Spy Shots: 2020 Ram HD Trucks Testing in the Open

Spy shots of Ram’s new line of 2020 heavy-duty pickup trucks reveal they have beefy curves and a large, distinctive front grille.

Photographs obtained by Trucks.com show the new trucks in four separate variations during testing in Auburn Hills, Mich. The vehicles are expected to debut in early 2019, possibly at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

According to the photos, the 2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 will follow the design lead of their light-duty 1500 sibling by adopting a gaping, horizontal look with prominent “Ram” badging in the middle, a move away from the brand’s familiar crosshair grille.

The images come just one day after Ram was caught testing the final production design of its Power Wagon 2500, the off-road version.

The vehicles spotted in Auburn Hills include the top trim Ram 2500 Limited, the roomier Limited MegaCab, the upscale Laramie Longhorn and the mid-level Big Horn.

The Ram 2500 Limited is distinguished by its chrome grille and surround, wave-patterned bars and dual nostrils on either side of the Ram badge. It has chrome wheels, side mirrors, door handles, tow hooks and a side strip with “Limited” badging.

The Limited MegaCab features similar chrome trim. Its cabin is extended to provide more interior space, and its bed features RamBox cargo storage.

The Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn wears wide grille bars and full chrome surround on the front fascia, including the front and rear bumpers. The steering wheel appears made from wood, introduced in previous versions of the trim.

The Big Horn trim is presented on the dual-rear wheel Ram 3500. It has a plastic honeycomb grille design, black bumpers and more traditional headlamps. Fixed running boards provide easier access into the cab, where higher trims likely have automatically deploying boards.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles also currently offers the Ram HD in Laramie, SLT and base Tradesman trims.

Available powertrains in the upcoming 2020 models are unknown. Current Ram HD trucks use a 5.7-liter V8 engine, a 6.4-liter V8 engine or a 6.7-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder in three different power outputs up to 930 pound-feet of torque.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD – unveiled Tuesday – boasts 910 pound-feet of torque. The Ford Super Duty currently offers 935 pound-feet of torque and is expected to be redesigned soon.

Sales in the full-size truck segment are extremely competitive. Ram sold 477,000 trucks through the first 11 months of 2018, a 4.5 percent increase over the same period in 2017.

That makes the Ram 1500-3500 the third-best-selling vehicle in the U.S. behind Chevrolet and Ford trucks.

Chevrolet sales are flat through the first 11 months of the year at 518,000 trucks. Ford has seen sales top 821,000 units for a jump of 1.8 percent compared with the same period last year.

The 2020 Ram HD will be produced in Warren, Mich. Previous versions were built in Saltillo, Mexico.

Read Next: 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD Revealed Ahead of 2019 Debut

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