When it came time to select the best of the best …
the most outstanding new pick-up truck for 2013 among a field of
tough contenders … the folks at Motor Trend packed up their
highly coveted “caliper” award and headed to Auburn
Hills to deliver it to the Ram 1500.The Motor Trend “Truck of the Year” award is one of the industry’s biggest awards - a badge of confidence every pick-up truck manufacturer works hard to wear proudly.
For the 2013 Ram 1500, the award caps a phenomenal year filled with high praise and no small number of other honors for unsurpassed capability, innovation, class-exclusive features and, of course, best-in-class 25-mile-per-gallon fuel efficiency.
Motor Trend editors, members of the Ram Truck team and thousands of proud employees packed the Chrysler Technical Center’s Tech Plaza on Dec. 6, 2012, to watch Motor Trend Editor-In-Chief Ed Loh present the sought-after for “Truck of the Year” to Chrysler Group Chairman/CEO Sergio Marchionne on behalf of Ram Truck Brand CEO Fred Diaz and the entire Ram Truck team.
Contenders for Motor Trend’s top pick undergo an extensive battery of testing on the track by Motor Trend judges. We’re talkin’ ride evaluation, comfort, amenities and, of course, fuel economy. Scoring is based on how the truck measures up against six criteria: design advancement, engineering excellence, efficiency, safety, value and performance of intended function.
Okay, that’s a lot of measuring up, but when all was said and done, Loh said he and the other judges were unanimous. “We had a small but solid field of contenders …. but in the end, the choice was clear: Ram 1500 not only withstood our rigorous testing, it impressed at every step along the way.”
For Marchionne, receiving the prestigious award reflected not only the success of the 2013 Ram 1500, but the entire Ram Truck team, including the workers who build it. “It’s a recognition of the hard work that these guys have put into this, and I think that we accepted no limitation in bringing this truck out … so I’m proud.”
Calling the Motor Trend Truck of the Year award “the holy grail of all truck awards,” Diaz wrapped up the day’s celebration: “I’m so proud of the corporation, so proud of the people that participated. It’s a great moment for the corporation and for the Ram Truck brand.”
The 2013 Motor Trend Truck of the Year honor was the second time Ram had earned MT's top truck award since the Ram Heavy Duty won for 2010.
For more images from the morning Motor Trend ceremony at Chrysler Group HQ, see our Flickr set.
