Going Dark: More Special Editions Arriving for Ram 1500, Heavy Duty
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has a history of releasing special edition vehicles, with Black Edition and Night Edition trims being among the most recent inclusions. Despite having unique names, there isn’t much difference between the two. Both attempt to replace as much of an automobile’s exterior features with dark plastic as possible, with one taking things a step further than the other.
While wholly unnecessary, considering all of the above can be accomplished through aftermarket purchases, FCA has done well by offering various special edition vehicles with unique, factory sanctioned customization. In addition to being an easy way to get customers to spend a bit more on a new vehicle, it also helps keep old models fresh and in the media — encouraging posts like this one.
FCA’s truck arm has decided to offer a new Ram 1500 Limited Black Edition, as well as Night Editions of the Heavy Duty Big Horn and Laramie pickups. The vehicles debuted at the State Fair of Texas, which officially begins on Friday.
With many hoping Fiat Chrysler would debut a production version of the Ram Rebel TRX at the event, the darkened editions are a bit of a letdown. But it wouldn’t be the Texas State Fair without some new pickups, and these definitely qualify.
“Along with increasing capability, technology and efficiency, Ram is always looking for ways to create more comfort and refinement for our customers. The new Limited Black Edition is another example of how we deliver the most luxurious pickups in the industry,” said Ram boss Reid Bigland. “Additionally, the new Heavy Duty Big Horn and Laramie Night Editions now offer an even wider selection of personalized content.”
The Ram 1500 Limited Black Edition (above) features black accenting just about anywhere the factory found room. Badges, exhaust tips, grille surrounds, bumpers, door handles, mirrors, headlamps, tow hooks, and just about everything else that could be palette swapped to ebony has been. These trucks also come with 22-inch black wheels, a performance hood, and tonneau cover. Think of it as a premium, extra-black version of the Ram 1500 Night Edition that currently exists.
Shoppers can have Black Edition pickups in a variety of configurations (4×2 or 4×4 with either the 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel, 5.7-liter V8 or 3.6-liter Pentastar V6), but they start at $53,690.
Heavy Duty Night Editions (below) will be exclusive to Ram’s Big Horn and Laramie models. They embrace a similar monochromatic ideology by offering black badging, black 20-inch wheels (dually trucks get 17-inch wheels with machined pockets), and black grille with a body-colored surround. Headlamps also adopt darkened bezels, though FCA doesn’t take the blackout treatment quite so far here as it does with the 1500’s Limited Black Edition.
Heavy Duty Night Editions begin at $37,995 and can only be affixed to 2500 and 3500 Big Horn and Laramie Crew and Mega Cab models.
Expect Ram 1500 Limited Black Edition trucks to arrive at dealerships late in the third quarter of 2019. Heavy Duty Night Editions should show up in the fourth quarter.
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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I keep hoping that the black rim and trim phase will pass. I may be Gen X, but I remember a time that black trim said, "base model," not I paid extra for this.
I don't need everything blacked out, but if this is the only way to completely get rid of the acres of chrome uglying up most trucks these days, then I'm on board.