Ram has had a fairly robust go of it these days, with U.S. deliveries for the Stellantis truck model down 2% within the first quarter of 2025 and Ram 1500 gross sales dipping an enormous 11%. This truly marks the fifth straight quarter of declines for the usually worthwhile truck, and indicators of an impending disaster are starting to indicate. In an effort to combat less-expensive truck choices from Ford and Common Motors, Ram has introduced it is going to convey again the Ram 1500 Specific, a truck with simply sufficient commonplace gear for cut price patrons. The brand new truck will probably be instantly identifiable by its blacked-out grille and body-color entrance and rear bumpers. No chrome for this truck. The Specific is kind of a substitute for the now-discontinued Basic mannequin, which was the last-generation mannequin that was nonetheless on sale via final yr on the backside of the Ram 1500 lineup.
So how low-cost is affordable? I was shocked after I noticed that the brand new truck will enter the market at $44,495 (together with vacation spot) for a Crew Cab 2WD mannequin with the 305-horsepower Pentastar V6. The pickup may even be out there in Quad Cab type and you’ll possibility four-wheel drive or the brand new 420-hp Hurricane inline-six engine, however like guacamole in your burrito, they’re further cost.
When Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis returned to the model from a quick hiatus, he commented that the corporate wanted to supply extra decisions for patrons underneath the $50,000 mark. I suppose that is a type of, nevertheless it would not take many choices to get the 2026 Ram 1500 Specific above that line, both.
Little Black Specific
“The Specific is the newest drop in Ram’s product offensive,” Kuniskis stated in a press launch. “We began the 2025 mannequin yr with a brand new Ram 1500 and new Ram Heavy Obligation lineup. With the platforms refreshed, we start rolling out trim degree enhancements.”
If you’d like your Specific to look just a little fancier, Ram has the non-compulsory Black Specific bundle for you. This features a “sport hood”, black badges, black 20-inch wheels, and a black fabric bucket-seat inside (pictured above). The Black Specific is a well-liked bundle for Ram, and has accounted for as a lot as 20% of manufacturing when it has been provided prior to now. It’s doable {that a} easy no-nonsense truck possibility is what patrons are clambering to purchase. Or possibly the upcoming financial hardships will see patrons seeking to downsize into one thing that is not the measurement and month-to-month cost of a home. Time will inform.