CES 2023: RAM ushers in the pick-up revolution with the 1500 BEV Concept

The RAM Truck brand unveiled a roadmap at CES 2023 with the so-called RAM 1500 Revolution BEV Concept Car, showcasing how it intends to redefine the pickup segment. The production-near Concept Car highlights a plethora of features that will be found in future RAM trucks, especially on the path to electrification. The aim is to set benchmarks in range, towing capacity, payload, and charging time. Additional information about the production version will be announced in the coming months. Two electric drive modules on the front and rear axles provide the Concept Car with all-wheel drive, and future high-performance applications are already constructively considered. A four-wheel steering system with up to 15 degrees of steering angle significantly improves maneuverability at low speeds and also enhances handling at high speeds. The e-pickup is based on the company's STLA Frame platform and features a body-on-frame design with an efficiently integrated battery pack. The adjustable air suspension allows for three modes: entry and exit, aero, and off-road.

800-Volt Charging Technology Goes Without Saying

With 800-volt direct current fast charging up to 350 kilowatts, a range of up to 160 kilometers can be achieved in about 10 minutes. As part of RAM's focus on a growing and comprehensive range of advanced high-end technology, RAM is introducing a new inductive robotic charger – or RAM Charger – at CES 2023, aimed at making home charging as easy as possible. It detects the vehicle’s presence and charging needs, automatically moves into position, and aligns under the vehicle. The smart charge function allows for charging outside peak demand times. The charging port visually indicates the active charging process, and an acoustic signal confirms that the plug is connected and charging has begun. The charging port offers AC charging for levels 1 and 2 in the upper half and DC fast charging in the lower half.

The design of the Concept Car's body is described as "brutiful" – brutal yet beautiful. An animated and modernized "R-A-M" emblem adorns the all-new front with a fully animated LED "tuning fork" design. The doors have been redesigned in the style of a large sedan, offering a spacious passenger compartment without a B-pillar. Bright LED lights are cleverly integrated into the front bumpers, and fully animated LED taillights and script benefit from advances in lighting technology. The concept features an integrated front design with a skid plate and new tow hooks that can be flush-mounted into the body.

A frunk provides even more storage space

Other features include a new front trunk that can be opened and closed electrically with the push of a button. Other electrically operated functions include the side front left charging port cover, the split multifunctional tailgate, flush door handles, side and rear entry aids, and an active diffuser. Instead of exterior mirrors, the concept car features digital cameras in small and lightweight housings made from 3D-printed materials, optimizing aerodynamics and reducing wind resistance.

Other gadgets include an electrically operated multifunction tailgate and a larger RamBox. The hourglass-shaped body and wheel arch extensions provide space for 35-inch tires on 24-inch wheels with hubcaps that light up and remain horizontally positioned while driving. The 1500 Revolution BEV Concept Car also features automatic level control.

Room wonders are possible on the new EV platform

The new proportions are made possible by the innovative STLA Frame EV platform on which the concept car is built. New intelligent safety systems and smaller, more powerful electric motors allowed the design team to move the cabin forward and extend it by more than ten centimeters compared to today's production vehicle, while maintaining the same bed length. Known as a "one-space environment," the concept car utilizes a continuous space from front to back that allows for various interior configurations. A new interior layout offers more flexibility and room for the configuration of a workspace. A significantly more spacious interior in the longer cabin is the result of a new architecture, and the size of the battery allows for more load volume. "RAM Track," RAM's rail attachment/floor rail system, offers interior flexibility for seats and the console, as well as tie-down hooks or other storage options. The system is also integrated into the front trunk and the bed, providing true flexibility from front to back.

A third row of seats is optional - up to 5.5 meters of loading length

Nearly 50 years after the introduction of the Club Cab with a second row of seats, RAM is introducing a third row of foldable seats for the first time in the 1500 BEV. The electrically operated middle door has folding seats with a removable bottom section that can be stored on the bed or outside the vehicle. The middle door with electric rear window opens a passage from the front trunk to the bed, allowing objects up to 5.5 meters long to be loaded with the tailgate closed. The focus was on the flexibility of the seats and the console, and the ability to remove the center console creates even more space if needed. On request, the armrest of the center console can swing forward of the front seat and convert into a work surface. The combination of the possibilities for the center console and the folding seats provides the model with several flexible seating configurations. Lightweight seats with integrated seat belts, grab handles, and speakers can be folded flat, adjusted to reclining, work, or conference positions, and the folding seats can be erected. The significantly larger interior benefits the passengers in the second and third rows, who enjoy limousine-like space.