Dodge has been building trucks since 1917, and it introduced the Ram to the light-duty market in 1994. Formerly called the Dodge Ram, the Ram truck was launched as a stand-alone division in 2009, and has steadily emerged as an industry leader with trucks that are proven to last. Ram’s ruggedness is proven by the metric that over the last 30 years, Ram has the highest percentage of pickups still on the road. And according to industry reports, Ram enjoys the highest loyalty of any half-ton pick-up.

I reviewed the 2018 Ram 1500 Rebel, understanding that Ram will change significantly for 2019, with overall weight reductions totaling nearly 225 pounds. Next year’s Ram will have a new look, new grillework and new wider and longer design; a tweaked interior and center stack; a new frame featuring 98 percent high-strength steel to improve durability, weight and rigidity for improved handling; improved aerodynamics and handling dynamics; next-generation, class-exclusive air suspension for enhanced fuel efficiency, ride and stability; and a gain in fuel efficiency from its engine choices.

But that doesn’t mean Ram has remained the same for 2018. New enhancements and upgrades for 2018 include:
• A new Ultra-luxurious Limited Tungsten edition
• Sport model appearance upgrade
• Factory-installed leather interior option on Rebel models
• 8.4-inch radios with 4G LTE, HD Radio, Android Auto, Apple Car Play, USB Flip, pinch to zoom and improved resolution
• Sirius Guardian with SOS Call, Roadside Assistance, Remote Services, Send and Go, and Vehicle Finder
• Remote exterior switch in truck bed to activate LED bed lights
• Backup camera now standard on all models
• Fleet Telematics Module for vehicle tracking efficiency

Offered in 11 trims, with 12 color options, three engine choices, 2WD or 4WD configurations, three cab sizes and three bed sizes, the 2018 Ram 1500 really presents a choice – hundreds of choices -- for anyone who is truck savvy.

The Ram 1500 Rebel displays an aggressive off-road design, presenting a custom truck with mainstream capability. The 5740-lb. Ram 1500 sports a muscular, forward-sculpted attitude, large angled headlights and a power bulge in the hood. Measuring 229 inches long, 79.4 inches wide and 75.7 inches high, with ground clearance of 9.3 inches on a wheelbase of 140.5 inches, the Crew Cab’s bed is only 5.7-feet long, with the tailgate 34.9 inches above the ground.

Ram can power up with either an efficient turbocharged EcoDiesel 3.0-liter V-6 engine that produces 240 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, for towing up to 9,200 pounds while delivering fuel economy of 29 mpg on the highway; or a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with variable-valve timing that offers 305 horsepower, 269 lb.-ft. of torque and fuel economy of 18mpg/city and 25 mpg/highway. And for those of us who believe Ram means HEMI, my Ram 1500 Rebel muscled up with the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with fuel-saving cylinder shut-off and VVT. The system thunders out 395 hp and 410 lb.-ft. of torque for an EPA rating of 15mpg/city and 22 mpg/highway.

My test Ram 1500 Rebel was attentive, quick and powerful. Smoking tires when asked, I completed a zero-to-60mph dash in 7.3 seconds and finish off a quarter-mile in 15.4. During a week of stomping on it, passing at speed and flexing its muscles, my Rebel averaged 15.7mpg.

The well-appointed interior provides 41 inches of front Crew Cab headroom and 39.9 inches in row two; legroom is 41 inches up front and 40.3 inches in the rear, and shoulder room is 66 inches and 65.7. Among cabin amenities are dual-zone air conditioning, power windows, power locks, speed control, a media center with a 30-gigabyte hard drive, and heated and ventilated front seats.

Ram 1500 attends to safety with standard front airbags, front and rear side-curtain air bags and seat-mounted side pelvic-thorax air bags with Enhanced Accident Response System, knee bolsters, seat-belt pretensioners and ParkSense rear park assist. The 2017 Ram 1500 also includes standard electronic stability control, all-speed traction control, trailer-sway control, hill-start assist and an anti-lock brake system.

The base 2017 Ram 1500 Tradesman starts at $27,095 in 4x2 configuration with a 6-ft.-4-in. box, and 305-hp engine, and moves through 11 trim levels to the $53,695-base Laramie Limited. My test Ram 1500 in Rebel trim is the ninth trim and starts at $45,095 in 4x2. In 4x4, the price started at $47,595 with the 3.6-liter 305-hp engine, automatic trans, a Crew Cab and 5-ft.-7-in. box. Moving up in power to the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine added $1450 and upgraded to an 8-Speed automatic 8HP70 transmission for $500.

