Fiat Chrysler of America (FCA) has had quite a few hits (and some misses) over the past few years. With iconic brands such as Jeep and RAM under its portfolio, it stands to reason that many of its loyal buyers are more passionate than others. After all, how many people are modifying Camrys these days? While the yet-to-be-released Jeep Wrangler JL has a lot of people eagerly waiting to put money down, Ram is doing plenty to get people excited about new trucks.
Case in point can be found with the truck brand’s Rebel TRX Concept. We've tested the Rebel Ram in the past, but this Rebel concept is far beyond the production pickup. Both Ram, and we, contend that the Rebel was never designed to be a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor killer. Think of the Rebel as more of a lifestyle and off-road oriented trim package. Now, the TRX Concept is changing the way we see the Rebel completely.
This isn’t the first time Ram has launched a desert-ready ½-ton. In 2010, the company set the truck market ablaze with the Ram Runner concept. Like the Rebel TRX, it was fit with a long-travel suspension, a wider stance and a slew of aftermarket goodies.
Instead of an air suspension as is standard with the Rebel package, the concept is fit with King coilovers up front and long-travel coils out back. Also unique for the Rebel are 37-inch-tall tires on 18-inch beadlock wheels.
Under the hood, you won't hear anybody murmuring any ECO-nonsense. There's only 575 horsepower of supercharged American muscle. The 6.2L Hemi is back by a TorqueFlite 8HP70 eight-speed automatic transmission, which has been fit with a custom calibration to maximize off-road performance.
Inside, the Rebel keeps all of its niceties, such as an 8.4-inch Uconnect system, but there was plenty of work put in to give this serious luxury pre-runner points. For instance, there's a sport bar spanning from B-pillar to B-pillar, which provides mounting points for the six-point safety harness. Even better? The bar was formed to allow maximum seat travel.
While the Ram Rebel TRX is just concept at this moment, it does come from the same organization that offers a four-door sedan with 707 horsepower. With the 2017 Raptor rolling onto showroom floors soon, it will be interesting to see if the lone sheep is finally ready to go dinosaur hunting.
(All photos courtesy of FCA)
Browse the gallery below for more views of the new Rebel concept, and read about the Ram Rebel ½-ton in our first drive.