In what has become something of an annual event for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, yet another of their products has been recognized by the off-road enthusiast magazine Four Wheeler.
2016 Ram 1500 Rebel
First shown to the public one year ago at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Rebel is the tenth model in the current Ram 1500 lineup that also consists of Tradesman, Express, SLT, BigHorn/Lone Star, Outdoorsman, Sport, Laramie, Longhorn and Limited models.
Available only as a crew cab with a 5-ft.-by-7-inch bed (and optional Ram Box), the biggest difference between the Rebel and other models is that it eschews the brand’s traditional “cross-hair” grille replacing it with one unique to the Rebel. Other changes include a black powder-coated off-road front bumper, a powder coated, billet silver skid plate, black tow hooks, LED fog lamps, projector headlamps with LED marker lights and an aluminum, twin-snorkel sport hood.
The sides feature Power Wagon-inspired black wheel-arch moldings and unique 17-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in 33-inch (LT285/70R17E) Toyo Open Country A/T all-terrain tires. In back, the tailgate features a “RAM” stamping with blacked-out lettering, black powder coated bumper, dual chrome-tipped exhaust outlets and black tail lamp bezels.
Inside, the vinyl seats feature Radar Red and Black fabric inserts embossed with the Toyo tire tread pattern, are trimmed with gray stitching and feature an embroidered Radar Red Rams head on the headrests along with gray embroidered Rebel logos on the upper bolsters.
Under the hood, buyers have the choice of either a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 generating 305 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque (available only in a 4x4 configuration), or a 5.7-liter HEMI developing 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque (in either a 4X2 or 4X4 layout). Both are mated to a standard eight-speed automatic transmission.
All Rebels get an air suspension exclusive to the model with a 1-inch lift to help clear the 33-inch tires, also allowing for 10.3-inches of ground clearance and improved off-road approach, departure and breakover angles.
2016 Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year
This year, Four Wheeler Magazine's competition for Pickup Truck of the Year took place over five days and 1,000 miles that, according to the press release, provided the seven judges "an opportunity to experience every plausible condition from city gridlock to technical trails" while they evaluated each vehicle's "performance, comfort and design."
After a careful evaluation, those judges named the 2016 Ram 1500 Rebel Four Wheeler magazine's "Pickup Truck of the Year."
"If there's one word to describe the Ram 1500 Rebel, it's balanced," said Four Wheeler Editor Christian Hazel. "No matter what we threw at the Ram 1500 Rebel, it just flat-out worked with no drama, no excuses and no compromises. The Ram 1500 Rebel was the vehicle the Four Wheeler judges overwhelmingly chose not only as the 2016 Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year, but the vehicle they'd most like to take home."
"The Ram Rebel offers an aggressive off-road-style package on our successful Ram 1500 platform and this award from Four Wheeler magazine endorses its combination of engineering and design," said Bob Hegbloom, Head of Ram Brand, FCA - North America. "We're pleased this opinion-leading off-road enthusiast publication recognizes the Rebel as its Pickup Truck of the Year."
