2020 RAM 1500 TRX pickup. 1st generation
The RAM 1500 TRX is a full-size body-on-frame pickup produced by Stellantis NV Corporation (former FCA), built on the basis of the fourth generation of the highly successful RAM 1500 developed by Dodge. In 2021, the first generation of the 2020 model is available on the market.
Dinosaurs battle
The RAM TRX is the response to the Ford Raptor, a large off-road model by Ford. The name of this RAM plays on the idea that the giant T-Rex (Tyrannosaurus) could feed on small raptors (Velociraptors). The TRX is the most radical RAM version that exists, uniting the characteristic features of the brand, which brought to their peak, and, in some ways, even to the point of absurdity.
Engines and chassis
The main engine of the all-wheel drive TRX is a 6.2 liter 8-cylinder unit generating 702 hp, coupled with an 8-speed gearbox. The ground clearance reaches 28 cm and the carrying capacity is 594 kg, while the towing capacity amounts to 3,674.5 kg. These indicators are less than that of some RAM models (but more than that of the Raptor), since the TRX is distinguished by its speed and road handling.
The modernized engines and the associated transformations of other units are the very reason why the 2020 RAM 1500 TRX is classified a separate model, therefore, despite the fact that this pickup remains essentially the 1500, it is considered the first generation of a new type model.
The RAM 1500 TRX can accelerate to 100 km in 4.5 seconds.
To deliver 702 horsepower, it was required to reconfigure the turbocharged Hemi V8 engine, which was originally developed by Chrysler for the upgraded Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars. Accordingly, it was necessary to create a new suspension, adaptive shock absorbers, which were no longer used on any of the RAM models.
Despite the improvements, the RAM did not surpass the Raptor when driving off-road (it turned out to be too heavy), but certainly eclipsed its competitor when driving on paved roads over long distances, as a box-shaped bulky pickup weighing more than 2,880 kg is able to overtake even a Ford Mustang. It’s hard to imagine, but the RAM 1500 TRX can accelerate to 100 km in 4.5 seconds. To provide such capabilities, the RAM was equipped with 35-inch tires, reinforced frame and a 2-inch retraction jack.
Interior and exterior
When creating the 2020/2021 RAM 1500 TRX, the manufacturer was primarily focused on its power characteristics, rather than on the design, so the resulting vehicle turned out to be the same RAM, but larger (20 cm wider than the standard 2018 RAM 1500), with the fussy design deprived of any sign of grace. But the most important things are still there: a giant grille, a giant bumper, a massive and convex hood.
The TRX has a luxurious interior, as, in fact, it is a premium vehicle. There are a lot of additional options, infotainment devices and quality materials.
The pickup has starting control and real-time access to engine performance data via a 12-inch screen. There is reverse steering: use a knob on the dashboard to control the truck’s steering wheel in a direction that steers the trailer to the desired location. The standard equipment includes a digital rear-view mirror, a head-up display on the windshield, a double panoramic sunroof, and an audio system with 19 speakers.
Safety
The new RAM 1500 TRX is equipped with a comprehensive package of safety options, including such advanced functions, as adaptive cruise control (adjusts the speed to maintain a constant distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front), a system of all-round cameras (you can see your vehicle and the surroundings as if from top to bottom in tight parking conditions), lane keeping assist system (directs the RAM back into the lane if it starts departing from it).
However, it is worth noting that the new TRX will go into series production in 2021, so it has not yet passed crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
