{"id":26229,"date":"2020-10-28T21:22:06","date_gmt":"2020-10-29T01:22:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=26229"},"modified":"2020-10-28T21:22:06","modified_gmt":"2020-10-29T01:22:06","slug":"payne-ram-trx-breaks-4-second-0-60-mph-speed-barrier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2020\/10\/payne-ram-trx-breaks-4-second-0-60-mph-speed-barrier","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Ram TRX breaks 4-second 0-60 mph speed barrier"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pickup trucks have a new king of the hill.<\/p>\n

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX has become the first production truck to break the four second 0-60 mph acceleration barrier, according to The Detroit News and Ram real-world testing.<\/p>\n

In its first media test last week in Nevada, the 702-horsepower monster rocketed from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, shattering Ram\u2019s own estimate of 4.5 seconds for the supercharged truck. Perhaps as impressive, the TRX (pronounced T-Rex) recorded a 5.1 second 0-60 time off-road (dirt-gravel mix) time. The off-road sprint equals the on-road 0-60 time recorded by the 450-horsepower Ford F-150 Raptor, until now the fastest truck in production.<\/p>\n

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The TRX and Raptor \u2014\u00a0joined by the 2022 GMC Hummer EV this week \u2014\u00a0make up a new class of super truck capable of sports car-like acceleration while boasting astonishing off-road capabilities. The electric motor-driven Hummer claims a 0-60 time of 3 seconds when it debuts late next year.<\/p>\n

The highly anticipated Ram \u2014\u00a0its engine bay stuffed with the same supercharged, 6.2-liter V8 engine found in the Dodge Challenger Hellcat \u2014\u00a0is the first truck to take on the Raptor, which has wowed the motorhead community since its introduction in 2008. Currently equipped with the same twin-turbo V-6 engine found in the Ford GT supercar and state-of-the-art, performance Fox shocks, the Raptor brought Baja 1000-capable equipment to the pickup realm. Its heights were not challenged \u2014 until now.<\/p>\n

The TRX isn\u2019t the first speed freak that Ram has brought to market. Car and Driver has been the media baseline for 0-60 tests over the years, and it recorded the 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10 (Ram was under the Dodge brand then) at 4.9 seconds. A missile on wheels, the SRT-10 didn\u2019t have off-road aspirations but came equipped with the same\u00a0500-horse, 8.3-liter V-10 engine found in the Viper supercar. The Ford SVT F-150 Lightning stuffed in a supercharged V-8 back in 2001 and hit 60 mph in just 5.2 seconds. The 2008 Toyota Tundra TRD achieved a torrid 4.5 seconds.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s standard-issue pickups are hardly weaklings. Car and Driver recorded the 2019 Ram 1500 at 6.0 seconds 0-60 when equipped with a 395-hp, 5.7-liter V-8. The TRX is a whole different animal, though.<\/p>\n

Its 0-60 dash is comparable to a Chevy Camaro SS muscle car. Though, to be sure, the $89,000\u00a0Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk \u2014\u00a0with the same Hellcat engine lurking under the hood \u2014\u00a0still has 0-60 mph bragging rights in the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV brand stable with a 3.5-second time.<\/p>\n

Similar to supercars like the Corvette C8 or Porsche 911 that routinely record sub-3.0 second 0-60 times, the top-shelf TRX uses launch control to achieve its astonishing drag times.<\/p>\n

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Hit the Launch Control\u00a0button on the truck\u2019s dash. Flatten the brake pedal. Bury the accelerator pedal. Wait for the revs to level at 2200 RPM. Release brake. The truck explodes forward with electronics managing the four-wheel-drive system for slip.<\/p>\n

The grip of the 4WD drive system \u2014\u00a0particularly during off-road acceleration tests \u2014\u00a0is impressive. As is the visceral appeal. The Hellcat engine\u2019s supercharger shrieks above the roar of the V-8. No wonder it\u2019s named after the T-Rex predator.<\/p>\n

The Ram\u2019s speed capabilities come despite a considerable 850-pound weight disadvantage over the lighter Raptor. In addition to the V-8 boat anchor up front, the Ram\u2019s ladder frame has been strengthened for off-road punishment.<\/p>\n

Media tests included multiple laps around Nevada\u2019s winding off-road Wild West Motorsport race track, where the Ram was launched four feet into the air at 65 mph over jumps. The impact was cushioned by competition Bilstein shocks,\u00a0which, similar to Raptor,\u00a0are capable of 14 inches of travel.<\/p>\n

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TRX is distinguished over other Ram trucks by its swollen fenders, 13-inch wide-by-35 inch tall tires\u00a0and big hood scoop. And its $70,095 price tag.<\/p>\n

That puts it well above the $55,000\u00a0Raptor, but is below the starting price for the electric Hummer at $79,995. Indeed, with its boisterous V-8 and luxurious interior with 12-inch Tesla-like screen, the TRX pickup indicates there is plenty of life in the ol\u2019 gas engine yet.<\/p>\n