This Ram 1500 Is Trying To Be The Ultimate Hyper-Limousine:

We might be biased in saying that the 2021 Ram 1500 Limited is the most luxurious pickup on the planet. The top-of-the-line Ram 1500 has won the hearts of owners, journalists, and enthusiasts across the globe.  So much so, that the Ram 1500 Limited was named “Luxury Car of the Year” by Cars.com this year. The first time a pickup truck has ever taken home the award. But what happens when that isn’t enough? One Italian coachbuilder, thinks they have the answer.

Enter the Aznom Palladium, a Ram 1500 Limited morphed into the ultimate “hyper-limousine” sedan according to the Modena-based builder. If it sounds confusing, it is. Instead of using the fifth-generation Ram 1500 Limited as the base to make a custom full-size luxury SUV, Aznom instead decided to transform the rugged pickup truck into a block-edged fastback sedan. That’s right, a sedan. Aznom has ditched much of the functionality of the pickup box for more interior room and a quirky-styled fastback layout.

Aznom founder Marcello Meregalli started looking into creating a pickup-truck based sedan after being inspired by “the Beast”, President Donald J. Trump’s presidential limousine which is based on a commercial truck chassis and resembles a Cadillac sedan.

On the outside, much of the Ram 1500 Limited remains. The full LED Adaptive Front-Lighting System (AFS) including twin bi-functional projector headlamps, LED foglamps, doors, mirrors, and power running boards, still hint at its Ram 1500 Limited roots. Aznom then went on to manufacture its own unique sheet metal using an English wheel and certain trim pieces were handmade using carbon fiber. The look transforms the handsome pickup into a Rolls-Royce-looking tank. 

Rear fender arches remind us of the 2006 to 2010 Dodge Charger, however, awkwardly placed narrow rectangular windows are placed being the rear door. Rear styling that a drastic change when compared to the rest of the vehicle. The rear of the vehicle has a much smoother and rounder appearance than the front of the vehicle. The tailgate is replaced by a drawer-style access panel, allowing the owner to still store goods and items in the rear of the vehicle.

A squared-off front grille has a very bold presence and is backlit with LEDs to create its own signature look. It reminds us of the new backlit grille design shown on the Jeep® Grand Wagoneer Concept, which is based on the fifth-generation Ram 1500 architecture as well.

Under the hood, the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 is retained along with its ZF-sourced 8HP75 8-speed automatic transmission. But this HEMI has been upgraded to feature twin-turbocharging and now cranks out 710 horsepower and 701 lb.-ft. of torque. That is 8 more horsepower and 51 more lb.-ft. of torque than the all-new 2021 Ram 1500 TRX performance off-roader. Aznom claims that the Palladium has a 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 kph) in just 4.5 seconds (pretty close to the TRX’s time) and a certified top speed of 131 mph (210 kph).

According to Aznom, they will offer customers the choice of a 5.7-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with or without mild-hybrid technology, telling us that both a non-eTorque or eTorque mild-hybrid system as offerings with twin-turbocharging. The Ram 1500s part-time four-wheel-drive system is also carried over, to make sure the Palladium can tackle almost every terrain that is thrown at it. Expect, the Ram 1500’s air suspension to also carry over to the ultra-luxurious limousine.

Inside the Palladium, much of the instrument panel design remains, however, every surface has been reupholstered in new materials. Of course, there is the 12-inch Uconnect infotainment system that we have come to love. The center console has even been rewrapped with new material including an analog clock for the rear occupants.

The backseat is where it gets interesting. Gone is the standard leather bench seat that can seat three across, in favor of a luxurious two-person sofa. The new rear seat features bulky leather-wrapped headrests, a unique set of two fully movable lumbar comfort pillows, in-seat storage which includes a minibar, and more legroom than the standard Ram 1500, thanks to the fastback design of the cabin. The center console also gets a completely reworked rear, to hold champagne glasses, and has been designed to extend further back.

Of course, the Ram 1500 Limited’s dual-pane panoramic sunroof and Harman Kardon audio system with 19 premium speakers, 900-watt surround-sound amplifier, 10-inch subwoofer, and active noise cancelation remain.

Aznom will build ten of these vehicles in total. Each one will be unique due to the client’s individual taste and involvement in the design process. The Italian builder is expecting interest for the Palladium to come from buyers in the United States, Middle-East, Russia, China, and Europe. Pricing has not yet been revealed, but expect it to be north of $300,000 USD. 

For more information on the Anzom Palladium, you can visit AnzomPalladium.com and sign up for more updates as they become available.

So what do you think of the Palladium? We would love to hear your comments in our forums.

Anzom Palladium Image Gallery:

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