Flame Red and Black two-tone exterior paint added $200; Black tubular side steps added $595; and the $695 Luxury group added an Auto-Dimming Exterior Mirror; Exterior Mirrors with Turn Signals and Courtesy Lamps; Glove Box Lamp, LED Bed Lighting; Overhead Console with Garage Door Opener. Power Heated Mirrors with Power Fold-AwayRear Dome with On / Off Switch Lamp; a spray-in bedliner added $495; and Uconnect® 4C NAV with 8.4-Inch display added $795; and a rear window defroster added $195.With destination charges of $1695, my Ram Rebel truck-as-tested stickered at $53,965 before incentives, which could discount by as much as $2,000.

You can see 101 years of Dodge/Ram trucks and nearly 3,000 vehicles from all eras of the Chrysler brand, as classics, muscle cars and high-performance new models all converge at the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals, at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, July 13-15. Special displays include “50 Years of the Plymouth Roadrunner,” “50 Years of the Dodge Super Bee,” “50 Years of the HEMI Dart and Barracuda,” and tons of half-tons and full-ton trucks.


> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

Named after a Southern California beach community that derives its name from the Chumash word “humaliwo,” meaning “the surf sounds loudly,” the Chevrolet Malibu began as a Chevelle trim level in 1964, and became its own model line in 1978, when it replaced Chevelle in the Chevy line-up. Malibu made two previous runs (1978-1983 as a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, and revived as a front-wheel-drive sedan from 1997-2003) before re-emerging on its third and current trip beginning in 2008 as an FWD.

In its ninth generation that began in 2016, Malibu will be refreshed for the 2019 model year with a refined grille, a new sporty RS trim and a new infotainment set-up. So the 2018 Malibu remains essentially the same as it was in 2017, when it was named the 2017 Best Midsize Car in U.S. News and World Report’s annual Best Cars for Families survey. Building on the rep Malibu has gained by being the No.1 Midsize for the third year in a row in the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, this year’s edition subtly gains an option and some color. For 2018, the Midsize Sedan gains a Redline Edition Package that is available on LT models. The content includes black Chevy “Bowtie” emblems, black nameplate with red outline, and 19-inch black aluminum wheels with red hash marks, blacked-out grille and black outside mirror accents. The line-up also adds Sandy Ridge Metallic as an exterior color.

The 2018 Malibu is offered in five trims: L, LS, LT, Premier and the Hybrid. The Malibu LT that I tested adds 17-inch alloy wheels, ambient lighting, an eight-way power-operated driver’s seat including power lumbar support, Warm White ambient lighting on the instrument panel, body-colored antenna and LED daytime running lights to the standard items in lesser trims levels that include a six-speaker audio system, outside heated power-adjustable body-color mirrors with integrated turn signal, Bluetooth, keyless entry/start, a 3.5-inch instrument cluster info display, a rearview camera, Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration.

With styling influenced by the 2014 Impala, the 4-door, 5-passenger sedan advances Chevrolet’s global design language with features such as slim, sweeping headlamps, a dual-port grille a wavelike group of body-side creases and a rear spoiler. Constructed with a classic mid-size configuration, Malibu measures 193.8 inches in length; 73.0 inches in width and 57.6 inches in height on a 111.4-inch wheelbase. Curbweight for my test Malibu LT was 3152 lbs.

Malibu offers two gasoline-only engine choices: the 1.5-liter DOHC inline-4 direct injection turbo engine and an Ecotec 2.0-liter I-4 turbo (standard on the LT and Premier trims). There is also an ECO version of Malibu (a hybrid), with an Ecotec 1.8-liter hybrid engine paired to an electric motor. The system delivers 122hp and 129 lbs.-ft. for 48mpg/city and 45mpg/highway. The 2.0 is estimated at 250hp and 260 lbs.-ft. for 22/city and 32/highway.

My test Malibu LT’s 1.5-liter liter I-4 turbo was coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission and was estimated at 27mpg/city and 36mpg/highway -- I averaged 29.7mpg in mixed-use testing. Not a tire-smoker, it is responsive and generous for a family car, and it conquers long uphill grades, while passing at speed takes some strategy at times.

On the track, Malibu was quiet and predictable, with the 1.5-liter engine earnestly taking 8.3 seconds for a zero-to-60mph sprint while completing a quarter-mile in 16.4.

