John
was very impressed with the Dodge Rampage concept truck, which rethinks the whole truck concept to reflect the way that
many of today’s truck buyers actually use their trucks. He’s particularly impressed with the application of Dodge’s
Stow ‘n Go seats to all the passenger seats – giving a solo driver the option of a flat floor interior space.
Specs and tons of pics after the jump. (And yes, its got a Hemi)
Press
Release: 2006 Dodge Rampage Concept Vehicle
The Only Things It Can’t Load More Of Are Style and
Versatility
Bold, powerful and supremely versatile, the new Dodge Rampage concept vehicle is a fresh look at
how many families actually use the popular pickup trucks.
“It’s the truck for the non-traditional
buyer,” said Scott Krugger, principal exterior designer. “This is a truck for the person who wants the
functional aspects of a truck yet doesn’t want a traditional vehicle. The Rampage has the capability of a pickup
without sacrificing occupant space.”
Combining the width of a Dodge Ram with the overall length of a
Dodge Dakota, the Rampage features a host of people and cargo-carrying innovations made possible by a combination of
unitized body construction, front-wheel drive, and unique independent rear wheel suspension. And as with any Dodge
concept, the appearance is striking.
In order to achieve their twin objectives of a family-size passenger
cabin and exceptional pickup utility, the designers dramatically reconfigured the proportions of the truck. The largest
portion of the Rampage is devoted to the spacious passenger cabin, followed by the five-foot cargo box, and last, the
engine compartment (which still accommodates a 5.7-liter MDS HEMI® under the abbreviated hood). To visually
reinforce the fact that the majority of the vehicle is dedicated to passengers and cargo, a slim appliqué of
brushed aluminum runs along the cowl, up and over the roof rails and around the top of the cargo box, a shimmering
silver ribbon that contrasts dramatically with the Liquid Carbon exterior.
Up front, the Rampage exhibits a
fresh interpretation of the Dodge truck style architecture – a new look for a new truck. The signature Dodge
six-sided crossbar grille is set flush within a curving plane that encompasses rectangular wraparound headlamps.
Featuring LED lighting, all exterior lamps rely on light-piping and both clear and frosted acrylic to achieve a cleaner
look.
The body side is dominated by “double-muscle” flared fenders with the widest part of the
body centered over the 22-inch brushed aluminum wheels. The framed doors feature a continuous fore-aft glass plane
while the reverse-angle “pillar” on the rear door and distinctive triangular window give a sporty
coupe-like profile.
To draw attention to the generous occupant space, a U-shaped chamfered element runs
above the sill and travels up the body along the leading and trailing edges of the door sets. Accented with brushed
aluminum, this detail is subtly repeated on the exterior door handles.
Access to the interior is
exceptional. When either door is opened, the sill pivots down to expose a handy step assist. While the front door
is hinged conventionally, the rear door slides open to reveal an imaginative and supremely practical interior, entry to
which is enhanced by the absence of the customary B-pillar.
“The interior of the Rampage is durable,
functional and efficient,” said Irina Zavatski, principal interior designer. “Everything is there for a
reason.”
Structural elements are exposed. The contoured center stack, for example,
“floats” above the surface of the instrument panel. Composed of satin silver finished
“framing,” the center stack can be pulled rearward and rotated toward either driver or passenger to access
the navigation, HVAC and entertainment functions. The free-standing instrument cluster has a similar look and moves
with the adjustable steering column while the steering wheel spokes harmonize with both cluster and center stack.
Overhead a “ladder-type” front-to-rear console with storage and entertainment units incorporates
distinctive mood lighting along its edges. Flanking the console are fore-aft “skylights,” bringing
welcoming daylight to rear seat passengers as well as those up front.
“The seating is designed to be
athletic, comfortable, yet rugged,” said Chris Welch, designer of the seats, which are contoured around
specially-fabricated folding framing finished in satin silver. To facilitate ingress/egress to the rear compartment,
milled silver handles are integrated into the outboard sides of the front seat backs. The dark charcoal seats are
trimmed in a smooth polyurethane-coated material and a three-dimensional open texture “spacer knit” fabric
which is also used as a non-glare covering on the instrument panel. Contrasting red-orange fabric on the seat inserts
echoes similar accents on the instrument panel, steering wheel and door armrests.
