Ram Trucks confirmed for Australia

[Wretched]

Oversized, overpowered and soon-to-be over here.

Australia's increasing appetite for American-derived utes is set to be appeased later this year with confirmation that RAM Trucks will be sold nationally under a new deal.

In a move which is likely to stimulate interest from rival OEM manufacturers locally, Ateco Automotive and the Walkinshaw Group have teamed to form a new venture known as American Special Vehicles. The deal will call upon the Walkinshaw Group, owner of Holden Special Vehicles, to professionally convert left-hand drive RAMs to suit Australian road rules, while Ateco Automotive will look after the importation, sale and distribution of the vehicles.

Two models are set to be offered in Australia under the new deal: the RAM 2500 crew cab pick-up and the RAM 3500 crew cab pick, both utilising a Cummins-derived 6.7-litre turbo diesel engine. In the US the in-line six cylinder makes 260kW and a mammoth 1084Nm of torque.

The top-end Ram 3500 diesel can carry more than 3.3 tonnes in the tray and tow payloads of more 13 tonnes in the US, specifications that would require drivers in Australia to carry a rigid truck licence. By comparison, popular four-wheel-drive utes such as the Ford Ranger have a towing capacity of just 3.5 tonnes.

Ram is likely to target mining, caravan, equestrian and industrial operators, although exact pricing and specification is yet to be confirmed.

Similar-sized Ford F250 models imported and converted by Queensland's Performax International are priced from $105,000 plus on-road costs.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, Walkinshaw and Ateco confirmed the vehicles would be imported directly from the factory in left-hand drive before being converted to right-hand drive specification by the Walkinshaw Group's production line out of Melbourne.

"Our engineers and manufacturing teams have relished the challenge of designing hundreds of OE quality parts, and implementing a completely unique build process," owner Ryan Walkinshaw said.
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"The objective was very clear - produce a right hand drive RAM pick-up that meets the engineering standards, quality, and refinement of the left-hand drive product.

"We have invested millions of dollars and tens of thousands of man-hours to ensure we met our objective – the RAM pick-ups engineered by American Special Vehicles set a new benchmark and I couldn't be more excited. They are absolutely spot on."

Ateco Automotive has agreed to import and distribute vehicles under the new deal, with each right-hand drive RAM to be backed by a three-year, 100,000km warranty.

"The American Special Vehicles RAM pick-ups will be produced with full volume import approval, meaning they will be fully compliant with Australian Design Rules and that American Special Vehicles will be the sole importer of RAM models covered by that approval," a statement from Ateco said.

"Right-hand drive RAM pick-ups engineered by American Special Vehicles go on sale across Australia and New Zealand later this year. They will be covered by a comprehensive three year, 100,000km warranty along with full parts and service support."

Ateco is encouraging prospective buyers to register interest at www.ramtrucks.com.au

Meantime, Fiat Chrysler Australia is still investigating bringing in smaller pick-ups to Australia such as the RAM 1500.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/r...20-gkdk5t.html

[cheap]

Yep, just need to rebuild my garage/house to accomodate the beast. Also need to replan shopping trips as taking up two adjacent spots is required, I guess shopping at 01:00am might be on the cards. I love it when a car mandates your lifestyle (not).

[GasoLane]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to just stuff a bigger pair of socks in your jocks ?

[malazn mafia]

So goodbye HSV, hello ASV?

[Top_Ghia]

$40,000 US truck = $120,000 Australian truck = fail.

[JC]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

$40,000 US truck = $120,000 Australian truck = fail.

Not really. 40K USD is roughly $70k AUD at the moment, and the additional $50k means jobs for Aussies.

[THE SLUG]

Yes please!!!

[Brazen]

Arrgh, once again these locally converted pickups have blown a chance to get a real foot in the market.

Ateco should not have any involvement, instead they should be selling them through the Dodge/Jeep/Chysler dealers. Factory warranty, servicing, parts, and big nation wide dealer network.

Same with Performax - their conversions are better than factory they should sell the F series through Ford dealers as a Ford product.

[Trump]

Fail. No factory RHD and the economies of scale it brings, no care.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Same with Performax - their conversions are better than factory they should sell the F series through Ford dealers as a Ford product.

I've got two customers with imported and converted rides.

One has a 2014 RAM 2500 converted by Shogun in the Philippines and the conversion is spot on.

