Ram TRX

Ram’s ‘apex predators’ arrive

Joel scored first, now Australia catches up

Two months ago, Wainui off-roader Joel Giddy was good enough to give NZ4WD a good look around Ram’s finest: the first Hellcat-engined TRX down under. He used his Ram TRX to bring his race trucks down to Manukau from his home base north of Auckland.

The 523kW truck was parked in a line-up of Ram and Chevy Silverado haulers and a few more mundane offerings, making the latter look like puppies alongside the ‘big dog’. The TRX didn’t arrive through official channels, which made it all the more intriguing.

Now, Aussie’s all excited about finally getting the Ram TRX.

“The TRX sets new benchmarks for extreme performance trucks,” according to Neville Crichton, chairman of the Ateco Group, owners of Ram Trucks Australia.

Across the ditch, Ram has gone from zero to 13,000 in seven years. That’s 13,000 happy pick-up owners. Impressive.

As noted in the article on Joel’s truck, the TRX is built around the 6.2-litre supercharged Hemi V8 making 523kW at 6,100rpm and 882Nm at 4,200rpm. That gives the big truck a 0-100km/ h time of 4.5 seconds. Strangely, Ram quotes a maximum speed of ‘just’ 190km/h. The transmission is an eight speed Torqueflite unit and the truck’s ‘active’ transfer case features upgraded internals for improved strength and durability.

The TRX uses a 3.55 ratio Dana 60 solid rear axle with full-floating hubs.

An electronic locking rear differential is standard for increased performance off-road

Designed exclusively for TRX, new front and rear 2.6-inch Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive performance shocks provide fast reaction time, unbeatable damping and improved heat dissipation for traversing harsh terrain at high speeds

Five-link coil suspension is tuned to deliver the best combination of ride, handling and comfort no matter the road surface.

It rides on specially-developed Goodyear Wrangler Territory 325/65 R18 All-Terrain 35-inch tires.

The truck’s safety spec includes a range of active and passive safety and security features including ParkView rear backup camera with dynamic grid lines, electronic stability control (ESC) with electronic roll mitigation and six airbags, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, ready alert braking and full-speed forward collision warning.

Australia’s Ram pick-up truck range starts with the 1500 Express Crew and Warlock models in the original DS variant, followed by the 1500 Laramie and 1500 Limited in the recently launched DT model range, and the Heavy Duty 2500 Laramie and Heavy Duty 3500 Laramie.

The TRX is the new range-topper and is priced from AUD$199,950 (NZD$219,900).

It is loaded: the only option will be a full-length panoramic sunroof, at an additional $10,000.

Australia is the only Ram-approved manufacturer of right-hand drive trucks.

Block hammers the Hellcat

Parents, don’t let your children try this – it may well count as cruel and unusual punishment.

NZ4WD recently profiled Joel Giddy’s awesome private-import Ram TRX ‘Hellcat’. It’s his ‘enjoy’ truck, 523kW of on-road fun, the first and most likely still the only such truck in this country. It has already been off-road, but only into the grassy paddock at the Counties Manukau Offroad Racing Club’s stadium track at Colin Dale Park.

Ram has taken things a step further in the USA, announcing a special edition called Sandblast and letting rally/drift/ rallycross star Ken Block loose in it.

American showman Block has posted a teaser video to his social media channels previewing a new Ram spec apparently built off the Ram TRX ‘Hellcat’. The brief black-and-white video shows a nostrilgrilled Ram pickup carving donuts in the dirt with a giant plume of dust billowing into the air. The exhaust note, which is audible in the video, gives it away.

It’s a classic ‘neither confirm nor deny’ for Ram. We can confirm no actual Hellcats were harmed in the making of the video. See for yourself at shorturl.at/ LNPU1.

2023 Silverado range

Trail Boss retires, LTZ stays, new model joins the range

GMSV has revealed details of the 2023 Silverado model range updates and enhancements which will feature on the new Model Year 2023 Silverado 1500, including the addition of a new flagship Silverado model.

The off-road-leaning LT Trail Boss model will be discontinued with a new model dropping in its place to complement the popular LTZ Premium. Chevrolet’s new flagship off-road truck, the Silverado 1500 ZR2 will maintain the breadth of the Australasian range.

It is the next chapter in off-roading, and it’s coming to Australia and New Zealand

GMSV says the ZR2 model delivers next-level off-road capability right from the factory and features front and rear e-lockers and Multimatic DSSV dampers. Adding to its off-road credibility are 33-inch mud-terrain tyres and a new high-approach steel cut front bumper designed for off-road strength, durability and clearance.

In addition to its functional features, the Silverado 1500 ZR2 is distinguished by unique aesthetic cues, which includes a unique black chrome grille with Chevrolet emblem, a raised black hood bulge with ZR2 badging, exclusive ZR2 wheel flares, unique 18-inch gloss black wheels and exclusive jet black/graystone leather-appointed interior with dark trim.

The Silverado 1500 ZR2 and LTZ Premium will continue to feature the impressive 6.2-litre V8 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The LTZ Premium will receive a range of smaller enhancements including a redesigned front-fascia with daytime running lights, interior and technology updates. The new interior will have an electronic transmission shifter relocated from the 2022 model’s column shift. The new version will have a 13.4-inch diagonal colour touchscreen complemented by a 12.3-inch configurable instrument cluster.

Other LTZ premium highlights include new 20-inch Sterling silver wheels with all-terrain tyres, jet black leather interior, adaptive cruise control and a technology pack featuring a rear camera mirror, multi-colour 15-inch diagonal head-up display (HUD) and – as already on the current LTZ – a bed view camera.

The certification process is underway for the new Silverado 1500 ZR2 and full model features and technical specifications, including weights, towing capability, dimensions and clearances, will be confirmed ahead of its arrival in mid-2023.

Prospective buyers should expect price increases.

Sir John’s odyssey

Auckland to Invercargill in aid of mental health

There are many New Zealanders working in the health industry to improve the mental health of New Zealanders. Alongside the professionals, people like Sir John Kirwan are working just as hard to help Kiwis.

In July, All Blacks legend Sir John partnered with Land Rover on a landmark drive across the country to raise awareness for mental health, aiming to raise funds for his charitable initiative Mitey, which targets more than 11,000 children in 40 schools.

Sir John hosted community events from Auckland to Invercargill and drove his own Land Rover on the trip.

Up to 75 per cent of New Zealanders believe this generation of children are at greater risk of mental health issues than generations before them.