Skip to main content

Ram goes copper crazy with its latest special-edition pickup truck

Pickup trucks are supposed to be practical work vehicles, but most pickup buyers would probably be lying if they said that style wasn’t a big part of their trucks’ appeal. Some people just like the look of a pickup like the Ram 1500.

The aforementioned American manufacturer is playing to that crowd with a new special edition version of its 1500 half-ton model, which is set to debut this week at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show. The 2017 Ram 1500 Copper Sport’s name tells you all you need to know about this truck. It combines the previously available Ram 1500 Sport package with a new copper exterior color — Copper Pearl, to be exact.

The new hue is splashed all over the truck, thanks to a monochromatic exterior option thatpaints major trim pieces in the same color as the body. The Copper Sport also features a model-specific, blacked-out hood, black exterior badging, and massive wheels. Rear-wheel drive models get 22-inch wheels, while four-wheel drive models get 20-inchers.

The interior is color coordinated, with copper trim pieces and accent stitching, as well as copper-colored “sport mesh” on the front bucket seats. The Ram logo and the word “Sport” are also embroidered into the headrests, just in case you forget what truck you’re in. Aside from the trim elements, the Copper Sport model also adds a nine-speaker Alpine audio system with subwoofer.

While Ram offers numerous configurations of cabs and powertrains on other 1500 models, the Copper Sport is only available as a four-door crew cab, with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. This engine produces 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Ram will only build 3,000 copies of the 2017 1500 Copper Sport, so it will be somewhat of a rare item. Buyers will have to pay a base price of $46,950 to stand out from the crowd in this copper-colored truck. Ram expects the trucks to start arriving at dealerships later this month.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more