Goodbye TRX, hello 2025 RAM 1500 RHO

The RAM 1500 TRX may be about to bow out as the world’s most powerful production pick-up, but the US truck brand has a new performance flagship on the way.

Revealed overnight, the 2025 RAM 1500 RHO lacks the supercharged 6.2-litre Hellcat V8 that powered the TRX and instead packs a high-output 403kW/736Nm version of Stellantis’ twin-turbo 3.0-litre Hurricane straight-six.

Those power and torque figures are unchanged from premium versions of the facelifted 2025 RAM 1500 range, which ditches HEMI V8 power, and they’re predictably a lot lower than the outgoing TRX’s (523kW/882Nm).

But RAM says they are still enough for the RHO to hit 100mph (97km/h) in 4.6 seconds, post a quarter-mile time of 13.1sec and top out at 190km/h – making the RHO just 0.1sec slower to 60mph, 0.2sec slower over 400 metres and just as fast as the TRX, production of which ended in late 2023.

And the new battery-electric 2025 RAM 1500 REV, which has been confirmed for Australia, will be quicker than both the outgoing TRX and new RHO with a claimed 0-60mph time of 4.4sec.

That said, independent testing in the US has seen the TRX hit 60mph in just 3.7sec and complete the quarter-mile in 12.3sec, indicating it’s much quicker than RAM admits.

RAM Trucks Australia is yet to confirm local pricing, spec or availability details for the MY25 RAM 1500 line-up, which in the US also includes the RAM 1500 Ramcharger with a V6 plug-in hybrid range-extender powertrain.

But in North America, where it’s now available to order, the RHO is priced from $US71,990 ($A110,500), making it about $40,000 or 25 per cent cheaper than the TRX. A similar market positioning would see the RHO priced from under $170K here – well under the outgoing TRX’s $225K base price.

And given Stellantis trademarked the RHO nameplate with IP Australia earlier this year, the hi-po pick-up is almost guaranteed to be part of the upgraded MY25 RAM 1500 range, first examples of which are expected to be imported, converted to right-hand drive and sold here by the end of this year.

Before then, about 30 examples of the regular TRX are still available in Australia, where 130 TRX Final Editions will be offered alongside the existing MY24 RAM 1500 range.

The rest of the facelifted RAM 1500 line-up also features the Hurricane six in varying states of tune, all of which rival or better the DT-series truck’s old 5.7-litre petrol V8 for performance and tractability while blitzing them for efficiency.

The new mill is also considerably lighter than any of the V8s, especially so in the case of the flagship variants. RAM says the RHO is 68kg lighter than the TRX and reduces weight over the front axle by 82kg.

This should work wonders off-road, where the RHO is likely to track through soft surfaces and up difficult terrain more confidently than the TRX, especially since the chassis set-up is largely copy and paste.

Under the imposing body are the same (retuned) Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive performance dampers, which form just one part of the complex independent front (aluminium double-wishbone) and rear (multi-link) suspension set-ups.

Ground clearance is rated at 300mm courtesy of a 50mm lift provided by the tailored suspension and 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tyres encasing 18-inch alloy wheels. The RHO is also eight inches (203mm) wider than regular RAM 1500s overall, and has a six-inch (152mm) wider wheel track.

RAM says the RHO will wade to 813mm and it states an approach angle of 31 degrees, ramp-over angle of 22 degrees and departure angle of 25 degrees. There’s 25mm more rear axle travel thanks to revised chassis mounting points.

Drive is distributed to all four corners by a reinforced BorgWarner 48-13 full-time 4x4 system with a Dana 60 rear axle, while an enhanced eight-speed automatic transmission takes care of gear shifting.

Naturally, the combination offers low-range, alongside an electronically-controlled rear differential. There’s also a dual-outlet sports exhaust system and a high-flow induction system with cleanable filters.

While it’s undoubtedly a performance-oriented off-roader, the RAM 1500 RHO is still ultimately a pick-up truck and therefore needs to be able to carry and tow things. As per the TRX, its capacities are lower than mainstream RAM 1500 grades with a 689kg payload and 3800kg braked towing limit.

Standard equipment highlights include 12-way power-adjustable front seats with memory and massage functions, leather upholstery, paddle shifters, nine drive modes, launch control, a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster, 14.5-inch infotainment display, 10.25-inch passenger screen, head-up display, adaptive cruise control and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, while a full safety suit includes adaptive cruise control and lane centring assist.

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