Stellantis revives Ram TRX 2027 manufacturing with V8 pickup return
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Stellantis is reviving the Ram TRX pickup in a move that reflects changing federal emissions policy and the company’s efforts to reshape its truck manufacturing strategy. The 2027 Ram TRX 1500 SRT will return to showrooms late in 2026 with a starting price around 100000 dollars and a powerful V8 gasoline engine. The reborn model is part of a broader push by Stellantis to regain ground in the North American truck market while navigating shifting regulatory conditions.
The TRX originally appeared on dealer lots for the 2021 through 2024 model years before it was discontinued as the automaker scaled back its V8 lineup. The decision to bring the truck back follows a rollback of key emissions standards under the current federal administration. Stellantis executives say the regulatory environment has softened enough to make the business case for V8 pickup production more viable.
The 2027 Ram TRX 1500 SRT returns with a supercharged 6.2 liter gasoline engine that produces 777 horsepower and 680 foot pounds of torque. Stellantis is calling it the most powerful production gasoline pickup in the world. The truck can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in about three point five seconds and reach a top speed of 118 mph. Enthusiasts and loyal Ram customers have welcomed news of the V8 pickup revival.
Ram chief executive Tim Kuniskis, who retired then returned to lead the brand’s turnaround, said the resurrection of the TRX fits a broader Stellantis truck strategy focused on performance and customer excitement. He said the TRX functions as a halo model that draws attention to the Ram lineup and can help boost sales of other models. Previous performance vehicles under Kuniskis have drawn positive attention even when overall volume remained modest.
Sales for the original TRX were limited partly because of its high sticker price. Despite strong interest, the truck did not sell in high numbers. The new model will start at 99995 dollars before a mandatory 2595 dollar destination charge, bringing the total retail price to just over 102000 dollars. By comparison the initial TRX from 2020 began just under 72000 dollars including destination charges.
Regulatory change and emissions rollback auto industry context
The return of a classic V8 pickup like the Ram TRX comes as several emissions and fuel efficiency standards have been relaxed. Under previous regulatory plans, stricter rules threatened the viability of large displacement engines. With those guidelines eased, some manufacturers are rethinking product plans. Stellantis executives are among those saying that relaxed standards ease pressure but that the company would have pursued the truck revival regardless.
Stellantis is also adding a new 6.7 liter high output Cummins turbo diesel engine for its 2027 Ram Power Wagon heavy duty truck. The diesel variant produces 430 horsepower and 1075 foot pounds of torque. These moves mark a return to prioritizing powerful engines and reflect a broader reevaluation of product strategy within a regulatory landscape that has shifted in recent years.
Despite efforts to emphasize performance trucks and SUVs, Stellantis faces challenges in overall sales. The automaker’s North American sales fell under former chief executive Carlos Tavares from 2021 to 2024 and lost ground in key segments. Stellantis slipped from being the number four automaker in sales to the number six spot. Through the third quarter of last year, the company’s sales were about six percent lower than in the previous year.
Industry analysts project Stellantis will finish the year with roughly 1.25 million unit sales in North America, down about 4.4 percent from 2024 and far below sales figures from earlier in the decade. That makes turning around the truck business a central priority. Kuniskis, who leads all North American brands for Stellantis, said both the Ram and Jeep brands are headed in the right direction and remain essential to future growth.
Jeep reset plan and broader brand strategies
Ram is not the only brand undergoing change within the wider Stellantis portfolio. The Jeep brand, long a cornerstone of the automaker’s SUV lineup, is also executing what executives call a Jeep reset plan. Jeep sales have declined for years since posting a high of nearly 973000 vehicles sold in 2018. The reset initiative focuses on simplifying the model lineup, refining pricing and boosting content value to attract buyers back to the brand.
Jeep chief executive Bob Broderdorf described the changes as making the brand more distinctly Jeep in character. The strategy involves positioning the lineup so that feature content aligns more closely with pricing and segment expectations. Models such as the Compass and Cherokee are being evaluated alongside larger vehicles including the Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer to better calibrate appeal across buyers.
New products are part of this broader strategy. Jeep will reintroduce the Cherokee midsize SUV and launch an electric Recon model inspired by the iconic Wrangler. While Jeep has faced several years of sales declines, executives say profitability has remained intact and that sales momentum could turn positive in the near future. Industry forecasters suggest that the brand might see its first increase in North American sales since 2018, though the outcome remains uncertain.
Executives at both Ram and Jeep say the combined efforts reflect Stellantis truck strategy and brand repositioning that aims to capture customers from competitors in a challenging market. With overall industry sales expected to remain flat or fall in 2026, the need to win customers from other brands is more urgent than ever.
Kuniskis said the company is focused on doing well in a strong but competitive industry. The TRX V8 pickup revival and other strategic initiatives underscore Stellantis truck strategy and a renewed emphasis on performance and manufacturing that could reshape perceptions of the brand going forward.
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