Ram 1500 Direct Connection by Roush: Entry-Level Muscle Truck with Naturally Aspirated V8
American tuning studio Roush Performance and Stellantis Corporation have jointly developed an off-road-oriented muscle truck, the Ram 1500 Direct Connection by Roush, featuring a 5.7-liter gasoline V8 HEMI engine. It is aimed at those for whom the factory Ram 1500 SRT TRX with its 6.2-liter supercharged V8 HEMI is too extreme, and the Ram 1500 RHO with its 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six is too unconventional.
After the return of V8 HEMI engines to the lineup, Stellantis Corporation significantly expanded the Ram full-size pickup family, yielding desired results: in the first half of this year, Ram sales in the U.S. grew by 15% to 235,332 vehicles. Recall that in May, the Ram 1500 gained three new sport versions for on-road use, while the freshly unveiled Ram 1500 Direct Connection by Roush is geared toward off-road driving and serves as an alternative to the purely factory Ram 1500 RHO with its 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six producing 548 hp.
The Ram 1500 Direct Connection by Roush is based on the factory all-wheel-drive Ram 1500 Big Horn pickup with a double cab and a 5.7-liter V8 HEMI (401 hp, 556 Nm). Stellantis equips it with the Level II equipment package (including a 12-inch multimedia screen, a powerful nine-speaker audio system, wireless smartphone charging, under-rear-seat storage, and other amenities), the Ram Direct Connection sport package, the Night Edition Blackout trim package, metal underbody protection, Ram 1500 SRT TRX-style side steps, Mopar leather seats, and an electronic rear differential lock.
The vehicle then goes to Roush Performance specialists, where it receives a modified suspension with a 5 cm increase in ground clearance and energy-absorbing Roush Performance 2.0 twin-tube shock absorbers. Roush replaces the stock 20-inch wheels with its own 18-inch units, fitted with aggressive 33-inch General Grabber A/TX tires. The powertrain remains stock, but Roush installs a sport exhaust system with a button to activate loud mode. Yes, the Ram 1500 Direct Connection by Roush is significantly less powerful than the Ram 1500 RHO, but it is the distinctive roar of the naturally aspirated V8 that is expected to attract buyers.
Other visual modifications from Roush Performance include a sport hood with ventilation “grilles” on the edges, a radiator grille with three marker lights and a red Ram logo, red tow hooks in the front bumper, black wheel arch extensions, and a set of branded decals and badges.
The Ram 1500 Direct Connection by Roush starts at $80,300, while the Ram 1500 RHO starts at $78,085, and the supercharged Ram 1500 SRT TRX with 788 hp starts at $102,590.
