Coming midway through 2018 will be a third model of full size pick-ups from RAM Australia. The 1500 will join the larger 2500 and 3500 series that were launched in 2015. Pricing is yet to be confirmed but each will be offered with a comprehensive 3-year 100,000km warranty.
To be clear, this will be the 2018 model year fourth-generation RAM 1500 and not the fifth-generation version recently revealed at the Detroit Motor Show in January. The 276kW 6.7-litre Cummins turbodiesel that propels the larger RAM trucks isn’t employed in the 1500, though, where instead it uses a naturally aspirated 5.7-litre HEMI V8 petrol that outputs 294kW and 556Nm, reaching all four wheels after being funnelled through an 8-speed automatic transmission.
While that’s about half as much torque as offered by the 2500 (1,084Nm), RAM seems confident that it will serve the needs of the Australian market more than adequately, with a tow capacity rated at 6.9-tonnes.
Like its larger siblings, the RAM 1500 will arrive imported directly from the United Stats as a left-hand drive vehicle before undergoing an extensive remanufacture program for right-hand drive conversion, first involving a chassis and body separation followed by the fitment of a locally designed and manufactured dashboard with RHD-specific heating and ventilation final before reassembly.
RAM Trucks Australia’s Chief Operating Officer, Alex Stewart, said: “We are not just providing vehicles designed to tow big loads across our big country […] but we’re also employing top engineers, designers and automotive technicians, as well as local component companies to work with us.”
“This is something of which we are extremely proud, almost as proud as we are of the expanded range of RAM Trucks that we’ll be selling across Australia and New Zealand!”
In addition to offering the what might very well be the highest towing capacity in this class as well as leading levels cargo space and cab interior, the RAM 1500 will also be offered with the unique RamBox cargo management system, providing more versatility to the truck’s 2-metre long tub.
