For the latest Ram 1500 TRX pricing and information:
https://www.kbb.com/ram/1500/
The Ford Raptor has had it too good for too long.
Say howdy to the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, aka the Raptor fighter we’ve long craved. Ram just revealed the TRX, so let’s enjoy some manufacturer b-roll while learning what makes it so darn compelling.
Item 1 is power.
The TRX’s 6.2-liter supercharged V8 is the answer for everyone who laments Ford’s use of a turbocharged V6 in the Raptor. And man, that Hellcat V8 is sassy.
With 702hp and 650 lb-ft of torque (702hp, 650 lb-ft) Ram says the TRX can blast from zero to sixty miles per hour in 4.5 seconds and run the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds. It’ll also tow 8,100 pounds. Given all that speed potential it’s reassuring that the TRX features big ol 15-inch brake discs front and rear.
From the engine, power is directed via an 8-speed automatic transmission to a BorgWarner active transfer case, onward to a Dana 60 rear axle with a standard locking differential.
For tires, the TRX uses 35-inchers with 18-inch beadlock-ready wheels available as an option.
As for stance, the TRX rides 2-inches higher than a standard 1500 and has a 6-inch wider track accounted for by wide fenders. Overall width has grown by 8-inches. The 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires mount to a new independent front suspension and a 5-link rear axle that is controlled by 2.5-inch Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive dampers. And that’s what they look like in action.
If you’re wondering, each wheel offers more than 13 inches of travel.
To manage all the abuse folks like me will subject the TRX to, it utilizes a thicker frame rich with high-strength steel. Smart move, Ram.
Visually distinguishing TRX from more domesticated Rams are unique bumpers, skid plates, oversized tow hooks, black full adaptive LED headlights, and a functional hood scoop with integrated LED lights that delivers half of the air that’s greedily consumed by the Hemi V8.
Inside the front seats offer extra bolstering, the steering wheel has a flat bottom (how racy), and the surfaces are adorned in either cloth and vinyl or leather and suede.
Among the expected Normal, Snow, and Off-road drive modes is an additional Baja Mode, which as you’d expect is explicitly conceived for hauling boot-ay on loose, rough surfaces. Oh, and here’s a fun fact, the TRX also includes launch control, activated via a convenient button next to the transfer case switches.
Other quick details, the TRX can also be equipped with Trailer Reverse Steer Control, which is basically the backup assist feature Ford’s offered on the F-150 for the past few years. Glad to see it here too. And lastly, the TRX includes Ram’s sweet 12-inch monitor, a handy bit of real estate for viewing and adjusting Drive Modes and Off-Road Pages.
Ok, I’m sure you’re screaming at your screen about the price.
A base 2021 Ram 1500 TRX lands under $72,000 including destination charges ($71,790).
That’s about $17-grand more than a base Raptor but if you want V8 rumble, supercharger whine, and all the power that comes with, that premium might be worth it.
At Kelley Blue Book, we’ve made plenty of memories over the years with Raptors. We look forward to making more, potentially airborne memories, with the Ram TRX when it arrives in the 4th quarter of 2020.
