A New Vehicle Technology HIGHLIGHTS A heavy-duty Ram

Chrysler Group engineers have included several firsts for the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups, including side curtain airbags and power adjustable pedals.

The 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 provided an excellent base for the 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks, said Rick Aneiros, Vice President of Design and Ram Design Team Leader. Chrysler Group engineers were taking into account the development needs of the heavy-duty series from the beginning of the Ram 1500 design process, he said. For example, the grille was designed to be large enough to handle the cooling needs of the larger 2500/3500 powertrains.

The family resemblance is not only evident in the exterior styling of the pickups, but also under their skin, with a hydroformed frame design similar to their lighter-duty sibling. And like the 1500, the heavy-duty models incorporate enhanced safety features, several of which are firsts for the segment. The trucks feature the first heavy-duty pickup application of side curtain airbags; pre-tensioning, constant-force seatbelt retractors; as well as power adjustable pedals, which are available with both manual and automatic transmissions.