The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO May Not Be A TRX, But It’s Not Far Off

In 2020, the automaker then known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles introduced a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine called the Hellcat. Over the next 8 years, they installed the Hellcat into almost every platform where it would fit and made money almost as fast as the engine consumed gasoline. Among those was the high-riding, wide-bodied, absurdly quick Ram 1500 TRX. The end of 2023 brought the end of Hellcat production and with it a three year run for the TRX. For model year 2025, the Ram 1500 is getting a mid-cycle refresh and capping off the lineup is an off-road sport truck that retains almost everything that made the TRX special except for that now retired V8. Say hello to the Ram 1500 RHO.

With V8s no longer available in any 2025 Ram 1500, the RHO is instead powered by the high-output version of the 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged Hurricane inline-six-cylinder that debuted in 2022 in the Jeep Wagoneer. As in other 2025 Ram 1500s, the Hurricane produces 540-hp and 521 lb-ft of torque and it’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. That’s about 160-hp less than the Hellcat churned out in the TRX.

However, the Hurricane does produce 90-hp more than the high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 in the standard Ford F-150 Raptor and 120-hp more than the 6.2-liter V8 in the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, its closest competitors.

Visually, the RHO looks very much like the TRX. In fact, apart from the front fascia, the rest of the bodywork from the TRX has been retained including the eight-inch wider fenders and the scooped and louvered hood. The grille has been revised in keeping with the rest of the refreshed RAM lineup including the new larger badge that sits higher in the grille and the slimmer headlamps.

Ram doesn’t say exactly what RHO stands for, but Ram High Output is one obvious interpretation. But during a preview briefing, Ram officials referenced “Rhino” the internal nickname for the program. A rhino is incorporated into the special badge on the center console.

The RHO cabin gets the same set of upgrades as other premium 2025 Ram 1500s including the new larger 14.5-inch portrait center touchscreen and the available 10.25-inch passenger touchscreen. Like the similar screens offered in the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee, a filter prevents the screen from being viewed from the driver side. The smaller touchscreen lets the passenger interact with the infotainment system and watch media while on the go. The passenger can also watch the view from the external cameras and aid the driver in spotting and navigating when off-road.

The driver gets a 12.3-inch digital cluster display and a full-color heads-up display. The hands-free driving assist system that debuted for Stellantis on the other 2025 Ram 1500s is also available on the RHO. Like GM’s Super Cruise and Ford’s BlueCruise, this system is only usable on pre-mapped highways and allows the driver go hands-off while cruising, but they must keep eyes-oin road and be ready to take back the wheel at any time.

Unique to the RHO is a set of pre-wired auxiliary switches to control extra equipment like off-road lights and other accessories. Also below the center screen is the knob for trailer reverse steer control, a system similar to Ford pro trailer backup assist that makes it easier to maneuver with a trailer while backing up.

Underneath, the TRX has essentially the same suspension configuration as the TRX with unique links, and Bilstien Black Hawk e2 adaptive shocks with remote reservoirs. This allows for better cooling of the damping fluid during heavy off-road use. The only notable change from the TRX is the tuning of the springs and dampers to account for the 150-pound weight reduction due to the smaller engine. For an off-road truck, the reduced weight of the engine actually has an even bigger impact because the weight distribution has changed with 180-lbs coming off the front axle (and 30 pounds shifted toward the rear.

Despite its reduced power, the lower weight of the RHO doesn’t actually give up that much performance in a straight line thanks to the weight loss. Ram says the RHO will get to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds while most testing of the TRX put it just under 4 seconds. It does have slightly more towing and payload capability at 8,380-lbs and 1,520-lbs.

So is the RHO a true replacement for the TRX? No and it’s not meant to be. This is a truck that brings most of what’s best about the TRX apart from the big, blown V8 and the sound it makes and makes it accessible to a lot more customers. With a starting price of just under $70,000, it’s nearly $37,000 cheaper than the TRX and Ram promises to build as many as there is demand for.

So what becomes of the TRX? The official line from Ram is that the brand is on the shelf for now. They don’t promise a new one, but they also don’t rule it out. When asked, they also acknowledge that electrification will probably be part of the Ram sport truck lineup in the future. While claiming nothing has been decided, Ram has several options available to it.

The first is a TRX variant of the battery electric Ram Rev that’s coming later this year. That is actually the least likely because of the weight of the massive batteries that truck will use. Next is the powertrain from the Ramcharger extended range EV truck. This one is a possibility with its Pentastar V6 driving a generator and a 90-kWh battery and electric drive. But if the RHO doesn’t sound threatening enough, how about an electric drive exclusive? Don’t forget the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust from the upcoming Dodge Charger Daytona. That could be tuned to give any sort of sound the engineers want.

Finally, there is the Jeep parts bin and the plug-in hybrid 4XE powertrain. Paring the PHEV transmission with the high-output Hurricane could be just the ticket. In the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee this features a 134-hp electric motor that together with the 540-hp Hurricane gets you to 673-hp, not far from the 700-hp Hellcat. But why stop there? Bump the electric motor to a 200-hp unit and this hypothetical plug-in TRX is back above the Raptor R threshold. Double up the battery to about 35-kWh and this truck could still be in the 30-ish electric mile range and add that Fratzonic exhaust and you just might have a winner.

The RHO may fall a bit short of the TRX, but the future could be very interesting.