The cabin is comfortable and with seating for five, and it is borderline entry-luxury, packed with soft-touch materials, a touchscreen, generous seats, and lots of infotainment. Malibu’s cabin is on the low-mid-size scale with front headroom of 39.1 inches, with 37.5 for row two. Legroom goes 42.0 in front and 38.1 in row two; and there is a wide-body 58.5 inches of front shoulder room with 57.1 inches in row two.

The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is offered in five trims, with the base L starting at $22,555; the LS bases at $24,195; LT starts at $26,095; the Hybrid version starts at $28,795; and the loaded, upscale Premier starts at $31,895.

My Malibu LT test vehicle with Blue Velvet Metallic paint and Dark Atmosphere/Medium Ash Gray Premium Cloth seat trim, added a $1300 Sun and Wheels Package with a dual-pane sunroof, and18-inch aluminum wheels, and required the Leather Package upgrade of 6-way power front passenger seat adjuster and power lumbar control, heated front seats, Bose premium 9-speaker sound system, and leather-appointed seats for $2140. The Convenience Technology Package added $995 (remote vehicle starter system, inside rearview auto-dimming mirror, and Chevrolet MyLink® Radio with 8-inch diagonal color touch-screen); and The Driver Confidence Package added $1245 for low-speed front automatic braking, front pedestrian braking, IntelliBeam® automatic high-beam headlamps, front and rear Park Assist, Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert, Lane Keep Assist, Following Distance Indicator, Forward Collision Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Front and rear splash guards added $200; carpeted floor mats added $140 and as destination freight charges of $995 were already included in the base price, my Malibu-as-tested stickered at $32,115, but dealer prices vary and incentives and cash offers may be available from your dealer.


> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

All roads lead to Carlisle, that’s just as much of a fact as it is a marketing statement for Carlisle Events. With many major roadways and just as many trucking companies in central Pennsylvania, it’s easy to see why that phrase rings true. Carlisle itself is home to multiple trucking companies and warehouses as well as a stretch of road between I-81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike that is home to a handful of truck stops and truck related businesses. It is fitting that Carlisle, Pennsylvania would also be home to the Carlisle Truck Nationals and its show within a show, the Big Rig Show and Shine. Presented in 2018 by A&A Auto Stores, this event runs August 3-5 and for 2018, plays host to a unique opportunity not only for enthusiasts of trucks, but also for those looking for work.

2018’s Big Rig Show and Shine is expected to draw over 200 big rigs and heavy trucks to the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, but what makes this year’s happenings unique are that at least eight trucking companies are not only bringing trucks, they are bringing jobs to Carlisle! There is always a demand for truckers to haul payloads of all sizes, but in many cases, there aren’t enough drivers for the work. This slows down commerce and creates issues for companies contracted to do a specific job. Those jobs are competitive and in many cases, high paying. For 2018, it doesn’t matter if interested parties are already employed and looking for a new challenge or looking for work, they are invited to come to Carlisle to explore the opportunities.

Scheduled for the show in August are U.S. Express, Inc., SAIA, United Vision Logistics, DAIM, Inc. Logistics, Triple K Service, Schneider, Ruan and Classic Carries, Inc. and more. Not only will some of these companies be part of the Carlisle Carrier Showcase which features the trucks and businesses of the Carlisle region, some will have representatives at Carlisle talking to potential candidates for jobs.

For those interested in the trucking industry, this event also showcases the trucking industry with vendors, custom rig builders, antique and historic trucks as well as regional truck equipment dealers and service centers. Kenworth of PA and Motor Truck, a multi store dealership and service center for Kenworth truck equipment, and Cumberland Truck Equipment, a multi store dealership and service center for Volvo Trucks, will be on site sharing the newest equipment.

“A couple year’s ago we invited a few of our truck industry neighbors to showcase their vehicles and businesses as part of the Truck Nationals,” said event manager Ed Scholly. “The Truck Nationals has since provided many of them an opportunity to fill openings for operator and logistic jobs in their companies. We are approaching a dozen companies for 2018. If you are seeking opportunities in a strong industry, you may not find a better place to get a picture of the industry and what it has to offer,” noted Scholly. “This event features common carriers to businesses complimenting the trucking and transportation industry.”

