Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport LPG - double debut

In September 2016 Ram pick-up trucks were shown during the IAA commercial vehicle show in Hanover, Germany. To make the huge 1500 Quad Cab Sport more appealing to prospective European customers, it was equipped with an autogas system.

Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport at the IAA 2016 in Hanover

The truck is American to the bone – it features a V8 engine displacing 5,7 l (with cylinder deactivation technology to boost fuel economy) and an automatic transmission, in this particular case with as many as 8 speeds. And even though fitting the car with an LPG system is a bow towards European markets, the alternative fuel is also gaining momentum Stateside, although for now more so among fleet operators than individual users. What has us thinking, though, is how the autogas system works with that cylinder deactivation feature.

Although the Sport part of the car's name may make you smile wryly, Ram actually did tweak its behemoth to allow proper use of the power and torque figures generated by the V8 engine. And so there are bucket seats with partially leather finish inside and a bonnet with extra air intakes on the outside. Plus a towing hook, a toolbox in the cargo bed and a transverse stabiliser of the rear axle to improve handling on- and off-road. Does the appearance in Hanover mean Ram will soon launch its trucks in Europe? As long as they feature LPG systems to keep the running costs down, we don't mind at all.