The North American International Auto Show in Detroit was loaded with introductions of concept cars, crossovers and new sedans.

In addition to glitzy concepts, Dodge and Ford took the wraps off their redesigned pickup trucks, which are important to the company’s bottom line.

Here’s a quick rundown of each. Both go on sale this fall, and prices have not been announced.Dodge Ram

The all-new Ram has a number of firsts for Dodge, including a coil-spring, multi-link rear axle, a 380-horsepower Hemi engine and an interior whose design and craftsmanship are “better than anything from the Chrysler Group,” according to Mike Accavitti, director of Dodge brand and SRT marketing communications. He described the Laramie trim level of the Ram cockpit as “beautiful.”

The 2009 Dodge Ram is offered in regular cab, quad cab and crew cab, with three box lengths. Engine choices include a 5.7-liter Hemi, a 4.7-liter V-8 and a 3.7-liter V-6. A light-duty diesel engine will be offered after 2009, and a dual-mode hybrid will be ready for 2010.

Accavitti said that after listening to customers, Dodge adapted the coil-spring rear suspension for a softer ride because trucks are more than a work vehicle or a mobile office — they are often family vehicles, too.

The coil-spring rear suspension does not limit the truck’s load-carrying capability, Accavitti said.

The Ram will be available in a crew cab model because it is the most popular configuration. Handy crew cab features include storage boxes built into the floor in front of the rear seat and storage compartments integrated into the top of the rear fenders. The lockable, weatherproof fender compartments are large enough to hold golf clubs, fishing rods or toolboxes.

The new Ram will also be available with a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats. Sirius backseat TV is also optional.

Anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control with trailer sway control and hill start assist are available.

Ford F-150

Ford has sold more than 33 million F-series pickups since 1948. The 2009 F-150 is key to the company’s success. It is built at Ford’s Kansas City assembly plant in Claycomo and the Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Mich.

Ford redesigned the F-150 inside and out. Beneath the new sheet metal is a high-strength, lighter-weight chassis that has hydroformed side rails that deliver a 10 percent increase in torsional rigidity.

The Ford F-150 is available in three cab styles, with four box lengths and seven unique trim levels. That means there are 35 different configurations.

The SuperCrew cab has been stretched 6 inches, and the second-row seat flips up and out of the way to create a flat load floor that has 57.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

The F-150 has standard roll stability control and trailer sway control, as well as an optional rearview camera and an integrated trailer brake controller that Ford says is a first for light-duty pickups.

The F-150 will be offered with V-8 engines, mated to either a four-speed or a six-speed automatic transmission. The engines include a 5.4-liter, three-valve Triton V-8 that can run on E85 ethanol; a 4.6-liter, three-valve; or a 4.6-liter, two-valve engine. Diesel and turbocharged, direct-injection gasoline engines are planned for 2010.

The F-150’s cabin has a console that is large enough to store two laptop computers, and it has molded ridges that can hold file folders.

Luxury is not ignored. The F-150’s Platinum trim level will rival a luxury sedan, with its leather 10-way captain’s chairs, ash wood grain accents and brushed aluminum panels. Sixteen-spoke, 20-inch wheels are also part of the Platinum package.