GLAM RAM

FORGET ANY PRECONCEPTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT AMERICAN PICK-UP TRUCKS. THE RAM 1500 LIMITED IS A LARGE LUXURY VEHICLE THAT JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE A FUNCTIONAL CARGO BED BEHIND ITS SPACIOUS CABIN.

- MATT RAUDONIKIS

ACCESS to American trucks took on a whole new persona a few years back when factory-backed offerings became available through Ram Trucks Australia and HSV/GMSV for the Chevrolet products. They had been available in the past through a range of importers, but these vehicles, each re-engineered to righthand drive by Walkinshaw in Melbourne, are as close as you can get to direct from the manufacturer here in Australia.

Ram Trucks Australia (RTA) is a product of huge vehicle importer Ateco Automotive and has, until now, only been importing the older DS version of the Ram 1500. In 2019, Ram released the new DT series 1500 in the USA which it sells alongside the older DS series vehicle, while Australian buyers have had to wait until now to get a DT directly through RTA.

The DT Ram is available in two specifications from RTA: the Ram 1500 Laramie starts at $114,950, while the Ram 1500 Limited, which we have on test here, starts at $139,950. Ram 1500 DS ‘Classic’ Express and Warlock variants are still available from as low as $79,950.

POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE

ALL Ram 1500s sold in Australia by RTA are powered by the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 petrol engine, with the difference between the DT and DS Classic models being that the newer DT engines feature a mild hybrid system for improved efficiency. This system uses 48-volt electrics and a belt-driven generator to ease stop/start operation and be able to send torque back to the crankshaft for brief intervals for a mild boost in performance.