The Ram 1500 TRX was launched last week to much fanfare. But, as nice as it is to have a playmate for the Ford Raptor, many fans were disappointed that the new Ram was not also made available as a performance street truck. In fact, they are still waiting for the truck manufacturer to bring out a legit successor to the old Ram SRT-10. It begs the questions, when will Ram provide another special edition Ram that can handle better than some sportscars? A successor to the old SRT-10 is not so far fetched, is it?

The Ram 1500 TRX is a great truck, but…

My colleague, Joe Santos, recently wrote a comparison article between the Ram SRT-10 and the new 1500 TRX. In it, he said, “Ram has stated that the 1500 TRX can get to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and blast down the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds.” But, he also notes that the SRT-10, which was produced from 2004-2006 and had a V10, could achieve “60 mph in just 4.9 seconds and down the quarter-mile in 13.6 seconds.” 

Here is the thing. The SRT-10 was putting down those numbers fifteen years ago. Sure, the Hellcat engine in a modern off-road truck like the TRX is a great thing. It is even faster than the SRt-10 was. But, the SRT-10 paved the way for a performance street truck that we still don’t have, versus the off-roader that we just got in the TRX. 

The Ram TRX-Z?

What if Ram took the time to fine-tune that same modern powerplant and suspension for a new street performance truck? People love the brutish power of the Hellcat powerplants. So, throwing it in a truck-like Ram did with the TRX makes sense. But, how about also tightening a truck’s suspension up so that it can be a pavement carver as well? You know,… maybe instead of a TRX, a TRX-Z earthshaker package of some sort. The TRX already puts down better times than the SRT-10. Imagine how good it could be if the whole package was tuned for the street instead of the dunes. That is the other truck the truck enthusiasts desperately need. 

Special editions are not new

Special edition vehicles are all the rage right now. From Bentley to Bugatti and Ferrari to Ford, each manufacturer has put out special editions that sell briskly to meet the low volume demands of collectors. Bentley has the Continental Speed S. Bugatti has Chiron Support Sport. Ferrari has the Roma. Ford has the GT Heritage Edition. Even Chevrolet has special edition Corvettes. While Ram may now have the TRX, it could also have a street performance variant to give the world a taste of the breadth of specialization that the manufacturer can offer. 

Please understand, I do not have anything against the TRX. It is a great and powerful truck. But, it is made for off-road capability. The SRT-10 of times past made no illusions that it was out to eat pavement. In all the years since we have not had a worthy successor. But, some may argue, including myself, that it is time for such a beast to reappear in the Ram lineup. Additionally, it would be even greater if people could choose both, the savage off-road variant, and the street performance variant, from the lineup at the same time.