Ram 1500 TRX with 702 horsepower takes the pickup to a whole new level

The Ram TRX is billed arsenic the “quickest, fastest and most-powerful mass-produced motortruck successful the world,” and the “apex predator of the motortruck world.”

It’s not for everyone, of course, acknowledgment to its basal terms of $69,995 (plus $1,695 freight). Our tester piled connected loads of options that ran its full terms up to $91,455, which decidedly enactment this motortruck successful uncommon air.

With each that horsepower and its 650 foot-pounds of torque, the Ram TRX – weighing 6,350 pounds -- tin spell from zero to 60 mph successful conscionable 4.5 seconds, and zero to 100 mph successful 10.5 seconds. Quarter-mile clip is 12.9 seconds astatine 108 mph.

After driving the TRX for a week, we tin attest to the validity of the zero-60 claim, but we didn’t effort the zero-100 test. We didn’t person a way to tally our TRX on, and we weren’t astir to instrumentality it to 100 mph connected a nationalist highway.

We tin besides guarantee everyone that determination is plentifulness of powerfulness for immoderate 1 mightiness privation to bash with this truck, including off-roading, desert-racing and trailer-towing.

This motortruck is astir much than conscionable power, though, the shaper says. It’s rather rugged arsenic well, and susceptible of going conscionable astir anyplace with its modular four-wheel drive.

The TRX has a caller high-strength alloy framework that Ram says increases the truck’s stableness and durability, allowing it to outperform each of its competitors.

Power is distributed done a high-capacity TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, which gives the Ram TRX a apical (electronically limited) velocity of 118 mph.

In our tester, the transmission shifted flawlessly and close connected cue, during some mean and show driving conditions. It has a full-time progressive transportation lawsuit that’s designed to grip the other torque.

TRX besides comes with a peculiar suspension with progressive damping, which Ram says was “inspired by godforsaken off-road racers.” Elements see high-strength forged-aluminum beforehand precocious and little power arms with peculiar caster and camber angles
 

It has a Dana 60 coagulated rear axle with a 3.55 ratio, with floating hubs and axle-hop damper for improved traction and axle power connected unsmooth surfaces, the institution says.

Off-road enthusiasts volition admit the modular electronic-locking rear differential.

Also peculiar to the TRX are beforehand and rear 2.6-inch Bilstein Black Hawk show shocks, designed to “provide accelerated absorption time, unbeatable damping and improved vigor dissipation for traversing harsh terrain astatine speeds greater than 100 mph,” Ram says. (Think: Desert racing.)

The five-link coil suspension was designed to maximize a operation of thrust comfortableness and handling connected each surfaces.

There is simply a functional hood scoop that brings successful fractional of the aerial for the engine, portion the remainder of the aerial comes successful done the grille.

Other exterior features see composite fender flares that adhd 8 inches of assemblage width; LED clearance lights integrated into the hood scoop and beforehand bumper flares; and afloat LED adaptive beforehand lighting, with projector headlights, fog lights and taillights with up to 15 degrees of absorption power coordinated with steering effort.

Inside, this motortruck smacks of luxury, with specified features arsenic hand-wrapped leather instrumentality panels. Interior choices see premium cloth and vinyl, premium wrapped leather and suede, and premium wrapped leather and suede, with disposable reddish and carbon-fiber accents. 

The dash of the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX looks much similar that of an airplane than a truck. This peculiar Ram unit cab exemplary seats up to five, and has much powerfulness than 1 would ever need.

FCA US LLC

Our trial conveyance came with the TRX Level 2 Equipment Group ($7,920), which brought achromatic leather heated and ventilated beforehand bucket seats and a agelong database of different extras.

Those extras included luxury interior trim, accent lighting, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s spot and four-way powerfulness rider seat; beforehand and rear doorway accent lighting; cargo-box LED lighting; rain-sensitive wipers; distant keyless introduction and pushbutton start, with distant starting; representation strategy for driver’s side; power-adjustable level pedals; powerfulness tailgate release; ParkSense beforehand and rear parkland assist; blind-spot and rear cross-path detection; trailer-brake controller; heated flat-bottom steering wheel; and overmuch more.      

The steering instrumentality has leather manus grips with optional suede and carbon-fiber accents, and determination are caller aluminum paddle shifters supra and beneath the steering instrumentality spokes. 

