Start of the Journey for the Ram 1500 TRX Pickup Truck’s Replacement

Photo Source: Stellantis

The off-roading world is waiting in anticipation as the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO prepares to make its debut. Stellantis will shelve the Ram 1500 TRX at the end of the 2024 model year. With the launch of the new Ram 1500 RHO, the TRX with its 702-horsepower supercharged Hemi V-8 is being put out to pasture, and a new performance trim is taking its place. However, more than just swapping out abbreviated names, the new RHO will arrive with less power, fewer cylinders, and a palatable price tag. 

Is it going to satisfy die-hard enthusiasts who yearn for a dune-runner with obscene levels of power, though? With “just” 540 horsepower with 28 psi of boost from a new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six Hurricane engine, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO is up on power compared to the new Ford F-150 Raptor – but dropping the V-8 means there is no even competitor to the Raptor R. Nonetheless, readers should not discount the RHO. It might be the most balanced take on performance pickup trucks yet.

Under the Hood of the Ram 1500 RHO

With the TRX name being retired, so too is the Hemi V-8 engine buyers have come to expect from Ram’s performance pickup. The outgoing engine accelerated up to 702 horsepower and generated 650 pound-feet of torque, which resulted in a staggering zero to 60 miles per hour time of 4.5 seconds, officially. On the other hand, Stellantis has a strategic plan to cut its carbon footprint by 50 percent in the next six or seven years, and this powertrain does not quite fit in with that arrangement.

As mentioned, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO will make do with an all-new engine: a 3.0-liter Hurricane High Output Straight-Six Turbo, which the automaker claims is the most powerful six-cylinder in the segment. Even though it is worth noting that this powertrain produces a significant drop from the 702-horsepower V-8 in the TRX, it is more than the Ford F-150 Raptor pickup truck’s 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. The Blue Oval’s performance truck can sprint to 60 miles per hour in approximately 5.5 seconds, and the RHO is expected to improve on that by a few tenths of a second.

Connections Between the TRX and its Successor

What is reassuring for devoted TRX fans is that despite the power disparity, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO inherits much of the TRX pickup’s rugged DNA. Indeed, sources indicate that the RHO maintains the iconic wide body, beefier frame, and massive off-road tires that were synonymous with the TRX vehicle’s capabilities. These similarities raise an interesting possibility: Will the aftermarket TRX accessories, such as bumpers and more, still fit the RHO? It is a question that could provide a seamless transition for TRX enthusiasts. 

Additionally, Stellantis notes that an electronic locking rear differential is available to the 1500 lineup, but it is likely this will be standard on the RHO as it was on TRX trims. The specially-tuned suspension setup will be the highlight on the RHO, although the automaker has yet to divulge details on this. 

Sources also suggest that the replacement for the TRX will cost less than the outgoing truck: “The truck will sit above the Rebel in the lineup, which starts at $61,295 MSRP (Plus destination fee) for 2024. The TRX commands nearly $100,000 MSRP (Plus destination fee), so we expect the RHO to fall somewhere in the middle. A price tag in the mid- to high- $80,000 MSRP (Plus destination fee) range wouldn’t surprise us.” 

The launch date for the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO is set for the third quarter of 2024. In the meantime, please come visit Miami Lakes Automall. We are here to assist you with any financial help, needs, or suggestions to make paying for a vehicle easier. Stop by and see what we can do for you right now.