2017 Ram Pickup May Get Aluminum Treatment
The current 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel
During yesterday’s barrage of Fiat Chrysler news, we learned that Jeep will be getting rid of the Patriot and Compass, updating the Wrangler, and reviving the Grad Wagoneer; Chrysler has a plug-in minivan in the works, as well as a 100 compact sedan and an unnamed crossover; and Dodge will be putting out a Dart SRT and Journey SRT as the SRT brand meets its demise. Ram Truck Brand was not immune to big news either during the business plan update, announcing that the 2017 Ram pickup may get an aluminum body.
First, the Ram 1500 will get a refresh in 2015. Two years later, however, when the all-new 2017 Ram pickup arrives, the door is open to aluminum, but it is not yet certain whether Ram will drive through it.
According to USA Today, Sergio Marchionne, FCA CEO, stated, “We can do aluminum in ’17. We have the technology in-house.” But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they will use said technology. Ram already does quite well offering the only diesel in the category, achieving high miles per gallon without the need for the more costly but much lighter aluminum.
While the aluminum body for the 2017 Ram pickup is still up in the air, we do know that Ram seeks to up NAFTA-market sales from 463,000 (2013) to 620,000 (2018). The refresh of the 2015 Ram 1500 and the completely new one, aluminum or not, in 2017 are meant to help boost these numbers. A refresh for the Heavy Duty lineup is scheduled for 2016 and should also help the brand reach those numbers.
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