In a teaser released last week, Ram is heavily hinting it will reveal a new 1500 TRX on January 1, 2026.
The video (below), which shows desert sand blowing in the wind with the faint sound of a supercharged V8 roaring off in the distance, ends with the tagline “Power will reborn”. The description reads: “Desert winds don’t whisper…they roar. Get Ready. 01.01.26”
We know Ram is preparing a new TRX — pronounced T-Rex — with Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa already confirming its existence, if not its timing. In an earnings call in July, Mr Filosa said, “The V8 engine on versions [of our pickup trucks], such as the Ram 1500 TRX, will deliver to us additional volumes but also accredited margins per unit.”
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With the facelift of the fifth-generation 1500, which debuted in the States in 2023, Ram replaced its long-standing Hemi V8 engines with the more powerful, and more fuel efficient 3.0-litre twin-turbo Hurricane straight-six engine range.
As part of the facelift, the Hemi-powered 1500 TRX was dropped from the range, with the RHO indirectly replacing it as Ram’s off-road, if not performance, flagship. The RHO uses the same “high output” 402kW/706Nm variant of the 3.0-litre Hurricane engine as the Limited model.
The removal of V8 engines from the 1500 lineup was reportedly driven by former CEO Carlos Tavares, and was one of many moves which promoted much disquiet among dealers and customers in North America.
After his resignation in late 2024, and the reappointment of Tim Kuniskis as Ram CEO, the brand confirmed in June 2025 it was bringing back V8 engines.
“Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle them defines you. Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi — we own it and we fixed it,” Mr Kuniskis said at the time.
“We’re not just bringing back a legendary V8 engine, we’re igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers.”
Prior to its axing, the 1500 TRX was powered by a 6.2-litre Hellcat supercharged V8 making 531kW and 881Nm. In Australia, the TRX was priced from around $225,000 before on-road costs.
Although V8 models now live alongside six-cylinder variants in Ram’s North American showrooms, Hemi-powered pickups have yet to make a return to our shores, and the local distributor has ruled out V8 models for the time being.
