Ram Revels the 2016 Heavy Duty Lineup & 900lbs of Torque

2016 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Laramie Limited (Credit: © Ram)

Though it has little hope in ever ripping the No. 2 slot in pickup sales from the Silverado or the No. 1 slot from the F-Series, Ram is not one to sit back and just enjoy the ride as the No. 3 best-selling line of pickups. Today it proves this once again, as it unveiled the 2016 Ram Heavy Duty lineup, along with its improved maximum torque rating that officially makes it the torquiest mass-produced vehicle ever.

The big news is the introduction of the updated 6.7-liter Cummins inline-six diesel engine. For the 2016 model year, this turbo-diesel powerhouse gets a 35-pound-feet boost from 865 pound-feet of twist to 900 pound-feet.

This engine is available in both the 2500 and 3500 versions of the pickup, but the latter is where it sees its full potential, as this model can tow up to 31,210 – a 1,210-pound increase over the 2015 model and two tons more than its closest competitor can tow. The 3500 model also sees a bump in Gross Combined Weight Rating to 39,100 pounds. These capacity increases are thanks to the new engine and a revised rear-axle ring gear in the 11.8-inch axle.

2016 Ram Heavy Duty Laramie Limited interior (Credit: © Ram)

Towing isn’t all the Ram Heavy Duty excels at. It also leads its class in payload, as the 3500 model with the 6.4-liter V-8 engine can haul up to 7,390 pounds and the 2500 model leads the three-quarter-ton class with its 17,980-pound towing capacity.

The 2016 Ram Heavy Duty lineup will start hitting dealerships in the fourth quarter of 2015, with the 2500 model checking in at $31,485 and the 3500 starting from $31,990. Getting the stump-ripping diesel engine will require some extra scratch, but Ram hasn’t announced pricing on this option yet.