Eyeing the popularity of sport trucks forbrsome time, Fiat Chrysler has officiallybrjoined the race for the attention of activebrtruck enthusiasts. By way of an off-brroad style overhaul of its Ram line of pickups, thebrall-new Ram 1500 Rebel has both literally andbrfiguratively set it's sights on the competition—brnamely the Ford F-150 Raptor.br
With its newest endeavor, “Ram Tough” hasbremerged in an all-black grille that is a substantialbrdeparture from Dodge's iconic “cross-hair” design.brThe blacked-out Rebel grille is just the beginningbrof an aggressive off-road persona that carries frombrblack powder-coated bumper to bumper and every-brthing in between, including black wheel-arches,brmirrors and lower body panels. Even the truck'sbrbi-functional projector headlamps take on the darkbrof night from within—you guessed it—black bezelbrencasements.br
Resting atop elaborately designed 17-inch, mattebrblack aluminum wheels, 33-inch Open Countrybrall-terrain tires and ride-softening Bilstein rearbrshocks, the Rebel is as capable as it looks. A 3.6-literbrHEMI V-6 engine unleashes 305 horses for more han 8,000 pounds of towing capacity. Drivers whobrenjoy the unbeaten path will appreciate the truck's 25brmpg rating and its rear anti-spin differential. The lat-brter turns both rear wheels in tandem when increasedbrtorque is applied to get drivers free from most anybrobstacle. When not in use, the system automaticallybrunlocks the differential, allowing the wheels to spinbrindependently during normal on-road conditions.brExtra power, to the tune of 395 horsepower, is alsobravailable through an optional 5.7-liter V-8 engine.
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Inside its crew cab, Rebel is every bit as brawny as itbris outside. With an eye for rugged detail, the cab's tech-brnical grain black vinyl seats have been embossed withbrthe exact tire tread pattern matching the truck's actualbrfootprint. The seats, the door armrests, and the Rambrlogo-embossed center console are all finished in RadarbrRed with Light Gray accent stitching that all comebrtogether to complete a rugged, yet refined presence.br
Starting at an MSRP of $42,790, the Rebel is at thebrtop end of the Ram lineup exceeded in price only bybrits Laramie and Limited models. However, pricedbrslightly below the Raptor ($46,190) and with its off-brroad capabilities, towing capacity and stylish finish,brthe Dodge Ram 1500 Rebel speaks for itself.
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DETAILS
Engine: 3.6-literbrHEMI V-6br
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Horsepower: 395 hpbrMPG: 25 mpg