In addition to the big rigs and heavy equipment, the Truck Nationals offers a light truck, custom van and SUV showcase. The event hosts family fun with the kids activities, light truck, jeep and SUV vendors, monster truck shows and rides, live music, competitions and more. It’s all available for just $15 per adult, with kids 12 and under admitted for free. Or get the weekend ticket for two by registering your Truck for the event. Complete details about truck weekend, including links to the companies that are showcasing and offering opportunities is available on the Carlisle Truck Nationals portion of www.CarlisleEvents.com.

All roads lead to Carlisle, that’s just as much of a fact as it is a marketing statement for Carlisle Events. With many major roadways and just as many trucking companies in central Pennsylvania, it’s easy to see why that phrase rings true. Carlisle itself is home to multiple trucking companies and warehouses as well as a stretch of road between I-81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike that is home to a handful of truck stops and truck related businesses. It is fitting that Carlisle, Pennsylvania would also be home to the Carlisle Truck Nationals and its show within a show, the Big Rig Show and Shine. Presented in 2018 by A&A Auto Stores, this event runs August 3-5 and for 2018, plays host to a unique opportunity not only for enthusiasts of trucks, but also for those looking for work.

2018’s Big Rig Show and Shine is expected to draw over 200 big rigs and heavy trucks to the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, but what makes this year’s happenings unique are that at least eight trucking companies are not only bringing trucks, they are bringing jobs to Carlisle! There is always a demand for truckers to haul payloads of all sizes, but in many cases, there aren’t enough drivers for the work. This slows down commerce and creates issues for companies contracted to do a specific job. Those jobs are competitive and in many cases, high paying. For 2018, it doesn’t matter if interested parties are already employed and looking for a new challenge or looking for work, they are invited to come to Carlisle to explore the opportunities.

Scheduled for the show in August are U.S. Express, Inc., SAIA, United Vision Logistics, DAIM, Inc. Logistics, Triple K Service, Schneider, Ruan and Classic Carries, Inc. and more. Not only will some of these companies be part of the Carlisle Carrier Showcase which features the trucks and businesses of the Carlisle region, some will have representatives at Carlisle talking to potential candidates for jobs.

For those interested in the trucking industry, this event also showcases the trucking industry with vendors, custom rig builders, antique and historic trucks as well as regional truck equipment dealers and service centers. Kenworth of PA and Motor Truck, a multi store dealership and service center for Kenworth truck equipment, and Cumberland Truck Equipment, a multi store dealership and service center for Volvo Trucks, will be on site sharing the newest equipment.

“A couple year’s ago we invited a few of our truck industry neighbors to showcase their vehicles and businesses as part of the Truck Nationals,” said event manager Ed Scholly. “The Truck Nationals has since provided many of them an opportunity to fill openings for operator and logistic jobs in their companies. We are approaching a dozen companies for 2018. If you are seeking opportunities in a strong industry, you may not find a better place to get a picture of the industry and what it has to offer,” noted Scholly. “This event features common carriers to businesses complimenting the trucking and transportation industry.”

In addition to the big rigs and heavy equipment, the Truck Nationals offers a light truck, custom van and SUV showcase. The event hosts family fun with the kids activities, light truck, jeep and SUV vendors, monster truck shows and rides, live music, competitions and more. It’s all available for just $15 per adult, with kids 12 and under admitted for free. Or get the weekend ticket for two by registering your Truck for the event. Complete details about truck weekend, including links to the companies that are showcasing and offering opportunities is available on the Carlisle Truck Nationals portion of www.CarlisleEvents.com.

For 100 years, Chevrolet has been “truckin’. Chevrolet entered the truck market in 1918, with the Model 490 on sale to the masses after using them internally for a couple of years. Considered a light delivery vehicle with a half-ton rating, the 1918 Series 490 was sold as a chassis only, meaning the truck cab and body had to be installed by the customer.

Silverado began as a trim level for Chevrolet C/K pick-ups and Suburbans from 1975 through 1999, and its sister platform, the GMC Sierra also began as a trim level. They became their own lines beginning with the 1999 model year.

