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