В продолжении темы:
Some believe that GM has the large-SUV market sewn up tight, but with the new eight-speed Rams establishing new standards for economy and comfort, the time has come for Dodge to finally capitalize on the Ram as it used to, with a full sized, truck-based SUV. A closed-roof wagon body would cut weight and improve aerodynamics, and designers could save time and money by using Durango components and designs, incidentally increasing economies of scale. The result would be the best-performing large SUV, enough to draw buyers’ eyes away from the ubiquitous (and, in fairness, durable and well-engineered) Suburban and Yukon, for a relatively small investment.
This particular illustration could double for a B-van if the ProMaster was not already in that space; the Dodge Ramcharger could be unique in the large-SUV space by having a traditional door behind the driver, but a van-like sliding door on the curb side, greatly increasing the accessibility of the interior without having people point and laugh at the minivan [at least, in some buyers’ minds].
While Durango provides most of what typical Suburban buyers are actually looking for, an actual truck-based SUV could still provide some unique benefits, and would help to make Dodge/Ram a one-stop shop for fleets that actually need a traditional body-on-frame full-size SUV. Either way, the eight-speed V6 and V8 combinations would easily outperform their GM equivalents.