Chevrolet’s Silverado family of trucks is perennially, the No.2-selling vehicle line in the United States and it continues its legacy as a tough work truck with luxury upgrades and environmentally conscious enhancements. Chevrolet calls Silverado: “Strong, capable and built to stand the test of time.” Their marketing mantra is: “When you need to get things done, you want a Silverado — the most dependable, longest-lasting full-size pickups on the road.” With that in mind, changes are subtle for 2018. Silverado is still in its third generation that began with the redesigned 2014 model, and for 2018, per government mandate, all models now carry a rear-vision camera, and the tire-pressure monitor has an audible alert to indicate when the air pressure is filled to the recommended level. The eAssist package is now offered on LT and LTZ trims; two exterior colors have been added – Cajun Red Metallic and Havana Metallic; and several trim-specific upgrades have been added. Also, a commemorative Centennial Edition is available this year with iconic badging and exclusive Centennial Blue paint.

My test Silverado 1500 LTZ with a Crew Cab fits full-size parameters. With a short 5-foot-8-inch box, Silverado measures 230 inches long (the 6-foot-6-inch box adds 9.6 inches and the 8-foot box is not available with the Crew Cab), 80 inches wide and 73.8 inches high (for the 4x4) on a 143.5-inch wheelbase. Ground clearance is 8.9 inches and step-in height measures 22.2 inches, while the Silverado LTZ’s base curb weight comes in at 5300 lbs. with the 5.3-liter engine and 4x4 configuration.

Inside, Silverado’s well-appointed interior is roomy, quiet and functional, with a sturdy cab structure. Its Crew Cab is spacious, providing 42.8 inches of front headroom, with 40.5 in the rear. Legroom is considerable at 45.3 inches up front and 40.9 in the cab, while shoulder room measures 66.0 and 65.7 inches.

Silverado’s muscle comes in the form of three engine choices: a 4.3-liter V-6 rated at 285 hp and 305 lbs-ft of torque (297/330 on E85 fuel) and 17mpg/city and 22mpg/highway for AWD; a 5.3-liter V-8 delivers 355 hp and 383 lbs-ft of torque (380/416 on E85 fuel) and 16/22mpg for AWD; and the muscular 6.2-liter V-8 thunders out 420 hp and 460 lbs-ft of torque and is EPA rated at 15mpg/city and 20mpg/highway for AWD.

My Silverado LTZ with the 5.3 provided the anticipated muscle necessary to pass at speed and haul some heavy loads. Pick-up was niche-solid and I finished a zero-to-60mph sprint in 7.2 seconds during a 15.4-second quarter-mile that showed some sway at top speed. Fuel consumption averaged 18.8mpg in mixed-use driving.

My test Silverado LTZ was steady on uneven roads and softroad obstacles with its independent coil-over-shock front suspension with monotube shocks coupled with a solid axle rear with semi-elliptic, variable-rate, two-stage multileaf springs and monotube shocks. The electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering was attentive and while higher-speed S-turns produced top-wobble and yaw, Silverado was poised and balanced during road and highway tests.

The 2018 Silverado 1500 is offered in Regular Cab with standard box and long box; Double Cab Standard Box and Crew Cab in short box and standard box, and are configured in 2WD and 4WD. Base prices run from $29,695 to 2WD and standard box starts at $29,080.to $37,595 including destination and handling ($1495). My test 2018 Silverado 1500 came with a Crew Cab and short box, and included the 5.3-liter V-8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission, for $36,195. Eight trim packages are offered that can add from $3,000 to $20,000. My LTZ trim package – sixth on the list – came with 4WD moved the sticker to $49,295, with the inclusions mentioned earlier. Red Hot exterior paint was standard, as was the Jet Black leather-appointed seat trim. Fourteen packages are available, and my test truck upgraded with The Enhanced Driver Alert package (with Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Forward Collision Alert, Safety Alert Seat, Front and Rear Park Assist, Intellibeam headlamps, Jet Black, Perforated leather-appointed seat trim and front, leather-appointed bucket seats) for $1710; and the LTZ Plus Package added $1295 for power adjustable pedals, Bose® premium audio system, remote start and heated steering. The Interior Convenience package (Interior driver assist handle, console insert organizer tray and underseat storage) added $370; a power sunroof added $995; spray-on bedliner was $495; MyLink® Audio System with 8-inch Diagonal Color Touch with Navigation added $495 and remote start was $275. The sticker-as-tested was $54,655, but local incentives dropped it to $53,655, so check your local dealer for the best programs.

And for truck fans, don’t miss the 2018 Carlisle Chevrolet Nationals this weekend, at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, as there will be a Special Display honoring 100 years of Chevrolet trucks. This historic milestone will be celebrated with an indoor display in Building T to feature the “Bowtie” brand truck heritage, showcasing tough and pampering, work and family trucks, from historic and early versions to current models.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.