Ka-BOOM! The Ram 1500 TRX is Back

While this may not come as a surprise to many — what with the de-restrictions on gas — powered vehicles we’re seeing throughout the world these days — Ram has made it official: the fire-breathing Hemi V8-powered Ram 1500 TRX is back. That should make for a very Happy New Year to all the Hemi lovers out there and this time, apparently in an effort to jam as many three-letter words into a model name as possible, it gets the “SRT” designation.

The last time we saw Ram/Dodge’s performance division badge slapped on the broad panels of a 1500 pickup was back in 2006, when Ram – well, Dodge at the time – decided to shoehorn the V10 from the Viper into the engine bay of the Ram 1500, creating the Ram 1500 SRT-10. That truck made 500 horsepower and 525 pound-feet of torque. The 2027 SRT TRX with its supercharged Hemi V8? Try 777 hp and 680 lb-ft fed to all four wheels via an eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic. That’s enough to propel the TRX from stop to 60 mph in a supercar-baiting 3.5-seconds, on to a top speed of 118 mph. Not. Too. Shabby.

In addition to having more power than previous (57 more hp and 40 more lb.ft.) – pretty hard to believe in itself – the new truck looks even more brash than previous – also pretty hard to believe. That’s especially the case if you spec the all-new “Blacktop” paint scheme. That sets a black roof and widow surround against a bright red body on which they’ve stamped a vinyl meant to look like – well, we’re not 100 per cent sure; have a look at the images and draw your own conclusions.

Skip the vinyl, and you’ll have to make do with the massive 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT off-road tires, optional beadlock-ready 18” wheels and massive “Ram” front badge in red set against a blacked-out grille that looks like squashed honeycomb. The TRX SRT rides on Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shocks that provide 11.8” ground clearance. The TRX SRT will be available only as a Crew Cab with 5.7-foot box.

In addition to the special adaptive shocks, other off road-ready kit includes a Dana 60 heavy duty rear axle with up to 14” of travel, performance adaptive shocks that can adjust in anticipation of a landing – yes, Ram expects folks to be jumping these things – and hydraulic jounce control shock internals. All of this is governed by eight drive modes – yes, Baja mode is back – nine if you include the “don’t touch anything because the car won’t let you” valet mode. Underneath it all, we find optional full-length rock rails, standard steel bumpers, and dual 5” exhaust tips. Needless to you’re not only going to be able to see the TRX SRT; you’re going to be hearing it, too.

Inside, we find all the Ram 1500 staples such as real leather seating, real suede inserts, heated and ventilated front and rear seats with seating for six, real carbon fiber inserts, and UConnect infotainment with a 14.5” display and 19-speaker — nineteen! Speakers! In a pickup! — Harmon Kardon audio. That provides wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and is matched by a 12.3” gauge cluster as well as a 10” head-up display.

Needless to say, we’re looking forward to being able to put this baby through paces; watch this space.

And, if I may: rawr.