USARam and Roush Performance built the Ram 1500 Direct Connection by Roush, an off-road package for buyers who wanted the Ram RHO’s attitude but with the classic 5.7-liter HEMI V8 instead of the RHO’s turbocharged Hurricane inline-six.
Base: a Big Horn Crew Cab 4x4 fitted with Ram’s Direct Connection package. Under the hood is the naturally aspirated 5.7-liter HEMI V8, rated at 395 hp and 556 Nm, unchanged from stock.
What Roush added: a Roush Performance 2.0 coil-over suspension, 18-inch wheels, 33-inch General Grabber A/TX tires, wider fender flares, red tow hooks, a new grille, an active cat-back exhaust and Roush badging. Inside: Mopar leather trim, floor mats and Direct Connection by Roush badges.
Price: the Roush package costs $15,995, putting the finished truck at $78,960. The Ram 1500 RHO starts lower at $76,590, but comes with the more powerful 540-hp Hurricane inline-six.
