Dodge created a movement in 2015 with the unveiling of the 707 horsepower Hellcat V8 engine in the Challenger SRT at the time. From there, Dodge has gone on to expand the Hellcat to the even more popular Charger four-door muscle car, as well as introducing widebody variants, the even more powerful Redeye variants, The Challenger Super Stock, and the even more insane Jailbreak package. They even (briefly) put the Hellcat in the Durango. Also benefiting from this massive injection of horsepower were the Jeep and Ram brands. With Jeep, it’s the much-loved Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. And with Ram, it’s the earth-shaking TRX. Despite the incredible success of the Hellcat engine, the Fun Police are forcing the 6.2L supercharged V8 out of the market, where Dodge now has to rely on electrification to keep itself in the Stellantis brand portfolio.
However, the same fate may not await the Ram 1500 TRX. At least, not yet. According to a recent interview that Motor Authority had at the 2022 New York auto show with Ram CEO Mike Koval, the Hellcat truck will exist beyond 2023.
Ram 1500 TRX Not Yet Going Extinct
Koval made sure to give a concise and precise answer when asked if the king of the dinosaurs would again face extinction after the 2023 model year. “No,” was his answer. 2023 is relevant because that stands to be the final year of production for the Dodge Hellcat twins, as stated by brand CEO Tim Kunskis.
However, according to Koval, the current plan calls for the TRX to not only exist beyond 2023 but exist in its current form. Koval wouldn’t disclose the precise reason why the TRX is living on beyond the Hellcats, but it seems that it will be the only vehicle with the supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 engine under the hood after 2023.
Image copyright Mattheus Pach, Muscle Cars & Trucks
We could be seeing the Ram TRX remain because emission regulations aren’t as strict for pickup trucks. Then again, Koval was coy with what “its current form” meant. We could very well see this high-speed desert runner soldier forward with a different powertrain. If that’s the case, we could see something similar to what Jeep has planned for the Grand Cherokee. While the Trackhawk is no more, the company still plans on building performance-focused trims that won’t be powered by a V8. Instead, the brand will incorporate the high-output Hurricane I6 twin-turbo engine with electric power for Hellcat-like performance. Though certainly, not the Hellcat-like sound.
The standard output form of the new Hurricane I6 engine produces 420 horsepower and 486 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, a high output version is rated at 510 ponies and 500 lb-ft. The addition of an electric motor could potentially raise total output beyond 700 HP. So, an electrified TRX with or without a plug could be a thing. But the only way to know for sure is to wait and see what Ram has planned for the apex predator.
Image via Mattheus Pach, Muscle Cars & Trucks
