Ram Commercial introduced Wednesday its 2022 ProMaster commercial van and aimed it squarely at one of the largest commercial customer categories: vocational. The front-wheel-drive, Class 2 full-size van also got upgrades in safety, connectivity, interior comfort and efficiency for the coming model year.
A next-generation 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine is now paired to a segment-exclusive TorqueFlite nine-speed automatic transmission – a combination that generates 280 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. of torque while improving fuel economy up to 9% when compared to the previous powertrain.
Unique transmission calibration allows for improved vehicle launch characteristics with smooth transfer between gears and enhanced fuel efficiency. Shift logic is adjusted according to grade steepness.
ProMaster also includes best-in-class features like standard V-6 power, turning radius, standard interior cargo height, load-floor height, cargo width between wheel wells and maximum cargo width. Ram ProMaster features up to 6,910 pounds of towing capability and a best-in-class 4,680 pounds of payload. The nine-speed TorqueFlite's 4.08 final-drive ratio enables comfortable grade transit under full payload and small ratio steps for mid-range gears help with quicker, smoother transitions between gears.
A new electric rack-and-pinion power steering system has been calibrated to deliver a natural steering feel and allows for variable amounts of steering assistance to be applied. The electric power steering system features a turning diameter of 36.3 feet.
In Cargo Van configuration with cargo lengths of 8-ft, 10-ft, 12-ft and 13.5-ft, ProMaster features up to 12 tie-down rings with 1,000-lb. rating fold away to maintain a flat floor and five sidewall tie-down rings with 550-lb. rating, easing loading and unloading operations. Available partitions also offer passengers protection against the possibility of load shift in the cabin. The most vertically oriented sidewalls in the cargo van category (nearly 90 degrees in relation to the cargo compartment floor) combined with a best-in-class cargo width of 75.6 inches add up to 463 cubic-feet of cargo space.
The 2022 Ram ProMaster will be available on dealer lots in the fourth quarter this year. Ram Commercial will introduce a battery-electric ProMaster in 2023 in response to customer demand. More information will be available at a later date.
Safety
The ProMaster includes the most safety features ever offered on Ram’s full-size commercial van. Standard safety features include Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning, Crosswind Assist, rear backup camera with dynamic gridlines, post collision braking, Drowsiness Detection, Traffic Sign Recognition, push-button starter, keyless entry (all doors) and an electric parking brake.
Optional safety features include Intelligent Speed Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Information, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Active Drive Assist system, front parking sensors, auto high-beams and cornering function fog lamps and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
A 360-degree Surround View camera is also available, offering a 360-degree, bird’s-eye view of the vehicle and its surroundings, which is enhanced by dynamic gridlines displayed on a 7-inch or 10-inch digital touchscreen.
Available on all ProMaster models is a digital rearview mirror displays video in real time in all driving modes from a rear-facing camera and can be turned off to revert back to a traditional reflective mirror. The digital rearview mirror is and provides an unobstructed rear view that enhances safety and reduces downtime.
Active Driving Assist provides Level 2 automated driving capability and the 2022 Ram ProMaster is available with class-exclusive Active Driving Assist for hands-on-wheel and eyes-on-road automated driving using lane centering with adaptive cruise control. The system uses multiple sensors, including radars and cameras to dictate appropriate roads for the technology.
Technology
The Uconnect 5 multimedia system is five times faster than the system it replaces, featuring Wi-Fi capability and up to five individual user profiles. A 7- and 10-inch reconfigurable touchscreen displays are available featuring split-screen capability for dual application operation.
The 2022 Ram ProMaster features two USB outlets (one fully functional, one charge-only) plus standard dual USB Type C ports that allow devices to charge up to four times faster. An optional 115-volt/150-watt outlet sits right below the USBs.
Additional fleet-friendly technology includes Ram Telematics that enables vehicle tracking and driver behavior data to help reduce fuel costs, improve route efficiency and promote safe driving. Ram Telematics also offers real-time vehicle diagnostics and performance data.
The new, standard Telematics Module enables nearly 50 service functions on ProMaster, including Firmware Over the Air (FOTA) updates, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, Alexa & Google Home-to-Vehicle Assistant and Apps Over the Air (AOTA).
The new ProMaster features a standard 3.5-inch driver information display in the instrument cluster where fuel gauge and digital coolant temperature display are strategically placed for easy reference while driving. The display is customizable to showcase preset information of the driver’s choice. Available menus include speedometer, vehicle information, fuel economy, trip, information, audio, stored messages, screen setup and settings, and turn-by-turn navigation, if the vehicle is equipped with navigation. A 7-inch, full-color reconfigurable information display is available.
Interior
ProMaster’s interior boasts a push-button starter, keyless entry for all doors and an available a new leather-wrapped steering wheel with enhanced hand grips. Ram Commercial’s interior designers also updated the steering wheel with electronic system control capability for the shifter, air vents and incorporated redundant HVAC controls and an electronic parking brake.