Farewell V8 and TRX as updated Ram 1500 debuts with a Hurricane

With recent focus having been on the eventually revealed Rampage in Brazil and the now confirmed spiritual replacement for the smaller Dakota, Stellantis has taken the wraps off of the facelift Ram 1500 due to go on-sale in the United States next year.

Still brawny

Expected to be followed later by the 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty models, the first extensive makeover since the current fifth generation DT Ram’s world debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit five years ago sees not only the return of the Ramcharger moniker, but also the demise of the Hemi V8 engine in favour of the Hurricane straight-six turbo available until in the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer until now.

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Billed as the “no comprise benchmark in durability, technology, safety and efficiency”, Ram’s rival for the Ford F-150 receives an updated aesthetic in the shape of restyled LED headlights, a choice of up to eight grille designs with the block letter R-A-M logo, new alloy wheels and what Ram calls a new character line down the side.

At the rear, the changes are smaller and consists of tweaked LED light clusters. New, though, is an automatically opening multi-function tailgate, drainage outlets within the RamBox storage compartments integrated into the upper rear panels, and an on-board inverter with two outlets capable of providing up to 1.8 kW.

A slider loadbed divider with four positions within the loadbox rounds the exterior off, along with a reworked colour palette comprising nine hues; Bright White, Baltic Grey, Daimond Black, Billet Silver, River Rock, Flame Red, Hydro Blue, Delmonico Red and Ivory White Tri-Coat.

Underneath and inside

Besides the introduction of the Hurricane engine, which has resulted in not only the end of the Hemi but also the supercharged Ram TRX, the latter due to the Ramcharger, Ram has kept the 1500’s unchanged underneath, meaning the availability of model depended air suspension and a choice of three axle ratios.

For the Hurricane, Ram has revised the rear axle and fitted either a conventional or limited slip differential depending on buyer preference. Regardless of rear-or-four-wheel-drive, an electronic rear diff-lock comes standard.

Inside, Ram has been equally as extensive by upgrading the 12-inch digital instrument cluster and equipping the flagship 14.5-inch infotainment system with the latest Uconnect 5 software.

In addition to upgraded materials, a pair of wireless smartphone chargers and a digital rear-view mirror, a 10.25-inch display, similar to that of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, resides in front of the passenger on higher-end models.

Range-topping Tungsten

As for trim levels, the Tradesman, Big Horn, Laramie, Rebel, Longhorn and Limited grades remain, but now rounded off by a new Tungsten derivative as the line-up’s range topper.

The most luxurious Ram 1500 ever conceived, the Tungsten’s array of features and tech comprise the electric tailgate as standard, a model specific Indigo/Sea Salt interior, heated, ventilated and electric Nappa leather quilted seats with a massaging function for the fronts, a suede roofliner, diamond-knurled Tungsten inserts and electric headrests.

Completing the Tungsten is a tungsten finished VIN number plaque, unique 20-inch alloy wheels and a 23-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere sound system.

On the safety side, and again depending on the trim level, the Ram 1500’s comes equipped with a Head-Up Display, Active Driving Assist, a 360-degree surround-view camera, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Assist, Driver Attention Alert, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rollover Mitigation and Traffic Sign Recognition.

From petrol to EV

Up front, the departure of the 5.7 V8 leaves the stalwart 3.6 Pentastar V6 as the sole carryover combustion powerunit with outputs of 227kW/365Nm, or an additional nine kilowatts and 53 Nm over short spells when fitted with the 48-volt mild-hybrid eAssist system.

Remaining a petrol-only model after the dropping of the 3.0 EcoDiesel at the beginning of the year due to poor sales, the highly awaited 3.0-litre straight-six Hurricane comes in two states of tune; 313kW/635Nm and 403kW/706Nm in models bearing the High Output moniker.

As before, all engines are paired to a rotary-dial eight-speed automatic gearbox with low range standard on four-wheel-drive versions.

Shown at the New York International Auto Show in April this year, the all-electric Ram 1500 REV, based on the commercial vehicle optimised STLA Frame platform, also continues without change and, therefore, available in two models; 168-kWh variant and the range-topping 229-kWh model.

Both battery packs power a pair of 250 kW electric motors on each axle with claimed respective ranges of 563 km and 805 km.

Welcome back Ramcharger

Distinguished from the rest of the 1500 range by a secondary flap for the charging port, EV-specific LED headlights, aerodynamic optimised alloy wheels and a unique grille, the Ramcharger revives a name last used in 2001 on a two-door SUV version of the second generation Ram 1500 sold exclusively in Brazil.

Resplendent before that on a two-door SUV marketed in the States over two generations between 1974 and 1993, the Ramcharger effectively serves as Ram’s rival to the updated Ford F-150 PowerBoost by combining a petrol engine with an electric motor and battery for a plug-in hybrid configuration.

Pairing the Pentastar with a 92-kWh electric motor driving a front mounted 250 kW electric and a rear axle positioned 238 kW module, the combined output is 495kW/833Nm, which represents a power and torque deficit of 28kW/50Nm over the TRX.

Able to get from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.4 seconds, the Ram 1500 Ramcharger has a claimed electric range of 233 km and supports DC charging up to 145 kW.

According to Ram, the claimed payload is 1 191 kg and tow rating 6 350 kg. Included in the electric powertrain is a 130 kW generator.

RHD want, RHD denied

Still to be priced with the High Output Hurricane only becoming available in the final quarter of next year, the Ram 1500 will continue be sold solely in North America with the likely only exception being Australia, where right-hand-drive conversation takes place at the behest of former Holden tuner, Walkinshaw Automotive.

Despite well publicised comments by former Ram bosses Mike Manley and Mike Koval about making Ram a world marque, with factory approved right and left-hand-drive production, for now, in-house production remains a left hooking affair only.

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