CAUGHT: 2023 Ram 2500 Rebel Crew Cab 4×4:
Fourth-Generation Heavy Duty Continues, With New Off-Road Package & Mirrors...
It’s been four model years since its last major mid-cycle-action (MCA), but the Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty pickups continue to be quite competitive against the new competition from Ford and General Motors (GM). Over the past decade, the truck market has played a constant battle between the three automakers over bragging rights about towing, payload, and technology. And it doesn’t look like it is going to slow down any time soon.
With the 2023 model year quickly approaching, we have seen that both Ford and GM are eagerly working on revamped versions of their current lineup of heavy-duty pickup trucks. Today, for the first time we are seeing Ram engineers testing some of their newest equipment for their upcoming 2023 Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty pickups.
It appears that the Ram Truck brand will continue to offer its Heavy Duty lineup based on its fourth-generation Ram 2500 (DJ) and 3500 (D2) platforms. These two new prototypes don’t show much change in the styling department, but we believe we will start to see styling updates more towards the Spring.
The most obvious change for 2023, is the mirrors. This Ram 2500 Limited Longhorn Mega Cab shows us early development units of the 2023 truck’s all-new power side mirrors. The Limited Longhorn tester appears to be equipped with 3D printed versions of the new power extendable side mirrors. In these photos, we can get a good look at the interworkings of the new mirrors, thanks to it not having plastic coverings over the mechanisms.
According to our sources, the new mirror design will be available in both power and manual applications. They will also house power and heated glass and spotter glass, LED puddle lights, blind-spot indicators, 360-degree camera, rear- and forward-facing spotlight, LED turn signal, and a new tow camera. Most of the features have been adapted into the “moose” folding tow mirrors currently on the Ram Heavy Duty lineup, but now there will not be a need to fold the mirrors up when towing.
Another test truck that caught our attention was this Olive Green Ram 2500 with what looks like more production-ready units of the new mirrors covered in black vinyl camouflage. The hoods have also been covered, but again sources close to HDRams.com have stated that this truck is not the 2023 Ram 2500 Power Wagon, but an all-new off-road-oriented Ram 2500 Rebel model.
That is right, Ram will be offering an all-new Rebel model for the 2023 model year. Yes, Ram is now offering the Rebel outside of its Ram 1500 lineup, as we saw on the Latin American Ram 1000 Rebel. The Rebel will use much of the Ram 2500 Power Wagon’s styling elements, but this time will allow for a more aggressive Cummins-offroad package.
As you can see in the photos, this 2023 Ram 2500 Rebel prototype features blacked-out versions of the Limited Longhorn’s 18-Inch x 8-inch WRA aluminum wheels, a set of BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KO2 tires, Power Wagon grille that matches the Ram 1500 Rebel’s motif, the Power Wagon’s fender flares, and the lack of an opening for the Power Wagon’s WARN winch in the lower grille. We expect there might be a new hood design for the Rebel, to help differentiate it from the Power Wagon.
We also spot that the 12-inch Uconnect 5 screen remains vertically on the instrument panel going into 2023. But we do spot some interior camouflage folded back on the dash. We believe that is for the all-new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Stellantis has been equipping all of its newer vehicles with an all-digital cluster.
We look forward to seeing more of the updated Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty lineup testing. What do you think of the changes we can see so far on the 2023 Ram 2500/3500 models? Let us know in the HDRams.com owner’s forums or in the comments below.
2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Spy Photos Image Gallery:
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