Motortrend Truck of the Year

Looks like the next generations Ram HD's won the award... SWEET!!!



All-New Dodge Ram Heavy Duty Pickups Named Motor Trend's 2003 Truck of the Year



Auburn Hills, Mich. - Dec. 16, 2002 - The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty has hauled away Motor Trend magazine's prestigious 'Truck of the Year' award.



"We are delighted that the new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty was chosen by Motor Trend as the Truck of the Year," said Dieter Zetsche, President and CEO of the Chrysler Group. "This is one of the most coveted awards in the auto industry, and it is confirmation of the tremendous strides we have taken in the re-invention of the Chrysler Group by building aspirational and high quality products. "



The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 2500 pickup won Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year award following an intensive three-week competition. The Dodge duo of the Heavy Duty Ram 2500 4x2 Quad Cab with 345 horsepower worth of HEMI® Magnum power and the Ram 3500 4x4 with the High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel upstaged all others in the competition.



"From the onset of our 'Truck of the Year' competition, we knew the Ram Heavy Duty was a prime contender," said Kevin Smith, Motor Trend's Editor in Chief. "It fulfills the promise set forth last year by the introduction of an all-new Ram, and now offers the power and capability expected in the three-quarter and one-ton segments - plus features, content, and capabilities that in many ways raise the bar for this class of truck. "



"Simply put, after spending weeks with our competitors, evaluating every aspect and nuance, the Ram Heavy Duty stands out as the most significant new truck for 2003," Smith added. "With its excellent powertrains, off-road prowess, smooth on-road driveability, and stump-pulling power, the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty is the hands-down winner of Motor Trend's 2003 Truck of the Year award. "



"With the debut of the new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks with (standard) HEMI® ; power and (optional) Cummins power, we now have the strongest line-up of full-size trucks in the industry," said Rich Schaum, Executive Vice President - Product Development. "The Ram Heavy Duty is simply the toughest Ram ever. "



Competitors for Motor Trend Truck of the Year are evaluated on significance, superiority and value. The trucks are put through thousands of miles of testing, including back-to-back comparisons examining each truck's characteristics during normal commuting, traversing mountain roads, cruising freeways, trailer towing, off-pavement running, and loaded and unloaded performance testing. Truck of the Year competitors compete not only against the trucks in the competition, but also against other trucks in their class, whether they are included in the test or not.



"All of us at Dodge are elated that Motor Trend named the all-new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty the winner of their Truck of the Year competition," said Darryl Jackson, Vice President, Dodge Marketing. "And the public is taking notice of Ram as well with sales are already up 15 percent over last year. "



"The Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickups offer the ability to work hard and play hard," said Frank Klegon, Vice President, Truck Product Team. "The Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 are the personification of all things good about pickup trucks. They are fun to drive, affordable and they can haul, tow and off-road unlike any other vehicle. "



The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty boasts the option of two or four standard size doors and the all-new 345 horsepower 5. 7-liter HEMI Magnum engine as standard equipment. The powerful all-new 5. 9-liter High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel delivers a monstrous 555 lb. -ft. of torque and class-leading Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings. Ram Heavy Duty pickups are available in single and dual rear wheel applications.



The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks are built at the Saltillo, Mexico and St. Louis North Assembly Plants.



Details of the Motor Trend 'Truck of the Year' competition will appear in the February 2003 edition of the magazine. Information about the all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup is available on the web at www.dodge.com .

 

That is horrible news... ... ... . I was hoping for good incentives when the new Fords came out. This will probably reduce my chances.

 

This is really no suprise - it is the newest truck out there - most up to date - and deserving of the award. As I recall, when the Duramax came out - it won.



It is interested how DC continues to ignore its V10 engine - they push the Hemi, and HO Cummins - but no V10. They have a legitimate competitor to the GM 8. 1,, and in my opinion, a SUPERIOR engine to the Ford 6. 8.



I had a V10, and it was GREAT. Dodge dealers hate them though - "gas hogs". Well, the 360 isn't much better, and I doubt the Hemi will be either. Dodge is pushin HP though, and with the Federal V10 being derated this year to the California rating (305/440) the Hemi is their higher HP truck - really all Joe Average cares about.



I feel the V10 is going to go Bye Bye in a year or two. :{

 

I wouldn't get to excited, that award doesn't mean squat All it will mean is people that don't know anything about trucks will now buy the new HD Dodges and the incentives will be dialed back.

 

Not only will the incentives most likely be cut, the price keeps going up too. Two (2) price increases tatalling $475. 00 on the 03 3500 Quad Cab I ordered on 9/30. Base MSRP went from $28,800. to $29,100. and now is $29,275. Hope it don't jump again before I pick it up Friday.

 

it shouldn't matter if the price goes up or not now that you've already ordered (in sept)... you should be guarenteed that price from 9/30.

 

Save a copy

I only wish I had copies of the magazine articles from when my older car came out. One reviewer gave it the nickname I still use. I've got to make sure I file away a copy of MT with the Truck of the Year article for my records. I'm silly that way. But if you ever go to a Mustang Club event, you'll see some rabid collectors.



Lady J was F on Monday!!!!



Jean

 

My brother and sister in law used to raise and show quarter horses - it got to be sorta humorous to hear them whine and cry when they LOST a competition, and accuse the judges of gross stupidity, graft and favoritism - but my, how wonderful, observant and smart those SAME judges instantly became when they WON!



*I*certainly don't put much faith in what the "experts" write about concerning our vehicles - they may well test the exact SAME trucks NEXT year, with nothing but different paint jobs - and completely change their choices...



I certainly don't need some loser journalist hack "automotive expert" to make ANY of my vehicle choices for me...

 

I could say I'm not happy that my 2003 HD RAM was chosen to be the Motor Trend Truck of the Year, but I sure wouldn't be able to say it with a straight face!!!!!! The bragging rights of 2003 HD RAM owners have just increased dramatically. After all, if the 2003 HD RAM wasn't the best truck available, we wouldn't be buying them. So I say those Motor Trend judges are extremely competent!!!!!!!!!!



Federal Man

 

Anyone want to bet that next year it will be the Ferd.

 

"Anyone want to bet that next year it will be the Ferd. "



Agreed. Unless the new Nissan V8 fullsize is out.

 

Thats true,

I guess it will depend on who spends more on advertising

 

it is ford's turn next year. i agree. full size nissan v8? i say ford wins it in 04 but dodge wins in 05 with the intro of the mercedes diesel optioncummins all the way for me though. no cummins means no dodge for me. hey germans do you hear me. . let me say this a little louder so they can hear me..... NO CUMMINS NO DODGE! :-laf

 

CAT, your buying a new truck this year If your wife is like mine she will kick your butt if you start talking new trucks in the next 5 years