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Rumors about a single-cab sport truck from Ram have been swirling ever since Tim Kuniskis, the mind behind the Hellcats, returned from retirement to take the helm as CEO of the truck brand. Demands for the automaker to fit the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 into the 1500 light-duty truck have reached a fever pitch. The Drive can now exclusively confirm that neither proposition will materialize.
In a personal interview with The Drive, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis stated, “you are not getting a single-cab sport truck 6.4.”
“I’m not sure where that’s originating from,” Kuniskis commented when questioned about the possibility of the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 being installed in the 1500 or if a standard cab sport truck is forthcoming.
“That’s just something out of YouTube. Everyone, give me the 6.4. By the way, I enjoy this,” Kuniskis remarked.
The executive, who grew up in Detroit observing his father drag race, likened the current situation to that of a station wagon and its enthusiasts. “Back in the day, all the journalists would suggest, you should create a station wagon with a manual transmission, and I’d think, come on, man. For you. Yeah, for you and a few of your friends who want to buy it,” Kuniskis reflected.
Kuniskis further elaborated, “The new demand now is, everywhere I go, when will you unveil a regular cab sport truck? Do you have any idea what the market for a regular cab sport truck looks like? It’s just a minuscule, minuscule, minuscule, tiny fraction. It’s akin to the wagon with the manual transmission that everyone used to request. Now they’re asking for the manual single-cab truck. And, of course, they expect it to come with a manual transmission. They want it with a 6.4.”
When questioned if the 6.4-liter V8 could fit into the 1500, Kuniskis replied, “Absolutely it fits in the truck. The 5.7, fits in the truck. So naturally, the 6.4 fits in the truck.”
The dilemma? Per Kuniskis, “where do you position it?” It’s a matter of positioning, according to the CEO.
Kuniskis compared the choice between the standard-output turbo-six in the 1500 providing 440 horsepower and the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 delivering 395 hp to the Pepsi Challenge. “Do you prefer traditional technology? Do you want the immediate torque, no turbo lag, and the phenomenal sound? Or do you prefer the sophisticated fuel economy efficiency? Incredible torque,” Kuniskis jested.
The high-output turbo-six with 550 hp clearly outperforms the 6.4-liter Hemi and “there’s no Pepsi challenge,” Kuniskis remarked. “Now you’ve got this sort of strange …. Did I just do it because I could? Or was there truly a demand for it, or was I just browsing comments on YouTube?” he continued.
“That’s a far more complex equation than the 5.7,” Kuniskis stated.
“Explain to me where the 6.4 fits logically. And I’m not talking about ego. I mean, from a business perspective. Where should I situate the 6.4 in the current light-duty lineup?” Kuniskis inquired, as if addressing a business class.
“Can you achieve it? Certainly. But just ’cause you can, does that mean you should?” concluded Kuniskis.
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