If Ram has its way, there's going to be a new top contender for the most luxurious pickup truck. The pickup folks at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have come up with a new top-end trim level for the Ram lineup, the 2018 Limited Tungsten Edition. We weren't aware that tungsten was a precious metal above platinum, but apparently certain design teams are running out of cool metals to name cars and trucks after.
In Ram's world, Tungsten refers instead to the darker, low-luster chrome trim found on the pickup in a number of places. Start with one Ram 1500, 2500 or 3500 Limited model, and add new Ram lettering on the grille, accent pieces and badges all in Tungsten chrome. The bumpers, mirrors, door handles and running boards are all body color, while the wheels are Satin Gray. The headlamps have a black bezel surround and a sport hood gets added to 1500 models only.
Inside, the Tungsten becomes the most luxurious pickup on the market, and the first to feature a suede headliner. Interior colors are limited to Light Greystone for the headliner and a combination of Natura Plus Frost and Indigo leather surfaces. Premium leather goes on the seats, the dashboard, steering wheel, center armrest and doors, while real wood adorns the dash, doors and steering wheel. Other interior pieces get slightly different textured looks as well, with many of the interior plastic trim pieces now getting a brushed-on painted look that really classes the cabin up. The floormats are two-piece affairs with rubber base mats that have Indigo and Frost snap-out carpets affixed, so you can leave them in for nice weather and remove the light-colored carpets during the slushy winters.
The Limited Tungsten Edition comes well equipped with standard air suspension (on the 1500 only), navigation, remote start, a backup camera, adjustable pedals, a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, the RamBox storage system (heavy-duty 6-foot, 4-inch bed only) and the new 8.4-inch Uconnect multimedia system that's been updated for 2018 to include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Given the seat pattern and comfort, and the plushness of the cabin's headliner, the interior looks seriously posh but not gaudy in the "cowboy-kitschy" way some high-end luxury trucks do (we're looking at you Ford).
Pricing will be released toward the truck's on-sale date in the fall, but Ram says that the 1500 will start at $56,515 including destination fee. The Limited Tungsten Edition will be offered on crew- and Mega-Cab configurations with short or long wheelbases in two- or four-wheel drive with single or dual rear wheels.
Cars.com photos by Aaron Bragman
