Final hemi-powered RAM 1500 rolls off the line

The final V8-powered RAM 1500 rolled off Walkinshaw Automotive’s remanufacturing line last week in preparation for the arrival of the new six-cylinder-only model in the first half of next year.

Undeniably the instigator of the local full-sized pick-up craze, the RAM 1500 was a hit from the moment it arrived on Aussie soil back in late 2015 and that popularity rarely faltered as Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota all got in on the act.

A special ceremony was held at Walkinshaw’s Clayton facility on Friday to mark the completion of the 28,495th and final V8 1500, a vehicle devoid of any special badging, equipment or plans.

“We haven’t put a ‘final V8’ badge on this particular example because, to us, they’re all special,” RAM Trucks Australia general manager Jeff Barber said.

“But once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

Like the vast majority of other 1500s, the final DT Series 1500 will be allocated and transported accordingly to a dealership for sale and delivery as demand for the ‘hemi’ engine surges in the lead-up to its replacement by the ‘Hurricane’ turbo-six.

A RAM Trucks Australia spokesperson said there was only limited stock left of the current model, something Barber added could lead to a few customers missing out.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response to the hemi V8 runout … we hope to have enough stock to fulfil most orders,” he said.

“We will have a very worthy successor next year powered by a new-generation turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine, but we will have more to say about that closer to local showroom arrivals.”

The new twin-turbo 3.0-litre powertrain will be good for between 313kW/636Nm and 403kW/706Nm depending on which version RAM Trucks Australia imports, however both iterations spank the outbound V8 (291kW/556Nm) for both power and torque, and should use less fuel in the process.

If we get the high-output system, the new 1500 will be jettisoned straight to the top of the class for outright power but will lag behind the electrified Toyota Tundra on torque (706Nm vs 790Nm).

A 3.6-litre ‘Pentastar’ V6 will also be available on entry-level models in the US, however Australia’s appetite for the punchiest systems available and current segment trends effectively rule it out for our market.

The 2025 RAM 1500 will arrive Down Under in the first half of next year, leaving the Chevrolet Silverado as the last V8-powered offering in the class.