Rebel 12 is an available package on all Rebel cabs, colours, and powertrains.
Ram entered the factory-built off-roader fray when they built the Rebel, a version of the Ram 1500 imbued with a 33-inch tires, stout lift kit, and a locking rear diff. One is equally likely to find a Rebel splattered with mud on the trail or shined up and parked at the mall, thanks to its combination of off-road clout and luxury features.
For 2019, the company’s brand new Rebel continued this theme, with one glaring omission: Ram’s dandy new 12-inch Uconnect infotainment screen. Largest in the industry, this Tesla-esque screen was available on high-zoot Laramie, Longhorn, and Limited trims but absent from the Rebel model. Today, the company fixed that oversight.
Dubbed the Rebel 12, this model offers buyers the chance to mix luxury, technology, and off-road prowess. Ram’s Uconnect 4C with the 12-inch screen and navigation is on tap, a unit whose screen can be entirely devoted to one task or split in two for duality purposes. The iPad generation will feel at home with it multi-touch gestures and smartphone integrations.
“Expanding the availability of the segment-leading Uconnect 4C 12-inch touchscreen is a direct response to market demand,” said Jim Morrison, Head of Ram Brand, FCA – North America. “Customers have been asking for additional high-end features on Rebel and now we’re delivering with benchmark technology and materials wrapped in off-road capability.”
In addition to installing a jumbotron in the Rebel’s dashboard, this new 12 package also brings a leather-trimmed interior and a stereo with more punch. Those leather seats, unavailable at any price in a 2019 Rebel until now, are heated for front passengers. Unique metal speaker grilles trimmed in the Rebel’s signature Radar Red anodized finish are part of its 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. Pumping up the volume is a 900-watt surround-sound amp and 10-inch subwoofer.
Rebel sets itself apart from workaday Rams by deploying a factory-installed lift kit, meaty 33-inch rubber, and a phalanx of skid plates. Bilstein shocks, 3.92 gearing, and a locking rear differential keep things moving when the trail gets tough.
In Canada, the Ram pickup is off by about 15% in sales so far this year, largely thanks to a slower than expected roll-out of the redesigned 2019 model. Sales have rebounded in the last couple of months as more and more copies of the new trucks find their way into Canadian showrooms. Through to the end of August, Ram has sold just over 61,000 pickups, about 10k fewer than this time last year.
Rebel 12 is an available package on all Rebel cabs, colours, and powertrains. Expect a price bump of about $2000 compared to a similarly configured non-12 Rebel, which is more than reasonable given all the extra kit. Find it on dealer lots later this year.
Keyword: Dirty Dozen: 2019 Ram Rebel 12