Iconic Supercharged Pickup Returns as Automaker Reverses Course on Performance Engines
Stellantis is reviving one of the most extreme pickup trucks ever offered by a major automaker, signaling a dramatic shift in strategy as regulatory pressures around fuel economy and emissions ease in the United States. The company confirmed that the Ram TRX, a gas-powered, V-8 performance pickup once thought to be a casualty of electrification plans, will return for the 2027 model year with a price tag hovering around $100,000.
The announcement reflects both changing political realities and a broader reset underway inside Stellantis, which has struggled to regain momentum in the U.S. market following several years of declining sales. The reborn 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX is expected to reach dealerships in late 2026 and will once again feature the brand’s legendary supercharged “Hellcat” V-8 engine.
A High-Powered Comeback for a Cult Favorite
The Ram TRX was originally produced from the 2021 through 2024 model years before being discontinued as Stellantis shifted focus away from large displacement engines. Its return marks a clear reversal of that approach.
Under the hood, the 2027 TRX will be powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 producing a staggering 777 horsepower and 680 pound-feet of torque. Stellantis says the truck will reclaim its title as the fastest and most powerful gasoline-powered production pickup in the world, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of 118 mph.
Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, who returned from retirement last year to oversee a turnaround of the brand, described the revived TRX as a necessary statement vehicle.
“We had to push it to the next level,” Kuniskis said during a recent media briefing. “This truck represents what Ram is capable of when we stop apologizing for performance.”
A $100,000 Statement Truck
The 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX will start at $99,995, not including a mandatory $2,595 destination charge, bringing the total to $102,590. That figure represents a dramatic increase compared with the original TRX, which debuted in 2020 at a starting price of just over $71,000 including destination.
Despite its limited sales volume, the TRX has long served as a “halo vehicle” a flagship model designed to generate excitement, media attention, and showroom traffic for the broader Ram lineup. Stellantis executives believe that strategy remains effective, particularly at a time when buyers are increasingly drawn to emotional, high-performance vehicles.
Kuniskis has successfully used similar halo models in the past, especially during his leadership of Dodge and its SRT performance division, which helped define the brand’s identity around unapologetic power.
Deregulation and a Changing Industry Landscape
The return of the TRX also reflects shifting regulatory conditions. Under the Trump administration, several federal emissions and fuel economy standards have been rolled back or weakened, reducing penalties for automakers that sell high-horsepower, gasoline-powered vehicles.
While Kuniskis acknowledged that easing regulations made the decision easier, he emphasized that the truck would have returned regardless.
“This helps, no doubt,” he said of deregulation. “But I was going to do it anyway.”
The move runs counter to Stellantis’ earlier commitments to phase out V-8 engines and aggressively pursue electrification. Those plans were championed by former CEO Carlos Tavares, whose tenure coincided with declining U.S. sales and growing dealer dissatisfaction.
Rebuilding After a Sales Slump
Stellantis, formed in 2021 through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France’s PSA Group, has struggled to maintain its position in the American market. Between 2021 and 2024, the company fell from the fourth-largest automaker in U.S. sales to sixth place.
Sales data underscores the challenge. Through the third quarter of last year, Stellantis’ U.S. sales were down 6% compared with the previous year. Cox Automotive forecasts the company will finish the year with roughly 1.25 million U.S. vehicle sales down more than 4% from 2024 and far below the more than 2 million vehicles sold annually in 2020.
Kuniskis now oversees all of Stellantis’ U.S. brands and has vowed to reverse the decline. He has promised more than 25 major announcements through next year, many of which represent sharp pivots from previous strategies.
A Flurry of Strategic Reversals
The TRX revival is just one piece of a broader reset. Recent moves under Kuniskis’ leadership include Ram’s return to NASCAR, the resurrection of Hemi V-8 engines under a controversial “Symbol of Protest” branding campaign, and the cancellation of a long-promised battery-electric Ram 1500 pickup.
On the heavy-duty side, Stellantis also announced a new 6.7-liter high-output Cummins turbo diesel engine for the 2027 Ram Power Wagon, delivering 430 horsepower and a massive 1,075 pound-feet of torque another signal that the company is doubling down on traditional truck buyers.
Kuniskis believes Ram and Jeep, Stellantis’ two most important U.S. brands, are finally moving in the right direction.
“It’s still a strong industry,” he said. “As long as we get our share of it, we’ll be OK.”
Jeep’s Parallel Reset Strategy
Ram is not alone in seeking a comeback. Jeep, another cornerstone of Stellantis’ American business, has also struggled with declining sales after peaking at more than 973,000 U.S. deliveries in 2018.
Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf has launched what he calls a “Jeep reset,” aimed at simplifying the lineup, rethinking pricing, and restoring the brand’s off-road-focused identity.
“This is about making Jeep more Jeep,” Broderdorf said, echoing Kuniskis’ philosophy.
The reset involves reducing overlap between models, increasing standard features, and refining price positioning from entry-level vehicles like the Compass and Cherokee up through premium offerings such as the Grand Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer.
New Products and Cautious Optimism
Upcoming Jeep products include a revived Cherokee midsize SUV and the all-electric Jeep Recon, inspired by the iconic Wrangler. While Jeep’s sales trajectory remains uncertain, Broderdorf said the brand could break its long-running decline as early as 2025.
Despite pricing adjustments and lower volumes during the transition, Jeep remains profitable—a key factor giving Stellantis leadership confidence in the reset strategy.
“We’re going to grow healthy,” Broderdorf said. “This is what the brand needs.”
A Defiant Bet on Power and Identity
The return of the Ram TRX underscores a broader industry reality: even as electrification advances, demand for high-powered, emotionally driven vehicles remains strong especially in the truck segment.
By resurrecting the TRX, Stellantis is betting that performance, heritage, and bold identity can help reignite interest in its brands. Whether that gamble pays off in a slowing auto market remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Stellantis is no longer retreating quietly from its gasoline-powered past.