Latest news with #RAMTRX
Herald Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Herald Sun
Ram to bring V8 engines back to utes
'Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine', Elvis Presley once said, perfectly encapsulating the bent-eight's enduring appeal both in the US and Australia, so you don't need much of an imagination to figure out what happened when Ram dropped it from its iconic full-size 1500 ute. Sales slumped, profits plummeted, shares fell, dealers revolted, and unions waged war over shutdowns and enforced lay-offs that eventually triggered the Stellantis group's own chief executive to fall on his sword. MORE: US dealers lash out over falling Jeep, Ram sales V8 power makes the RAM TRX an incredibly desirable ute. Picture: Thomas Wielecki In reality, it's dubious the King ever said the original V8 quote and it would be stretching the truth to say dumping the V8 was the root of either Ram's or Stellantis' crippling issues but when an available scapegoat is on hand, who wouldn't want to grab it with both hands and bask in the warm fuzzy glow of giving diehard enthusiasts with the loudest voices exactly what they want? 'Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle it defines you', said Ram chief executive Tim Kuniskis. 'Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi – we own it and we fixed it.' MORE: Driving the six-cylinder Ram 1500 RAM finished production of Hemi-powered V8 utes in 2024. Picture: Supplied Dragged back from retirement to save Ram, the former chief executive only returned last December and was well aware of the PR mileage in saving the American Dream. Reviving the V8 wasn't as easy as you'd think. The recently updated Ram 1500 ute had been reengineered for Stellantis next-generation Atlantis High electric architecture that had never been developed to work with the ageing V8. Engineers estimated dropping the V8 back in the big ute would take up to 18 months, but Kuniskis' assembled team achieved it in just six. MORE: End of an era for V8 icon A new six-cylinder engine in the Ram 1500 has plenty of power. Picture: Supplied Helping save face, the official party line is the V8 isn't a replacement for the all-new Hurricane twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder, just merely a tool to broaden choice within the line-up. Not that any old 5.7-litre Hemi was chosen for the Ram 1500, with the most sophisticated mild-hybrid eTorque Hemi picked from the Jeep Wagoneer that delivers 295kW of power and 556Nm of torque, with the latter boosted by a short burst of 176Nm when needed for overtakes and smooth engine shut off when not. MORE: Electrified 'Ramcharger' revealed The V8's belt-driven alternator and 48-volt battery also help smooth cylinder deactivation and offers near seamless stop-start in traffic. Sounds good if you conveniently ignore the far more efficient inline-six's maximum 403kW and 707Nm peak torque but one thing the trick Hurricane engine can never match is the beloved V8 burble and the new Hemi-powered 1500s now come with a standard sports exhaust to maximise that advantage. In the US the V8 is also a surprisingly affordable $US1200 ($A1850) option on most standard-output inline-six Ram 1500s, while a no-cost extra on the high-grade Limited and Longhorn variants but it's not available on the flagship RHO. There's no word yet on what's happened to the 523kW supercharged 6.2-litre V8 that powered the 1500 TRX but with most of the work already done a reboot could be on the cards. Other than its thumping soundtrack, identifying a V8-powered Ram 1500 isn't easy but there are new 'Symbol of Protest' badges on the front fenders that fuses a demonic ram's head on a V8 engine block. MORE: Driving the Ram TRX at Black Rock Former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares stepped down after revolt from Jeep and Ram dealers. Photo: AFP With clear demand for the V8 Down Under, you might expect the local Ram outfit would be screaming out for the bent-eight's return but with Australia's own emission standards, adopted at the beginning of this year, the chances of V8 renaissance under the 1500 bonnet has narrowed. There's also the small matter of the lengthy estimated 12-18 months it will take for the V8 to be reengineered for a right-hand drive conversion. With predicted 2027 arrival it's no wonder Ram Australia hasn't been quick to carefully manage expectations for the 1500 V8 Down Under. The new Ram 1500 has 'Hurricane' six-cylinder power. Picture: Supplied 'The return of the Hemi V8 is a decision that has been made for the US market. As it stands today, there is no guarantee the Hemi V8 will return to Australian showrooms. 'However, customers have also embraced the new Hurricane twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder engine'. 'With more power and torque – and better efficiency – than the previous 5.7-litre Hemi V8, we believe the new Hurricane engine series will, over time, become iconic in its own right.' Even without the V8 revival kicking in, with an industry veteran behind the wheel Ram retail sales have already crept up by 16 per cent in the first quarter of this year, with analysts predicting a whopping 40 per cent bump in Q2 alone. Throw in EVs that arrive in 2027 and the range-extender Ramcharger that lands later his year, plus rumours of new mid-size utes to fight the Ranger and the future is brighter but not yet assured for the US brand. While everyone warmly greets the return of the V8, the real work continues behind the scenes to tackle poor quality and worse reliability, while somehow find the cash needed to build a future line-up of truly desirable utes worthy of the King, with or without a V8. Originally published as Ram to bring V8 engines back to utes
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
19-year-old faces car theft charges in Memphis, Nashville
