2013 Ram 1500 Honored as an Automobile Magazine All-Star

Methuen, 05/31/2013 / SubmitMyPR /

A vehicle doesn't have to be newly redesigned to be an Automobile Magazine All-Star, just considered one of the best models on the market, but buyers can check off both boxes with the 2013 Ram 1500. After putting an all-new Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn to the test, 16 editors and contributors at Automobile Magazine voted the pickup truck an All-Star for the third time in four years.

Only 11 vehicles were named a 2013 Automobile Magazine All-Star, and the redesigned 2013 Ram 1500 was the only pickup truck to make the list. The publication noted the nimbler ride of the range-topping Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab, thanks to its new ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and optional active air suspension. Still, test-drivers were not lacking in capability, with 395 horsepower and 407 pound-feet of torque on tap from the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine.

"Even before its redesign, the Ram 1500 was a favorite of Automobile Magazine, but the truck's extensive updates for the 2013 model year made the truck a no-brainer as an All-Star this year," said Tom Barenboim, owner of Clark Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, a Methuen, Massachusetts Ram dealer. "From its improved ride and aerodynamics to its comfortable, tech-packed cabin, the 2013 Ram 1500 is raising buyers' expectations of what a pickup truck should offer, yet all the grit is still there when it's time to get a job done."

Automobile Magazine editors also lauded the upscale interior of the 2013 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn, citing the European quality of the chocolate-brown leather with thick stitching and the authentic wood adorning the dash. Another industry publication, WardsAuto, concurred when naming the model to its 10 Best Interiors of 2013 list earlier this spring, complimenting those unique materials and the plentiful amenities, which range from heated front and rear seats to an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system.

For truck buyers who want an optimal mix of capability and fuel economy, the 2013 Ram 1500 is also available with an award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that returns a best-in-class 25 mpg on the highway while still churning out 305 horsepower. Starting this fall in the 2014 Ram 1500, drivers will be able to get even more miles per gallon with an all-new 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel engine that is also expected to produce best-in-class torque.

"Regardless of the engine that buyers choose, the rest of the Ram 1500 has been designed to optimize fuel efficiency as well, whether it’s the active grille shutters, the aerodynamic shape or the new eight-speed transmission," added Barenboim. "That kind of smart design has left Ford and Chevy with a lot of catching up to do in the half-ton pickup segment."

About Clark Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram:
For more than 60 years, Clark Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram has helped car, truck and SUV buyers find the vehicles that satisfy their needs, along with the financing and service they deserve. Whether you’re searching for hassle-free Jeep sales, Chrysler parts, Dodge service or the latest Ram trucks, their dealership works hard to exceed customer expectations. To view Clark’s wide selection of new and used Jeep and Chrysler models, visit their showroom at 175 Pelham Street in Methuen, Massachusetts, or browse online at www.clarkchryslerjeep.com. They can be reached by phone at 888-875-3706, and you can find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ClarkJeep.