For this week's North American International Auto Show, Chrysler has officially unveiled the 2009 Dodge Ram truck - the first truck ever to feature Sirius Backseat TV.
Chrysler is looking to make waves with this all-new redesigned truck, featuring their first-ever crew-size cab, giving Dodge an entry into the largest and fastest-growing part of the market. Crew-size cab sales accounts for nearly 50% of market share.
The interior is fastly improved as well (driven by consumer demand of "rough on the outside, smooth on the inside" offerings from automakers). The Dodge Ram's interior now sports premium seating, soft-touch materials, redesigned controls, floor console with shifter, and nearly double the storage options.
Infotainment choices include Chrysler's MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment System with 30-gigabyte hard drive, navigation system, and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system available in the Quad Cab and crew cab.
And rounding it all off is Sirius Backseat TV - for the first time ever in a truck - and the segment-first surround-sound audio.
More than anything, it seems that Sirius Backseat TV is an added value for automakers (currently, only Chrysler) meant as a differentiator against competitors. Whether that will drive subscribers is unknown right now, but it definitely adds brand-awareness (plus it doesn't hurt to remain on the good side of OEMs).
Full Disclosure: I own a Dodge Ram, and I really really like it.
Great it has "Backseat TV" now all it needs is a BACKSEAT! I mean am i blind or is that a pick-up truck?
You'd be surprised as to how many people cart around kids in the backseat of their trucks. Four-door trucks are a huge seller, not just for lugging around a bunch of guys to the job site, but for dropping the kids off at school as well. Again, I'm not sure if it'll lead to a large number of subs signing up, but it's exposure for Sirius even so.
Either way, it's yet another line item (and marketing pitch) that Dodge can use to say they're better than the competition. Even if it is rarely used.
Ryan,
time to trade up, try my F-250 Super Duty 7.3 L powerstroke. :-)
I rather be Stroked than Ramed!
This is very "pretty" looking truck. Visually it appears to have increased in quality, but I have a few negative comments.
1. This is obviously designed for those that will not primarily be using it for a work truck. The "soft touch" materials do not fair well with those that put it it to use as a work truck. A more tough skinned interior should also be made available and given just as much air time. After all a good amount of the truck are sold to contractors etc, that like the idea of comfort but absolutely cannot do without the durability. The idea that they can choose comfort with a Rhino-tough interior would go far to sell to what I see as the primary truck purchasing demographic.
2. The Center Console! What a phenominal abuse of space. This is a bad idea all around. Not only does the addition of the center console limit driver/passenger space significantly, it also creates one more thing to get scratched up and catch bits of everything. This truck would really suit larger construction worker types, but the fact is that these are rough and dirty people. Every little thing will get caught in that center area and end up just being annoying.
Dodge has not really changed the exterior design of their truck. Chevy,Ford,Toyota are constantly changing the whole but Dodge has had that design since 1994 or 95. They need to think of a total redesign before I change my mind that the truck is ugly.
Hi Jasper,
I think you should do a couple of things...Google Dodge ram and look really carefully....do you see the changes?The fact is this, Dodge has changed their design a number of times 4 since it first appeared...you are entitled to your opinion all though it may be an un educated one!Ford liked the design so much that they borrowed heavily from it with the suoer duty!Toytota liked the design so much that they to borrowed healvily from it with the new Tundra....I'll bet you own one of these two trucks?Don't you? and finally GM....Their design is simply a Ford copy...they all copy each other!
FORDS SUCK BUY DODGE RAM!!!!!!!
I hate that they moved the shifter. I had a 2005 and have a 2006 and I love them. This Truck looks good from the outside but I'm not to keen on the interior. Still beats a GM or Ford....
I own a 2004 2500 heavy Duty quad cab Ram. Yes my truck is my everyday vehicle. Just so you know "billthebarber" I have 3 kids that range from the age of 2yrs to 7yrs and the backseat of my truck is plenty big for them. I would rather haul my kids around in my truck then one of those little hybrid go carts there making now-a-days. I love my truck so much! I also have a heavy duty Fisher plow on it for the winter time, the truck dosent even blink when its going through 3 or 4 feet of snow. I will agree with Ryan on this one... the truck is BEAUTIFUL, but... as of right now it is aimed for more of the classy rich bitch person (sorry if I offended anyone). I love the inside and out of this new truck. It would be a real shame to throw a plow on this truck or even haul around firewood or something. This truck is ment to haul around that new big screen tv you just bought or something that is boxed up. Iam sure that they will in the near future offer this style of truck as a more of a "mans heavy duty" truck. I think that alot of the contractors and construction people will keep away from this until they do. Now... I am sure alot of people will agree with me when I say that when they do start making this truck in the Heavy Duty styles this truck will be unstopable with that new 6.7L Cummings Diesel under the hood. Until that happens let all the pretty boys who need a nice car to get laid have fun with it. I think you will see me owning one of these when it has diesel power under the hood. GREAT TRUCK DODGE!!!. keep up the good work Dodge.
Dodge sucks unless you enjoy working on a piece of shit !!!!!!
KING RANCH
I have always been a huge fan of the dodge trucks (any of them) i have driven pretty much every year the truck has made for the last six or seven years. i currently own a half ton 06 and it is one of the best trucks i have ever drivin. this truck looks freakin awesome not only on the outside but on the inside granite i dont like how they moved the shifter down but the console brings a new class to the truck you can do heavy duty work and still drive a nice truck (how hard is it to buy seat covers?) and lets not forget these trucks are built to work i doubt by changing the style both inside and out did anything to the performance of the truck i will definatly be tring to get one within the next two years hopefull with a cummins engine in it.
Great Truck!!!
my dream i drive any car of dodge because i feel fly on the smaal car because it is the bigest car
ashes to ashes dust to dust if we didn't have dodge our tools would rust!!!!!
a 380 hp v8 sounds pretty bad ass to me
hey man, you might rather be "stroked" than "rammed", but i'd rather be cummin then just merely stroked! (if your not smart enough to figure that out, it refer's to the cummins turbo diesel) touche monkey!
this is the badest truck ever i would kill somone to get this truck i dont care what any of yall boozers say causr i could prolly kick your ass
Well I am definetly a ford and harley lover. But I would like to say that the ram is a nice truck. And I do not thik that you should talk about kiking any ass untill you see the size of the other people ad there vehicles. And as far as anything to do with sex, I cant see what that has to do with a vehicle. Unless you are talking about the place for sex. Yes, I am a brain injured man, fat and simply stupid about som things. But at least when I talk about vehicles I try to stay with vehicles.
Bluestang
Very nice truck. Actually my favorite. In my opinion, Dodge did just the right thing by NOT radically changing all details. So anyone recognizes it as a RAM and the owners of a previous version dont feel like driving an "old" model. By the way, that is what any automaker does, or needs to do, when continuing a successful model line. NO RADICAL CHANGES!
Very nice truck. Actually my favorite. In my opinion, Dodge did just the right thing by NOT radically changing all details.