RAM 1500 TRX : Coming back soon

We’ve seen plenty of surprises since the leadership change at Stellantis, including the announcement of the legendary HEMI engine’s return. Still, few expected the group to go as far as bringing the RAM TRX back to life.

I have absolutely nothing against the Hurricane engine or the RAM RHO, but the latter is nowhere near as thrilling to drive as the RAM 1500 TRX was — and I’m clearly not the only one who feels that way. In short, RAM has finally given in to customer demand, and the TRX variant is set to return to the 1500 lineup.

A Return to What Works

The RAM 1500 TRX was powered by a 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 engine that produced 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque — no less. It was one of the most extreme trucks on the market, rivaled only by the Ford F-150 Raptor R.

We don’t yet know the official figures for this new generation of RAM TRX. However, it’s safe to assume it will be equipped with the same engine, likely tuned for even more power. Let’s not forget that Stellantis has already pushed this very engine beyond the 800-horsepower mark. In my opinion, it wouldn’t be surprising if RAM aims to outgun the F-150 Raptor R in terms of raw numbers. So, I dare hope we’ll see a TRX with well over 720 horsepower.

A Major Challenge

There is one caveat when it comes to Stellantis’ big engines — especially the large-displacement ones: they don’t meet current greenhouse gas emissions standards. The group has long relied on purchasing green credits to continue offering its supercharged HEMI engines. However, engineers have had time to rework the concept, and who knows — we may get a new generation of more sophisticated engines.

A Promising Future

Stellantis has taken a complete 180-degree turn since Carlos Tavares’ departure, and that’s far from a bad thing. The group is now focusing on what really works — much to the delight of its fans. The best part is that there are still plenty of exciting surprises coming in the months and years ahead.

Jean-Sébastien Poudrier