Ram Wins PickupTrucks.com $30,000 Truck Shootout

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The editors of PickupTrucks.com today named the Ram 1500 Best $30,000 Pickup in their first-ever value shootout.

The Best $30,000 Pickup Truck Shootout pitted a Ram 1500 Quad Cab HEMI® against similarly priced entries from Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan and Toyota.

"This test is an overwhelmingly strong third-party validation of Ram Truck's Value for the money and proof positive that we are meeting the needs and expectations of our truck customers," said Fred Diaz, Ram Truck Brand President and CEO – Chrysler Group LLC. "The Ram 1500 Quad Cab is one of our most popular models. Ram Quad Cab gives you four full doors and seating for up to six adults. Equipped with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, the Ram 1500 balances 20 mpg fuel economy with the performance and capability of 390 horsepower and 407 pound-feet of torque. Ride comfort is also exceptional, thanks to a Ram 1500's segment-exclusive coil spring rear suspension."

Entries were judged on towing capacity, performance, handling, styling and fuel economy.

"The Ram was the overall winner because rather than being a standout in any one category, it did well across the board," said Mark Williams, PickupTrucks.com Editor. "In a contest so focused on value, the truck that does well in the most overall categories is likely to come out on top. The Ram not only outperformed the other four trucks, but also has the fewest sacrifices or compromises, feature-wise. That's exactly why it won.

"This shootout was all about best bang for your buck," added Williams. "With money being a major concern for everyone right now and pickup trucks being the best-selling vehicles in the country, it was important for the focus of this shootout to be about value over anything else."

About the 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 2011 Ram 1500 was named a Consumers Digest Best Buy and AUTOMOBILE Magazine All-Star. Ram 1500's smooth-riding suspension and 20 mpg, 390 horsepower HEMI® V-8 are just two of the reasons it beat the competition. Ram 1500 also was named the Truck of Texas by the Texas Auto Writers Association in 2011.

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. Ram trucks now boast these segment exclusives:

• Coil-spring rear suspension on Ram 1500 for best-in-class ride and handling
• Available RamBox lockable and lighted bedside storage
• In-floor storage on all Ram Crew Cabs
• The largest cab in the market – Ram HD Mega Cab
• Standard six-speed manual transmission on all diesel models.

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.

Follow Ram and Chrysler Group LLC news and video on:

Ram Trucks: http://www.ramtrucks.com

Chrysler Connect blog: http://blog.chryslergroupllc.com Ram Zone blog: http://www.ramzone.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/chrysler and http://twitter.com/RamTrucks

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo and http://www.youtube.com/ramtrucks

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RamTrucks

Flicker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramtrucks

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC