Looks like Dodge's two-ton pickup's got the Ralph Gilles treatment going on up front as one of Priddy's pride of spy photogs caught some shots of what PickupTruck.com's claiming is the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. The next-gen hauler from ChrysCerebus... Cerebysler... err... the former 'merican side of the former German-American hybrid...is sporting a more Charger-like front-end with what may be a more aerodynamic design. The same look helped propel the Gilles-ster to the forefront of automotive design and since last April, to the veep slot of Jeep/Truck Design. But the change on the front end isn't the only place the site all about trucks that pick stuff up claims there's new stuff going on. They're claiming:
"...when it goes on sale next summer, expect to see four all-new or revised engine choices. The base 215-hp/235lb-ft 3.7-liter V6 will be replaced with the 260-hp/265lb-ft 4.0-liter V6 used in the Dodge Nitro SUV. The Ram's current 235-hp/300lb-ft 4.7-liter V8 gets the same makeover the 2008 Dodge Dakota received, boosting power to 300-hp/390lb-ft, and the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 will get a bump in displacement and power from current 345-hp/375lb-ft levels. A new Cummins V8 diesel motor will also be available. Both gas and diesel V8s will use 6-speed automatic transmissions."
We'll look forward to seeing both the power boost as well as also whether that revised forward-sweeping front end will really provide the added boost in fuel economy to make up for it.
Spied: 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 [PickupTruck.com]
Related:
Spy Photos : 2008 Dodge Dakota; Spy Photos: Dodge Super Mega Ultra Ram Pickup; Of Course He's Being Promoted, He Designed The 300C [internal]