Kiwi EV fans shouldn’t be immediately revved up by Super Bowl surprise.

ASSUMING a right-hand-drive programme is even considered, Ram Trucks Australia would not be able to begin production of the electric edition fully unveiled yesterday until 2024 at the very earliest.

That’s conjecture from Australia’s Wheels magazine, expressed in a website article about the Ram 1500 REV.

 The publication says the Melbourne operation, Ram Trucks Australia, which secures brand-new stock from America then re-engineers it to factory standard and has just celebrated having reworked its 20,000th unit, has yet to confirm if the REV will even be considered for conversion.

“…but if it is confirmed, a one- to two-year delay is likely.”

The new model, Ram’s first fully-electric product, was previewed in a 60-second commercial (above) shown during the Super Bowl, the United States' biggest sporting event of the year.

Ram subsequently released the images seen today, but is keeping technical information to a minimum at present, though it has confirmed production in the United States for domestic market supply will start next year. As of yesterday, US customers can pre-order the vehicle with a refundable $US100 deposit. 

The Rev is a close lookalike for the Ram 1500 petrol models, but although the maker agrees it retains the current body, that top is placed upon a new STLA Frame electric vehicle platform.

This modular platform is intended for body-on-frame electric vehicles, with an 800-volt electric architecture, support for up to 350kW DC fast charging, and a driving range of around 800 kilometres. It allows for large battery packs sized between 159kWh and 200kWh. 

The production model’s unveiling comes just a few weeks on from the make showing off a concept, called the Ram 1500 Revolution, at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The one heading to the showroom isn’t as adventurous in look as the styling study. 

Styling differences between the regular 1500 and the Rev are limited to a redesigned front end inspired by the concept, unique alloy wheels, and a new LED signature for the tail-lights. 

In addition, it features Ram's updated badging, with the changes likely to be mirrored when a facelifted version of the Ram 1500, which launched in 2019, arrives in 2024 or 2025, Wheels believes.

Inside, the Ram 1500 Rev retains the portrait-orientated Uconnect 5 infotainment screen, but it is larger, while it features a passenger-side widescreen display similar to a unit in the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

Ram claims the 1500 Rev will "lead the competition" for range, payload, towing and charge time.

Commentators believe this suggests it should eclipse the 4.5-tonne capacity of the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV, and perhaps even the claimed 6.35-tonne limit of the much-touted, but as yet still to be built Tesla Cybertruck.

 Owned by Ateco Group, whose NZ distribution operates from Auckland, Ram Trucks Australia is the world’s only Ram-authorised re-manufacturer. All vehicles it delivers are "international specification" vehicles, uniquely coded for the Australasian market and the local build process.

Ram Trucks Australia now employs 641 assembly workers, engineers and office staff and has become the biggest vehicle assembler in Australia. There are 361 locally-developed parts fitted on the DS-series Ram 1500, 402 unique components on the DT-series Ram 1500, and 465 unique components on the heavy-duty models.

The landmark total just celebrated comprises 18,000 Ram vehicles sold in Australia, 1000 exported to New Zealand and another 1000 in transit on their way to dealers. The 20,000th example built was a 6.2-litre supercharged V8-powered Ram 1500 TRX in Hydro Blue. The TRX is a $250,000 buy-in here.