RAM 1500 TRX coming to Australia

The full-size pickup truck wars in Australia are heating up, with Ford’s announcement in March that they would be bringing the F-150 in as a factory-backed RHD model countered in June by RAM Trucks Australia announcing the 1500 TRX is coming to the Aussie market.

In terms of size, power and presence, the TRX outshines Ford’s Ranger Raptor, with RAM Trucks Australia claiming it's the fastest, most powerful mass-produced truck in the world.

“The TRX sets new benchmarks for extreme performance trucks and confirms the Australian market as a true success story for RAM Trucks,” said Neville Crichton, Chairman of RAM Trucks Australia’s parent company, the Ateco Group.

Super Power

Key to the RAM TRX’s performance credentials is its 6.2-litre HEMI V8 engine, which is fitted with a supercharger as standard. This ups the already impressive 232kW/326Nm performance credentials of the naturally aspirated 5.7-litre HEMI used in other RAM 1500 models to new maximums of 523kW at 6,100rpm and 882Nm at 4,800rpm.

Top speed is 190km/h and the listed 0-100km/h time is 4.5 seconds, with launch control as standard.

The high-performance V8 is matched to a Torqueflite eight-speed automatic (the only transmission offered) and drives all four wheels through a four-wheel drive system with an active 2-speed transfer case with strengthened internals.

As the TRX is designed with off-road action in mind, induction to the V8 is split evenly across the grille and a scoop on the bonnet. The latter features a special one-way valve that prevents water being ingested into the engine, while the largest air filter in this class features dual elements that claim to trap four times as much dust as its closest competitor – ideal for high-speed work in deserts and other dry, dusty environments.

Strong Bones

Like the rest of the RAM range, the RAM TRX is of body-on-frame construction, but the performance focus of this model has seen substantial changes made, starting with the frame itself, which is made of thicker high-strength steel, with fully boxed side rails.

Protecting the engine and all the underbody componentry are no less than five skid plates, covering the lower front fascia, front axle, transmission pan, transfer case and fuel tank.

An independent front end remains, but the componentry is all new, while at the rear, a Dana 60 solid axle has been fitted as part of a five-link system, with a 3.55 diff ratio and an electronic locker as standard, as well as an axle hop damper.

Shock absorbers front and rear are Bilstein Black Hawk e2 units that have been tuned exclusively for the TRX and are also adaptive, delivering what’s claimed to be fast reaction time, unbeatable damping and improved heat dissipation. Suspension travel is significantly greater than that of a regular RAM 1500, with up to 330mm at the rear alone.

The wheel and tyre package is made up of 18-inch alloys with 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory All-Terrain tyres that were designed exclusively for the TRX. This combination has required the front axle to be moved 20mm forward.

Sitting 50mm higher than other RAM 1500 models, the TRX features 295mm of ground clearance and a fording depth of 812mm. Approach angle is 30.2 degrees, departure angle 23.5 degrees and breakover angle 21.9 degrees.

As this model’s focus is on off-road performance, rather than hauling and carrying, payload capacity for the 1.71 x 1.68 metre (LxW) tub is 767kg and towing capacity is 3,500kg – 1,000kg less than other RAM 1500 models.

Widebody Style

In terms of its appearance, the most obvious difference between the existing RAM 1500 crew cab models and the new TRX is its broad, muscular stance. That’s due to the TRX being 230mm wider to accommodate the 152mm increase in track front and rear.

With the front guards and rear quarter panels already pumped up, the wheelarch flares actually look subtle compared to some alternatives.

The grille treatment, with open ‘R-A-M’ letters, is exclusive to the TRX, as are the bonnet, bumpers and skid plates. Those bumpers are blacked out, with tow hooks front and rear, while the rear bumper also featured scalloped cut-outs for the dual exhaust exits.

RAM identification is repeated on the tailgate, along with 4x4 and TRX badging, while badging on the bonnet identifies the 6.2 supercharged V8 underneath, with TRX decals on the bonnet and rear quarters.

LED lighting is standard front and rear, but the lights in the bonnet scoop that feature on US market images of the RAM TRX have not been highlighted on the local market images, suggesting they may not be road legal here.

Inside, the focus is on premium materials and a luxury look, applying the ‘TR2 Equipment Group’ based on the RAM 1500 Limited. As part of an all-black finish, leather seats, a leather-trimmed instrument panel, full carpeting and accents in suede and carbon fibre are standard, while all five seats are heated and ventilated.

A flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle shifters, a performance floor shifter (both new to RAM), dash-mounted drive mode selector and transfer case switches, webbing loops on the front seatbacks to hang gear, premium 900-watt Harman Kardon audio system with 19 speakers and an ID plaque on the centre console bin also features in the cabin

A 12-inch touchscreen for the Uconnect 5C Nav system sits in portrait format and can display two functions at once, while the 7-inch instrument screen is flanked by large analogue gauges. For off-road adventures, the Drive Modes (Normal, Wet/Snow, Off-road and Baja) and Off-road Performance Pages (that show ride height, transfer case position, and the truck’s pitch and roll) are viewable on the main 12-inch screen – a RAM first.

A final, cheeky touch is an image of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and much smaller Raptor dinosaur. Seen in the centre console storage bin and echoed under the bonnet, this suggests the TRX is the apex predator over the F-150 Raptor.

Tech Galore

Aside from the aforementioned launch control and drive modes, the driver assistance and safety tech on the TRX includes Jump Detection that acts to limit over-revving when the TRX is airborne.

Along with five dynamic modes (Auto, Sport, Tow, Snow and Custom) that adjust things like the suspension, steering response, transmission shifting and four-wheel drive distribution, there are three additional dynamic off-road modes (Mud/Sand, Rock and Baja) tuned to suit more extreme environments.

A 360-degree camera is supplemented with a forward-facing off-road camera to make navigating around obstacles on rough trails easier.

Active safety and assistance features include a ParkView rear backup camera, ESC with electronic roll mitigation, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, ‘Ready Alert Braking’, forward collision warning plus and six airbags.

Premium Offering

The RAM TRX will sit at the top of the locally-available RAM Trucks range, priced at $199,950 before ORCs, which is $50,000 more than the next most expensive RAM 1500 and pricier than even the larger RAM 2500 and 3500.

A panoramic sunroof is one of the few options available, adding $10,000 to the list price.

An actual arrival date for the TRX had not been confirmed at time of writing, so see your RAM dealer or go to: ramtrucks.com.au for more details.