The coming months will bring us not one, but two new SRT model debuts from Ram, according to Antonio Filosa. The Stellantis CEO made the comment to Wall Street analysts last Thursday, which has set off speculation as to what the two vehicles might be.
The first is most likely the return of the Ram 1500 TRX, this time with SRT branding. Stellantis confirmed this past summer it was bringing the ultra-high-horsepower pickup back to market, most likely with the same supercharged V-8 it left with when it was discontinued after the 2024 model year. The second SRT model, however, is most likely a street truck. At least, that’s what all the signs are pointing to.
Why We Think Ram Is Getting An SRT Street Truck
The evidence for Ram getting an SRT-branded street truck is fairly overwhelming. It hasn’t had one since the crazy Viper-powered Ram SRT-10 that was briefly sold from 2004 to 2006. But seeing as the SRT brand is back, we think Ram is ready to revive something similar, though with a supercharged V-8 instead of a V-10.
For one, with the return of the TRX, Ram will already have two high-performance off-road trucks. Don’t forget about the well-balanced and more affordable RHO model. Adding a third off-road truck doesn’t make sense, so we imagine they’ve decided to go the other way and are bringing the truck closer to the pavement for better on-road handling.
Also consider that Ram has shown us two high-performance street trucks very recently. The first is the company’s collaboration with Fox Factory Vehicles to create a 650-horsepower, black-and-gold street version of the 1500 that’s sold directly through Ram dealers with a warranty. The second is a neon green SEMA concept called “The Dude”. This lowered truck wears a ground effects kit that incorporates side exhaust outlets, a hood scoop, and brackish “Dude” branding all over it.
Let’s not forget that Ram has also announced its return to NASCAR racing. Its first team, Kaulig Racing, will field no less than 5 of the company’s race trucks when the next season of the Craftsman Truck Series starts in February.
Lastly, consider the competition. Ford has dipped its toe back in the street truck game with the new F-150 Lobo. While not as serious a performance truck as the Ford SVT Lightnings of the past, the Lobo still has a lowered suspension, a 400-hp V-8, dual exhausts, and more aggressive styling. Ram may see the writing on the wall that this market niche has awakened after being comatose for 20 years.
TopSpeed’s Take
Don’t get us wrong, we love the current generation of high-performance off-road pickup trucks, but the return of a bonafide street performance truck has us shaking with anticipation. Yes, the Ford Raptor and the TRX are fun to drive at 60 miles per hour across a desert floor, but they’re more for status than performance when pavement is touching their rubber.
The halcyon days of factory-bred performance street trucks gave us the aforementioned Ford Lightning and Ram SRT-10, the Chevrolet 454 SS, and smaller trucks such as the Toyota Tacoma X-Runner and the Godfather of factory sport trucks: the GMC Syclone. Seeing that market return would bring tears to the eyes of anyone who calls themselves Gen X.
Source: The Drive
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