Ram’s Heaviest-Hitting Pickup Truck Is Fixing Its Biggest Problem

A development mule for the refreshed Ram 3500 HD pickup has been spied in Colorado, providing our first look at the updated styling and revised cabin. More importantly, insiders suggest that the problematic Aisin and the notoriously unreliable Chrysler 68RFE six-speed automatic transmissions that are paired with the 6.7-liter Cummins straight-six turbodiesel will be replaced by a far smoother and stronger ZF transmission.

With a stronger gearbox, the engine is rumored to be in line for a boost in torque and a reduction in fuel consumption. At the base end of the scale, the 6.4-liter truck-specific Hemi V8 is rumored to live on for a little longer, according to MoparInsiders, but only in these heavy-duty vehicles; the 1500 Classic and its Hemi are dead.

Subtle Styling Updates

The 2025 Ram 1500 was revealed in November last year, and besides the loss of a V8, the pickup also arrived with refined styling that included slimmer headlights. That treatment appears to be in the cards for the HD lineup, too, with camouflage obscuring narrower lighting units and a redesigned grille, likely with new mesh patterns. The shapes of the hood, fenders, doors, mirrors, and roof all appear unchanged.

Related

Ram’s Fresh Off-Road Truck Lineup Has Something For Everyone

With the new Ram 1500 RHO, the brand truly has an off-road truck to suit all needs.

Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.

The placement of the roof lights and the badges on the hood hasn’t changed either, but at the rear, the taillights will get new graphics. The tailgate appears identical to the 2024 model, as does the chrome rear bumper, but this is not an all-new generation, so subtle changes are sensible. We expect to see similar changes on the Ram 2500, making for a coherent family appearance.

Improved Infotainment

Our spies were allowed to snap a single image of the cabin, but there’s plenty to be gleaned. This is the Laramie trim, hence the nice upholstery and contrast stitching. We can also see some wood trim above the center air conditioning vents, but the important details relate to the center console. The vertically oriented display appears to be similar in size to the current model’s 12-inch touchscreen, but the three buttons along its top edge (for lane assistance, hazard lights, and traction control) appear to have been deleted.

Related

Dear Automakers: You’ll Never Do Infotainment Better Than Apple And Android, Please Stop Trying

We’ve got to get a few things off of our chests, so we’ve penned an open letter to manufacturers about their biggest weakness.

Hopefully, these have been relocated to the driver side of the screen and not a widget on the touch display. Happily, volume and radio tuning knobs have been retained, and in a pleasant surprise, additional knobs and physical buttons appear along the bottom of the screen. Expect more details to materialize over the next month or two and a reveal before the end of 2024.

Source:
CarBuzz Photographers, Heavy Duty HEMI V8 continuation rumor via
MoparInsiders