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Ram unveils 2020 ProMaster, brings new safety features, technology to cargo van segment

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Ram Commercial vehicles was formed back in 2014 and was designed to bring the fight to the established benchmarks in the commercial van industry. The first entry offered by the newly minted brand was the Ram ProMaster which was supposed to take a huge slice of the commercial van market.

The rebadged Fiat Ducato has a lot riding on its shoulders, with the van not only tasked with regaining the trust of buyers that felt alienated when the Dodge Sprinter ended production amid the collapse of DaimlerChrysler, but also trying to crack the iron grip of the Ford Transit. So far, the ProMaster has failed to make a substantial impact, but Ram is out to change that with the unveiling of the 2020 Ram ProMaster.

The 2020 Ram ProMaster can be thought of as a subtle freshening, but buyers might have a hard time finding the updates at first when they view the exterior which carries over largely unchanged for the new model year. It’s still a very polarizing look to say the least, but Ram claims that the ProMaster’s styling is still very functional, with the short nose helping the van fit into tight parking spaces. Ram Commercial reps were also quick to point out that the ProMaster is available with 18 different roof height and wheelbase combinations which puts it on par with rivals like the Transit and the Sprinter.

Buyers will have to slip into the van’s interior where FCA engineers have bestowed it with a massive infusion of safety and driver assistance aides. A key feature is the addition of an optional digital rear view mirror (The first for an FCA vehicle.) The mirror is available on all ProMaster models, and comes equipped with a 9.2 inch digital monitor. Like other digital mirrors of its type, the ProMaster’s features a switch that allows the driver to transform it back into a traditional rear view mirror. Look for this feature to be particularly useful on panel variants, with the digital mirror helping to enhance certain parking jobs.

In addition to the nifty mirror, the 2020 ProMaster also comes equipped with a wide range of driver assistance aides to help improve safety. The all new Crosswind Assist system helps keep the van stable and on course even when going through strong winds, while the ProMaster also gains Blind Spot Monitoring with bundled Cross Path Detection, Forward Collision Warning with Emergency Brake Assist, and additional ambient and courtesy lighting elements.

Performance hardware remains unchanged for this freshening, with the 2020 Promaster still being powered by FCA’s familiar 3.6 liter PentaStar V6. The engine is mated to a six speed automatic transmission (a curious choice in a world where nine and ten speed automatics are becoming mainstream) which still aims to deliver good shifts to drivers. The ProMaster also offers front-wheel drive which is a class exclusive in a decidedly rear-wheel drive segment.

Ram did not release any pricing information in today’s release, but look for that information to be revealed after its debut at The Work truck Show in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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