Have you ever wanted a Ram Power Wagonbut can’t pull the trigger because Ram won’t sell it to you with Cummins diesel oil engine? Today Ram has the answer for you, it’s Ram 2023 2500 Heavy Duty Rebellion. Officially at least. Go ahead and call it the Ram Rebel 2500 HD if you like. And if you can’t speak now, that’s Heavy trucks week – Chevy Releases Refreshed Silverado HD earlier this week, and Ford unveils its next-generation Super Duty after that.
Similar to the light quest Ram 1500 Rebel, the HD version is a pickup with some off-road and off-road details that look straight from the factory. You’ll quickly notice that it looks a lot like the Power Wagon – Ram says most of the exterior design cues are actually shared with the Power Wagon. However, the Rebel sets itself apart with a Mopar “sporty performance hood” and Rebel badging throughout. It comes standard with 20-inch wheels and 33-inch all-terrain tires, but Ram says 18-inch wheels will be offered by the end of the 2023 model year. The car has a unique off-road suspension (system) optional rear air suspension), four-wheel drive, a 12,000-pound Warn Zeon-12 winch, rear limited-slip differential, rear electronic locking, and skid plates to protect the fuel tank and transfer case . Don’t expect it to be the best off-road Power Wagon, though, as it doesn’t get the extra features like a front-locking differential and an electronic damper.
The story of the powertrain may be enough to make you lean on the side of the Rebel, however, unlike the Power Wagon, this Heavy Duty Ram can be powered by a diesel engine. Ram still makes its standard 6.4-liter V8 the standard engine on the Rebel (just like in the Power Wagon), and it makes 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. This setting won’t help you max out sled capabilities, but the diesel will, at most 16,870 pounds – a Power Wagon maxes out at 10,590 pounds of towing capacity. The 6.7-liter Cummins inline-6 diesel engine produces 370 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque in the Rebel. You get a six-speed automatic with the diesel, but the petrol comes with an eight-speed automatic. Maximum payload is 3,140 pounds, which is another big plus for the diesel-powered Rebel compared to the Power Wagon which maxes out at only 1,630 pounds.
Inside, the Rebel can be had with leather seats, Bristol leather or “Natura Plus” leather. Optional add-ons include a 12-inch digital gauge cluster, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and other driver assistance features. It is available in only one configuration: Crew Cabin with 6-foot 4-inch bed
Ram says the 2023 Ram Rebel will start at $68,940, including destination fees. Expect them to come authorized dealer in Q4 2022 and Autoblog will promote it in a few weeks. Look for our review on October 24.
