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This is the new 2025 Ram 1500 RHO. Think of it as a TRX, but without the screaming 702-hp Hemi V8. In its place is a new Hurricane 3.0 liter twin-turbo inline-six making 540 hp, and while two cylinders and a couple hundred ponies have been taken out of the equation, the widebody truck sheds almost $30K from its base price, loses 150 pounds, and keeps the same hardcore off-road kit as last year. Perhaps it's not all about power after all?
Though the move to a Hurricane six-cylinder has proven quite controversial, Ram has made sure to install a high-output version that will funnel a distinct sound compared to the other 1500 models thanks to an exclusive dual-exhaust system with five-inch tips. That doesn't mean it'll sound as sinister as the TRX did, but we're glad to see some effort. The 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged engine puts out 540 hp and 521 lb-ft of torque, and that power is channeled to the full-time all-wheel drive system through a ZF eight-speed automatic.
While the RHO isn't quite as fast as the TRX, its performance estimates aren't as far behind as the power difference would suggest. It blasts from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds (a tenth of a second slower than before) and the quarter mile is reached in 13.1 seconds at 105 mph (the TRX made it in 12.9 seconds at 108 mph). Top speed is identical at 118 mph.
The loss in power is certainly hard to ignore, especially as Ram essentially hands over the crown to the 720-hp Ford F-150 Raptor R, but the RHO still offers significantly more horsepower than the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, GMC Sierra AT4X, and Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, and torque dominates all rivals save for the Ford. The smaller engine has also allowed the truck to lighten its load by a notable 150 pounds, and the placement of the Hurricane powerplant has allowed for improved weight balance with 180 pounds taken off the front axle. Fuel economy will undoubtedly see a significant boost as well, and while estimates haven't been released yet, the TRX's terrible 10/14 mpg city/highway rating will be very easy to beat.
Even in the wake of the V8's demise, the RHO hasn't lost any of its off-road prowess. Its intimidating widebody profile goes untouched, though some styling elements have been revised to match the rest of the facelifted 1500 lineup. The fortified frame is carried over from the TRX, as does the long-travel suspension with a set of front control arms in forged aluminum and adaptive Bilstein dampers.
Paired with a two-inch lift, the super-chunky 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires contribute to a commanding 11.8-inch ground clearance. The RHO also has 31-degree approach angle, 22-degree breakover angle, and 25-degree departure angle, and it can ford up to 32 inches of water.
The interior follows the rest of the 2025 Ram 1500 lineup in receiving a newly-standard 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster in front of the driver, along with 12.0-inch touchscreen with Uconnect5 infotainment. The latter can be upgraded to a gigantic optional 14.5-inch touchscreen, and the front passenger can opt for their own 10.3-inch touchscreen as well. Even more gimmicky tech features can be had with the RHO Equipment package, which adds a digital rearview mirror, dual wireless chargers, a head-up display, massaging front seats, heated and ventilated rear outboard seats, power-adjustable memory pedals, a 360-degree camera system, and a 900-watt 19-speaker sound system from Harman Kardon. That's not all, as the package also brings a driver-attention monitor, evasive steering assist, and a hands-free highway driving feature.
Interestingly, there are multiple references to a rhinocerous scattered about the cabin, which may suggest that "RHO" stands for this gargantuan land mammal––the second-largest in the world, to be exact. While it's admittedly less intimidating than the dinosaur-derived TRX (after all, a rhino couldn't stand a chance against a T-rex or a raptor), we're glad to see that the RHO isn't devoid of a clever name.
If there's one thing the RHO does better than the TRX, it's giving customers all of this for a much better value. With a starting price of $71,990, it costs about $26,000 less than its predecessor, and undercuts the $78,330 Ford F-150 Raptor by a considerable margin as well. Order books for the RHO are open now, and deliveries are set to begin in the third quarter of 2024.
Image Credits: Ram
Revealed
May 11, 2024
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2025 Ram 1500 RHO Replaces The Hemi V8 With A Wild Hurricane
It's cheaper than the TRX with the same off-road kit, but loses two cylinders in the process.
