One of the unexpected maximum automotive hits of the latter part of the decade is Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in the form of an engine nicknamed Hellcat. Originally evolved to instill some middle-aged excitement in the Dodge Challenger sports coupe, this supercharged V8 has since discovered its entry into the market. Charger sedán, Jeep Grand Cherokee and soon the Dodge Durango. However, the maximum apparent application for this engine of more than 700 horsepower has remained empty so far. This fall, the FCA meeting plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan, will begin production of the Ram 1500 TRX.
FCA first produced a concept called Ram Rebel TRX in 2016 for the Texas State Fair. This wide and tired truck featured the 6. 2-litre HMI V8 supercharged in a 575-horsepower off-duty shape and excited about the concept of high performance. OFF-road competitor in Ford’s popular F-150 Raptor. However, this generation of Ram 1500 is already reaching the end of its life cycle with an edition redesigned just over a year ago. Following the launch of the new pickup truck at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show, FCA announced that a production TRX would arrive at its June 2018 five-year plan event.
The TRX has nevertheless arrived. Like the concept, it looks much bolder thanks to the bulging wings that make it 8 inches wider than a popular Ram 1500 Rebel, 35-inch rims and a huge padel racket on the hood that combines with the opening of the grille to inhale the air. mandatory air make 702 hp. The h8 frame rose by two inches, bringing the free space on the floor to 11. 8 inches.
But none of those battery-powered trucks are available yet and the TRX will be on sale in the coming months, so let’s focus on that. If it’s 3 seconds out of four to succeed at 60 mph, it doesn’t matter much, especially when running in the desert. The Rebel and Ram Power Wagon are already among the most effective off-road vans.
Compared to the popular Ram 1500, the TRX frame is 75% new with thicker gauge high strength metal used in strategic locations and fully boxed side rails to make it even stiffer. More sections of the frame are now also hydroformed to decrease the number of welds. Five plates are used for critical appliances such as the front axle, motion box, transmission housing and fuel tank.
The suspension has been reworked at both ends with new and longer suspension arms at the front corners, as well as new rear suspension ties. The rear design is maintained with five coil springs, but collection problems have moved. Shock absorbers are used at both ends for general control. A Dana 60 rear axle is also used for increased off-road durability.
The Hellcat V8 is supplied with a 29-litre air box and incoming hood shovel air and grille enters from the rear. air rises through the two-element filter. A jump detection formula that uses accelerometers determines when the truck is in flight to help eliminate power spikes that can damage the engine and transmission.
As with full-featured vehicles, the TRX also has five selectable road driving modes: car, sports car, trailer, snow and the tradition of all-wheel drive, throttle response, gear shifting, suspension and steering. modes, mud/sand, rock and low, optimized for high-speed races in the desert, the classic territory of the Raptor. There is even a release control formula that monitors nearby wheel jumps and manages the powertrain to prevent damage and fast supply, controlled starts.
FCA states that the TRX will run at 160 km/h smoothly and that 15-inch brake discs are used on both axles. Two-piece two-piston stirrups provide front braking force with the rear stirrups of a piston. . 18-inch alloy wheels with Goodyear Wrangler Territory 325/65/R18 off-road wheels are popular and heel-blocking tires are available as an option.
Another smart electronic detail is the trailer’s new opposite orientation control, Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which allows the driving force to use a button on the board to drive back with a trailer; However, unlike Ford’s formula, which calls To place a calibration decal on the trailer that is read through the rear camera, the Ram formula is designed to calibrate itself.
Today’s Ram trucks already have the most productive internal models in the giant van segment. The TRX will offer 3 sets of internal moldings with the rebel-founded base TR and tr1 and TR2 based on the Limited version. , the TRX features a classic console-mounted shift lever and aluminum gear shift cams. The paddles are split and available above and below the spokes of the guide wheels, leaving room to access the redundant audio controls that FCA mounts on the back of the beam.
The Uconnect four information and entertainment system in 12-inch vertical format is popular on the TRX. The TRX will only be available in a multi-seat cabin with a five-foot, seven-inch-long bed. a virtual rearview mirror with maximum rear visibility.
No value has yet been announced, but since the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk starts at $88,000, the Ram TRX is expected to reach the six-digit mark. Unlike the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, which will be a one-year limited production style, Ram says it will build as many TRX as the market requires.
The so-called TRX is a contraction of tyranosaurus rex, the famous predator of the dinosaur kingdom, this truck is presented as the definitive predator of the trucking world, but in an increasingly electrified world, the TRX is already a little anachronistic. , however, given the quality of sales of other Hellcat models and the functionality of FCA in this beastly engine, it deserves to be a lot of fun.
The T-Rex became extinct more than 60 million years ago and what remained of it and his contemporaries has finally become the fuel that makes a truck like the TRX possible. Before long, TRX as its namesake will also be an extinct species. while you can still enjoy it.
I spent my adult life running in and around the industry. After graduating from GMI with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, I spent the next 17 years running in
I spent my adult life running in and around the auto industry. After graduating from GMI with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, I spent the next 17 years working on electronic systems that help cars stop, pass and replace management before leaving to write about what other engineers were creating. Since then, I’ve been looking to teach my readers, audience and listeners about how the newest automotive generation works, what it can do and perhaps most importantly, what it can’t do. my knowledge of communication and engineering as a senior analyst at Navigant Research, covering select fuels, complex driving technologies and connected vehicles. He also co-presents the Wheel Bearings podcast on https://wheelbearings. media/