2023 Ram 2500 Rebel Goes Off-Road With Available Diesel Engine
Heavy-duty truck week continues. Following the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD on Monday and the 2023 Ford Super Duty on Tuesday, it’s now Ram’s turn to shake the Earth with a new model that fills a key void in its Heavy Duty lineup.
The 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel, as it’s officially called, slots between the Big Horn and Power Wagon, but unlike the latter which settles for the 6.4-litre HEMI V8, it will also be available with the 6.7-litre Cummins turbo-diesel six-cylinder engine.
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850 Pound-Feet
Seeing the success of the Ram 1500 Rebel and many other off-road pickups, the company made the wise move of introducing a direct alternative to the Ford F-250 Tremor. The Ram 2500 Rebel utilizes the Power Wagon’s structure and off-road prowess as a base while its optional Cummins turbo-diesel delivers 370 horsepower along with 850 pound-feet of torque starting at just 1,700 rpm. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard with this engine.
Otherwise, the 6.4-litre HEMI provides 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Cylinder deactivation technology improves fuel economy under light load, while an integrated front-mounted WARN Zeon-12 winch, rated at 12,000 pounds, is available with the V8. It uses a synthetic line that is maneuverable and won’t kink or fray, Ram claims.
A segment-exclusive, off-road suspension with a five-link coil design ensures superior load-carrying characteristics and articulation. Customers can optionally select Ram’s acclaimed rear air suspension for a smoother ride on the road. By the way, maximum towing for the 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel is 16,870 pounds and maximum payload is 3,140 pounds.
A Look That Says it All
The exterior of this truck is quite similar to the Power Wagon’s but features unique badging and a sport performance hood from Mopar. The 18-inch wheels (20-inch wheels will be available at a later date) are wrapped in 33-inch off-road tires, while skid plates protect the fuel tank and transfer case.
Inside, the Crew Cab-only model offers three different seating options including a cloth bench or bucket seat, a Bristol leather bench or bucket seat and a full Natura Plus leather bucket seat. The available 360-degree Surround View camera will come in handy in off-road driving as it includes forward-view camera gridlines to help navigate obstacles. There’s also a single display-screen view of both sides of the trailer to assist drivers in maneuvering towing setups.
The new 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel will go on sale in Canada later this fall starting at $75,450 plus $2,095 destination.