news

2021 Ram 1500 TRX supercharged V8 is go for Australia!

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX supercharged V8 – one of the world’s fastest and most powerful pick-ups – is coming to Australia, initially as a limited production run from next year.


The official importer, Ram Trucks Australia, is in the preliminary stages of an engineering program ahead of showroom arrivals in 2021.

The first two examples of the Ram 1500 TRX supercharged V8 are due to arrive in Australia in January for early tooling and engineering work – ahead of a full production run next year, barring any setbacks.

Drive

Sales of Ram pick-ups in Australia are already at record highs and the brand is poised to introduce the new-generation ‘DT’ Series in January 2021, to sell alongside the current ‘DS’ Series.

Ram Trucks in the US and Australia will continue to sell both model series alongside each other at different price points. The ‘DT’ series will be dubbed the new Ram 1500 (and likely priced between $120,000 and $130,000), while the ‘DS’ series will be dubbed Classic (priced between $80,000 and $106,000).

News of the local introduction of the Ram 1500 TRX supercharged V8 comes as the Melbourne production facility puts the finishing touches on regular versions of the new generation 1500, which have been spotted testing on local roads (see below).

Drive
Drive

The vehicles sold through Ram Trucks Australia are remanufactured to right-hand-drive to factory standards having undergone local crash testing, and have the full factory backing of Ram Trucks USA.

They are reassembled in right-hand-drive adjacent to the production line for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, in the suburb of Clayton, south-east of Melbourne, by the Walkinshaw Automotive Group, formerly the parent company of Holden Special Vehicles.

Ram Trucks Australia is yet to confirm the local debut of the TRX supercharged V8, however dealers have been told to initially expect a limited run of 200 to 250 vehicles priced between $180,000 and $200,000.

Drive

However, price will not be locked in until closer to the production date, due to fluctuations in exchange rates between Australian and US dollars.

Ram Trucks Australia declined to comment on plans for the Ram 1500 TRX, however CarAdvice understands its arrival is a formality.

The monster truck rival to the Ford F-150 Raptor is powered by a supercharged 6.2-litre Hemi V8 – shared with the Dodge Challenger Hellcat and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk – with an astonishing output of 700 horsepower, which is more than one of Australia’s V8 Supercar racing cars.

Drive

In modern terms the supercharged 6.2-litre Hemi V8 has an output of 523kW and 881Nm.

Matched to an eight-speed auto, Ram claims the TRX does the 0 to 60mph (96kmh) dash in 4.5 seconds and the quarter mile (400m) run in 12.9 seconds at 108mph (174kmh). Top speed is rated at 189kmh. 

Weighing more than 2.7-tonnes, it’s expected to be a thirsty beast when its power and potential are exploited.

The 2021 Ram TRX wading depth is rated to 812mm and can tow up to 3600kg. However, it has a maximum payload of 594kg due to the specialist off-road suspension.

While production of the current Ram 1500 'Classic' DS series will continue for at least the next two years, the new Ram 1500 DT Series is due in local showrooms from January 2021, priced about $120,000 to $130,000 – though final cost is yet to be confirmed.

MORE:RAM Showroom
MORE:RAM News
MORE:RAM Reviews
MORE:RAM 1500 Showroom
MORE:RAM 1500 News
MORE:RAM 1500 Reviews
MORE:Search Used RAM 1500 Cars for Sale
MORE:Search Used RAM Cars for Sale
MORE:RAM Showroom
MORE:RAM News
MORE:RAM Reviews
MORE:RAM 1500 Showroom
MORE:RAM 1500 News
MORE:RAM 1500 Reviews
MORE:Search Used RAM 1500 Cars for Sale
MORE:Search Used RAM Cars for Sale
Joshua Dowling

Joshua Dowling has been a motoring journalist for more than 20 years, spending most of that time working for The Sydney Morning Herald (as motoring editor and one of the early members of the Drive team) and News Corp Australia. He joined CarAdvice / Drive in 2018, and has been a World Car of the Year judge for more than 10 years.

Read more about Joshua DowlingLinkIcon
Chat with us!







Chat with Agent