This is the new 2025 Ram 1500 RHO. Think of it as a TRX, but without the screaming 702-hp Hemi V8. In its place is a new Hurricane 3.0 liter twin-turbo inline-six making 540 hp, and while two cylinders and a couple hundred ponies have been taken out of the equation, the widebody truck sheds almost $30K from its base price, loses 150 pounds, and keeps the same hardcore off-road kit as last year. Perhaps it's not all about power after all?
Though the move to a Hurricane six-cylinder has proven quite controversial, Ram has made sure to install a high-output version that will funnel a distinct sound compared to the other 1500 models thanks to an exclusive dual-exhaust system with five-inch tips. That doesn't mean it'll sound as sinister as the TRX did, but we're glad to see some effort. The 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged engine puts out 540 hp and 521 lb-ft of torque, and that power is channeled to the full-time all-wheel drive system through a ZF eight-speed automatic.
While the RHO isn't quite as fast as the TRX, its performance estimates aren't as far behind as the power difference would suggest. It blasts from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds (a tenth of a second slower than before) and the quarter mile is reached in 13.1 seconds at 105 mph (the TRX made it in 12.9 seconds at 108 mph). Top speed is identical at 118 mph.
The loss in power is certainly hard to ignore, especially as Ram essentially hands over the crown to the 720-hp Ford F-150 Raptor R, but the RHO still offers significantly more horsepower than the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, GMC Sierra AT4X, and Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, and torque dominates all rivals save for the Ford. The smaller engine has also allowed the truck to lighten its load by a notable 150 pounds, and the placement of the Hurricane powerplant has allowed for improved weight balance with 180 pounds taken off the front axle. Fuel economy will undoubtedly see a significant boost as well, and while estimates haven't been released yet, the TRX's terrible 10/14 mpg city/highway rating will be very easy to beat.
Even in the wake of the V8's demise, the RHO hasn't lost any of its off-road prowess. Its intimidating widebody profile goes untouched, though some styling elements have been revised to match the rest of the facelifted 1500 lineup. The fortified frame is carried over from the TRX, as does the long-travel suspension with a set of front control arms in forged aluminum and adaptive Bilstein dampers.
Paired with a two-inch lift, the super-chunky 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires contribute to a commanding 11.8-inch ground clearance. The RHO also has 31-degree approach angle, 22-degree breakover angle, and 25-degree departure angle, and it can ford up to 32 inches of water.
The interior follows the rest of the 2025 Ram 1500 lineup in receiving a newly-standard 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster in front of the driver, along with 12.0-inch touchscreen with Uconnect5 infotainment. The latter can be upgraded to a gigantic optional 14.5-inch touchscreen, and the front passenger can opt for their own 10.3-inch touchscreen as well. Even more gimmicky tech features can be had with the RHO Equipment package, which adds a digital rearview mirror, dual wireless chargers, a head-up display, massaging front seats, heated and ventilated rear outboard seats, power-adjustable memory pedals, a 360-degree camera system, and a 900-watt 19-speaker sound system from Harman Kardon. That's not all, as the package also brings a driver-attention monitor, evasive steering assist, and a hands-free highway driving feature.
Interestingly, there are multiple references to a rhinocerous scattered about the cabin, which may suggest that "RHO" stands for this gargantuan land mammal––the second-largest in the world, to be exact. While it's admittedly less intimidating than the dinosaur-derived TRX (after all, a rhino couldn't stand a chance against a T-rex or a raptor), we're glad to see that the RHO isn't devoid of a clever name.
If there's one thing the RHO does better than the TRX, it's giving customers all of this for a much better value. With a starting price of $71,990, it costs about $26,000 less than its predecessor, and undercuts the $78,330 Ford F-150 Raptor by a considerable margin as well. Order books for the RHO are open now, and deliveries are set to begin in the third quarter of 2024.
Image Credits: Ram
