All-new 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Debut as Toughest and Most Powerful Heavy-Duty Pickups Ever

Heavy Duty Rams boast most powerful diesel in heavy-duty segment and all-new, class-leading 345 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI® Magnum V-8

The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty debuts as the most powerful heavy-duty pickup, with the most powerful diesel engine on the market and the all-new 5.7-liter HEMI® Magnum V-8. The Dodge Ram Heavy Duty carries forward its reputation for toughness into a new century with class-leading towing (Gross Combination Vehicle Weight Rating), payload capacity and interior room. New from grille-to-tailgate, the Heavy Duty Dodge Rams bring an array of new powerplants, class-leading features and the "big rig" styling introduced on the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500.

"The heavy-duty pickup market has grown 34 percent since 1996 with 2500/3500 pickups accounting for 31 percent of the large pickup market," said Jim Julow, Vice President, Dodge Division Global Brand Center. "Ram 2500s and 3500s now account for a third of overall Ram sales, and with the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500, we are poised to increase those numbers significantly."

Put Up or Shut Up

"In this market, capability is everything and the new Heavy Duty Dodge Rams are the most capable pickup trucks available," said Frank Klegon, Vice President, Truck Product Team. "We have taken the bold styling of the all-new 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, with its class-leading interior package, and added all-new, class-leading powertrains and a new chassis featuring a full-length hydroformed heavy-duty frame."

For 2003, the all-new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty is aiming at the heart of the heavy-duty market with two new engine offerings and, for the first time on a Ram, a 3500 single rear wheel option.

"Our 1500 Ram buyers are looking for a multi-use truck, but they rarely come close to its performance limits," added Julow. "Dodge Ram Heavy Duty owners are different. They also want a multi-use truck, but buy their Dodge Ram Heavy Duty with very specific tasks in mind. And those tasks require maximum capability. "They routinely push their Rams to the limit," Julow said. "That is why about 75 percent of our Ram 2500/3500 sales are diesels and 70 percent are four-wheel drive models. These trucks are being used, and used hard. Our reputation as the longest-lasting pickup, and now the most powerful diesel pickup available, will serve us well in this market."

With the new 2003 Ram 2500 and 3500, Dodge designed a truck aimed at the heart of the heavy-duty market. Dodge created a new duty cycle aimed directly at commercial customers, testing the new Ram in conditions ranging from -40 F to + 130 F and running the equivalent of 150,000 miles at 95 percent of their maximum towing and payload ratings.

Dodge Ram and HEMI Magnum = Class-leading Power and Performance

The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 herald the return of one of the most legendary names in automotive lore: HEMI. This is the Chrysler Group's first application of the new 5.7-liter HEMI - which for the Dodge Ram will be called HEMI Magnum, and will serve as the standard engine on the all-new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks. This all-new engine produces an estimated 345 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 365 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm, providing more power than competitive standard V-8 engines. In fact, versus competitive vehicles with similar size gasoline engines, it provides best-in-class acceleration and towing capability, as well as significantly improved fuel efficiency over the engine it replaces.

Redesigned Cummins Turbo Diesel = Class-leading Capability

Another returning legend is the all-new, high-pressure, common-rail injection, High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel engine. The new High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel is the most powerful turbo diesel engine available in the 2500/3500 segment, producing 305 horsepower at 2,900 rpm and 555 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,400 rpm. That prodigious torque results in a class-leading towing capability of 23,000 lbs. (GCWR).

As durable as it is powerful, the Cummins Turbo Diesel has average major overhaul intervals of 350,000 miles, providing a substantial advantage over the competition. An inline six, the new 5.9-liter Cummins has 30 to 40 percent fewer parts than typical V-8 diesels, which means added durability and better reliability.

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