The TRX Is Back—and the V8 Lives On
This week, Ram Trucks officially dropped the bomb: the 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX is back. After removing the V8 platform from its lineup following the 2024 model year, Ram has officially reversed course and the super truck wars are officially back on.
The original TRX was a wildly popular off-road monster, built to go head-to-head with Ford’s Raptor. But as Stellantis pivoted hard toward electrification, the gasoline-powered V8 became a dead man walking. The TRX disappeared, replaced by talk of Hurricane inline-six power and an “electrified future.”
That future didn’t sit well with truck buyers.
If You’re Bringing TRX Back, You’d Better Make Noise
Ram didn’t just bring the TRX back they made sure it made a splash.
The 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX returns packing 777 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque, courtesy of the legendary 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8. And let’s be honest the main attraction here isn’t just the numbers. It’s the sound. The rumble. The presence.
Ford learned this lesson the hard way.
When Ford pulled the V8 from the Raptor and leaned solely on the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, sales stayed strong but the soul took a hit. Ram capitalized in 2020 with the original TRX, forcing Ford’s hand and leading to the eventual debut of the Raptor R and its V8 revival.
When Ram later announced the TRX was going away in favor of the Hurricane inline-six, Ford wasted no time telling the world: the V8 wasn’t going anywhere.
We Live in a Different World Now
Under the Biden administration, every automaker rushed to be first in line as an eco-conscious brand. Emissions targets, EV timelines, government incentives those became the priority. What didn’t get enough consideration? The people actually buying these trucks.
Stellantis, a global conglomerate based in Europe, brought a very European mindset to the American truck market—and it didn’t translate well. That philosophy clashes hard with blue-collar U.S. truck buyers, especially when Ram and Jeep are the profit engines of the entire company.
With a new, more oil-friendly administration and declining enthusiasm for forced electrification, something had to change.
When in Doubt… V8 It Out
Enter Tim Kuniskis.
When Kuniskis returned to the company, the mission was obvious: bring the V8 back and own the mistake. HEMI time is officially back. Kuniskis summed it up best:
“We started 2025 with a simple rallying cry three words and three letters: Our first moves were clear: revive the legendary HEMI V8 and reignite the SRT performance division.”
With that mindset, would anyone really bet against the TRX making a comeback?
The Truck
All that power is wrapped in a driver-friendly, luxury-focused cabin, delivering one of the most premium experiences in the full-size truck segment without sacrificing brutality.
- 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX is the most powerful production street legal gas half-ton pickup ever, delivering 777 horsepower and 680 lb.-ft. of torque
- Legendary 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI® V-8 returns, capable of launching TRX from 0–60 mph in 3.5 seconds and onto 118 mph top speed
- Bloodshot Night Edition celebrates the relaunch of TRX with an exclusive Blacktop upper paint scheme, a bold Flame Red painted center hood stripe with matching accents, distinctive splash graphics, carbon fiber interior trim with red detailing, a glass-encased center console badge and red-outline TRX badging
- TRX evolves with second-gen Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive shocks, Ram Active Terrain Dynamics and 14 inches of maximum suspension travel
- Ram is the only truck manufacturer to offer Hands-free Active Drive Assist (L2+) capability on high-performance off-road gas pickups—RHO and TRX
- Technology highlights include a standard best-in-class 14.5-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital cluster and Head-Up Display with 10-inch field of view
- Fully equipped as standard, luxury appointments include hand-wrapped leather interior surfaces, heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, class-exclusive dual wireless charging pads and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system
- For the first time, TRX features a leather-wrapped airbag cover with red stitching and a full suede headliner and visors
That’s more horsepower per dollar than any premium full-size pickup on the market.
What Happens Next?
Now that Ram has laid its cards on the table, the big question remains:
Does Ford go all-in with the Raptor R SEMA concept rumored to make 900 horsepower?
We now live in a world where super trucks can run with supercars—and frankly, we’re here for it.
The Jurassic period is back.
And the V8 isn’t extinct after all.
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