By Ginika Igboke
Stellantis announced on Jan. 2 that it will reintroduce the Ram TRX eight-cylinder pickup truck beginning in 2026, marking a major move in the automaker’s broader turnaround strategy unveiled in October 2025.
The high-performance half-ton pickup, capable of delivering an industry-leading 777 horsepower, will be the first off-road truck from Ram’s relaunched Street and Racing Technology (SRT) performance division. It is also the first SRT-badged Ram truck to enter production in two decades. Stellantis said the vehicle will start at just under $100,000 and is expected to arrive in mid-2026.
Ram said the decision to revive the TRX was driven largely by customer demand. The truck has maintained a devoted following since its initial debut in 2021 and remains the flagship of the Ram 1500 off-road lineup.
The announcement aligns with Stellantis’ push to expand its U.S. market share, where it trails Ford and General Motors in passenger truck sales. In October, the automaker unveiled a $13 billion investment plan that includes five new vehicle launches across its brands and the addition of more than 5,000 jobs at manufacturing plants in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.
Antonio Filosa, who became CEO of Stellantis in May 2025 after a 25-year career with the company, said accelerating growth in the United States has been a top priority. He emphasized that stronger performance in the U.S. market bolsters the company’s global competitiveness.
Stellantis’ North American operations are headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, while its global headquarters are based in Amsterdam. The company’s brand portfolio includes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Maserati, Opel, and Peugeot, and it operates 34 manufacturing, research, and distribution facilities across 14 U.S. states.
The revived Ram TRX will be powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine paired with a 2.4-liter twin-screw supercharger, producing 680 foot-pounds of torque. The truck will feature an eight-speed transmission and can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds, according to Stellantis.
Tim Kuniskis, head of American brands and SRT performance, said the TRX’s return represents more than a revival of a nameplate. He noted that Ram originally set a benchmark with 702 horsepower five years ago and that the new 777-horsepower figure signals a renewed performance focus and a new direction for the brand.
Stellantis said the 2026 Ram TRX will be the most powerful street-legal, gas-powered truck in production and the first SRT-badged Ram vehicle since 2006. Standard features will include 35-inch tires with nearly 12 inches of ground clearance, hands-free automated driving capability, 12-way power-adjustable front seats with massage functions, and extensive carbon fiber trim throughout the cabin.
The announcement also marks a return to prominence for Kuniskis, a 30-year company veteran who retired in May 2024 but returned later that year. He was named head of Stellantis’ North and South American brands in the summer of 2025. Earlier in his career, Kuniskis oversaw the launch of the Dodge Hellcat Challenger and Charger in 2014, which were among the most powerful muscle cars the company had ever produced at the time.
Ram said it will continue offering trucks with a range of capabilities and price points to meet diverse customer needs. While the TRX will remain the most expensive version of the Ram 1500, the company said its standard equipment and premium features—many borrowed from the luxury-focused Ram 1500 Tungsten—give it a strong value proposition within the competitive performance truck segment.
Original article
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