It’s triple wham from America’s mega-ute maker.

THE biggest target for anti-ute types is about to go fully large in this market.

Turns out the RAM 1500, despite already standing head and shoulders above the one-tonne traydecks that Kiwis are still buying into with great enthusiasm, is not ‘mega’ enough for fans of heavyweight American carryalls.

Accordingly, RAM Trucks New Zealand, a division of the Ateco distributor group, has announced the model’s more gargantuan siblings, the 2500 and 3500, are also en-route, with delivery signalled to start next month.

Each will each be offered in a single Laramie crew cab 4×4 specification, the first  from $179,990 and the biggest from $184,990. 

That’s a lot of money, yes, but also a lot of metal. The 3500 is 6347mm long, 2017mm wide, with a 4076mm wheelbase. The 2500 is a bit weenier; ‘just’ 6065mm long, 2120mm wide (including mirrors), with a 3784mm wheelbase.  

Optional extras are few: Just the $2000 Ram Driver Assist Package that avails to both and a RamBox, plus a tri-folding tonneau cover, that 2500 buyers can achieve for $5000. 

You might wonder who buys these things. For sure, they command a certain kind of clientele, but it’s a decent-sized audience.

The RAM 1500, after all, is already achieved 236 registrations year to date – that’s 25 units ahead of the model’s total tally for 2020. 

Under the bonnet of both new models is the latest 6.7-litre Cummins inline six turbodiesel. It produces 276kW of power and 1152Nm of torque. Both can subsequently tow large - the 2500’s capacity rated at 6.9 tonnes and the 3500’s capacity rated at 8.0 tonnes.

Thirst is not inconsiderable, of course – but big drinking is just a RAM thing. They’re all far more deserving of the ‘gas guzzler’ tag that critics seem keen to attach to everything tall with a tray and, generally, four-wheel-drive than, say, a Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux. Emissions are far higher, too. 

On its exhaust and fuel burn counts, RAM product would seem set to automatically cop the highest penalty possible when Government’s Clean Car legislation in respect to those matters inflicts from April 1, 2022.

Though there is a loophole the big machines could yet drive down to avoid that $5800 impost adding to their stickers. The legislation, remember, is specific to passenger and light commercials.

The RAMs are so heavy as to be barely within that latter group; in fact, realistically, once loaded with any kind of reasonable weight, they tip into a specialist licence category.

RAM might prefer that. Were the vehicles recategorized to require a driver to hold a heavy duty, rather than a regular, driver licence, the penalty is avoided. 

Comment has been sought from RAM Trucks NZ. They said no-one was available to talk today.  

Conceivably, the same route could be taken by the Chevrolet Silverado editions represented here by General Motors Specialist Vehicles. The Silverado also produces in the same formats as the RAMs, but for now there’s been no talk of a Chevy 3500 coming here in right-hand-drive.

Both rival models are, of course, converted with full factory authorisation in a common facility in Australia.