Launching into what the chairman of the Stellantis dealer council describes as an “untapped” market, the Ram 1500 Rumble Bee has the potential to fly off dealership lots, despite the high price tags. Or at least, that’s what Ram hopes.
Introduced at a time when low-slung, sporty pickup trucks are virtually non-existent, dealer council chairman Sean Hogan told Autonews that the Rumble Bee is “going to draw in a whole new set of buyers that would not normally be shopping for a pickup.” Speaking about the new range, Josh Towbin, the owner of the Towbin Dodge-Ram dealer near Las Vegas, says customers are excited about the new model, and they’ve accepted the price too.
Read: The $62,790 Rumble Bee Keeps The Hemi, The $97,790 One Goes Supercharged
In late July, Ram confirmed the base 1500 Rumble Bee with the 5.7-liter V8 and 395 hp starts at $62,790 including destination. Prices then increase to $72,790 for the Rumble Bee 392 with a 6.4-liter, 470 hp V8, rise to $82,790 for the Rumble Bee 392 Track Pack, and top out at $97,790 for the Rumble Bee SRT. This model rocks the brand’s 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 with 777 hp.
Expensive Trucks Are Now The Norm
According to automotive analyst Sam Fiorani, pickup truck buyers “already accept [Ford] Raptors approaching six figures, TRX models selling above $100K, luxury pickups over $90K. These editions, especially the SRT, will make noise, not just from their exhaust, but from the buzz on the street and the excitement throughout the media.”
Ivan Drury from Edmunds doesn’t believe shoppers will bat an eye at the Rumble Bee’s price. “If someone is even contemplating price … you’re the wrong customer from the get-go,” he told Auto News. “They’re not talking to you. That’s like asking, ‘What’s the fuel economy on this truck?’ That is someone who needs to buy a different vehicle entirely.”
Ram appears to be so confident in the Rumble Bee that, before customer deliveries can begin, it’s already announced Direct Connection upgrades for the truck. Supercharger kits have been announced for the 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter models, increasing power to over 600 hp and 700 hp, respectively, all for just $10,995. The flagship Rumble Bee SRT is also being boosted to more than 900 hp. Ram has also announced Direct Connection suspension and exhaust upgrades for the sporty trucks.