Latest news with #Ram2500
Auto Blog
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Ford & Chevy Won't Be Happy With Ram's New Heavy Duty Pickup
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Ram 2500 HD gets two new sport trims Heavy-duty trucks are a tough nut to crack, especially when it comes to keeping offerings affordable. The Ram 2500 Rebel already stands out with its impressive spec sheet, and now the truck manufacturer is further expanding its sport truck lineup. The Warlock calls back to the 1970s with an off-road focus, while the Black Express delivers sporty styling. Best of all, both Ram 2500 sport truck options are available at an affordable price, all things considered. Ram 2500 Warlock brings off-road value 2026 Ram 2500 Warlock — Source: Ram Ram's Warlock nameplate dates back more than half a century, and the manufacturer has revived it for the 2026 model year. The Ram 2500 Warlock builds on the Tradesman trim and rolls out on 20-inch diamond-cut wheels wrapped in 32-inch Duratrac tires. The heavy-duty pickup features a black grille surround, flares, and bumpers complemented by a Warlock decal on the side of the bed. Class-exclusive power convex trailer tow mirrors make pulling heavy loads both safer and simpler. The 2026 Ram 2500 Warlock is available in a single configuration: a crew cab with a short bed. 2026 Ram 2500 Warlock — Source: Ram As for its off-road focus, the Ram 2500 Warlock features Bilstein shocks, a limited-slip rear differential, and a transfer case skid plate. Inside, the Warlock comes equipped with a cloth bench seat. Under the hood lies a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, producing 405 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque with standard four-wheel drive. Upgrading to the optional 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel nets you 430 horsepower and class-leading 1,075 lb-ft of torque. The Ram 2500 Warlock starts at $57,165, with the package alone running $2,995. Ram 2500 Black Express emphasizes sport 2026 Ram 2500 Black Express — Source: RAM Like the Warlock, the Ram 2500 Black Express builds on the Tradesman trim, with the package itself priced at $2,495. Priced from $53,735, the 2026 Ram 2500 Black Express is solely available with a crew cab, but Ram gives drivers a choice between long or short bed and two- or all-wheel drive. Expect that price to rise significantly if you opt for the Cummins diesel engine. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. No matter the powertrain, the Ram 2500 Black Express features a bulging sport performance hood with body color bumpers and grille surround. Black tube side steps run the length of the cab, giving way to athletic 20-inch black wheels. Inside, the Black Express keeps it fairly basic, with a cloth bench seat and carpet floor mats coming standard. 2026 Ram 2500 Black Express — Source: Ram 'Everyone likes a good-looking truck, but the challenge is making it affordable while adding value to the entire lineup,' said Tim Kuniskis, Ram CEO. 'The Ram 2500 Black Express and Warlock offer an attractive price with custom appearance, while building on our sport truck leadership position.' The Warlock and Black Express join Rebel and Power Wagon The Warlock and Black Express join the Ram 2500 sport truck lineup for the 2026 model year, slotted beneath the Power Wagon and Rebel. Priced from $68,940, the 2025 Ram 2500 Rebel boasts a rugged design and an off-road focus with styling elements designed for work and play, including a sport performance hood. The heavy-duty pickup is available with either the 6.4-liter HEMI V8 or 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel engine, both of which come mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. 2025 RAM 2500 Rebel — Source: RAM The Ram 2500 Power Wagon starts at $72,285 and prioritizes performance and off-road capability over towing capacity. It's only available with the 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine, eight-speed automatic transmission, and four-wheel drive. While the Rebel is rough and tough off the paved path, the Power Wagon brings a certain level of elegance to off-road terrain, complete with a winch and electronic anti-roll-bar disconnect. 2025 Ram Power Wagon — Source: Ram Final thoughts The 2026 Ram 2500 Warlock and Black Express sport trucks are expected to arrive at dealers this fall. Priced below $60,000, the latest additions to the heavy-duty truck lineup bridge the gap between work truck and full-fledged off-road titan. Perhaps more importantly, the Warlock and Black Express arrive to challenge the likes of Ford and Chevrolet in one of the most competitive segments in the automotive industry. About the Author Joseph Pudlewski View Profile
Motor 1
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
2026 Ram 2500 Warlock: An Even Tougher Off-Road Truck
