Greetings, Big_Blocker here with more interesting truck news. Some of you who read my blog last week on the new variation of the Ford F150 will squeal with delight when you read this. Likewise if you are a MOPAR fan like I am, you will be very interested as to what is going on over at Dodge in terms of the new 2009 Ram. For a look at what the Ram will bring to the table this next year, hit the jump.

Powering the new Ram is a new generation 5.7 L Hemi that has several new features that make it not only more powerful but more fuel efficient. By utilizing variable valve timing and a multiple displacement system (MDS), the new Hemi makes more power than ever while delivering decent fuel economy (lets face it, any truck that makes big power has crappy mileage, and although it says “improved” I would say the best you get is about 14 city and 18 highway). Dodge also spent a great deal of R&D into making the new Ram aerodynamic and according to the truck maker, the new Ram delivers a best-in-class drag coefficient at .419. Power numbers come in at 390 for horsepower and 407 for torque which is quite big considering my 01 Ram with a 5.2 L made only 230 hp and 300 lb ft of torque when stock and achieves similar fuel economy (just goes to show what technology is doing I guess). All that power is said to propel the aerodynamic brick (all trucks are bricks no matter how aerodynamic they say they are) to sixty miles an hour in less than 6 seconds when geared with a 4:10 rear, which impresses this guy quite a bit. As far as the future Dodge is rumored to be introducing a smaller Cummins Turbo Diesel for light duty trucks after 2009, I certainly hope so.

The new Ram is fitted with a first in the arena of pickup trucks: a multi-link rear suspension. I myself was quite surprised when I read about this because as a truck owner I am used to nothing but leaf springs and some gas shocks, but hey I don’t complain. I am anxious to ride in one of the new 09’s to see how different the ride quality is. Like the rest of the truck makers, Dodge has incorporated as much storage space into their new truck as humanly possible. For instance, there is now storage in rails of the bed, known as the RamBox that provides weather-proof locking for anything you may need to store. All I know is that I hope the cops don’t find out about this RamBox as it is a brilliant place to store anything that you don’t want someone to find. The rest of the cab is also littered with places to put anything from tools to beverages in such a way as to be easily accessible but also convenient and out of the way.

Dodge has planned a new aggressive marketing campaign in order to saturate the prospective buyer market with interest over the new Ram. It is called the Dodge Ram Challenge and will pit 4 teams of iconic Americans (firefighters, cowboys, military personnel and construction workers) against each other in an elimination-type reality challenge in which each team is given a 2009 Ram and several timed tasks they must complete. Dodge really went all out on this one in my eyes as they hired director Tony Scott to come in and lead the project. The Dodge Ram Challenge begins on October 19 of this year but if you want to meet the teams, check out the site now and get amped for the new Ram as I already am. Big_Blocker out.