Ram EV concept cabin lets passengers ‘stretch your body'

Ram has made a concerted effort over the years to reshape what a pickup's interior can be by emphasizing comfort and luxuriousness, and the brand continued that tradition with the 1500 Revolution BEV Concept.

The concept, which was unveiled during CES this month, sports a daring interior layout that gives occupants more space.

Ram said the "one space environment" uses continuous space front to back that enables several interior configurations. The automaker said the layout offers flexibility, with room to configure a workspace.

The cabin is 4 inches longer than today's production truck for increased room and comfort, while the bed length remains the same.

Sustainability was a driving factor behind the interior. Ram used Apple leather that it says is a byproduct of the apple industry that is "animal and cruelty free." Ram said the concept also features a floor made of recycled rubber and cork particles that enhance durability and functionality.

"One of the things that Ram has become known for is its interiors," Ram CEO Mike Koval told Automotive News. "So we really expand upon that and focus on the modularity of the interior with respect to this concept. We call it the one space environment, which really focuses on optimizing our consumers' time in the cabinet and what they're able to do."

The concept is housed on the STLA Frame platform for full-size, body-on-frame electric vehicles. Ram says the platform incorporates the battery pack efficiently.

When Ram reached out to consumers about what they'd want in an electric pickup, Stellantis design chief and 2022 Automotive News Canada All-Star Ralph Gilles said they had a clear message: "Don't ruin my truck."

Gilles said customers expressed that they didn't want a vehicle that was going to make them uncomfortable.

"We want to try to find that balance of they still know it's a Ram," Gilles said in an interview. "It drips of Ram; it really has a Ram feel. The minute you see it, you're like, oh, yeah, that's a Ram. It's a Ram of the future, but it's a Ram.

"What I mean by that is, it has presence, it has stance, it looks aggressive yet isn't offensive. It's gorgeous," said Gilles. "On top of that, we didn't take away anything. We've elevated the truck game in terms of outstanding interiors, comfort, room to stretch your body around, so that's what we're doing here."

Canadian Ram sales totaled 75,740 in 2022, up 3.1 per cent over 2021.