The current generation of RAM’s 1-ton pickup has been around since 2019 and despite it’s widely considered the best model in the class, the company plans some updates for the next year. It looks like we are about to see a facelift, which will make this pickup even more competitive, thanks to the more attractive design, new features and improved performance. At this point, we are still waiting for the officials to say something more about the possible update, so make sure to keep the following paragraphs with a dose of reserve.
If this update is about to happen, we presume that the company would put a lot of focus on aesthetics. The current model looks nice but rivals look more aggressive, which is pretty important in this segment. On the other hand, we don’t believe that the company could make bigger changes on the inside, as the current model is already a class leader in this aspect. Finally, we can find rumors about improvements in performance. The powertrain could get more power, while the diesel version could get a new transmission.
We expect to see the 2023 RAM 3500 on market by the end of this year.
2023 RAM 3500 Design
As we’ve just mentioned, the 2023 RAM 3500 is expected to receive a mid-cycle refresh and exterior updates would be among the most important ones. At this point, we don’t know the details but we presume that the new styling would bring a more aggressive and bolder appearance. This particularly refers to the front end, which could come with a bolder grille design, more aggressive bumper etc.
On the other hand, we don’t expect to see bigger mechanical changes. This pickup will continue with the same, pretty advanced suspension setup, which offers superior ride quality but also provides excellent towing and hauling capabilities. Such a balance is something that rivals like F-350 and Silverado 3500HD haven’t achieved yet.
Interior
This is another aspect where RAM dominates the segment. Even though the new generation of Ford F-350 looks pretty amazing, it’s still slightly below RAM’s interior in terms of materials, style and overall quality. Therefore, we are pretty sure that the company won’t bother much with interior changes in this case. However, that doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing things like new materials, new color schemes etc.
At the time this pickup was introduced, its massive infotainment screen was a big thing. However, it doesn’t feel that exclusive anymore but it is competitive enough to continue without changes. We believe it will become available in lower trim levels as well.
The company will come up with familiar cab styles and bed sizes on offer. You may count on Regular, Crew and Mega Cab layouts, as well as on 6.4- and 8-foot bed sizes.
2023 RAM 3500 Engines
When it comes to the powertrain, we expect to see familiar units on the offer. However, it’s possible to see some power and torque increase on all or specific units. The offer will once again start with a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine, which currently puts out around 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque.
The 2023 RAM 3500 will continue with two diesel variants on the offer. Both come with a 6.7-liter inline-six turbodiesel from Cummins. The base variant of the engine puts out 370 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque, while the more capable version features a max output of 420 horsepower and 1.070 pound-feet of torque.
Note that these are the current power and torque ratings. Each of the three engines could come with some increase after the update.
What About New Transmission?
Currently, the gasoline version comes with a pretty impressive 8-speed automatic transmission, which does a fantastic job. On the other hand, the diesel version still uses a good-old 6-speed unit from Aisin. For comparison, rivals use 10-speed units.
Even though that doesn’t mean that the current unit is inferior in terms of performance, more gears could be considered as some kind of prestige for RAM. Therefore, it’s no wonder that many sources suggest a new transmission for the Cummins engine. Some sources suggest a 10-speed Allison transmission, while others believe that the company will continue to work with Aisin, which will offer a new unit in the near future. The officials are still quiet on this matter.
2023 RAM 3500 Release Date and Price
We expect to see the 2023 RAM 3500 sometime in the second half of the year, with the starting price of around 40.000 dollars.
ZF has been making 8-speed transmissions for medium duty use in Europe for many years. ZF’s 200 million dollar expansion of their US transmission plant might well support whatever RAM wants to put behind Cummins engines. I think an 8-speed with proper ratios better than a 10-speed for the Cummins torque curve.
But if it’s numerical bragging rights desired rather than actual utility, why stop at ten?