Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Rivals To FriendsJust a month ago, we reported that Ram was embarking on a special new partnership with one of America's leading performance tuners, Roush Performance. When it was first teased, people were shocked at the idea that Roush, who is closely associated with Ford not just for vehicle tuning, but in the world of motorsports as well, would choose to work on a rival brand's pickup.At the time, it was merely a teaser and an announcement, but now it's been officially revealed what exactly the new partnership entails for both Ram and Roush Performance.Ram 1500 Direct Connection By RoushThis new partnership marks a historic milestone for both brands, as it is officially the first time they've worked together. The result is the Ram 1500 Direct Connection by Roush, quite a mouthful of a name. Firstly, this collaboration has resulted in what is known as a turnkey off-road performance vehicle, meaning the Ram 1500 Direct Connection can be bought and used as is straight from factory without customers needing to assemble or install any of the added performance parts themselves.AdvertisementAdvertisementRoush says the Ram 1500 Direct Connection "combines aggressive styling, enhanced capability" and was also engineered completely from the ground up as opposed to just slapping on some mods on an existing Ram 1500.Some of the key features are a purpose-built suspension system, signature Roush styling, and a new active exhaust system. Each feature was designed to enhance performance while maintaining the factory-spec drivability. Roush says the Ram 1500 Direct Connection can be used on the highway, at the jobsite, or beyond the pavement.YouTube/Roush PerformanceView the 4 images of this gallery on the original articleThe DetailsRoush Performance carefully crafted a new suspension system that features a coilover that adds an additional 2 inches of lift. The system itself uses custom-tuned twin-tube dampers that deliver precise compression and rebound control, translating to better ride quality. Roush also put 18-inch off-road wheels and 33-inch General Tire Grabber A/TX all-terrain tires for better off-road performance.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe exterior upgrades, at first glance, are subtle, featuring a new Roush high-flow grille with integrated lights and functional hood heat vents. Its stance has also been widened with new fenders that feature a built-in light marker, and, lastly, the Direct Connection badging found on both the exterior and interior rounds out the new look of this truck.Finally, the new active exhaust system features an active cat-back design by Roush. It can also be opened and closed manually by the driver should they want the bark of the V8 or a quieter sound when cruising. The 2027 Ram 1500 Direct Connection by Roush has a starting retail price of $78,960.YouTube/Roush PerformanceView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.