Pandemic be damned, the pickup wars are raging.
And Fiat Chrysler may have established a strategic advantage with the unveiling of its new Ram 1500 TRX, a 702-horsepower model anticipated to feature the fastest acceleration of any pickup sold by a major automaker.
The Ram will feature a 6.2-liter, 702-horsepower supercharged V8. Initially designed for the Dodge Challenger Hellcat, it’s being used for the first time in a pickup. The Ram’s key competitor is the Ford 450-hp Raptor which becomes quite apparent when you acknowledge that TRX sounds like T-Rex and, according to Ram brand head Michael Koval Jr., “T-rex destroys raptors.”
Still the Raptor pales in comparison on speed with its 3.5-liter turbocharged V6. So just how fast is the speediest pickup on the market? Zero to 60 in 4.5 seconds.
It features specially designed extra-wide off-road tires and a suspension system that was designed to handle harsh environments. It even offers a smart solution it Fiat Chrysler is calling “Jump Detection,” taking over engine controls when it senses the TRX is airborne in order to prevent damage to key components. Different driving modes account for surfaces like mud, rock or sand.
And while this pickup is definitely an off-roader's dream, there’s a price. A big one. Fiat Chrysler says the base TRX, which it will begin to produce in October, will start at $75,000, with some fully loaded special editions eclipsing $100,000. So maybe think about whether your need for speed is really a NEED need.
