4 minute read • Car News, Cars For Cancer, Car Lottery
Could this RAM 1500 TRX be America's best high-performance pickup?
Written by Dave Carey
High-performance pickup trucks are no longer niche curiosities. They’ve evolved into flagship models where engineering meets sheer brilliance. In Australia, the segment is headlined by the Ford F-150 Raptor, the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 and the RAM 1500 TRX Final Edition, but only one is the grand prize in Mater Cars for Cancer lottery No. 124.
Winning a RAM 1500 TRX Final Edition is just about the only way to get a new one in Australia, but maybe you don’t want to fly blind into buying a ticket for the hell of it. Maybe you’re a discerning individual… nah, the TRX is the bomb no matter which way you look.
That’s not to say its rivals aren’t great cars; they all are, but how do they stack up? Chrysler pulled out all the stops with the RAM 1500 TRX Final Edition knowing it would close out RAM’s era of the supercharged Hellcat V8. Its supercharged 6.2 litre donk belts out 523kW (that’s just over 700hp) and a frankly incredible 881Nm of torque, funnelled through an eight-speed automatic. The result is a 0-100km/h time of just 4.5 seconds—that’s sports car territory in a three-tonne truck.
Ford’s F-150 Raptor follows a different formula, relying on a 3.5 litre twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, producing 335kW and 691Nm of torque. While it can’t match the TRX’s outright thrust, the Raptor counters with lighter weight, a 10-speed automatic, and exceptional throttle response. Chevrolet’s Silverado ZR2 takes a more conservative approach, using a naturally aspirated 6.2 litre V8 producing 313kW and 624Nm of torque. While not as extreme as its rivals, it offers traditional V8 character, linear power delivery, and proven reliability. Thus, the Silverado is slower—its 0-100km/h time hovers around six seconds, which is still not hanging around. Speaking of not hanging around, tickets to win a RAM TRX are, as always, selling fast.
The individuality of these trucks is split by more than just horsepower figures; they all ride on their own interpretation of what muscle truck suspension should look like, and none of them are wrong. The TRX’s Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive shockers are designed to handle Baja-style punishment with suspension travel, 33cm front and 35.5cm rear, that allows it to float over whoops at speed, while the wide track and 35-inch tyres ensure stability.
What the Ford F-150 Raptor lacks in grunt, it makes up for in suspension, with position-sensitive Fox Live Valve shocks tuned for high-speed desert running. The Raptor has it over the RAM in travel, with 35.5cm front and a huge 38cm rear making it a very capable high-speed off-roader. Optional 37-inch tyres further boost ground clearance and approach angles, although they slightly blunt acceleration.
The ZR2 is more focussed on rock crawling than desert blasting. It employs Multimatic DSSV spool-valve shockers, a setup borrowed from motorsport that excels at slow-speed articulation and precise control. Front and rear electronic locking differentials give the Silverado true crawling credibility, though its suspension travel and high-speed composure can’t match the RAM and the Ford. In this comparo, I reckon the RAM wins, and you could too if you have a ticket in Mater Cars for Cancer lottery No. 124.
The RAM TRX Final Edition leans heavily into luxury, offering premium leather, suede trim, and Final Edition-exclusive colour palettes. A 12-inch vertical touchscreen dominates the dash, backed by RAM’s Uconnect system. The cabin feels plush, rivalling luxury SUVs more than work trucks.
The Raptor is tech-heavy, with a 12-inch digital gauge cluster integrating Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment. It strikes a middle ground between ruggedness and sophistication, leaning toward sportiness rather than luxury.
The Silverado ZR2 retains the Silverado’s more utilitarian layout but benefits from GM’s recent interior refresh. A 13.4-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch driver display modernise the cabin, but materials and finish trail the RAM. Still, its straightforward design appeals to those wanting durability over opulence. If you’re buying a work truck, maybe it’s what you want, but if you’re out to win big, the RAM has got them beat. Ensure you’ve got a chance here:
The RAM TRX Final Edition is the outgoing king of excess, a collector’s item with unmatched presence and incredible exclusivity; every example is numbered, after all, ratcheting up the desirability. However, you can desire it all you want—not even fronting up at your RAM dealer with $270,213 will get you one now. The only way to get into a new RAM 1500 TRX Final Edition, assuming the one I saw for sale a few weeks ago is gone, is to win this one here. Purchasing a ticket will put you in the running to win big and roll out in the baddest truck the US has to offer. The Ford F-150 Raptor, the Chevy ZR2—they’re all good. But only one of them is the RAM 1500 TRX Final Edition.
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