a new hydroformed and fully boxed frame and the most distinguished pickup truck styling on the market, the new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 further distances itself from the competition in efficiency, refinement, safety, stability, comfort, composure and design.

“Widely viewed as the boldest and most powerful light-duty pickup in the market, the 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 just got even better,” said Darryl Jackson, Vice President—Dodge Marketing, Chrysler Group. “In addition to all of the attributes that have long made the Dodge Ram 1500 a success in the marketplace, Dodge adds more technology and content to make the Ram even more capable and refined. Packed with power, refinement and a new bold appearance, the new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 continues to lead the competition.”

The new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 also features a standard electronic transfer case and front-axle-disconnect system on four-wheel-drive models, and new larger headlamps, power sliding rear window, bucket seats, full-screen navigation radio and a DVD entertainment system.

NEW LEVELS OF EFFICIENCY
The new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 leaps to new heights in performance and efficiency in the full-size pickup segment, providing the most state-of-the-art technology available to meet the needs of today’s pickup truck buyers. Dodge engineers perfected several areas of the Dodge Ram 1500 — from powertrain to aerodynamics — to create a more fuel-efficient light-duty, full-size pickup truck.

With the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine, the Dodge Ram 1500 is the most powerful light-duty pickup truck in the market. Without compromising its venerable power, the new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500’s HEMI V-8 engine features the first-ever fully functioning cylinder deactivation system — Multi-displacement System (MDS) — on a pickup truck. Customers receive the powerful benefit of the HEMI V-8 engine with the fuel economy that they — until now — could only expect from a smaller, less powerful engine.

“MDS was an integral part of the 5.7-liter HEMI’s design,” said Mike Donoughe, Vice President – Body-on-Frame Product Team, Chrysler Group. “The result is a cylinder-deactivation system that is simple and seamlessly integrated into the engine. The fuel-efficiency benefits of this engine can now be realized by full-size pickup truck buyers without sacrificing power and torque.”