Dodge – The Ram Strikes Back
DODGE RAM REBEL
THE RAM STRIKES BACK
Words: Max Gonzaga
Certain things have to be black or white, Dodge or Ford, as in the case of the Ram and F150 pickups. The battle for hegemony in a segment that in the United States and in Australia has an important relevance not only in terms of sales continued for generations, so much that led car manufacturers to widen their proposals more and more, both regarding the engines, both the dimensions and finally the specs available.
In 2015, Dodge presented the ultimate weapon to keep fighting Ford’s legendary F150 and focused everything on the aggressiveness of its battle horse, or we should say its battle ram. The Ram, especially in the Rebel specification is the most anti-conformist and aggressive model you can find in the entire Dodge price list and not only thanks to a front-end specifically designed to inspire the deepest terror in the soul of those who will see you approaching from the rearview mirror, but also thanks to the iconic Hemi V8 that you can put under the hood. The 5.7cc V8 has always been the pinnacle of the Dodge food chain (until the arrival of the recent Hellcat of course), irrational choice in the old continent, morally obligatory where petrol does not cost as much as an entire Swarovski warehouse. Usually we talk about money at the end, but it is good to remember that regardless of how much it could cost you filling the tank – it’s huge – the price tag of one of these pick up is far from exorbitant, going once again to tick a fundamental box, being vehicles that are chosen also for work, and not purely for aesthetic reasons. Keep in mind that with about € 48,000 you start bringing home a complete package. And then, you already know that over the years these things have become more comfortable than those tables of iron with wheels that were from the late 70s to the 90s, but the ergonomics has not softened the warrior spirit of these off-road vehicles that claim to be used for what they can do best: get dirty and load several kilograms.
It is up to your needs to choose whether to opt for a Double Cab with 5 seats and 4 doors, or for a long wheelbase, or simply for the more classic version with only two doors and two seats, if possible. What I want to talk about right now is the Ram Rebel 1500, driven by the powerful V8 mentioned earlier and able to ground 395 horses at 5600 revs. Also its torque is remarkable, with 555Nm available at almost 4000 revs: essential figures allowing a vehicle of about 3 tons to move with a discrete agility and on any type of terrain. Ground clearance is one of the key ingredients that makes the Ram an undisputed protagonist even when you choose to leave the asphalt road and launch yourself for some wild adventure, maybe in the heart of some forest on your way to cut over half a ton of wood and load it on the wide platform at the back. If it is not enough, you can always take a trailer with you and use its towing capacity of 4,6 tons. The only limit seems to be that of your imagination and those of speed limits, at least when you will not be fully loaded and you want to lighten the voice of the double tailpipes exhaust, marked by a dark and muttering hum.
In addition to the new front grille, which characterizes most of the new generation Ram thanks to a dark mask overhung by a wide plastic profile, there are two air vents on the muscular bonnet, while opening the door and climbing into the passenger compartment you are greeted by a simple but well-ordered environment. There is everything you need, multifunction steering wheel, analog instrumentation with a digital display in the middle, air conditioning, audio system and sat-nav, controllable via the touch screen located in the center of the dashboard. There is no traditional shift lever, but a wheel located next to your right knee, next to which are also placed the buttons useful for engaging four-wheel drive and locking the differentials. You can also select the off-road mode that will raise the car body a few inches more and of course there is great attention to large storage spaces all over the place. The materials are rigid but well assembled. So who will prevail between Dodge and Ford in this epic and incessant battle? Both, I would say, because those who choose one does it by heart first and fortunately for both “factions” you can finally count on a remarkable list of options to choose from, thus being able to turn a working ram into something so close to the right company for your weekends.
DODGE RAM REBEL
Layout – front-engined, rear/all-wheel-drive
Engine – V8 cylinder 5.7cc
Transmission – 8-speed automatic gearbox
Power – 395 hp @ 5.600 rpm
555Nm @ 3.950 rpm
Weight – 3.000 kg ca.
Price – from € 48.000