Two models, eight versions
AEC, a major official importer of Ram pickups, is expanding its European Ram offering. A total of eight different versions of the relatively popular pick-ups are lined up for 2023, divided between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ model.
First about the ‘old’ and ‘new’: Ram still supplies the previous generation of the Ram 1500 pickup, as a budget option in addition to the successor introduced in 2019. That older model, internally referred to as the Ram 1500 DS, is supplied by AEC as SLT Black Appearance and as a richer equipped, extra tough Warlock.
The ‘old’ DS version, or the Ram 1500 Classic
Perhaps more interesting is the somewhat more expensive, but also considerably more modern Ram 1500 DT. That is the version that was launched in 2019 and is also quite popular in the Netherlands, thanks to importers such as AEC and of course our gray license plate scheme. In the Netherlands, however, Ram also trumps its American competitors from Ford and General Motors in the fairly limited pick-up market, unlike in the US itself. The ‘new’ Ram 1500 is available as Big Horn, Laramie, Rebel, Longhorn and Limited, supplemented with the extra heavy and bizarrely powerful TRX. Only the bare, very ‘businesslike’ Tradesman versions from the American range seem to be missing from AEC’s range.
The European pick-up importer is also adding an engine to the range. That is not a V8, but a 3.6-liter V6 that still delivers 305 hp and can pull 3,500 kg. We would like to close this Ram news with an important announcement for those considering the purchase of a Ram 1500: the Ram is available in colors other than black. Having the grille and wheels completely black is also not (repeat: not) mandatory at AEC. Not really
Ram and Dodge
Ram can be described as the American commercial vehicle branch of Stellantis, although pick-ups are certainly not by definition actually used for commercial use. Ram was separated from Dodge in 2010. Before that time, the most popular model was therefore sold as the Dodge Ram 1500, now it is ‘just’ the Ram 1500. Besides this version, there are also heavier variants, the 2500 and 3500. In the US, Ram also carries a number of Fiat models under the own name. For example, they know the Promaster and ProMaster City, respectively the Ducato and (old) Doblò.
In addition to Ram, AEC also carries a number of Dodge models. We once borrowed a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat from AEC for ‘The Auto-Immigration Service’. You can see how that worked out here.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl