“Offering an off-road-style package on the Ram 1500 has been on our to-do list for some time but the right combination didn’t present itself until now,” said Bob Hegbloom, President and CEO–Ram Truck Brand, FCA US LLC. “The Rebel drops right into a core segment of the truck market with unique design cues and can-do attitude backed by Ram Truck engineering.”

The 2015 Ram Rebel delivers raised ride height for improved off-road approach, departure, and breakover angles, using the brand’s air suspension system and a one-inch factory suspension lift. The fenders easily clear the 33-inch tires that also help provide additional ground clearance. The independent front suspension offers aluminum lower A-arms and feature a modified alignment that helps adjust tire angle.

The Rebel features aggressive 33-inch (LT285/70R17E) Toyo Open Country A/T all-terrain tires mounted to all-new 17-inch silver and black cast aluminum wheels, and this combination is what helps the Ram Rebel achieve what the company calls out as “best-in-class” ground clearance of 10.3-inches. Bilstein shocks front and rear are uniquely tuned for this truck, and a softer rear stabilizer bar works to improve overall ride quality.

The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 is available in 2×4 and 4×4 models, but the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 is only found in 4×2 models. HEMI-powered Rebels can be ordered with 3.92 or 3.21 gear ratios whereas 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 models only offer a 3.92 gear ratio. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard on both engines, and can be ordered with a rear anti-spin differential.

We like the new front grille treatment, and the overall look of the new 2015 Ram Rebel, but of all its great features, the one thing we don’t especially like is the fact that the Rebel-model Ram 1500 comes only as a crew cab model with a 5-foot, 7-inch bed. According to Ram, the Rebel will be available early in the second half of 2015.

Well it’s certainly no Power Wagon, which is chock-full of off-road hardware, but the Ram Rebel does look like a nice step up from the basic streetable Ram 1500 as it comes right off the dealer lot. What do you think? Let us know in the Comments section below.