrysler’s proving grounds in Chelsea, Mich., to happen upon some surprisingly curvy roads. And when the morning sunshine glistens off the blooming dogwoods, it’s easy to forget you’re driving a Ram 3500, loaded with weighty slabs of concrete, and take the sumptuous bends with more vigor than a kid jacked up on Mountain Dew.

And that’s a problem. Well, it should be. But when the tarmac twists and turns, the Ram displays better poise than Fred Astaire.

When designing the latest version of the brand’s 2500/3500 heavy-duty trucks, the phrase in play was “don’t mess it up.” After 36 consecutive months of sales increases, Ram remains on the move. It’s quick to point out, however, that despite other automakers showcasing similar growth as the industry recovers, Ram has been slowly clawing market share from its rivals: “We’ve got the power, we’ve got the performance, and we’ve got the efficiency,” they say.

All that aforementioned power derives from a 6.7-liter Cummins turbo-diesel inline six. Now available in three versions, the top dog, mated to a new Aisin six-speed automatic transmission, boasts 385 hp and a best-in-class 850 lb. ft. of torque. Additionally, the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 debuts as standard on the single rear wheel Ram 3500.

With diesel engines having a tendency to lose power in order to protect themselves in times of high heat and stress, Ram focused healthy effort on cooling. By utilizing dual radiators and improved ventilation, Ram assures that, no matter the conditions faced, its engine will not de-rate, ensuring optimum power all of the time.

Effort was also spent on improving rear roll stiffness. But in order to accomplish this, the front suspension needed serious work. Ram, therefore, added a three-link front suspension, delivering massive roll stiffness without the need of a roll bar, allowing the engineers to work their magic on the rear, creating that Fred Astaire stability under load.