Stellantis unveiled its answer to the increasingly crowded battery-electric truck market at CES 2023: A wide-shouldered pickup truck loaded with tech, a longer cabin with third-row seats, cup holders and even a movie projector.
The Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept isn’t exactly what the Stellantis brand plans to put into production by 2024. (That version will be released later this year). However, it offers the clearest picture yet of Ram’s plans for its next-generation trucks and how it aims to compete with other entrants in the nascent EV truck market, including the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV.
It starts with a body-on-frame architecture designed for full-size EVs that integrates a battery pack as well as underbody aeropanels and an active diffuser to improve the vehicle’s aerodynamics. Two electric drive modules are installed on the front and rear axles to provide all-wheel drive, and the rear axle steering system allows the driver to turn the rear wheels up to 15 degrees.
Ram didn’t disclose some important EV specs like range and battery pack size; expect at the end of this quarter. The brand says the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept can boost its range to 100 miles in about 10 minutes with up to 350kW of 800-volt DC fast charging. This, of course, suggests that the production version will have an 800-volt electrical architecture that allows for fast charging.
The automaker has packed a lot of features, technology and a new design language into the Ram 1500 Revolution. That’s the point here.
New face, Salon doors
Image credits: Kirsten Korosec
The Ram Revolution has all sorts of interesting exterior design options, such as a new “face” that incorporates more modern badging and a headlight design with animated LED tuning forks.
Perhaps the most notable feature of the design is the absence of a B-pillar, which allows for a grand saloon-style door opening. The design decision makes the spacious interior look more cavernous. The cab is actually four inches longer than Ram’s gas-powered equivalent trucks. Hallway doors simply bring this idea home.
Image credits: Stellantis
3D printed side view mirrors
Image credits: Kirsten Korosec
The side view mirrors are smaller than those found on any other Ram truck, a design choice designed to reduce skidding and increase aerodynamics. The side view mirrors, which use a digital camera to capture the truck’s surroundings, are also made using 3D printed parts.
The concept truck is also equipped with a rearview mirror that communicates with a backup camera and biometric cameras that monitor the truck’s environment.
Mobile movie projector
The truck is equipped with multiple internal projectors to visually communicate information to the user. But we really care because the projectors also work as a mobile cinema.
Electrochromatic roof
Image credits: Kirsten Korosec
The Ram Revolution concept features a full glass roof with electrochromatic panels and integrated roof rails. From inside the cabin, passengers can use the overhead console to control the ambient lighting.
They can also use Ram’s touch-slide technology to configure the entire electrochromatic roof to adjust the sunshades or opacity.
Personal assistant
Like many cars these days, the Ram Revolution has a personal assistant. According to Ram, the 3D Ram avatar acts as the vehicle’s face and will respond to various voice commands from users.
One neat feature is that the personal assistant will follow the owner’s commands even when outside the car. With Shadow mode, the user can tell the car to close the windows, play music, take pictures and “follow me”.
Shadow mode
Image credits: Kirsten Korosec
Yes, Shadow Mode, a feature that allows the car to automatically follow the driver in front of the car. The feature, which uses sensors and camera technology to navigate around obstacles, is aimed at people on the job who might want the truck to follow and carry tools.
Adjustable and removable lower display
Image credits: Kirsten Korosec
According to Ram, the lower display (pictured above) can be used as a tablet, passenger display, truck bed workstation, vehicle control or video game controller.
Two 14.2-inch displays can also be combined to provide a wider viewing area.
Skip the seats
Image credits: Kirsten Korosec
What do you do with a spacious interior? Add the third-row jump seats, of course.
Third-row jump seats, which you need when you want to fit six people in the cab of a truck — say what? — folds until needed for use. Jump seats are installed in the middle door with a removable lower section.
The interior layout is actually flexible, allowing users to remove the center console and reconfigure the seats.
Image credits: Kirsten Korosec
A sharp hole
Speaking of flexibility. The flexible layout includes a link that goes through the center console and into the mast. I’m officially calling it a freaking hole. This feature allows the truck to accommodate objects up to 18 feet long.
A hole between the driver and passenger seats allows items to pass through the back. Credit: Kirsten Korosec
It should be noted that this hole is narrow. Here you can imagine metal or PVC pipes or a pair of skis.
Not sure if an object is eligible? The concept also comes with a mobile app that helps users measure objects to determine if they can be transported by their vehicle. Users can scan the product’s barcode or use the built-in augmented reality camera measurement tool. The mobile app will show users how the object can best be placed in their vehicle. Interior and exterior cabin projectors can also be used to display instructions at the target storage location, according to the company.
Frunk cup holders
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a look inside the powered front trunk. But I’m told there are cup holders if you look under the hood, which has a one-touch on and off function. (This is a hasty thing.)
Other engine features include a power fill port door located on the driver’s side front quarter panel, a power tailgate, built-in door handles, power side steps and a power rear step.