1500 TRX

Make
Ram
Segment
Sports Car

For quite some time, the Ram TRX was untouchable. Powered by a hulking great 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 702 horsepower, the muscular truck used its might to elbow lesser trucks out of the way. But since it was introduced, the TRX has been humbled by the electric Rivian R1T and now faces a worthy adversary in the form of Ford's new, 700-hp F-150 Raptor R.

Even though Ford couldn't care less about Ram's minuscule power advantage, it's seemingly important to the Stellantis-owned brand, which has trolled the Blue Oval about the two horsepower deficit. These are the actions of a threatened automaker, so why doesn't Ram just create a more potent variant and call it a day? Well, it seems like that's happening, if the suggestive picture below is anything to go by.

Shared by Zach@Granger, a user on the Ram-TRX.com forum, the image shows what appears to be a regular TRX. However, there are a few subtle differences to take in. Firstly, you'll note the red-colored "R" lettering, both on the decal and tailgate badge. In the below video, there's a new name given to the vehicle too - TRX Tyrant - but not many details of the vehicle have been provided besides those in another post from the same user, which states that, in collaboration with "one of the best aftermarket customization shops," a high-horsepower update is coming. It's being called a 2023 model, which has got plenty of enthusiasts excited.

The user has not given any concrete details and has only posted short video clips, which has led to wild speculation. Is this to be a Direct Connection upgrade offering from Dodge? Is it a new Ford F-150 Raptor R killer for 2023?

As Dodge prepares to wash its hands of the V8 engine, it is saying goodbye with a host of exciting offerings and has even brought the Durango SRT Hellcat back for the 2023 model year. Is it inconceivable to think Stellantis may shoehorn the 797-hp Redeye motor into the TRX? "This is a dead giveaway for a Redeye. I refuse to believe anything else. Don't crush my dreams," wrote one user.

Sadly, the truth lies in examining the context of these posts and looking more closely at the third brake light (CHMSL) atop the cab.

For a start, the highest-spec TRX's third brake light ain't flush, and the one in the teaser image is. Why would Ram tease a new range-topper with middle-of-the-range styling features? In addition, why is this vehicle not being teased as part of Dodge Speed Week? Why has the name already been revealed, and why have dyno pulls been shown so soon? Another factor to consider is the source. Zach is a staff member at Granger Motors, a Dodge dealer in Iowa.

Thus, it's clear to us that this will be an aftermarket job from start to finish, with Granger Motors simply offering it a complete vehicle for sale, although it may also allow existing owners to take advantage of the same modifications, whatever they may be. So yeah, a new TRX is coming, but it's not from Dodge, and it won't have full factory backing.