What if I told you Ford just turned the volume to 900? The Raptor R now has a 900‑horsepower supercharger kit. Ford says it’s a concept for now. Also, they say it carries a factory warranty when a dealer installs it. That is a hard flex at Ram and the 2026 TRX.
What Ford just did
Ford got tired of small bumps. No more 700 vs 702. Or 720 vs 740 hp chatter. They dropped a big number and a big warranty. Plus, the kit adds wheels, carbon trim, and extra lighting. It is a full package. Fans hear one thing: more power, less worry. That sells. What can Ram do to counter this new Raptor R?
Why TRX needs a counterpunch
TRX is the hero truck for many of us. It is loud, wild, and fun. It can’t return with the same power while Ford waves 900 hp on the screen. Ram must answer fast and clean. Best way to do so is to call on Direct Connection.
Two clear paths for Ram
Here are the only two moves that keep TRX on top:
1) A Whipple-backed stage kit with warranty
Go to Whipple the same way Ford did. Build a Direct Connection kit for the 6.2 Hemi. Sell it through dealers. Back it with a Ram warranty when installed by a certified tech. Whipple already supports HEMI engines from 5.7 to 6.4 and 6.2. The fitment is proven. Ram even teased a 5.7 eTorque kit for trucks in the Direct Connection store. Take that play and run it for TRX.
Power goal? Four digits. Make the kit an easy 1,000 hp on pump gas with the right pulley and tune. Keep the cooling strong. Give it a big heat exchanger, a serious pump, and a stout diff.
Price it fair. Bundle belts, injectors, filter, and calibration. Add a CARB path if possible. Buyers will pay for speed and peace of mind.
2) The nuclear option: a Demon‑grade TRX
Drop a Hellephant in it. The 6.2‑liter Demon 170 Hellephant engine is real, street‑legal, and fits the bay. On 93, you’re already near 900. With E85, you clear 1,000+ with ease. This move sets the tone for years. It is simple to explain. TRX + Demon heart. Loud. Clear. Savage. Do not limit it. Keep the base price under a Raptor R. I’d stamp it at $96,666 and let options climb. That number sends a message and undercuts Ford’s $115K.
The dealer problem (and how to avoid it)
We lived through the 2018 Demon mess. We lived through D170 games. Markups. Side deals. Bundles. All of it. Ram can stop some of that. But dealers must have a harder time marking up performance vehicles and smaller dealers needs to be able to get desirable units. A big markup dealer should be limited in the amount of performance vehicles they can get if they want to hold future models hostage behind huge market adjustments.
Why a Whipple kit still matters
A Hellephant TRX takes time. Certification. Durability testing. Supply. The Whipple stage kit can land first and keep heat on Ford while the big truck cooks. The kit also reaches more owners. A cheaper non-Hellephant TRX is easier to obtain and then adding a Whipple later with a factory backed warranty is a great move to sidestep dealers and their market adjustments.
Pricing lanes that win
- TRX return: high $80Ks to low $90Ks. Stock 702 hp. Big travel. Real shocks.
- Whipple Stage: dealer‑installed, warranty‑backed. Target 1,000 hp. Priced to beat Ford’s kit.
- Demon‑grade TRX: base $96,666. E85 option from the factory. 1,000+ hp headline.
Where this leaves Ford
A 900‑hp Raptor R with a warranty is strong. It forces action. But Ram can top it two ways. A stage kit keeps pace now. A Demon‑grade TRX ends the debate later. Bottom line, Ford threw a punch. Good one. Now it’s Ram’s turn. Bring the Whipple now. Bring the Demon next.
