Ram Announces 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, Raptor Killer?

In 2009, the Ram Truck brand was launched as a stand-alone division focused on meeting the demands of truck buyers and delivering benchmark-quality vehicles. With a full lineup of trucks, the Ram 1500, 2500/3500 Heavy Duty, 3500/4500/5500 Chassis Cab, the Ram brand builds trucks that get the hard work done and families where they need to go, but that wasn't enough to get the attention that their neighbor has with their Ford Raptor. They needed to step up, and they sure did.

The all-new 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is here and Dodge is ready to face any other truck on the market with what they say is the "Quickest, Fastest and Most Powerful Mass-produced Truck in the World With 702-horsepower 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI® V-8 Engine", a heavy statement indeed. Designed bolt by bolt to significantly outperform every other truck, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX has been tested to handle the most punishing conditions with extreme durability. Powered by the 702-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® V-8 engine, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX delivers a top speed of 118 mph, which is well on its way to being the quickest, fastest and most powerful mass-produced half-ton pickup truck in the world, as they boasted.

According by their official announcement, the truck was inspired by the competition nightmares so it will be safe to say that they designed the truck to outperform any other truck today and by any other we mean the Ford Raptor. 'Loaded' with features, we highlight some of the most important here:

• Engineered to deliver a new level of truck performance, the 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI® V-8 engine sets new benchmarks for power and performance among half-ton pickups:
  • Rated at 702 horsepower, 650 lb.-ft. of torque
  • 0-60 miles per hour (mph) in 4.5 seconds; 0-100 mph in 10.5 seconds
  • Quarter mile in 12.9 seconds at 108 mph
  • Top speed of 118 mph
• High-torque-capacity TorqueFlite 8HP95 eight-speed automatic transmission delivers quick, crisp gear changes during both normal and performance driving conditions.
• New, innovative dual-path air induction system delivers maximum output and feeds a steady supply of cool, clean air to the engine through the front grille and functional hood scoop.
• Full-time active transfer case features upgraded internals for improved strength, durability.
• All-new, unique suspension system with active damping, inspired by desert off-road racers, incorporates forged aluminum front upper and lower control arms with special attention to caster and camber angles during suspension cycling.
• New independent front suspension system with active damping uses high-strength aluminum to maintain overall strength and durability
• TRX uses a Dana 60 solid rear axle with a 3.55 ratio featuring full-floating hubs and axle-hop damper for improved traction and axle control on rough surfaces. An electronic locking rear differential is standard for increased performance off-road.
• Designed exclusively for TRX, new front and rear 2.5-inch Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive performance shocks provide fast reaction time, unbeatable damping and improved heat dissipation for traversing harsh terrain at speeds greater than 100 mph.
• Five-link coil suspension is tuned to deliver the best combination of ride, handling and comfort no matter the road surface.
• Wheel travel is greater than 13 inches at all four corners, an increase of more than 40 percent compared to the rest of the Ram 1500 lineup.
• New Baja drive mode calibrates four-wheel-drive and steering systems, stability control, paddle shifters and suspension for ultimate desert performance, delivering maximum capability on undulating, loose surfaces.
• Goodyear Wrangler Territory 325/65/R18 All-Terrain 35-inch tires, developed exclusively for Ram TRX, achieve unmatched levels of wear resistance, traction and reduced road noise.
• Ram TRX offers the largest front brakes in the segment at 15 inches.
• Ram TRX has a maximum payload of 1,310 pounds and maximum trailer tow of 8,100 pounds.

“The all-new 2021 Ram TRX sets the benchmark for extreme performance pickup trucks and solidifies Ram Truck’s position as the off-road truck leader,” said Mike Koval, Head of Ram Brand “Ram has a strong history of high-performance trucks and the TRX adds to that while expanding the light-duty lineup with the segment’s best combination of performance, capability, luxury and technology.”

Rated at 702 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque, the 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V-8 engine powers the Ram TRX to a top speed of 118 mph. Combined with a high-torque-capacity TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, the Ram TRX delivers a new level of performance: 0-60 miles per hour (mph) in 4.5 seconds and the quarter mile in 12.9 seconds at 108 mph. For the exterior, the all-new 2021 Ram TRX features an aggressive stance and an impossibly wide, muscular body wrapped around the wheels. Like a mixed martial arts fighter in a tailored tuxedo, the Ram TRX makes an impactful visual statement with an acute “hourglass” body design that features composite flares and fender wells that have been stretched to cover aggressive 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory 325/65/R18 All-Terrain tires.

But enough beauty talk, let's go to what we are here for, a real comparison against the popular Ford Raptor:

There you have it, do the numbers convince you to spend an extra coin? Is up to you now.

Source: RAM