While Chevy and Ford have been trying to improve the comfort and ride of their “heavy-duty” lineup, Dodge did something different: They turned to the master of comfort in Mercedes. In fact, Dodge, once owned by Mercedes, not only learned a lesson about creature comforts, but also used Mercedes’ trademark unibody construction to improve the handling and handling of its beefy trucks. And this couldn’t have come at a better time, as shortly after Dodge trucks exploded onto the market with the new rounded grille and sought-after Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, they were heavily criticized for the unreliable transmission. It seems that Dodge built an engine so powerful that its transmission couldn’t keep up.
So what did they do? They used Mercedes’ innovative RFE transmission, complete with anti-freeze bladder to not only perform as well as their Cummins engine, but also reduce engine noise harshness and vibration. But the innovative Dodge team didn’t stop there. The list of Mercedes features they added was impressive, from the high-intensity discharge lights, soft-touch interior, and LED lighting to rain brake support, they left the customer wanting for nothing.
And to be sure, Dodge trucks have consistently outperformed their counterparts in the horsepower and torque categories, but now any shortcomings in comfort or safety, two hallmarks of Mercedes, are a thing of the past. Now, with new Dodge designs, fans can have the best of both worlds, the best-built and most comfortable trucks, all at an affordable price. Those who need the power of a truck will no longer have to succumb to the often rough ride, lousy fuel consumption or high price tag. Dodge, or more accurately, now Ram, the two brands split in 2010, has solved all of that for the customer and, once again, left no stone unturned. And along with the brand split, Ram is launching a sweet new line.
Maximizing efficiency and power, the new Ram is highlighted by the high-performance Cummins engine, built to pull 20,000 pounds. But customers need not worry, this robust model is fully equipped with a soft-touch interior, LED lighting, GPS, Bluetooth and navigation cameras. Meet the new Ram: a perfect blend of power and comfort. And with its counterparts struggling to make ends meet, Ram reports that sales are up 13%.