Manoli Katakis 
Would you just look at this freaking thing? Has there ever been such an aggressive looking pickup truck from the factory? While the Ford F-150 Raptor has been the standard bearer for the most gung-ho off-road truck on the market, it’s clear that the 2021 Ram TRX shatters this perception from a visual standpoint.
Cab lights in the hood scoop?! Come. On.
Of course, looks aren’t the only thing at play here. As expected, the 2021 Ram TRX features a supercharged 6.2L V8 Hellcat engine just behind that gaping hood scoop that provides 50 percent of total engine airflow, calibrated to produce 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, managed by a ZF-sourced TorqueFlite 8HP95 8-speed automatic transmission. This gaps the 2020 F-150 Raptor by over 250 horsepower, 140 lb-ft of torque, and an even wider margin from an audio perspective. If the sound of a supercharged V8 engine howling and snorting through the rev limiter like some sort of rabid grizzly bear doesn’t make you laugh with excitement, check your pulse, as you might be deceased.
In terms of proportions, the Ram TRX is a full 8 inches wider than the standard Ram 1500, and composite flares help to compensate for a 6-inch increase in track width, and wheels that are 9 inches wide, opposed to 8.
In terms of sheer power and acceleration, the 2021 Ram TRX is in a league of its own. 0-60 comes at just 4.5 seconds, and 0-100 mph in 10.5 seconds. Just as impressive is its quarter mile time: 12.9 seconds at 108 mph. This is on a knobby set of Goodyear Wrangler Territory 325/65/R18 All-Terrain 35-inch tires – which are, to say the least, like trying to run a track meet in work boots. Because of the speed rating of these tires and the sheer physics of aerodynamics, the TRX has a limited top speed of 118 miles per hour.
While it doesn’t possess the 154 mph top speed of the late, great Dodge Ram SRT-10, It’s certainly quicker from 0-60 and the quarter mile, even without the low ride height and street performance tires. It’s far and away the quickest and fastest factory pickup truck the world has so far seen. But with the electric truck onslaught on the horizon (looking at you, Hummer EV), that may not last long. But even if the electric players are a little quicker, they won’t achieve the same levels of drama and sense of speed made possible by the revered Hellcat engine.
The TRX also includes a full-time active transfer case with upgraded internals for improved durability. It will also ford a full 32 inches of water, features an 8,100 pounds max towing capacity, and a maximum payload of 1,310 pounds.
Inside the cockpit is familiar at this point, but there are several touches that are unique to the T-Rex. It will come in three different equipment groups: TR, TR1 and TR2 Equipment Groups – and takes design cues from the Ram 1500 Rebel and Limited models, but adds unique features, materials and colors.
The TRX will offer an all-new Head-up Display unit can show up to five different content areas at once. The Head-up Display is available on the TR2 Equipment Group and is a full-color unit that’s accessible through the 12-inch Uconnect 4C touchscreen. From the options menu, users can even drag and drop what is shown and where to show it. There are a few different configurations that allow the Head-up Display to show up to five different areas of interest, including Lane Departure, Lane Keep Assist, adaptive cruise control, turn-by-turn navigation, current speed, current gear and speed limit. Pretty useful when you’re bombing down the desert at 100 miles per hour. Massive aluminum paddle shifters also make an appearance.
Other unique features of the 2021 Ram TRX that found in the interior include a commemorative plate on the console lid. This plate lists which engine is under the hood, the type of supercharger TRX uses to boost output, horsepower and the vehicle-specific Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). There’s also full coverage all-weather floor mats aligned to each trim’s accent color. On the driver’s side there are metal pedals, while bright door sill inserts all around, and wrapped A- and B-pillar grab handles complete the appearance on TR1 and TR2 Equipment Groups.
The 2021 Ram TRX will begin production in October 2020, in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Pricing has not yet been officially announced.
I have been a Dodge truck owner for many years! I love the trucks and mostly have good experience service wise with them!
i am a retired 73 year old “Q TIP” !
if you need a test driver for the road I’m your man!
David Faulkner