Nother CarGuy

It's a pickup truck bonanza this week under the roof of Detroit's Cobo Hall, where GM has introduced the new Chevy Silverado, Ford the new Ranger, and FCA the new Ram 1500. You can tell the new Ram is new just by looking at it. Gone, for example, is the crosshair grille that carried over from when it was still a line in the Dodge portfolio, and the bodywork looks altogether more modern and muscular. But there's a lot more going on with the new truck than some fresh sheetmetal. To start with, it's lighter than the model it replaces – nearly 225 pounds lighter, which means it can haul more and consume less fuel in the process. The new bodywork is also more aerodynamic, and even incorporates some adaptive aero in the form of a electrically deployable spoiler in the front bumper. More fuel economy gains will come from under the bulging hood, where the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 now delivers 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 a solid ...

While the heart of the automotive world beats today in France, Ram took  the chance to reveal  the Rebel TRX concept, the brand’s most extreme factory-engineered half-ton pickup ever.  Ram  installed a supercharged  6.2-litre V8 under the bonnet, providing a massive 575hp to all four wheels via a Torqueflite eight-speed automatic gearbox. The Rebel TRX concept is now able of triple digit speeds, even when traveling on surfaces other than paved roads.  In order to cope with the increased horsepower and become a true performance pickup truck, the new Rebel TRX concept features a Dynatrac Pro 60 rear axle with an electronically limited slip differential and 1.5-inch axle shafts. The front axle is a standard item, fitted with custom CV half-shafts to allow a wider track.  The suspension travel was increased by 40 percent and a set of 37-inch tires contribute to a massive ground clearance that measures more than 13 inches. RAM had to widen the body in or...