Our tester had the TRX Carbon Fiber Package ($1,295), which brought the leather steering instrumentality with carbon-fiber accents, on with different interior carbon-fiber trim. 
 

TRX’s halfway console has tons of retention space, and includes a performance-oriented level shifter, wireless charging dock and 5 USB ports, including Type A and C. 

Transfer-case switches are integrated into the dashboard on with the Drive Mode and Launch Control switches. A Uconnect 4C NAV 12-inch interaction surface dominated the apical halfway of the dash. 

The audio-nav strategy includes SiriusXM 360L with Personalized Stations Powered by Pandora. We had the 900-watt, 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio upgrade ($1,195).

A caller Baja thrust mode calibrates four-wheel-drive and steering systems, stableness control, paddle shifters and suspension for godforsaken driving.

Our tester came with the Technology Group ($1,095), with head-up show and integer rearview mirror, which replaced the accepted reflector with a 9.2-inch-wide LCD monitor.

We had the Dual-Pane Panoramic Sunroof ($1,495); 18-inch “beadlock capable” aluminum wheels ($1,895); bed-mounted spare-tire bearer ($900); Rock Rails ($900); TRX exterior graphics ($495); and Hydro Blue Pearl exterior overgarment ($100), with little two-tone overgarment ($250).

Other options included the Bed Utility Group ($845), with deployable furniture step, spray-in furniture liner and 4 adjustable tie-down hooks; the Advanced Safety Group ($995), with Pedestrian/Cyclist Emergency Braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist; and the Trailer-Tow Group ($195).  

Trailer Reverse Steer Control is an disposable standalone enactment that has a dial to constituent the trailer successful the desired absorption portion the strategy controls the steering wheel. This enactment was not included connected our vehicle.

Among the much than 100 progressive and passive information and information features connected the Ram TRX are the ParkView rear backup camera with dynamic grid lines; physics stableness control, with physics rotation mitigation; and six aerial bags.

The interior is roomier than that of the modular Ram, and our unit cab had comfy seating beforehand and rear, with country for 3 connected the reclining rear seat seat. The rear spot came with a 60/40 split-fold-down diagnostic (in the TRX Level 2 Equipment Group).

The Ram TRX has a maximum payload of 1,310 pounds, and tin tow trailers weighing up to 8,100 pounds.

Highway driving was really smoother than I expected, considering the modular Goodyear Wrangler Territory 325/65/R18 All-Terrain 35-inch tires, which were developed specifically for the Ram TRX. They were a spot noisy, but rode good connected and disconnected the pavement.

TRX has 2 much inches of thrust tallness implicit the regular Ram 1500, giving it 11.8 inches of crushed clearance and the capableness of fording streams up to 32 inches deep. We did not effort that, however.

Cargo container magnitude is 5 feet, 7 inches. The aluminum tailgate has an physics lock, on with a damping diagnostic for controlled opening, and a lift-assist diagnostic for easier closing.

The automotive columns of G. Chambers Williams III person appeared regularly successful the Express-News since 2000. Contact him astatine chambers@auto-writer.com oregon connected Twitter @gchambers3.

2021 Ram 1500 TRX Crew Cab 4WD 

The package: Special high-performance, premium, full-size, five-passenger, four-door, four-wheel-drive, V-8 powered, half-ton pickup truck.
Highlights: The Ram 1500 TRX Crew Cab is each caller for 2021, featuring a high-performance drivetrain with 702 horsepower, and tons of premium features. 
Negatives: Pricey, particularly with the extras.
Engine: 6.2-liter Hemi V-8, supercharged.
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic.
Power/torque: 702 HP./650 foot-pounds.
Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock.
Length: 232.9 inches (with 5-foot, 7-inch cargo box).
Electronic stableness control: Standard.
Side aerial bags: Front seat-mounted; side-curtain some rows.
Towing capacity: 8,100 pounds.
EPA substance economy: 10 mpg city/14 highway/12 combined.
Fuel capacity/type: 33 gallons/unleaded premium required (91 octane oregon higher).  
Base price: $69,995, positive $1,695 freight.
Price arsenic tested:  $91,455, including freight and options.
On the Road rating: 8.5 (of a imaginable 10).

Prices shown are manufacturer’s suggested retail; existent selling terms whitethorn vary.