Ram is keeping itself busy right now. The V-8 Hemi is back in the 1500 , the brand is returning to NASCAR , and it just introduced a decade-long warranty for most of its models. Now, it's launching two new entry-level heavy-duty sport truck options—the 2026 Ram 2500 Black Express and 2500 Warlock. This is the first time Ram has offered a heavy-duty Warlock. It's only available in the Crew Cab 4x4 with the short bed, designed for off-road-oriented buyers. It rides on 20-inch diamond-cut wheels wrapped in 34-inch Goodyear Duratec A/T tires. It also has a black grille surround, black bumpers, and black fender flares. Other goodies include Bilstein shocks, an "anti-spin" rear differential, and a skid plate for the transfer case. Inside, there's a cloth bench seat and all-weather floor mats. The Black Express (pictured below) offers buyers a few more customization options. It's only available in the Crew Cab layout but with either the short or long bed in 4x2 or 4x4 configurations. It has a sport performance hood, body-color bumpers and grille surround, and 20-inch black wheels. Photo by: Ram The Express also features a cloth bench seat, carpeted floor mats, and black side steps. Both trucks are available in eight exterior colors: Diamond Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal, Silver Zynith, Forged Blue, Flame Red, Ceramic Grey, and Molten Red. 2026 Ram 2500 Power and Price Buyers can pick between the 6.2-liter V-8 Hemi or the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel for their truck. The Hemi makes 405 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque, while the Cummins produces 420 hp and 1,075 lb-ft of torque. Both engines pair with the brand's Torqueflite eight-speed automatic transmission. The 2026 Ram 2500 Warlock package costs $57,165 to start, $2,995 on top of the Tradesman trim. The Black Express is $2,495 more expensive than the Tradesman and carries a starting price of $53,735. Prices include the destination charge. Order books are open now for both, and 'in limited volume.' It'll arrive in the third quarter of this year. So call your dealership soon if you want one. Here's More Ram News: Ram Could Start Making Passenger Vans Ram: We've Thought About a Cheap Truck Like The Slate 'A Million Times' Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Ram Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Motor Trend
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
2026 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Lineup Gains New "Sport Trims" Mirroring Light Duty Offerings
If you're looking for more interesting pickup trucks, 2025 has been the year for you. Ford recently expanded the sporty Lobo package to the F-150 from the smaller Maverick, GMC's adding an AT4 off-road version of its all-electric Sierra, and now Ram—after bringing the Hemi V-8 back to its 1500 lineup—is expanding both the Warlock and Black Express trims to the 2500 Heavy Duty truck line. Ram refers to these trims as their 'Sport Truck' options, but maybe don't think too hard about how any Heavy Duty truck can be 'sporty.' The 2026 Ram 2500 lineup introduces the Black Express and Warlock sport trims, based on the affordable Tradesman model. Both feature powerful engines and distinct styling, with prices starting at $53,735 and $57,165, respectively. Available for order, deliveries begin in Q3 2025. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next What will be great news to these potential owners is that both of these 2026 Ram 2500 sport trims are based on the affordable Tradesman model and slot below the Rebel HD in the HD hierarchy. Both trims can come with either the 6.4-liter gas-fed Hemi V-8 with 405 hp and 429 lt-ft of torque or the Cummins 6.7-liter turbodiesel with 430 hp and 1,075 lb-ft of torque. Either engine will also come with the Torqueflite HD eight-speed automatic transmission. Both get Crew Cab bodies that will come in Diamond Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal, Silver Zynith, Forged Blue, Flame Red, Ceramic Grey, and Molten Red. They will both also come with power adjustable Convex tow mirrors, 20-inch wheels, cloth bench seats, and cloth carpet as standard. From here, the Black Express and Warlock deviate. The 2026 2500 Black Express is offered in rear- or four-wheel drive with a long or short bed, making it a bit more tailored to a working environment while still being a 'Sport Truck.' The body features a sport performance hood and body-color bumpers and grille surround. Along the rocker panels will be a set of black cab-length side steps while the 20-inch wheels will be finished in black. Inside drivers and passengers will see carpeted floor mats while the driver will have added assurance while parking with the standard front and rear parking sensors. In all, the Black Express will add a very reasonable $2,495 to the cost of the 2026 2500 Tradesman for a starting price of $53,735. The 2026 2500 Warlock is only available with four-wheel drive and the short bed, which wears 'Warlock' decals on its bedsides. The grille surround, flares, and bumpers are all finished in black, while the 20-inch diamond cut wheels are wrapped in 34-inch Goodyear Duratrac A/T tires and the transfer case gets a skid plate. Oddly, the Warlock doesn't get any sort of step bar or rock slider option for its rocker panels, though it is possible such pieces would be available through Mopar later on. It's also mechanically distinguished from both the standard Tradesman and the Black Express thanks to a standard limited slip rear differential, Bilstein dampers tuned for both pavement and off-roading, and hill descent control. Inside, the major difference comes in the form of all-weather floor mats for front and rear bench seat occupants. This also means that the price of the Warlock is higher than the Black Express, boosting the price of a Tradesman by $2,995 to a starting ask of $57,165. If either of these trims tickle your fancy, you can order these 2026 Ram 2500 Tradesman-based Black Express or Warlock right now and it should arrive at your dealer by the third quarter of this year, after being assembled at the Saltillo, Mexico plant.