One has a 6L Powerstroke F250 (2005) converted by VDC and its pox, admittedly its older but no way in hell would I have been happy with that conversion.

The foot brake goes in but doesn't release.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

$40,000 US truck = $120,000 Australian truck = fail.

It wish $40k were true. Perhaps a Hemi 4x2 with basic trim? To get a Laramie 4x4 Cummins, you are looking at around $52k with cloth, $62k with leather. Though with rebates and discounts, sometimes about $5k-10k off that.

[Hulsty]

Good to here the announcement, as others have said its good for Australian jobs, my work has been working on it for awhile, already sent them a bunch of parts.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

$40,000 US truck = $120,000 Australian truck = fail.

It's a bit expensive, but remember the Land Cruiser 200 goes for $110,000. People buy them.

If the Ram was sold for less than 90k that would be a reasonable price I guess.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I've got two customers with imported and converted rides.

I know Performax manufacturers interior parts that improve on the factory fit and finish.

I would like to see Ford Australia work with them for official distribution, even do low volume exports to the UK and Japan - good emergency service/intensive care ambulance vehicle.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by JC

Not really. 40K USD is roughly $70k AUD at the moment, and the additional $50k means jobs for Aussies.

Err, can I have some US dollars exchanged by you...my bank only wants to give me $55K Aust for $40K US....

[2011G6E]

Only if we can have them for a similar deal to what I heard on the car radio in Vegas..."Come to Henderson Dodge, get a twin cab 1500 Ram hemi pickup for no money down, 72 months interest free, $270 a month!"...

That was in 2013 however...They still do zero percent finance but I believe they're much more expensive these days...they start at $26,000 now...

And don't tell me no one would buy a base model one to customise...of course they would. One USA high school at the time was being criticized by green groups for giving away just such a base model pickup to graduating students who got a good grade average...not excellent, just good. It was extremely popular apparently and kids were lining up to grab them.

[barnz_xr8]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Err, can I have some US dollars exchanged by you...my bank only wants to give me $55K Aust for $40K US....

hey what's ten grand between friends.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Only if we can have them for a similar deal to what I heard on the car radio in Vegas..."Come to Henderson Dodge, get a twin cab 1500 Ram hemi pickup for no money down, 72 months interest free, $270 a month!"...

That was in 2013 however...They still do zero percent finance but I believe they're much more expensive these days...they start at $26,000 now...

And don't tell me no one would buy a base model one to customise...of course they would. One USA high school at the time was being criticized by green groups for giving away just such a base model pickup to graduating students who got a good grade average...not excellent, just good. It was extremely popular apparently and kids were lining up to grab them.

The leasing deals they advertise seam extremely cheap, if there are no hidden costs that is. I could probably lease a high end euro for a lot
less than the repayments on my Ranger.

[98TLS]

I see there coming across the ditch as well,probably not such a big deal for you lot over there as surely your roads are better than ours...dont get me wrong everything has a purpose but most of em sold here will be used to drop kids off at kindy and annoy the **** outta everyone else.If it gives people jobs then thats a plus for sure.

[csv8]

Ram deals in USA...http://www.bastropdodge.com/austin-d...ck-best-price/

[TUF_302]

Big American trucks are cool, end of story!

[chevypower]

I wonder if Australia will get the 3500 with Aisin option. That has 290 kW / 1220 Nm.

[Brodes]

Australia's increasing appetite for American-derived utes

Did I miss something?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Brodes

Did I miss something?

Yep, some of my customers have them as their daily drivers.

[mr smith]

These things are rubbish. Less of them on the roads the better.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by mr smith

These things are rubbish. Less of them on the roads the better.

Do you care to provide any specifics or real-world experience?

[Brodes]

I don't like them myself & I can't stand seeing obnoxiously huge vehicles like this on the road (slowly turning into 'Merica). But when they are bought for a needed purpose I'm fine with that, it's just when you see them being driven by soccer mums and the like, it annoys me - people who just buy & drive as bigger vehicle as possible just because that can afford it. I could rant on about the wasted fuel they consume and the environmental consequences but I'll stop there.

But who am I to criticise with my daily-driver fuel guzzling V8 sedan, I'm just as bad in many eyes, we could all drive around in micro-hybrids but how happy would we be?