Dodge promotes strength and power on pickups in three sizes for the ram-horned brand in 2006. Heading the line is the full-size Ram 1500 (light-duty) truck presenting a get-out-of-my-way face and a Viper-powered SRT-10 high-performance variation that ranks as the world's swiftest production-model sport truck. Heavy-duty Ram trucks in two weight classes pack big engines for serious truck torque towing muscle, and Dodge's mid-size Dakota pickup earns best-in-class power, torque and tow ratings.

Dodge's light-duty 1500 (half-ton) pickups show a two-door Regular Cab or four-door Quad Cab, and both come in two-wheel-drive (2WD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD) traction. Entry issue is called ST, but there's also Sport, SLT and deluxe Laramie. The series scores a revised structure for 2006, with new suspension and body mounts added to improve the ride quality and handling.

A 3.7-liter V6 rated at 215 hp is the standard engine on 2WD Ram Regular Cab and 2WD Quad Cab coupled to a Getrag six-speed manual shifter. The Getrag six-speed also works with Ram's 4.7-liter Magnum V8, which produces 235 hp. Ram's new engine option for 2006 is 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum V8 racked to 345 hp but working with a multi-displacement system (MDS) which switches to fuel-saving four-cylinder mode when all of that power is not needed for romping. Quad Cab Ram now offers a DVD entertainment system.

Take the full-size Ram 1500 and add high-performance suspension and brakes, then borrow the outrageous V10 engine out of Dodge's Viper supercar and stuff it into that stepped-hood prow. The result is an ultimate perform-ance pickup dubbed SRT10. Viper's aluminum V10 elevate this truck to the stratosphere with 500 hp. That means acceleration times around five seconds for the run from zero to 60 mph. A heavy-duty Tremec six-speed manual transmission with Hurst linkage and shifter converts all of that power into muscle to turn enormous rear wheels - 22-inch Viper-style rollers with Pirelli Scorpion tires.

For 2006 the SRT10 gets a new hydroformed boxed frame and revamped styling inside and out. The cab -- two-door Regular Cab or four-door Quad Cab -- adds bolstered bucket seats with suede inserts and a broad center console. At the tail a body-colored aluminum tonneau caps the bed.

The label "Heavy Duty" applies to this series of big and powerful work trucks for the upward expansion of Dodge's line of Ram trucks. Constructed on a strong chassis that's modular in design to allow multiple configurations for cabin size and box length, heavy-duty Ram trucks dominate the road with powerful engines designed to pull far more than their weight and tow class-topping loads. The collection consists of two weight designations with 2500 (three-quarter-ton) and 3500 (one-ton) series.

Cabs conform to two-door Regular Cab and four-door Quad Cab. Two transfer cases -- one with manual shifting and the other with electric shift -- go to the 4WD versions. Standard engine is a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 pumped to 345 hp. A 5.9-liter in-line-six Cummins turbo-diesel is optional at 325 hp with superior tow capacity of 16400 pounds.

This Ram truck sports the largest pickup cab ever with best-in-class interior room plus luxurious appointments. The Mega Cab builds on a heavy-duty Ram long-box truck with 160.5-inch wheelbase. However, the 95-inch long box is replaced by a 75-inch box, leaving 20 inches of room to extend the cab. The cab stretch creates so much space inside that seatbacks on rear seats can recline from 22 to 37 degrees for extra comfort. Rear seats also split 60/40 and fold down to convert the area to a cargo compartment. Mega Cab works on Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 classes with trim designations as SLT and Laramie. Engines extend to the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 for 345 hp or the 5.9-liter in-line-six Cummins turbo-diesel with 325 hp.

This is not some muscle-bound SUV but a big and strong work truck designed for 4WD forays. It's based on a heavy-duty Ram 2500 with two-door or four-door cab, then rigged with the powerful 5.7-liter HEMI V8 and 4WD armaments plus 33-inch all-terrain tires. Also, Power Wagon stocks electric-locking front and rear differentials and a front sway bar that can disconnect by electronic means.

The chassis design forges a front approach angle of 35 degrees, a tail departure angle to 26.5 degrees with a break-over angle of 25 degrees and a ground clearance at the rear axle of 8.3 inches. And the undercarriage gets steel skid plates to shield the steering damper, transfer case and fuel tank from off-road bumps and bangs. You may recognize this truck by massive tow hooks up front and a custom-built Warn winch tucked in a slot below the cross-hair grille.

Mid-size Dakota, sized one step below the Ram 1500, achieves best-in-class power, torque and tow numbers. For 2006 it comes in two cab styles with three powertrain options. Trims expand with new models: Dakota TRX and TRX Off-Road, Dakota R/T and Night Runner. The TRX (2WD) and TRX Off-Road (4WD) roll on 16-inch wheels and sport monotube shocks, tow hooks and cargo box decals. Dakota R/T packs a high-output 4.7-liter V8 worth 260 hp with Club Cab or Quad Cab choices and vivid body paint in Inferno Red, Brilliant Black or Solar Yellow. Night Runner shows a blacked-out color theme with unique black chrome grille and black chrome wheels. Dakota offers two choices for 4WD action -- either an on-demand 4WD system with 2WD plus 4WD high and 4WD low-gear settings or a full-time all-wheel-drive (AWD) system available for SLT and Laramie.