Ever since Dodge rolled out the Hellcat engine in the Charger and Challenger, rumors have been circulating of other applications. And the latest has it finding its way under the hood of the new Ram 1500 pickup.
According to rumors on the 5thGenRams forum, FCA’s truck brand is preparing to launch two new versions of the Rebel – both with big V8 engines.
As Motor1 reports, the lower-spec of the two is anticipated to be called the Rebel TR. It’s said to feature a new, bored-out version of the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 called Banshee. Naturally aspirated and displacing 7.0 liters, the engine is rumored to produce 520 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque. Above that, Ram is tipped to slot in the Rebel TRX. This model is slated to use the same Hellcat engine as the Charger and Challenger. The 6.2-liter supercharged V8 kicks out 707 hp and 650 lb-ft.
If the TRX designation sounds familiar, it’s likely from the show truck that FCA revealed a couple of years ago. The Ram Rebel TRX concept (pictured) was powered by a detuned Hellcat producing 575 horsepower. However much muscle the production model boasts, it’ll likely eclipse the Ford F-150 Raptor whose customers it’ll go after.
Dearborn’s dune-hopping pickup packs a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 rated at 450 hp and 510 lb-ft. That’s considerably more than 310 hp and 365 lb-ft offered by the previous Raptor’s 5.4-liter V8 or the 411 hp and 434 lb-ft in the larger 6.2-liter model. GM offers Z71 and AT4 off-road versions of the new Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. However the most powerful engine it currently offers is the 6.2-liter V8, with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.
Toyota recently introduced the TRD Pro version of the Tundra, however the 5.7-liter V8 remains the most potent engine option with 381 hp and 401 lb-ft. The Nissan Titan is similarly available in Pro-4X off-road spec, but still packs the same 5.6-liter V8, rated at 390 hp and 394 lb-ft.