Take an already powerful, people-friendly and practical pickup, give it a few added tweaks inside and out, and behold a 2013 Ram 2500 that looks better than ever and rivals Ford for state-of-the-art techno goodies.

A stronger frame and some added power and efficiency in the optional Cummins turbodiesel powerplant mate with upgraded Uconnect components like a larger touchscreen display and, in higher trims, WiFi hotspot capabilities, to offer a work- or play-ready full-size heavy-duty truck.

The base Ram 2500 ST trim level has been renamed the Tradesman for 2013, while the lower midlevel SLT, the higher midlevel Laramie and the off-road-taming Power Wagon return for this year, and the flagship Limited gets re-christened as the Laramie Longhorn Edition. As is traditional, the Tradesman is available in 3-passenger Regular cab configurations or 6-passenger/4-door Crew cab variations, while the SLT is available in all 3 cab versions, Regular, Crew cab, or the up-sized and up-featured Mega cab, again with 4 doors and seating for 6. The Power Wagon, meantime, is offered only with the Crew cab, while the Laramie and Laramie Longhorn Edition can be delivered in either Crew cab or Mega cab garb. In a nod to familiarity, the SLT is additionally available in the Outdoorsman or the Big Horn/Lone Star sub-trims, each with a slew of added exterior and interior upgrades.

Bed lengths again vary from the standard 8.2-foot bed in Regular cab trims to the 6.4-foot bed common to all Mega cab editions. Crew-cab-toting trims remain available with either bed length. All Ram 2500 trims except the Power Wagon are delivered with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD), but each remains available with part-time 4-wheel drive (4WD) that boasts electronic hi-lo gear selection and auto-locking hubs. Said Power Wagon is delivered only in 4WD configurations.

Reviewers claim, meantime, that this hefty Ram pickup shows some better-than-average moves and offers a ride that is often hoped for from truck owners, but seldom achieved. But all reviews caution that, drive-wise, it'll never be mistaken for a sports car or even a family sedan.

The standard powertrain for all trims and sub-trims remains a 383-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that’s managed by the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission to put out 400 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission is also available lineup-wide, while an auxiliary transmission-fluid cooler is again standard with the V8. Towing, meantime, is maxed out at 14,300 pounds with the available 4.1 rear axle ratio and standard hitch and wiring combo.

Should a bit more trailer-towing oomph be needed, all 2013 Ram 2500 trims can be delivered with an optional 6.7-liter Cummins inline 6-cylinder (I6) turbodiesel engine that mates with a standard 6-speed manual transmission for 350 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque. Look for towing to be maxed out at 17,250 pounds with the proper equipment.

Need even more power? A heavy-duty 6-speed automatic transmission can be mated with the turbodiesel six-banger to put out 385 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque, which translates into a maximum towing capacity of 18,350 pounds with the proper equipment installed. Unsurprisingly, mileage estimates are not available for Ram 2500 engines.

Standard appearance, convenience and comfort features for the basic Tradesman Regular cab trim include 17-inch steel wheels, a trailer hitch and wiring, vinyl upholstery, vehicle information display, cruise control, tilt-wheel steering, air conditioning and an AM/FM stereo with 6 speakers and a USB port. Tradesman Crew cab editions additionally sport split-folding rear seats and full power accessories, including heated power-adjustable mirrors.

SLT trim levels add a sliding rear window, an electronic trailer brake controller, more exterior chrome, cloth upholstery and satellite radio, while the off-road-ready Power Wagon chips in 17-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, skid-plates, manual 4WD high-lo gear selection, a 4.56 rear axle ratio, electrically adaptable front anti-roll bars, quad headlights, rooftop running lights, a front-mounted electric winch and Bluetooth hands-free calling.

The beginner-luxury Laramie flaunts its status with heated power-adjustable front bucket seats, leather upholstery, reclining rear seats, a remote garage door opener, rear-view camera and rear parking sensors, as well a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, memory for driver's settings and 4 additional speakers. Finally, the Laramie Longhorn Edition shows what true luxury looks like in a pickup by adding step running boards, power-adjustable pedals, rear parking sensors, upgraded cabin appointments and a hard-drive-based navigation suite integrated into the brand-new Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen display.

Optional equipment depends, of course, on the choice of trim, and includes remote engine start, a power sunroof, RamBox Cargo Management, a single-CD player and, in Crew and Mega cab trims, rear-seat DVD entertainment.

Finally, besides its hefty size, the 2013 Ram 2500 lineup boats such standard safety features as 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags and front head airbags (front and rear head airbags in 6-passenger cabs). All trims are delivered with dusk-sensing headlights and a post-collision safety system, with the Laramie, Power Wagon and Longhorn Edition additionally offering front fog/driving lights and a remote antitheft alarm (optional in the SLT). The Long Horn Edition, meantime, sports standard turn-signal-integrated mirrors.