RAM 1500 TRX dead as we know it

The clock is officially ticking on the monstrous RAM 1500 TRX – the world’s quickest and most powerful factory pick-up – following news that production of the sportscar-slaying ute will wrap up by the end of this year.

But to celebrate its three-year market dominance, the American pick-up truck specialist has just revealed the 2024 RAM 1500 TRX Final Edition, just 4000 examples of which will be produced and distributed to every market the standard TRX is offered in, with an understandable emphasis on North America.

The swansong edition is headlined by a series of exterior and interior design upgrades including ‘Satin Titanium’ bead-lock capable wheels, 6.2-litre badging and decals, three new exterior colourways (Delmonico Red, Night Edge Blue and Harvest Sunrise), Patina cabin stitching, a vehicle-specific build plate centre console plaque, ‘TRX’ embroidered seats, carbon-fibre trim and a unique cluster splash screen.

No changes have been made to the TRX’s savage 523kW/882Nm supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V8 or eight-speed automatic transmission, but Final Edition customers will score a few extra bits of standard equipment, including a 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, head-up display, digital rear-view mirror and eight-way power-adjustable front seats.

RAM Trucks Australia told carsales it would receive a fair chunk of Final Edition production for our market, but said pricing and availability details are still up in the air for the time being.

North American pricing for what will almost certainly be the last V8-powered TRX starts from $US117,625 plus on-road costs, which correlates to $A181,444, but it’s worth noting the standard TRX retails here for $224,950 plus ORCs, meaning the Final Edition will likely exceed a quarter of a million dollars once on Aussie soil.

Somehow, we suspect this won’t be much of an issue for many Aussie pick-up fans, given the ‘regular’ TRX still commands delivery wait times of more than 12 months, which in turn raises a few key questions – starting with what happens to the customers who miss out?

We don’t know the answer right now, but RAM Trucks CEO Tim Kuniskis has hinted there’s more to come from the TRX nameplate, and we suspect the solution lies in the realm of electrification.

“This current chapter in Ram’s high-performance trucks is coming to a close, but it’s not the end of TRX’s story,” he said.

“While we’ll have more news to come at a later date, we’re proud to offer our loyal performance enthusiasts the very special TRX 6.2L Supercharged V8 - Final Edition.”

It’s no secret Stellantis is retiring its arsenal of V8s from all major segments at the moment and that includes the full-size pick-up market, to which the facelifted 2025 RAM 1500 will bring the car-maker’s new twin-turbo 3.0-litre ‘Hurricane’ straight-six petrol engine in lieu of the aging 5.7-litre HEMI V8.

The new petrol six is more powerful, more efficient and cleaner than the V8 it will replace, even if it won’t sound as good. Crucially, however, it’s likely to form the basis of a six-cylinder plug-in hybrid system, which in high-performance form could well power the facelifted 2025 TRX.

RAM, Jeep and Dodge will be keen to show-off the versatility and performance potential of their new engine, and what better way to do that than with a snarling electrified pick-up that can hit 100km/h in less than five seconds?

The other possibility is that the TRX nameplate will live on as a fully-electric EV pick-up, and RAM previewed just such a vehicle several times last year.

Either way, the RAM 1500 TRX Final Edition could well be the final RAM V8 when it arrives in Australian dealerships after being converted to right-hand drive in Melbourne, probably in the second half of next year.

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