2008 Dodge Trucks Have Commercial Competitors in Crosshairs

CHICAGO — Dodge made some serious inroads into the commercial trucking market on Wednesday with the unveiling of its all-new "big rig" 2008 Ram 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs.

One of the most show-stopping features of the new Dodge big rig trucks is the oversize crosshair grille that is so familiar on the midsize Ram trucks. And it's clear that size does matter in this segment. Dodge took pains to point out the superlatives in the new trucks, from the largest standard fuel tank, which holds 52 gallons, to the largest brake rotors, at 15.3 inches.

The 2008 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs will be outfitted with a standard 6.7-liter Cummins High Output turbodiesel that delivers 305 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque. The engine has B5 biodiesel compatibility. The powertrain package includes a six-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual.

The cabins can be decked out with upscale features including bucket seats with leather trim and an optional floor section under the backseat that folds open to form a flat load floor, with additional storage in the footwells.

The big-rig Dodge trucks will be built at Chrysler Group's Saltillo plant in Coahuila, Mexico. Dodge says they are "targeted at small-business tradesmen, fleet customers and traditional chassis cab users."