2019 Ram HD Offers Most Powerful Pickup Engine Ever
Ram Commercial has boosted performance and capability of its 2019 Ram Heavy Duty (2500 and 3500) pickup trucks with a new, high-output 6.7L Cummins inline-six-cylinder engine with the most power of any light-duty pickup on the market.

The 2019 Ram 2500 (left) and Ram 3500 will arrive in the second quarter with an array of updates, including a high-output 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel engine.
Photo courtesy of FCA/Ram.
Ram Commercial has boosted performance and capability of its 2019 Ram Heavy Duty (2500 and 3500) pickup trucks with a new, high-output 6.7L Cummins inline-six-cylinder engine with the most power of any light-duty pickup on the market.
The trucks, which were unveiled at the Detroit auto show, also add more technology and interior upgrades, including the 12-inch landscape touchscreen found in the 2019 Ram 1500. The newly updated pickups will go on sale by July 1, 2019, according to Dave Elshoff, head of Ram Brand communications.
The Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups are powered by three engines, including a pair of updated 6.7L inline-six cylinder Cummins turbo diesels and standard 6.4L Hemi V-8. A high-output 6.7L Cummins that tops the engine lineup produces up to 400 horsepower and 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque. Ram engineers were able to achieve a significant boost in horsepower and torque, while reducing overall engine weight by 60 pounds.
The second 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel produces 370 hp and 850 ft.lb. of torque. The Ram HD's base V-8 gasoline engine power has been increased to 410 hp and 429 lb.-ft. of torque.
The engines will deliver their power via three transmissions. Ram is pairing its high-output diesel with the Aisin AS69RC six-speed automatic that improves shift quality. The standard 6.7L diesel will deliver power through an upgraded Ram 68RFE six-speed automatic transmission. Ram is pairing its Hemi V-8 with a new TorqueFlite 8HP75 8-speed automatic transmission.
The increased power has boosted the hauling capabilities of the Ram HD trucks to a maximum of 7,680 pounds of payload and 35,100 pounds of tow weight. To achieve these weights, the truck would need to be equipped with the high-output 6.7L diesel engine.
In addition to the added power, Ram has reduced overall weight by up to 143 pounds by incorporating lighter-weight materials in the frame, powertrain, and with an aluminum hood. Ram is adding a third cab, called a Mega Cab, alongside the regular and crew cab models that will offer 258 liters of interior storage capacity.
Technology upgrades include a new 360-degree surround-view camera with a trailer reverse guidance view and an advanced trailer tire pressure monitoring system that accomodates up to six pickup tires (for dual rear-wheel models), 12 trailer tires, and four towing profiles. The fully redesigned interior adds the Uconnect 4C navigation system with a 12-inch screen.
The trucks add more than 100 available safety features such as automatic emergency braking, a cargo-view camera, and Ram 3500 back-up sensors with wider coverage for dual-rear-wheel trucks.
Ram will also offer an updated 2019 Power Wagon based on the 2500 pickup with new content such as a 360-degree camera, front-mounted WARN Zeon-12 winch, and a Power Wagon package for the Tradesman model.
The trucks will be built at the Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant in Coahuila, Mexico.
More Vehicle Research

The Tools Are Smarter, but Are Your Fleet Strategies? | AF News Recap
From a fleet manager’s critical first 90 days to why more technology doesn’t automatically mean better safety, this week is all about turning tools into results.
Read More →Beyond the Hype: How AI Can Make Fleets More Productive
How can AI actually make fleets more efficient?
Read More →
From a Major Ram Recall to Hands-On AI | AF News Recap
A massive Ram recall, new maintenance cost comparisons, the retirement of a longtime fleet industry leader, and hands-on AI are all making headlines. Here’s what fleet professionals need to know this week.
Read More →
Commercial Fleet Sales Rise 7.1% Through July 2026
Commercial fleet sales were the primary source of growth across the commercial, government and rental segments during the first seven months of 2026.
Read More →
Top 50 Executive Fleets
It is that time of year again! Time for the 2026 list of the Top 50 Executive Fleets, presented by Automotive Fleet and Volvo as part of its annual Fleet 500. Download now to see this year's list of companies!
Read More →
What Comes Next for Auto Driveaway?
A new Auto Driveaway feature called Arrive provides recipients with live location updates and ETAs during the final hour of a vehicle move, while fleet customers continue to have end-to-end shipment visibility through the company's customer portal.
Read More →
Fleet Hacks: AI-Generated Posters, Fleet Sounding Boards, and Managing Your Time
The new Fleet Hacks series highlights the seemingly small, simple ideas that save fleet managers time, money, and headaches.
Read More →
First Look at the Returning 2027 Ram ProMaster City
The Ram ProMaster City returns for 2027 as a midsize cargo and passenger van with a 2,175-pound payload, 2,000-pound towing capacity, and more than 9 feet of cargo-floor length.
Read More →
New Fleet Data & EV Charging Updates | AF News Recap
Commercial vehicle competition is heating up, the IRS made a rare mid-year mileage rate change, and EV charging just got easier. Here's what fleet professionals need to know this week.
Read More →
Welcome to the New Fleet 500
Using vehicle registration data for the first time, the 2026 Fleet 500 offers a clear view of the evolving commercial fleet landscape.
Read More →