It's not often we get to see the cars an automaker decided not to make. But today, the automotive press got a rare peek behind the scenes of a vehicle development team when Dodge engineers showed many of the designs they rejected when planning an overhaul of the iconic Dodge Ram. It's a fascinating set of images. Chrysler has a lot riding on the 2009 Dodge Ram -- as a wheels-up redesign of one of the company's most popular vehicles, the Ram will be key to Chrysler's fight to return to profitability. Understandably, the company put a lot of work into the redesign, and explored many options.
The folks at Pickuptruck.com have the goods. Today, they run photos of many sketches and clay models of rejected Rams. Among the rejected designs were some unique ideas. One would have allowed owners to raise and lower the height of the cargo bed's walls.
Another that featured "a cargo box with a pass through door into the cabin." Lead designer Ralph Gilles said in an interview, "We looked at several versions -- actually up to twelve different models. Then it became eleven. Then we were down to three that were wildly different." The final three were meshed into one design, which hits showrooms soon.
Autoblog runs a few more sketches of rejected Rams, but comments, "We like the design of the new Ram" Dodge engineers finally selected.
The final product, by the way, will also be sold as a hybrid in 2010.
Read about the Ram and its competition with U.S. News rankings and reviews of full-size pickups.
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