Car and Driver
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2026 Ram 2500 Warlock Is a HD Off-Road Truck That's Affordable
The 2026 Ram 2500 lineup adds two new value-minded models: the Black Express and the Warlock. The Warlock starts at $57,165 and includes 34-inch-tall all-terrain tires, an off-road-tuned suspension, unique visual add-ons, and cloth bench seats. The Black Express starts at $53,735 and comes with black 20-inch wheels, a sporty hood, body-colored bumpers, and tubular side steps. Truck makers have the most creative names for their off-road-focused pickups. Chevy's Trail Boss and Ford's Tremor treatments immediately spring to mind, and Ram offers the Rebel. For the 2026 model year, Ram's heavy-duty lineup adds a Warlock trim, which is the most affordable model for those who like to go past where the blacktop ends. Warlock Helps You Save a Buck The Warlock moniker dates back to the 1970s, when it was used on the Dodge D-series trucks. More recently, it was resurrected on the Ram 1500, and it remains the best off-road value. The same is true for the first heavy-duty Warlock, which is based on the Ram 2500 Tradesman. The Warlock's only available configuration includes the crew cab and shorter cargo bed. Four-wheel drive and a 405-hp Hemi 6.4-liter V-8 are standard. It starts at $57,165, but opting for the Cummins diesel 6.7-liter straight-six is expected to add $12,595. For comparison, the Ram 2500 Rebel has a $77,015 base price ($89,610 with the Cummins), and the Hemi-only Power Wagon starts at $80,510. Ram So, what do you get with the Warlock? Every model rides on 34-inch-tall Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac all-terrain tires that are mounted on 20-inch wheels. Its suspension has been revised for dirt duty and features a set of Bilstein dampers, the transfer case has a skid plate for extra protection, and there's a limited-slip rear diff to help with low-traction situations. Warlocks can be easily identified by their bedside decals. Black bumpers, fender flares, and grille surrounds add to the rugged aesthetic. Inside, there's cloth upholstery instead of leather and an absence of high-end features, but we appreciate the bench seats An Affordable Street Truck Not everyone wants their big truck to roll on knobby tires, instead preferring a sportier look. That's where the 2026 Ram 2500 Black Express comes into play. Like the Warlock, it's based on the entry-level Tradesmen. While the crew-cab body style is mandatory, Ram lets customers choose between rear- and all-wheel drive. The former starts at $53,735, but that price is expected to rise by $12,595 for those who want the Cummins diesel. Ram Regardless of what's under the Black Express's special bulging hood, every version features black 20-inch wheels as well as bumpers and a grille surround that match the body color. Paint options include Diamond Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal, Silver Zynith, Forged Blue, Flame Red, Ceramic Grey, and Molten Red. A pair of cab-length tubular side steps helps passengers climb into the cabin. Like the Warlock, the bench seats are covered in cloth, and the floor and floor mats are carpeted. Towing mirrors and parking sensors at both ends are standard fare. The 2026 Ram 2500 Warlock and Black Express are now available to order, with the first deliveries expected to reach dealerships sometime in July through September. Eric Stafford Managing Editor, News Eric Stafford's automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si. Read full bio
Motor Trend
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Hotshot Dream Mobile? 2025 Ram 3500 HD Laramie Sport Long-Haul Towing Test
Pros 6.7 liters of Cummins diesel power Adaptive cruise comes standard Automatic exhaust smooth as butter Cons Not cheap Technically not the strongest hauler in the segment Needs one Ford feature in the cabin Ram introduced the 2025 2500 and 3500 heavy duty-lineup with a striking grille, an expanded tech suite, and more standard features—and notably for people who put their pickup trucks to work, an upgraded Cummins inline-six diesel engine with an improved eight-speed ZF automatic transmission behind it. Let's Talk Numbers The high-output Cummins diesel engine now makes 430 horsepower and 1,075 lb-ft of torque, an improvement of 30 horses and 75 lb-ft compared to its previous generation. There is