The popularity of pickup trucks in the US is at an all-time high, with the top three best-selling vehicles being pickup trucks. Pickup trucks are so popular that there are now categories within the market. For example, there are heavy-duty trucks designed to haul heavy items. Then there are the light-duty trucks, perfect for city dwellers interested in using them as daily drivers. The third and relatively new category is performance trucks. Performance pickup trucks are equipped with potent engines and premium components, allowing them to be quicker than some sports cars.
The latest entrant to the performance pickup truck market is the Ram TRX. The TRX is a limited edition truck and one of the craziest production pickup trucks ever. Let's explore some quick facts about this incredible truck.
10 The TRX Has An All-New Face
The first thing to notice about the Ram TRX is that its face looks quite different from any other Ram truck. The TRX has a wider face than the Ram 1500 and comes with a newly designed grille with a more open surface to improve cooling. The badging also has a flow-through design to maximize airflow to the engine bay.
As for the hood design, the TRX has a unique feature more commonly found in the fastest muscle cars — a hood scoop. The new scoop not only looks cool but also feeds more air to the engine. The hood scoop also incorporates three LED amber running lights.
9 A HEMI V-8 Powers The TRX
A few years ago, Dodge introduced the Challenger Hellcat with a mighty V8 that enabled it to earn the title of 'fastest production muscle car of all time.' Over the years, Dodge has put the same engine in vehicles like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, an upcoming version of the Dodge Durango SUV, and now in the Ram TRX.
The engine in question is a 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 that produces a whopping 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The supercharger alone has a 2.4-liter capacity, which is more than the engine capacity of some of the fastest sedans.
8 The TRX Is The Most Powerful Mass-Produced Truck Ever
With a fire-breathing 702-horsepower Hellcat under its hood, the Ram TRX is the most powerful pickup truck ever produced. The TRX can outrun any other pickup truck ever produced and will also leave some of the fastest sports cars in its dust.
0-60 mph takes just 4.1 seconds, while the quarter-mile is dealt with in a blistering 12.7 seconds - crazy numbers for a vehicle that weighs over 6,000 pounds. This is a truck that one can confidently use on track day. It even comes with launch control for quick starts to races.
7 The TRX Is Built For Off-Roading
When Dodge designers were coming up with the Ram TRX, their main goal was to make it the ultimate off-roader, capable of taking on the toughest terrains. They started by equipping it with a beefed-up frame and underbody protection to keep critical components safe from anything it encounters. They also lifted it, resulting in more than 12 inches of ground clearance.
The TRX has tons of off-roading equipment, including standard four-wheel-drive, Bilstein adaptive shocks, forged aluminum front control arms, an electronically locking Dana rear axle, 36-inch all-terrain tires, and three off-road driving modes.
6 The TRX Has A Luxurious Interior
The TRX looks mean and rugged from the outside, but once you get in, it feels like the cabin of a luxury SUV. Customers can choose between three interior options - leather and suede, premium cloth and vinyl, or leather and suede with carbon fiber accents.
The TRX takes things up a notch by offering elegant interior features like an SRT flat-bottom steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, aluminum paddle shifters, and a giant 12-inch Uconnect touchscreen that controls almost every element of the vehicle.
5 The TRX Is The First-Ever Ram With Paddle Shifters
Paddle shifters are typically used in the fastest sports cars to allow for quick gear changes. Paddle shifters are not traditionally used in pickup trucks, but the TRX is no ordinary pickup truck. In fact, the TRX is the only Ram truck with them.
On top of that, the TRX is the only truck in the 1500 lineup with a good old-fashioned shift lever. All other Ram models come with a gear selection wheel instead, which is more in tune with the current times. While a gear selection wheel is more modern and ergonomic, it would feel completely out of place in such a testosterone-fueled vehicle.
4 Each TRX Will Have A Custom Plate Inside To Show How Special It Is
Dodge wanted Ram TRX buyers to feel special every time they get into their truck, so they gave each truck a custom plaque. The custom plaque is located on the console lid to ensure that everyone who gets into the vehicle can clearly see it.
The plaque has all kinds of information on it - it has the TRX badge, an American flag, details on the type of engine in the truck, supercharger information, the power output, and a unique Vehicle Identification Number. The design of the plaques will depend on the type of TRX. For example, the launch edition's plaque will have red accents.
3 The TRX Is A Massive Guzzler
As the conversation about climate change heats up, manufacturers are doing a lot to improve the efficiency of their vehicles in an effort to attract more buyers. Dodge has shown its support for environmental conservation by producing several eco-friendly pickup trucks, such as the Ram 1500 HFE EcoDiesel. However, the Ram TRX is not one of them.
In fact, the TRX is probably the most inefficient truck Dodge has ever built. According to the EPA, the TRX returns a dismal 14mpg on the highway and 10mpg in city driving, making it a severe guzzler. To make matters worse, it requires premium fuel, which is more expensive.
2 The TRX Has Eight Drive Modes
Nowadays, drive modes are almost as common as seat belts in pickup trucks, and the TRX is no exception. Dodge equipped the TRX with eight drive modes to cover all types of driving situations and terrains one can encounter. The first five modes - Auto, Sport, Snow, Tow, and Custom - are for driving on asphalt, with Sport mode being the sharpest.
Since the TRX is built for off-roading, the three other modes - Mud, Sand, and Baja - are designed to handle the toughest terrains. The Baja mode is the most hardcore, as it allows the TRX to blast through the worst bumps at high speed.
1 The TRX Is Expensive
Anyone who wants to enjoy the thrills of this fantastic Hellcat-powered truck will have to dig deep into their pockets. The TRX starts at around $71,000, which is in sports car territory. As anyone would expect from a full-size pickup truck, the TRX has tons of options available that can push the price beyond the $100,000 mark.
Ford has remained tight-lipped about the 2021 Raptor's price, but it likely will be cheaper than the TRX. That's because, unlike the TRX, which only has one engine option, the Raptor is likely to have several options to suit different customers.