THE RAM 1500 TRX: WILD THING ON 4 WHEELS

The RAM 1500 TRX is Stellantis’s entry into the Pickup Truck Monster Wars. It’s not just the F150 vs. Silverado vs. RAM 1500 battles, either. The Ford F150 Raptor is already on the road and the Silverado ZRX is still practicing. With the TRD Tundra nothing more than a sticker vehicle screaming “look at me,” it can’t rightly be included in such rare air. Which brings us back to the RAM 1500 TRX.

 

Is it a Ram 1500 TRX or a Predator T-Rex. Yes.

It’s a powerful beast. Instead of eating its young, the RAM 1500 TRX eats its old. In this case, this 702 horsepower monster consumes a lot of fossil fuel to push it to its top speed thanks to the Supercharged Hemi engine. These fuels are the product of decomposing animals and plants found in the Earth’s core. It’s likely the result of long decayed animals and dinosaurs from prehistoric times, and since the TRX needs petroleum fuel to run, you can see how the RAM 1500 TRX is consuming its forefathers. Buckle up so Napleton News can give you a quick spin.

Supercharged Power by a 6.2-liter HEMI engine.

The new RAM 1500 TRX is the latest addition to the RAM stratosphere. It’s also one of the fastest pickup trucks on the pavement today. Powered by a Hellcat HEMI, this half-tonner will sit as King of the Hill until GM and Ford step up their game. The RAM TRX gets motivation from the same 6.2-liter supercharged V8 powering the Charger and Challenger Hellcat models.

 

This supercharged HEMI makes 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with four-wheel drive. If you were looking for a hyper-miling fuel sipper, keep looking because that’s not this baby. At 12 mpg, we might suggest buying stock in a fuel company.

Bilstein remote-reservoir dampers equalize the ride quality. There’s an electronic locking differential to send torque wherever it’s needed. Add the beefy 35-inch beadlock-capable wheels and you have a vehicle that’s ready to take on the Dakar Rally or the Baja 1000! As far as capabilities are concerned, the RAM 1500 TRX can tow up to 8,100 pounds.

Arranging the RAM 1500 TRX furniture.

 

 

 

The interior of the TRX is understated but in a high-performance way. It includes enough black leather to fit right in at Bike Week in Sturgis, South Dakota. Overall, it injects an appropriate measure of sportiness into the mix. The seats are well-bolstered and keep the driver and passenger alike firmly in place. It’s not the perfect track day vehicle, but it is a ton or two of fun.

A leather and microsuede-covered flat-bottomed steering wheel lend a performance vibe. The steering wheel also includes a pair of paddle shifters to take the place of a row-it-yourself shift lever, which is okay since the TorqueFlite 8HP95 8-speed gearbox will shift faster than you are humanly capable of doing.

A huge storage compartment is located in the center console that is large enough to swallow a laptop and some camera gear if pressed. A builder’s plate with the RAM’s sequence number to verify its provenance.

 

The second row includes limousine-like legroom and seating that flips up for extra storage. It’s just the thing for increasing storage since the RAM 1500 TRX is only available in crew cab configuration with a short bed box.

 

The sound from the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 should be impressive enough, but in case you need more, our sampler was equipped with a 12.0-inch Uconnect 4 system and a 900-watt Harman Kardon 19-speaker audio system complete with SiriusXM Satellite Radio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone connectivity.

How does it look?

 

With wild add-on bodywork details like hood scoops flared fenders and the widest stance from a standard half-ton pickup truck, the RAM 1500 TRX is pretty intimidating in its own right. Blacked-out grille trim adds to the intimidation, as do the black cladding that stretches around the vehicle. It’s a badass vehicle.

Behind the wheel.

Hit the starter and the supercharged HEMI roars from its slumber. It whirs to life thanks to the Roots-style supercharger atop the big V8. Once underway, a grumble manages to work its way into the interior despite the well-insulated cabin. But in many ways, it’s still music to our ears.

Under normal conditions, the TRX acts like a docile (!) run-of-the-mill pickup truck. But stomp on the skinny pedal, and you unleash the beast in what can best be described as a Jekyll and Hyde fashion. This monster rears back, pushing us into the seats like a dropkick to the chest by a WWE wrestler. When it finally realizes what you want from it, it thrusts itself forward, ticking off 0-to-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The RAM TRX tops out at 118 mph, thanks to an electronic governor. Why? We are clueless as to the reasons.

Especially when this brute with the heart of a Devil is yearning to breathe freely!