RAM Australia release RAM 1500 Laramie Sport
On the back of ongoing success that includes a record-breaking end to the financial year and sales of 4,156 vehicles for the first six months of 2023, RAM Australia has released a new model – the RAM 1500 Laramie Sport, which slots between the 1500 Laramie and 1500 Limited in the current Australian range.
“Australia's favourite premium full-size pickup truck now sports a new edition,” said Jeff Barber, RAM Trucks Australia National Manager, on the eve of the model’s local release.
“The 1500 Laramie Sport full-size pickup combines all the benefits of a ute with the comfort, space and premium finishes of a luxury SUV. This unique proposition allows a range of customers to travel business class whether they’re towing, on work sites, on family road trip adventures, or even doing the school run.”
Built on the newer DT Series platform that now makes up the bulk of RAM Australia’s 1500 range (only two models remain on the old DS platform), the 1500 Laramie Sport is defined by new-look 20-inch alloys and body colour treatment for the bumpers, grille, mirror caps and door handles. A ‘Sport’ decal adorns the rear quarters and chrome badging is standard. Inside, there’s a black headlining and black faux carbon fibre dash inserts.
The 1500 Laramie Sport also comes as standard with the lockable RamBox storage system in the sides of the 5’7” (1.7 metre) tub that can be used to securely stow recovery gear, tools, or other equipment. The RamBox can also serve as a mobile Esky, as drain bungs are fitted. The tailgate is fully-damped and has a power release function.
Drivetrain is the same as every other RAM pickup offered in Australia, consisting of a 5.7-litre petrol V8, eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive with high-low range. The Hemi produces 291kW and 556Nm maximums, while integrated ‘eTorque’ technology works as a mild hybrid system. This, combined with cylinder deactivation and engine stop/start tech helps save fuel, but consumption is still a considerable 12.2lt/100km on the combined cycle.
Payload is listed at 779kg, while the braked towing capacity of up to 4,500kg (with a 70mm tow ball) exceeds any dual cab ute on the market. Trailer Brake Control and Trailer Sway Control safety features are standard. Other driver assistance and safety tech includes Adaptive Cruise Control, ParkSense front and rear parking assist, Park Assist (parallel/perpendicular), a ParkView reversing camera, 360-degree surround view camera, LaneSense lane departure warning, FCW+ forward collision warning with active braking, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-path Detection, Traction Control, ABS, ESC, EBD, Hill Start Assist, tyre pressure monitoring, three ISOFIX anchor points and an electronic park brake.
LED lighting front and rear includes auto high-beam headlights, but the 1500 Laramie Sport misses out on the SmartBeam intelligent headlights from the 1500 Limited.
The “modern and intuitive” interior of the 1500 Laramie Sport features a 12-inch digital dash display with full-colour 3D graphics, while the portrait format 12-inch centre touchscreen includes Uconnect, split-screen functionality and navigation. The oddity of a transmission control via a rotary selector remains (at least it’s not a column shift), but there’s a 900W, 19-speaker premium Harman Kardon sound system and dual-zone automatic climate control.
The crew cab has abundant space for five, with leather-accented seats front and rear as standard. Heating and ventilation features on the powered front seats (+ memory function for driver’s seat), with heating on the outboard rear seats. The steering wheel is trimmed in leather and heated, too. The rear seats fold up (60/40 split) to create more interior storage space and there’s a wireless charging pad, along with five USB and four USB-C ports. A sunroof is optional.
Available in three colours – Granite Crystal, Diamond Black and Bright White – the RAM 1500 Laramie Sport is priced from $136,950 RRP, placing it in the middle of the current DS 1500 lineup. The off-road 1500 TRX remains the outlier in this group, starting at $224,950 for the MY23 version, while the 1500 Laramie starts at $127,950 and the 1500 Limited at $153,950 RRP.
As with all RAM pickups sold in Australia, the 1500 Laramie Sport are built in the US, then remanufactured to RHD spec locally, meeting or exceeding all local safety and engineering standards. RAM Trucks Australia are the world’s only RAM-authorised remanufacturer.
See your RAM Australia dealer for more details, or go to: ramtrucks.com.au
