Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Minivan/Van, Truck, Work, Fiat, Ram



A new day is dawning, folks. The old-guard vans of our youth are being replaced with a new flock of European-inspired commercial vehicles from the likes of Ford, Nissan (Renault) and Mercedes-Benz. Here in Chicago, Ram pulled the covers off its entry into the reborn commercial van market with the 2014 Promaster, based on the well-known European Fiat Ducato.

Ram makes no bones about the Promaster's Fiat underpinnings, though the company claims it has beefed up the machine for US roads and uses with a re-engineered chassis, a more robust suspension setup, improved brakes (from Brembo), additional corrosion protection, improved climate control and additional safety systems.

Power comes from one of two powerplants options, one gas and one diesel. First up is Chrysler's well-known 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 rated at 280 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. For a bit more pulling power and durability, Ram is offering a new 3.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine pumping out 174 hp and, more importantly, 295 lb-ft of torque at just 1,400 rpm. That engine sends its torquey goodness through a six-speed electronically controlled automated manual gearbox.

If you want the diesel, you'll be interested to know it carries 4,000 miles worth of urea diesel exhaust fluid. Oil change intervals are an impressive 18,500 miles apart, though - a bit odd, no? Ram is offering three different styles - Cargo Van, Chassis Cab or Chassis Cab Cutaway - and three wheelbase options, along with a low roof or high roof with or without an extended body. Max payload sits at 5,189 pounds and the max gross combined weight rating, with the diesel, is 12,500 pounds.

Have a gander at the massive press release below, but not before checking out our live images above.Continue reading 2014 Promaster looks like a Fiat, hauls like a Ram

2014 Promaster looks like a Fiat, hauls like a Ram originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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