Forget the Ford Raptor: this is the performance truck you need

The good news for Ford is that it has about six months to improve the F-150 Raptor R. The bad news is that it only has six months. RAM brought back the iconic Hemi V8 last year after a customer backlash, and while they were at it, decided to build a new version of the old SRT Hellcat V8-powered TRX, increasing power from 702 horsepower to over 770. The official announcement was made on January 1, and the RAM TRX has kicked off the next arms race between hyper-powerful full-size half-ton pickups. There’s nothing subtle about the RAM TRX; it’s the equivalent of a wrestler jumping into the ring with a steel chair.

Ford’s F-150 Raptor R is an icon, a powerful truck developed through years of desert racing and chassis development. But when the TRX was announced, the conversation changed. It was no longer about efficiency or balance. The TRX is on a different plane, where it is about power, presence and emotional impact. The TRX will be, first and foremost, a pure performance truck, redefining what this segment should be.

Hellcat Power: The TRX’s Defining Advantage

The Ford F-150 Raptor R is the other truck in this conversation. This one has the 5.2-liter supercharged V-8 from the Shelby GT500, tuned for 720 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque. Dodge also has a solid muscle car heritage, and the SRT Hellcat can produce a ton of power and is used in the top-level Charger and Challenger Hellcats, even turning the big Durango SUV into a sleeper car that scares Porsches. And now the Hellcat has made its way to the RAM 1500.

777 hp changes the rules

The RAM TRX is powered by the Hellcat SRT, a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 tuned to produce 777 horsepower and 680 pound-feet of torque. It uses an eight-speed automatic transmission and has full four-wheel drive. The top speed is 190 km/h, which is a bit too fast for a large truck.

Incredible coupling numbers from both

Both the Raptor R and TRX have supercharged V-8 engines, which deliver instant torque even at lower speeds. This is important in a working truck when towing or hauling, and when the truck is used off-road and stable crawling is required.

Suspension and chassis: built for violence, not lap times

If your truck has that much power and torque, you better be sure the ladder frame chassis and suspension are built to match and maximize the truck’s capabilities. The TRX sits on a 98 percent high-strength steel frame, giving it the stability, durability and stiffness needed to push its performance to the limits.

Bilstein Black Hawk shocks

To keep those 777 horses anchored to the road and dirt, the TRX comes with a factory-installed Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shock system. This has a control algorithm that continuously monitors vehicle sensors for speed, throttle position, braking torque, steering angle, vehicle tilt and jump detection. This continuously regulates each shock absorber to monitor compression and rebound forces as necessary.

Ability to go anywhere

The RAM TRX has 11.8 inches of ground clearance, 13 inches of front suspension travel and 14 inches of rear suspension travel. Add to that the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, a BorgWarner 48-13 transfer case that offers permanent all-wheel drive. The rear axle has full-float axles and an electronic limited slip differential. This, with the 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler tires, means the TRX can go more or less wherever you want with little to no fuss.

Interior, technology and comfort

The RAM TRX is designed to match the truck’s extreme performance with an interior that adds true luxury and top-shelf technology. The interior is lined with high-quality materials, with Alcántara leather available as an option, brushed metal and carbon fiber accents. The steering wheel is leather-wrapped and has a flat bottom, while the shift paddles are made of aluminum. These features ensure that while you’re tearing up trails and shredding tires, you’ll be comfortable and well-rested. Thanks, RAM.

Cabin technology is as impressive as performance

The centerpiece of the TRX technology cabin is the Uconnect infotainment system, with a large touchscreen that provides access to navigation and information such as off-road data. An optional heads-up display keeps the driver’s attention on the road, while the digital instrument cluster can be configured to your preference. The sound is provided by the excellent Harman Kardon system, with 19 speakers. All things considered, the cabin should be a pretty fun place to spend time, especially when time behind the wheel involves breakneck driving and conquering rough roads.

Comfort for everyone who enters the fire-breathing pickup

Details will still be finalized before the official launch date in the second half of the year, but so far the TRX cabin looks very inviting. Form-fitting front seats keep the passenger and driver safe during rough driving. The front seats are heated and ventilated, with memory settings and a massage function. The rear seat offers sufficient space and also has heating and ventilation. Again, the quality and comfort of the cabin will be critical when tossing the big beast around.

When RAM dropped the V8 and was forced to bring it back

In 2023, RAM decided to drop the iconic 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and replace it with a “Hurricane” 3.0-liter turbo inline-six for the 2025 model year. Their reasons were emissions, better fuel economy and greater power than the old Hemi. And while the inline-six in the RAM 1500 RHO excelled in those areas, customers felt something was off about the lack of a V8.

No one really needed to drive through the desert dunes in a Ram powered by a Hellcat engine, but its very existence in the truck world set a precedent that the RHO, unfortunately, simply couldn’t surpass.

-William Clavey for TopSpeed

The customer’s reaction applied enough pressure to swing the suits

The business thinkers at RAM failed to take into account the deep-seated affection RAM drivers had for the old V8. Pickup drivers are among the most brand-loyal American drivers and often drive with the same brand as their fathers. For most, the comfortable cadence of the Hemi V8 was an essential part of owning a RAM truck. RAM sales fell by almost 20 percent in its first year, with forecasts of 30,000 lost sales causing panic at headquarters. The bean counters were wrong. RAM drivers didn’t care about the increased power of the turbo inline-six; they wanted the V8 back.

Sales increase and return of the TRX

When the V8 Hemi returned, sales were 2.5 times that of the Hurricane inline-six in the US. When the announcement of the return of the 5.7-liter Hemi for the 2026 model year was made, RAM received 10,000 orders in the first 24 hours. RAM had a TRX before the V8 was canceled, and it made 702 hp. Meanwhile, the SRT Hellcat became more powerful, and due to competition with the 720-hp Raptor R, RAM did the logical thing and announced the 777-hp SRT as a 2027 model.

Sources: RAM, Ford