also a reworked ZF TorqueFlite HD 8AP1075 eight-speed gearbox Ram says is stout enough to grind out all 1,075 lb-ft of torque in each gear. Because of improvements to power and torque management, a taller 3.42:1 gearset is offered behind the new I-6 for better fuel economy. With all this beef, you can option a Regular Cab Ram 3500 4x4 with an 8-foot bed and the brawn to haul 36,610 pounds. This puts the Ram HD ahead of rival General Motors' 36,000-pound max trailer rating but a couple tons behind Ford's massive 40,000-pound capacity. Hotshot 101 I left the recent first drive event for the Ram HD lineup with visions of hotshot trucking filling my mind, and a story was born. I just needed a big truck, a bigger trailer, and some heavy cargo. Ram tossed us the keys to a well-appointed crew cab 2025 3500 HD dually decked out in Laramie trim and with a gooseneck hitch already installed in the 8-foot box's floor. In this configuration, the truck's max trailer weight rating is 33,890 pounds. With some help from Liberty Trailers, I hitched the Ram to a shiny red 30-foot flatbed gooseneck; we just needed one more thing. My bill of lading showed four pieces of cargo: three pallets with a combined 10,000 pounds of 4x6-foot rubber horse mats and one 2024 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 at 5,000 pounds. I picked up this load in Gardena, California, at 11 a.m. on a Monday—with my arrival scheduled for no later than the end of the day just four days later at MotorTrend 's secondary office in Royal Oak, Michigan. No tarps, no refrigeration. With help from the onboard cameras, I managed a 47-point turnaround to get the Ram 3500 and 30-foot gooseneck positioned at the shipping yard. Here was also the first time I truly appreciated this pickup truck's return to a column-shifted transmission, as I relished the muscle memory of guiding the shift lever from drive to reverse and back again repeatedly. This is much preferable to the dainty detents of the old twist-dial gear selector. Strapping the 15,000-pound load to the trailer deck was the easy part. I did some mental math as the first miles rolled past. My initial drive with the new Ram 3500 HD occurred with roughly 19,000 pounds in tow. Between tackling the Davis Dam and putzing around city traffic, the truck self-reported a steady 10 mpg. So I rounded the Ram 3500's 32-gallon diesel tank down to 30, giving me a rough and rather conservative 250 miles between fuel stops. The first push was 235 miles. I dispensed 26.2 gallons from the green pump, flicked all the straps, kicked the tires, and checked the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank. Just less than 80 percent full. Back to chasing white lines. Arizona brought cheaper fuel and hills. Thinking back to a few days prior when the Ram engineers encouraged me to mash the pedal from a standstill on a decent uphill grade, I had no problem digging into the throttle to pass big rigs on the grades. The TorqueFlite eight-speed slid right down into the next appropriate gear, and the Ram growled past slower traffic. Smart haulers know to disregard the instantaneous reports of 2 mpg during these maneuvers because as soon as the grade levels out, fuel economy returns to a pleasant 10 mpg. I passed a sign reminding me Buc-ee's Travel Stop was quickly approaching ... in 834 miles. Fire Season Crossing New Mexico, I found horrendously gusty winds, warm temps, and no humidity. Interstate 40 was a proverbial tinder box, and all it took was one small wreck to spark a blaze that quickly engulfed a 5-mile swath of the highway. Traffic stopped in both directions as a smoky haze covered the horizon of the Land of Enchantment. Hours later as the procession was allowed to wend its way through the smoke and remaining flames, I idled past the smoldering remnants of abandoned vehicles in the ditches and in the median. I was lucky to have passed through with only a two-hour delay. Whoever is at the helm of the Buc-ee's marketing department, cheers to you! These billboards (much like the 'Mysterious Thing 'of the desert advertised across I-10)had me anticipating a BBQ brisket sandwich from California to Missouri. For much of the Midwest, I could use almost entire tanks of fuel without touching the throttle. With adaptive cruise control (now a standard feature), lane centering, and the smart exhaust brake, this truck almost drove