The gloves are off. The fight is on. In one corner, you have the reigning champion, the Ford F-series. In the opposite corner, looking to pull off the upset of a lifetime, the 2021 Ram 1500 is coming out swinging. Ram may be the underdog in this fight, but it has been studying its opponent carefully and has put together a solid plan of attack. With best in class state-of-the-art tech and safety features, a new limited edition model, and the reveal of the monstrous 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, this is sure to be one hell of a fight.
Bridging the Gap
The Ford F-series has enjoyed the view from the top of the hill for years now. But recently, sales of Ram pickups have started to creep closer to those of their main rival. Whatever Ram is doing, it’s working. It’s working exceptionally well.
Ram trucks have been growing in popularity for several years now, and there is no sign of this stopping anytime soon. Back in 2011, when Ram gained its independence from Dodge, Ram sold around 340,000 fewer trucks than Ford. By 2020, Ram had almost cut that number in half and was only 187,000 sales behind. And all that hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. The Ram 1500 has won Consumer Guide’s Best Buy award for the past twelve years in a row, US News & World Report named Ram the Best Truck Brand of 2020, and JD Power recognized the 2020 Ram 1500 as having the highest-ranked driver appeal of large light-duty pickups.
With booming sales figures, a star-studded lineup, and the release of the 2021 Ram 1500, there’s a chance Ram might score a knockout punch this year. It’s a stretch, but Ram’s relentless pursuit of improvement over the years makes it a possibility that can’t be ignored. Unless Ford comes out with something revolutionary, Ram could soon take the title of the best-selling vehicle in America.
Celebrating an Anniversary
As many of you likely remember, Ram used to be a division of Dodge. Today, it is an independent brand, and 2021 marks the 10th anniversary of that independence. What better way to celebrate than by building the most luxurious truck on the market?
The 10th Anniversary Edition Limited Longhorn joins the lineup of 2021 Ram 1500 trims this year. And when it comes to luxury, the Limited Longhorn has no equal. Barnwood trimming throughout the cabin, premium leather cradling the dash, and two-tone black and cattle tan-colored seats make the Limited Longhorn a striking combination of extravagance and southwestern style. Outshining the likes of the Ford F-150 Platinum and the Chevy Silverado 1500 High Country, this premium full-size pickup is the most luxurious truck in its class.
A customizable head-up display is available this year, allowing you to see things like your current speed, the speed limit, which gear you’re in, turn-by-turn directions, and even incoming calls right on your windshield. Keeping your eyes more focused on the road helps keep you and your precious cargo safe. And an all-new digital rearview mirror with an LCD monitor provides crystal clear visuals of what you left in the dust with the help of a rear-facing camera.
State-of-the-art towing technology makes big hauls nothing to stress over. With the Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring system, get tire pressure stats live and direct to your instrument cluster on up to twelve tires per trailer. Trailer Light Check helps you keep an eye on your trailer lights from the driver’s seat, and available Trailer Tow power-fold mirrors give you a clear view of your cargo from multiple angles. A Pedestrian Emergency Braking system is now optional on the higher-level trims starting with the Laramie and above. This advanced safety feature stops your truck automatically if it senses that a collision with a pedestrian is about to occur.
The T-Rex
As exceptional as the 10th Anniversary model is, the big announcement that has everyone holding their breath this year is the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX. Nicknamed “T-Rex” by the team that built it, Ram designed this beast for one thing and one thing only: to take down the Ford Raptor. Powered by a supercharged Hellcat V8 engine, the TRX takes no prisoners when it comes to performance. Outshining all of its rivals, Ram put every bit of its 100-year heritage into the TRX while also granting its loyal customer base’s many wishes.
Regarding the TRX, Mark Bosanac, Head of Mopar Service, Parts and Customer Care in North America, said, “The all-new 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is the most extreme off-road production pickup truck on the planet.” After digging into everything this behemoth has to offer, it’s hard not to agree with Mark. It’s even harder to imagine how Ford or Chevy will come up with anything to challenge it.
Looks that Kill
The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is the undisputed champion of street-legal pickup trucks. And one look at the exterior design tells you that it knows what it’s capable of. Its unshakeable stance and intimidating presence are no accident. Ram made the body of the TRX 8 inches wider and shifted the front axle forward almost an inch to make room for 35-inch tires. These changes, combined with 11.8 inches of ground clearance, give you a view of the road that’s fit for a king.
LED lamps in the front fender and hood scoop give the TRX a bold, unique look when the sun goes down. The advanced LED headlight system follows the road as you drive, keeping you on top of any twists and turns that come up along the way. Oversize tow hooks are also stylishly included on the front and the back of the truck. Kit your TRX out with off-road side steps or factory-installed rock rails, a Rambar, a spare-tire carrier in the truck bed capable of carrying up to 37-inch tires, or various graphics to gas up your beast’s look even more.
The Personality to Back it Up
The TRX’s supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 Hellcat engine devours all other powertrains in its class. This freak of nature delivers 702 hp, 650 lb-ft of torque, and a 0-60 mph time of just 4.5 seconds. The Hellcat features an enormous airbox with four times the filter area of the Ford Raptor, allowing it to supply the massive amounts of air the supercharger requires. And with the Bilstein shock system adapting to the terrain as you drive, you can use all that power even on rough ground. Finally, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX lets you switch between eight available driving modes to tackle any terrain and even includes launch control if you feel like taking your truck to the drag strip.
When designing the interior of the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, Ram accounted for performance just as much as it did luxury. Customize your dash cluster and center screen to view horsepower readings, personal best times, a dynamometer, and various vehicle dynamics. Combined with a head-up display and paddle shifters behind the D-shaped steering wheel, the functionality of the TRX is off the charts. A massive 12-inch touchscreen with Ram’s Uconnect 4C infotainment and navigation system graces the center console, with a wireless phone charger and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system to round out the available connectivity features.
The Year of the Ram?
The Chinese calendar says the Year of the Ram isn’t coming until 2027, but Ram doesn’t seem content to wait. Having blown past all its other competitors, Ram is hot on the heels of the number one truck manufacturer in America. And with new models like the luxurious 10th Anniversary Edition and the mighty TRX, the company shows no signs of slowing down. Could 2021 be the year that Ram finally takes the belt? With its ever-growing army of loyal fans and its dedication to pushing the boundaries of what a truck can be, it’s safe to say that it’s a possibility. Let the fight begin. Ding ding!
