Ram Truck Brand Brings Popular 'Ram Ride and Drive' Track to 'The ACM Experience,' April 5-7, at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

• Free 'Ram Ride and Drive' returns to Las Vegas for 'The ACM Experience' 
• Test rides feature the 2013 Ram 1500 – the 2013 Motor TrendTruck of the Year, North American Truck of the Year and Truck of Texas
• 25,000-square-foot track provides one-of-a-kind interactive experience for country music fans
• Ram sponsored Raminator monster truck will provide car crushing entertainment throughout the weekend
• Participating fans can win free tickets to the 'Party for a Cause Festival' and 'ACM Fan Jam' concerts

Country music fans attending "The ACM Experience" in Las Vegas April 5-7, at The Orleans Hotel and Casino will have the opportunity to "ride country" on a free 25,000-square-foot interactive "Ram Ride and Drive" test track, created by the Ram Truck brand, at The Orleans Hotel and Casino.

"The ACM Experience" takes place in conjunction with The Week Vegas Goes Country®, leading up to the 48th annual Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMs) on Sunday, April 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern time/delayed Pacific time on the CBS television network.

The one-of-a-kind Ram brand outdoor course pairs riders with professional drivers so fans can experience firsthand the performance, capabilities and competitive advantages of the 2013 Ram 1500 – the 2013 Motor Trend Truck of the Year, North American Truck of the Year and Truck of Texas. The "Ram Ride and Drive" is comprised of several obstacles, including a thrilling 13-foot hill climb where passengers experience the traction capabilities of a Ram pickup truck when driving over the 30-degree-angle Ram Mountain. Atop the mountain, riders sit nearly 20 feet off the ground, providing a panoramic view of "The ACM Experience" and a great photo opportunity.

Fans attending the "Ram Ride and Drive" arena also will have the opportunity to see the Raminator, one of the most feared opponents on the monster truck racing circuit. Weighing in at 10,300 pounds, the Ram sponsored race truck is powered by a 2,000 horsepower HEMI® engine and stands 10-feet tall and 13-feet wide. At select times during the Ram experience the Raminator will fire up and perform, smashing rows of junk cars. Country music fans will be able to get autographs signed and have their photos taken with championship driver Mark Hall.

The "Ram Ride and Drive" is open from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6, and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 7. Participants 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and be at least 44 inches tall.

"The Ram Truck track will be engaging and memorable for riders as they experience the refined interior, capabilities and handling of the award-winning 2013 Ram 1500," said Fred Diaz, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico. "Ram Truck fans and country music fans are one and the same as they are cut from the same cloth. Last year's inaugural ACM Experience was a big hit, and we are excited to be back again to give our mutual fans the opportunity to ride and drive the most innovative lineup of full-size pickup trucks on the market."

Additional track features include:

• A 12-foot-by-25-foot section of terrain simulating fallen logs that highlight the truck's ground clearance 
• A steel articulation demonstration of the truck's body strength
• A series of off-set steel ribbons that highlight the truck's segment-exclusive coil-spring rear suspension
• A 30-degree wedge that demonstrates the stability and ride quality of a Ram pickup truck

Participating guests will receive a free Ram brand gift and will be registered in a sweepstakes to win $45,000 toward any Chrysler Group vehicle. In addition, riders will have the opportunity to win free tickets to the "Party for a Cause Festival" and "ACM Fan Jam" concerts, and have their questions answered by Ram brand product specialists.

The "Ram Ride and Drive" is part of the brand's multifaceted, multimedia partnership with the Academy of Country Music Awards. Now in its fourth year, the partnership includes Ram sponsoring "Entertainer of the Year" fan voting and the "ACM Ram Red Carpet." In addition, Ram is the exclusive automotive sponsor of the April 7 CBS network broadcast of the ACM Awards, and is sponsoring a variety of radio and digital programming leading up to and through the awards broadcast. Ram trucks will be integrated into various program elements including the red carpet arrivals of some artists.

About 'The ACM Experience' "The ACM Experience" is a free, open-to-the public country music lifestyle event created for fans by the Academy of Country Music. The fan-focused, three-day event, held April 5-7, at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, includes the ACM Expo presented by Roper, ACM and Cabela's Great Outdoor Archery Event, Ram Ride and Drive, Cooper Tire Stage, Kraft Country Kitchen, the ticketed ACM Party for a Cause Festival and more.

The events will culminate in the 3rd Annual ACM Fan Jam and Post-Awards Concert, a ticketed event on Sunday, April 7, headlined by Brad Paisley. For updates on "The ACM Experience," the ACM Awards and all academy events, please log onto www.ACMcountry.com, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AcademyOfCountryMusic or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ACMawards.

About Ram Truck Brand The Ram Truck brand continues to establish its own identity and clearly define its customer since its launch as a standalone vehicle brand. Creating a distinct brand for Ram trucks has allowed the brand to concentrate on how core customers use their trucks and what new features they'd like to see. Whether focusing on a family that uses its half-ton truck day in and day out, a hard-working Ram Heavy Duty owner or a business that depends on its commercial vehicles every day, Ram has the truck market covered.

The Ram Truck brand has the most innovative lineup of full-size trucks on the market. Ram Truck has emerged as a full-size truck leader by investing substantially in new products, infusing them with great looks, refined interiors, durable engines and features that further enhance their capabilities. Truck customers, from half-ton to commercial, have a demanding range of needs and require their vehicles to provide high levels of capability. Ram trucks are designed to deliver a total package.

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC