Preview: 2009 F-150 vs. 2009 Ram
The latest full-size pickups square off on paper.
By Larry E. Hall of MSN autos
At January's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, automakers of every stripe were falling all over themselves to trumpet their innovations to improve fuel economy and reduce exhaust emissions. That included Ford, which unveiled its stylish Verve compact car, and Chrysler, which had a trio of concept electric vehicles.
However, for both of these Detroit car companies the most important new vehicle showings were not fuel sippers but their full-size pickup trucks — the 2009 Dodge Ram and 2009 Ford F-150. To note these top-sellers are important to Ford or Chrysler is like saying oxygen is important to life on Earth.
With a shaky housing market and gasoline surging towards $4 a gallon, pickup sales have sagged. Nevertheless, Americans have a love affair with trucks, and pickup buyers are the most loyal of any vehicle segment. In a dwindling market, keeping loyal fans in the fold is extremely important, and these new offerings might snatch some sales from longtime foe Chevrolet as well as upstarts Toyota and Nissan.
Compare: Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan
It's apparent today's pickup buyers are no longer keen on just horsepower, torque and towing prowess. Interiors and features have become the new battlefield in winning sales. When the new Ram and F-150 arrive at dealers this fall, here's a preview of what you'll find (prices have yet to be announced).
2009 Dodge Ram
With its "I-wanna-be-a-Kenworth" grille, the 1994 Ram vaulted Dodge from an also-ran to a major contender in the pickup market. When the new Ram's front end fills up your rearview mirror, it'll be more intimidating than ever. The signature crossbar grille is canted forward, à la the Dodge Charger, and is topped off with a larger power bulge in the aluminum hood.
Chrysler has made interiors a priority and the results are evident in the new Ram. A masculine appearance appropriate for a truck is combined with vastly improved materials quality. There are up to 38 interior storage locations, including two glove boxes, map pockets and a pair of rear in-the-floor bins.
The options for pampering and entertaining occupants are extensive. Fronts seats can be heated or cooled, a cold steering wheel can be heated, and rear seats can get toasty as well. Check the right boxes and you can have surround-sound, watch DVD movies or broadcast TV, and load photos and music onto a 30-gigabyte hard drive.
Watch Video: 2009 Dodge Ram Debut
Leaf Springs Out, Coils In
For improved ride and handling, Dodge has discarded the traditional rear leaf spring suspension. A new fully boxed frame incorporating high-strength steel supports the first-in-segment rear multi-link coil spring suspension. Dodge claims this setup won't sacrifice payload (up to an estimated 1,850 pounds) or towing capability (up to an estimated 9,100 pounds).
The new suspension can be put to work via three engines: a 210-horsepower six cylinder, a 310-horsepower 4.7-liter V8, and a new 5.7-liter HEMI V8 that not only has increased horsepower (380) and torque (404 lb-ft), but claims 4 percent better fuel efficiency. A six-speed manual and four- or five- speed automatic transmissions are available, depending on the engine option, and there's a choice of two- or four-wheel drive.
Message Board: Will the 2009 Dodge Ram be able to knock off the Ford F-Series as the best-selling truck in America?
The Ram will offer two wheelbases plus three box lengths, and buyers can choose a standard cab, Quad Cab or a new-for-Dodge crew cab. Five trim levels will be offered: ST, SLT, TRX, Sport and Laramie. All versions come standard with front and side-curtain airbags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, and electronic stability control with hill start assist and trailer sway control.
As a final note, Dodge didn't neglect one of the most important functions of a pickup, the cargo bed. "RamBox" storage bins run the length of the cargo bed providing 8.6 cubic feet of storage, yet a full sheet of plywood can lay flat in the bed. With features like this, Dodge will surely keep loyal Ram fans happy, and might just woo buyers away from competitors.
Compare: Dodge Ram 1500 and Ford F-150
(Full pricing and data are not yet available for the new 2009 Ram and F-150, but here’s how the 2008 models compare.)
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