itself. No bouncing within the lane, no unnecessary interruptions when another vehicle cuts in front. Managing your speed only requires a few thumb blips to the buttons on the wheel, and the automatic exhaust brake gracefully engages and manages your speed on bigger descents. After multiple five-hour stints in the cabin, I appreciated the truck's ergonomics. The eight-way adjustable seats can morph from an upright throne to a relaxed easy chair at a moment's notice, and this kept my fatigue at bay. Controls for tow/haul, the exhaust brake, and even the transfer case and climate controls are all within easy reach with nothing crucial buried three menus deep inside the 12.0-inch Uconnect 5 system. Even the simple action of stowing a smartphone is streamlined. Instead of a tray, where an errant pothole could send your Android bouncing toward the floormats, I became well acquainted with the rubber wireless charging dock below the infotainment screen and its secure rubber clasp. Bravo, engineers; this one holds even the bulkiest phone and its oversized protective case. Noise, vibration, and harshness seemed very well managed in this truck, even with heavy exhaust braking and aggressive accelerations. Cruising on the interstate was so plush and quiet, I found myself sometimes wishing for the visceral sensory inputs of an 18-wheeler. Transitioning to office tasks at the truck stop is where I had some gripes. Although there are plenty of USB ports to power a laptop and storage space to keep it stowed, I wished for Ford's fold-flat work surface instead of balancing the computer awkwardly on the console. No biggie, as swapping into the passenger seat worked in a pinch. Way Out of Its Element After unloading in Michigan from the 2,300-mile haul, we dropped the Liberty trailer and learned three things at the test track: First, the Cummins diesel engine will happily smoke all four rear tires with zero traction control intervention. Second, this is not the way to achieve the truck's 7.0-second hustle to 60 mph. For that you must resist the urge to indulge in the full turbo boost from launch and instead remove your left foot from the brake at about 2,000 rpm, letting the big train surge forward. Finally, and this is more of a confirmation than a surprising discovery, the big truck will understeer its heart out when pushed hard through a turn. How does this translate to heavy-duty truck buyers? Well, unladen, the 6.7-liter high-output Cummins will shove the big pickup truck down the dragstrip at a pace right on par with its competitors. Both the 2017 GMC Sierra Denali 3500HD and the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD High Country (both in DRW configuration) accomplished the same task in 6.6 seconds. The 2023 Ford F-350 Super Duty Lariat needed 7.8 seconds. And from our testing and observations, traction and stability control remain at bay until you're really close to getting into trouble. Stopping the big Ram takes some thigh engagement to cycle the brake pedal, but its 135-foot 60–0-mph stopping distance is better than many of its close competitors. The 2024 Silverado 3500 HD needed 139 feet, the 2017 GMC Sierra Denali 3500 HD needed 141, and the non-dually 2023 Ford F-350 Super Duty 162 feet. It's no surprise these four-ton beasts require some of the longest stopping distances of any vehicle we test. When it matters, the service brakes (and the automatic exhaust brake) do a stellar job at scrubbing off speed. How Much Gas and DEF? The EPA doesn't require anyone to report efficiency scores for heavy-duty trucks, but we will. During this 2,342-mile heavy-duty haul, we burned 251 gallons of diesel for about 9 miles per gallon. We also squeezed about 300 miles to the gallon of DEF—again, all while pulling 22,500 pounds. Is Ram the Best Hauler? If you need a heavy hauler, GM, Ram, and Ford all offer one-ton duallies trimmed in everything from work truck pleather to cowboy cosplay. Ram leads the charge on standard adaptive cruise control, which only comes as part of a $5,075 Lariat Ultimate package on the Ford F-350 and wc. Fiddle with options to your liking, but this is a world where these trucks can fetch close to $100,000, and each one boasts towing figures that are equally staggering. So where does your diesel loyalty lie? After a week of punishing the 2025 Ram 3500 HD, siding with Team Cummins seems like a solid choice.
