Ram ProMaster van brings Italian style cargo carrying to the New World

The Ram van is back, but this time Chrysler’s truck division asks you to bow before the ProMaster.

Based on a full-size van sold by its Italian overlord Fiat, the Ram PowerMaster is a Euro-style cargo carrier that’s set to go head to head against the recently introduced Ford Transit, which is cut from the same European cloth.

A visual departure from the box vans of old, the PowerMaster promises best in class hauling, improved fuel economy and a flexible chassis designed to meet the needs of a variety of businesses with one basic vehicle design.

Available in 13 configurations of varying wheelbases, roof heights, body lengths and even stripped chassis cab versions, the front-wheel-drive ProMaster can be ordered with either a 280 hp 3.6-liter V6 or a 3.0-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel with 295 lb-ft of torque.

Ram says it the ProMaster will offer the largest cargo capacity in the segment, along with the lowest load floor and best in class payload and tow ratings of 5,145 lbs and 5,100 lbs, respectively.

The ProMaster set to go on sale in the third quarter of 2013, it will be built at a Chrysler facility in Saltillo, Mexico.