Detroit — Mike Manley, head of FCA US LLC's Ram brand, described the automaker's newest pickup truck design as "a no-compromise approach to the full-size truck segment" when it made its Jan. 15 debut at the North American International Auto Show.
With help from automotive supplier Magna International Inc., the 2019 Ram 1500 is also one of its most aerodynamic designs.
Magna's active air dam, a device positioned underneath the front end that deploys automatically at a vehicle speed starting at 35 miles per hour, is being used for the first time on the Ram 1500. The system redirects air around the vehicle, reducing turbulent airflow underneath and ultimately providing emissions and fuel economy improvements, the company said.
Combined with Magna's active grille shutter, it enables a nearly 7 percent reduction in drag and 1-mile-per-gallon fuel savings on the highway, Anthony Povinelli, global product line director for active aerodynamics, said in a Jan. 17 interview at Magna's AutoMobili-D booth.
"The main driver is to reduce drag on the vehicle to help meet CAFE regulations and standards," Povinelli said of the system. "The technology is most beneficial on what we call high-ride vehicles, so your pickup trucks, your larger SUVs. It definitely has the most impact there."