With all seats in use, the
Rampage is able to carry five passengers, but that’s just the beginning of its functionality. The right front seat
and the 60/40 rear seats can be folded into the floor, marking the first use of Dodge’s popular and innovative
Sto-N-Go™ Seating and Storage Unit in a pickup truck and the first Sto-N-Go front passenger seat ever.
The stowing process is facilitated by headrests that flip down into the seat backs, a solution that also allows
taller-than-normal seat backs for greater support. To enhance the available interior volume with seats dropped into the
floor, the armrests on the front and rear passenger doors also fold out of the way, maximizing the cabin’s
cargo-carrying capacity. As with all Sto-N-Go seating, with the seats upright, the bins beneath become handy storage
areas for sundry items.
Since the interior is designed to accommodate both people and cargo, a durable
marine-type rubberized material is used for the cabin flooring.
Behind the rear seats the backlite retracts
into a midgate which in turn folds down into the forward part of the cargo bed. With the both midgate and one or more
of the passenger seats in a stored position, lengthier items can be carried without having to lower the tailgate.
After the midgate, the five-foot box offers many utility options, including retractable cargo hooks and
built-in formations arranged to secure 2’x4’ boards. The three-position tailgate can be deployed upright,
folded down 98 degrees, or dropped further to an angle of 117 degrees. In this position a stored-in-the-tailgate
slide-out ramp can be extended to the ground to permit easy loading of wheeled cargo like motocross bikes, ATVs,
etc.
And the unexpected features don’t stop there. Rampage delivers exceptional cargo carrying
capacity above and below the dual-bed floor. Acting as a second tailgate, the rear bumper fascia also drops down to
reveal an enclosed storage space extending (with the seats up) far enough forward to provide room enough to accommodate
a stack of 4’x8’ plywood sheets.
“This is ‘clean storage,’” says
Krugger, “something most pickups today don’t have.”
Combined with the Sto-N-Go seating in
the cabin, these cargo box features give the owner -and his or her family – unrivaled flexibility sure to be
appreciated, whether going to the store to buy materials for a weekend project or taking the family off on an outdoors
outing. Another thoughtful touch: In order to keep the rear of the vehicle free of bothersome heat and fumes when
accessing the dual cargo beds, the engine exhaust exits via specially-trimmed vents forward of the rear wheels.
“Bold, powerful and superbly capable in creative new ways, the Dodge Rampage concept vehicle offers a new
vision for the American pickup truck and the active lifestyle people who drive them,” said Trevor Creed, Senior
Vice President – Design, Chrysler Group.
2006 Dodge Rampage Concept Vehicle Specifications
Exterior Features
5-foot functional bed with dual mode mid-gate
Cab forward, short front overhang
Expandable cargo length
Sliding rear doors
Hidden additional storage compartments
Interior Features
Sto-N-Go™ front passenger and rear 60/40
seating
Flat load floor
Automatically-deployed side sill steps for
easier entry/egress
Unique I/P and upper cowl design feature
Powertrain and Suspension
Engine: 5.7L Hemi with MDS
345 hp / 375 ft-lbs @ 5400 / 4200 RPM
Drivetrain: Front Wheel Drive 5 speed automatic
Suspension:
Front / Rear – Independent / Independent
Weight and Dimensions
Vehicle Weight: 5000 lb (est.)
Length: 215.1” (5149mm)
Wheelbase:
142.2” (3611mm)
Front Overhang:
33.5” (852mm)
Rear Overhang:
39.4” (1000mm)
Width (max):
80.0” (2032mm)
Height: 74.3”
(1887mm)
Track Front / Rear: 67.7” / 68.2”
Apprch. / Depart. Angle: 31.7º / 39.3º
Turn
Circle: 46.0 ft (14.0 m)
Couple:
33.8” (859mm)
Wheels and Tires
Tire Size
Front / Rear: P305/50R22 34.0” (864mm)
Wheel Size Front / Rear: 22” x 9”
Tire
Manufacturer: Goodyear
Color Scheme
Exterior: Liquid Carbon
Interior: Charcoal