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A 19-year-old accused of crimes in Memphis and Nashville is now being held in jail on a $500,000 bond after detectives say he stopped and waved at them while driving a stolen truck. Bryun Watkins is facing theft of property $60,000-$250,000 and vandalism $1,000-$2,500 charges after Memphis Police say he stole a RAM TRX truck last month. Arrest made in gas station shooting that left 2 injured In court, prosecutors say even though the incident was non-violent, Watkins' extensive juvenile record and continued threat to public safety warranted a high bond amount. According to the Shelby County District Attorney's Office, Watkins also has a pending charge in Nashville relating to a separate car theft involving four other suspects. On May 9, detectives say they saw a stolen white Ram TRX in the area of Hollywood Street and Staten Avenue. That is when the detectives say they parked across the street from the location and watched. Shortly afterward, the driver of the stolen vehicle pulled out of the parking lot and parked directly in front of the detective, blocking them in. The driver then waved at the detectives, whom they immediately recognized as Bryun Watkins. They say they also recognized the juvenile sitting in the front passenger seat. Two unknown individuals were also reported in the backseat. Ex-property management employee charged with burglarizing homes As the detectives called for backup, the driver allegedly sped off in the stolen vehicle that had a broken window on the passenger side and no tag. Detectives say they later found the stolen vehicle unoccupied in the area of Lenow Place and Lenow Park. They say the vehicle's ECM has been reprogrammed, causing the owner's keys to no longer function. Waktins was booked into jail on May 30. He is due back in court on June 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Can A Tonneau Cover Really Save You Money On Gas, Or Is It Just Another Myth?
Gas in America is pretty cheap compared to world average for prices, but it's always nice to try and extend your mileage, save a few bucks, and protect a couple of ice caps in the process. If you are looking for fuel-efficiency in your truck, then you might have heard that fitting a tonneau cover is a good place to start, but is this true? And, if so, just how much fuel could covering your pickup bed really help to save? A tonneau cover is a handy accessory that turns your truck bed into a covered trunk. It's the kind of kit that's for people who wish they had the practicality of a wagon or SUV, but still want the conveniences of a pick-up truck. Covering up your truck bed might not sound like a great way of increasing efficiency, but the idea behind this rumor is that the cover could make your vehicle more aerodynamic. A more aerodynamic truck would be a more efficient truck, as less resistance equates to less fuel burned to get you up to speed. Read more: Apparently It's Illegal To Put A 'For Sale' Sign In Your Truck Now Covering your truck bed with a tonneau cover brings a few immediate benefits: it keeps the rain off all the stuff you're carrying, adds an extra level of security to protect our belongings and, in the eyes of some people, even sharpens up the styling on your truck. Should you add saving money on gas to the list of advantages, though? This is a claim that's been batted around in truck circles for a while now, as it's claimed that fitting a cover to your bed will decrease the air resistance on your truck as it drives along. Using the cover means that air rushing over the bed flows across the truck's body smoothly as it's not trapped by the bed walls, explained Forbes. The cover means there could be less turbulence around the truck and, therefore, less drag as you're driving along, which some owners report led to an increase in fuel economy. However, others have reported little difference in mpg -- keep in mind that there are other factors that go into mpg like driving habits and vehicle weight, though. The fuel savings you can expect from using a tonneau cover are a little hit and miss, but when Forbes tested the effectiveness of a cover on a RAM TRX the results were pretty significant. Before fitting the cover, the TRX could manage 8 to 9 mpg in the city and up to 12 on the highway. While there was little difference in town, Forbes stated the economy on the highway was much better: Thanks to the improved aerodynamics of a covered bed, I am now noticing 12.5 to 13 mpg on the open road. On a recent roundtrip from home to LAX, I noted 13.4 mpg over the 100.5-mile trip (including the stop-and-go traffic around the airport). On a second trip to the San Fernando Valley and back, I averaged 14.7 mpg over the 54.0-mile trip. If you want to get the best fuel savings from your cover, then it's important to opt for a simple, lightweight cover as heavier options could negate any advantages, Real Truck added in research of its own. You'll be pleased to hear that fitting a tonneau cover isn't the only way to try and increase the woefully bad fuel efficiency of your pickup truck. If you're not satisfied with 8 mpg (who would be?) from your pickup then there are a few other tricks you can try. Taping up the seams on your car is a particularly obsessive way to make your vehicle more aerodynamic, as is ensuring your tires are at the correct pressure whenever you head out on a long journey. You can also take steps like limiting when you use the A/C, using the correct oil in your engine, and avoiding idling to keep fuel economy high. The easiest way to up your economy is to watch how you drive, however, as lower speeds can save you valuable cash. In fact, every additional 5 mph that you travel above 50 mph can cost you an additional seven cents per gallon of gas. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
