Ram 1500 Revolution BEV electric concept truck
Stellantis
Ram Truck unveiled its upcoming electric pickup truck on Thursday at the CES technology show, as the automaker plans its entry into the emerging segment next year to compete with Detroit rivals as well as rivian and, potentially, tesla.
O Stellantis The truck brand has unveiled the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept ahead of a production model due to be unveiled in the coming months. While the truck shares a name with Ram’s current full-size pickup truck, it’s a new vehicle from the ground up showcasing the company’s new dedicated electric architecture.
Its exterior design is recognizably “RAM” with illuminated badges and new lighting patterns, but the vehicle’s interior features a more modern, clean, and tech-centric design than current Ram trucks. The interior features few physical buttons, with a 28-inch touchscreen that houses most controls and a glass roof.
Stellantis executives did not reveal how next year’s production model will look like the concept vehicle. They referred to the concept vehicle as a roadmap for the brand’s future products.
Ram 1500 Revolution BEV electric concept pickup truck
Stellantis
“This is a vision, or a glimpse, of the future for Ram Trucks,” Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr. told CNBC. “Honestly, from my perspective as the head of the brand, it’s our roadmap of what customers can expect from Ram in the future.”
Stellantis has not released the concept vehicle’s range or performance specifications. He detailed a list of potential features such as a “Shadow Mode” where the vehicle can follow the driver at a safe distance; an in-vehicle AI personal assistant; and a retractable steering wheel for self-driving capabilities.
The Ram electric pickup is expected to join an increasingly crowded electric pickup segment that already includes the GMC Hummer EV, ford F-150 Lightning, Lordstown Endurance and smaller Rivian R1T. Other products expected in the coming year include the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and the much-delayed Tesla Cybertruck.
Ram 1500 Revolution BEV electric concept pickup truck
Stellantis
Koval said Ram isn’t worried about being late to the segment.
“When we get to market in 2024, it will be at the crossroads when demand, market and infrastructure are ready,” he said. “We don’t think for a second that we’re ‘late’, so to speak. We think we’re going to hit the market at just the right time.”
Stellantis appears to have no plans to end production of its gasoline- or diesel-powered pickup trucks anytime soon. Koval said EV adoption won’t happen overnight, and has already been slower than some expected.
So far, the most successful electric truck has been Ford’s F-150 Lightning. Both the Rivian R1T and the $110,000 Hummer EV pickup were slow to ramp up production, while Lordstown has only just started delivering vehicles to commercial customers.
Ram 1500 Revolution BEV electric concept pickup truck
Stellantis
The design of the Ram electric pickup truck concept appears to be more of a lifestyle pickup truck than a traditional work truck, but executives said the production vehicle will serve both purposes.
Koval highlighted a midgate, which can be opened to connect the bed to the cab, and a bed extender that will allow owners to transport an 18-foot piece of wood in the vehicle.
Stellantis design director Ralph Gilles described the overall design of the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept as “crude”, a combination of “crude” and “beautiful”.
“The TRX (a performance version of the Ram 1500) has that in spades,” Gilles told CNBC. “It’s tough as nails, but somehow it’s still beautiful and attractive. We wanted this truck to have the same presence but point to the future.”
Ram 1500 Revolution BEV electric concept pickup truck
Stellantis
.
0 Comments