The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX only just premiered and already there is speculation that a less powerful variant might join it.
As it stands, the TRX is sold with a single engine, namely FCA’s 6.2-liter supercharged ‘Hellcat’ V8 rated at 702 hp and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm). However, that power does come with a $69,995 starting price, which is significantly higher than the outgoing Ford F-150 that starts at just over $53,000.
Intrigued by the thought of a potentially cheaper TRX without the supercharger, Automobile Magazine reached out to the automaker for comment. Ram’s answer to the question of a cheaper TRX was “not at introduction.” That’s not a definitive “no” and has prompted the publication to speculate about such a model.
Read More: 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Arrives With 702 HP, Wants To Make The Raptor Go Extinct
Ram has a host of V8 engines it could use for a cheaper model. For example, it has a 6.4-liter V8 from the SRT 392 version of the Charger and Challenger that is good for 485 hp and 475 lb-ft (644 Nm) of torque, enough to make it competitive with the current F-150 Raptor’s 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 that puts out 450 hp and 510 lb-ft (691 Nm).
According to the head of MotorTrend Group’s Truck and Off-Road Group, a 392-powered Ram 1500 TRX would make a lot of sense.
“I could definitely see the company make a TRX for the masses with a normally aspirated V8 to better match the Raptor’s starting price,” he speculated. “If it used the 392, you bet horsepower would still be competitive and give potential customers something Ford won’t offer: The sound of a sweet V8 under wide-open throttle while sliding sideways through a desert wash.”
Will such a Ram pickup see the light of day? Guess we’ll have to wait and see…
