Roaring Back From Extinction
Ram has released a new 15-second teaser for an unnamed product, paired with the tagline “Power Will Be Reborn.” The brief clip has sparked renewed speculation that the 1500 TRX could be on its way back, especially given the model’s former role as the brand’s flagship performance pickup, positioned to take on the Ford F-150 Raptor R.
Previously, the 1500 TRX was powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 producing 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. Those figures gave Ram a clear numerical edge over the early F-150 Raptor R, until Ford later updated its performance off-road truck to deliver 720 horsepower starting with the 2024 model year.
Before Ram could respond with an update of its own, production of the TRX ended, with the final unit produced in February 2024. The discontinuation was driven by several factors, including tightening emissions regulations.
What’s Being Speculated
Despite its exit, signs of a comeback began surfacing earlier this year. During an earnings call, Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa stated that the “V8 engine on versions, such as the Ram 1500 TRX, will deliver to us additional volumes.” While the newly released teaser appears to support that view, it offers very few concrete details beyond the aforementioned tagline and the caption, “Desert winds don’t whisper… they roar,” a likely nod to the Tyrannosaurus Rex that inspired the TRX nameplate.
Current rumors suggest the next-generation 1500 TRX could return with as much as 797 horsepower, putting it 77 hp ahead of the current F-150 Raptor R. That figure is believed to be tied to the Redeye-tuned version of Stellantis’ supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8, an engine already used in performance models such as the Dodge Charger. In its most extreme application, the same basic engine architecture has been pushed to 1,025 horsepower on E85, as seen in the Challenger SRT Demon 170. However, output at that level would likely be excessive for a full-size pickup.
New Year Surprise
But again, nothing’s confirmed yet. Ram has only stated that the mystery product teased in the video will be officially revealed on January 1, 2026.
In the meantime, the Ram 1500 lineup already reflects a renewed openness toward combustion engines. The MY2026 is available with a returning 5.7-liter Hemi V8 paired with the brand’s eTorque mild-hybrid system, delivering 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. Buyers can also opt for a high-output 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six producing 540 horsepower. The broader reintroduction of V8 options underscores a shifting market landscape, which now appears more accommodating to internal-combustion powertrains rather than an all-in push toward electric vehicles.
