A Complete Overhaul of the Ram 1500

What makes a great truck? Every truck needs to be built with capability, strength, and performance features in order to be useful to those of us who drive trucks on a daily basis. The Ram 1500 has been one of the most admired and enjoyed trucks on the road for many years. As we enter the 2019 model year, this truck is brand new and has been completely overhauled to give us everything we want to make sure we can have the drive and the power we’re looking for on the road.

Under the Hood

While there will be a few different powertrains you can choose from, the one that many will choose is built with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine. This allows the truck to have 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque which is routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission. This allows for more power and efficiency so that you can drive farther on a single tank of gas while pulling and carrying larger loads than in the past. There is a new mild hybrid system in models with a V6 engine which will help to revolutionize the truck market for the upcoming model years.

It’s Called eTorque

The new mild hybrid system being used in the Ram 1500 is more than just a typical start-stop system that we’ve seen in other models. This system is being added as standard equipment to the V6-powered Ram pickups. If you choose the V8 engine, this system will be offered as an option. The eTorque system is one that takes the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, which normally has 305 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque, to 395 ponies and 410 lb.-ft. of torque. This means the V6 can be as powerful as the standard V8. In the V8 models, this system adds 130 lb.-ft. of torque to give you much more power.

More Efficiency for the Drive

With the eTorque system, both the V6 and the V8 engines gain more efficiency at the rate of nearly two mpg to make sure you can have more of what you need when you drive. This may not seem like much, but after a year of driving, the savings could seriously add up for you. The eTorque system is comprised of a motor generator, a 48-volt battery pack, and a DC-to-DC converter to be able to operate smaller items for you.

Other Benefits of This New System

The mild hybrid technology of the eTorque system adds stop-start, an electrical assistance for better acceleration, regenerative braking, smoother upshifts, better downshifts, and improved fuel efficiency because of the recharging of the electrical system without the use of a traditional alternator. These are benefits you can certainly take advantage of and experience when you take the Ram 1500 out for a drive. These are all benefits that will make work easier and make your job much better when you take this truck out and put it to the test.

The Drive Feeling

With the different ways the new eTorque system is used to add more power to the ride and offer you so many benefits, you might think you would feel this system in use, but you won’t. Ram has built this truck to have a transparent feeling and allow you to feel the same as you did when you drive your older model Ram truck. This means there’s no strange vibrations or whirring noises that are often associated with a hybrid vehicle. Instead, you get all the benefits of this truck without the traditional hybrid troubles that come with the drive.

Should You Choose the New Ram 1500?

With the new eTorque system being standard on the new V6 models and offered as an option on others, the question you need to answer is whether or not you should choose this version as the one you want to drive. The benefits are impressive and make the drive much better for you on a daily basis. If you still need a V8 engine, the eTorque system will cost a bit more and add some additional weight, but otherwise, this new truck is one that’s easy to admire and understand when it’s time to take the truck out for a drive.