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What is the most powerful Dodge truck?

The most powerful Dodge-branded pickup in history is the Dodge Ram SRT-10, a 2004–2006 model powered by an 8.3-liter Viper V10 delivering 500 horsepower. In today’s market, Dodge trucks are marketed under the Ram brand, and the Ram 1500 TRX stands as the most powerful Ram pickup with 702 horsepower.


Understanding this question requires separating historical Dodge branding from the current Ram lineup. Dodge as a standalone brand no longer markets trucks; Ram handles the full-size pickup segment. Within that Ram lineup, horsepower is highest in the light-duty Ram 1500 TRX, while the heavy-duty Ram 2500/3500 focuses more on torque and towing capability with diesel engines.


Historical peak: the Dodge Ram SRT-10


Below are the defining specs of the era’s most extreme Dodge pickup. These numbers reflect a model built to blend supercar performance with pickup practicality.



  • Model years: 2004–2006

  • Engine: 8.3L V10 (Viper-based powerplant)

  • Horsepower: 500 hp

  • Torque: 525 lb-ft

  • Top speed: ~155 mph


In the context of Dodge’s truck history, the Ram SRT-10 remains the benchmark for peak horsepower in a factory Dodge pickup, a rarity in the pickup market at the time.


Current top dog: Ram 1500 TRX


Today’s most powerful Ram pickup is the Ram 1500 TRX, engineered to deliver extreme performance in a full-size light-duty truck package. The following specs define its muscle right from the showroom floor.



  • Engine: 6.2L Supercharged Hemi V8

  • Horsepower: 702 hp

  • Torque: 650 lb-ft

  • Transmission: 8-speed automatic

  • 0–60 mph: around 4.0 seconds

  • Top speed: about 118 mph


The TRX demonstrates how Ram has positioned itself at the high end of power within a modern half-ton truck, balancing off-road capability with straight-line speed and on-road manners.


Heavy-duty contenders: Ram 2500/3500 with Cummins diesel


To understand power in the Ram lineup beyond horsepower, it’s important to note torque leadership in the heavy-duty segment. The Ram 2500/3500 lines use the Cummins turbo-diesel to maximize pulling power and workload handling, especially when equipped for heavy towing.



  • Engine: 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6

  • Horsepower: up to around 420 hp (depending on configuration)

  • Torque: up to 1,075 lb-ft

  • 0–60 mph: typically longer than the gas-powered TRX, focused on torque delivery

  • Tow/payload emphasis: substantial, with best-in-class tows when properly equipped


These diesel-powered heavy-duty Ram models emphasize torque and towing capability rather than raw horsepower, complementing the TRX’s speed-focused performance in the Ram lineup.


Summary


Historically, Dodge’s fiercest truck was the Ram SRT-10 with a 500-horsepower Viper V10. In the contemporary market, Ram’s most powerful pickup is the Ram 1500 TRX, boasting 702 horsepower from a supercharged V8 and delivering top-tier on-road and off-road performance. For sheer torque in heavy-duty work, the 6.7L Cummins-powered Ram 2500/3500 line remains unrivaled in torque, though with lower horsepower emphasis. Across the brand’s history, power has been balanced with practicality, but the current benchmark for speed and power in a Ram pickup is the TRX.

Which is faster, Hellcat or Trx?


No, a typical Hellcat (like the Charger or Challenger) is significantly faster than a Ram TRX, especially when the race is not from a standstill. While the TRX is a very quick truck with a 0-60 mph time of about 4.5 seconds, a Hellcat car can achieve a 0-60 mph time closer to 3.5-4.0 seconds and has a much higher top speed.
 
This video compares the acceleration of a Ram TRX and a Challenger Hellcat: 58sMotorTubeYouTube · Mar 5, 2021
Acceleration

  • Hellcat: A Hellcat car like the Dodge Charger can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 3.5 to 4.0 seconds. 
  • Ram TRX: The Ram TRX accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 4.5 seconds. 

Quarter-mile
  • Hellcat: Hellcat cars can complete a quarter-mile in the 11-12 second range, reaching speeds well over 120 mph. 
  • Ram TRX: The Ram TRX completes a quarter-mile in about 12.9 seconds, with a top speed of 118 mph. 

Top speed
  • Hellcat: Hellcat cars have a much higher top speed than the TRX, often exceeding 180 mph in some configurations. 
  • Ram TRX: The TRX is electronically limited to a top speed of 118 mph. 

Why there is a difference
  • Vehicle type: The Hellcat is a lightweight performance car, while the TRX is a heavy, off-road-focused pickup truck. 
  • Aerodynamics: The car body is much more aerodynamic than a truck's body, allowing it to reach higher speeds more easily. 
  • Tires: Hellcats are often equipped with performance tires that provide more grip, which is especially beneficial for acceleration and speed. 



What is the most powerful Dodge Ram?


The most powerful factory Ram truck is the Ram 1500 TRX, which features a supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 engine producing 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. For even more power, aftermarket tuners like Hennessey offer performance packages for the TRX, such as the MAMMOTH 1000, which boosts the engine to 1,012 horsepower.
 
You can watch this video to learn more about the Ram 1500 TRX and its power upgrades: 59sHennessey PerformanceYouTube · Jul 28, 2025

  • Ram 1500 TRX: The most powerful production Ram truck, equipped with a factory-installed supercharged 6.2L Hellcat V8 engine. 
    • Horsepower: 702 hp 
    • Torque: 650 lb-ft 
  • Hennessey MAMMOTH 1000: A performance upgrade available for the Ram 1500 TRX. 
    • Horsepower: 1,012 hp 
    • Torque: 969 lb-ft 

This video demonstrates the power of the Ram 1500 TRX in a drag race against the Ford Raptor: 25sEdmunds CarsYouTube · May 19, 2022



What's faster, a trx or a raptor R?


The 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R is faster, with a quicker 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds and a faster quarter-mile time of 12.0 seconds compared to the Ram TRX's 3.9 seconds and 12.3 seconds. The Raptor R is able to achieve this speed advantage due to being significantly lighter and having a more advanced 10-speed transmission compared to the TRX's 8-speed.
 
This video shows a drag race between the Ford Raptor R and the Ram TRX: 1mCleetus McFarlandYouTube · Sep 22, 2023

Feature Ford F-150 Raptor R Ram 1500 TRX
0-60 mph 3.7 seconds 3.9 seconds
Quarter Mile 12.0 seconds 12.3 seconds
Weight Lighter Heavier
Transmission 10-speed automatic 8-speed automatic
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  • Why the Raptor R is faster: The Raptor R's lighter weight is a major factor, as it allows the engine to accelerate more quickly. The 10-speed transmission also helps by providing more gears for better acceleration and keeping the engine in its optimal power band. 
  • Power vs. efficiency: While the Ram TRX has slightly more horsepower (702 hp) and torque (650 lb-ft), the Raptor R makes up for the slight power deficit with its lower weight and more advanced transmission. 

You can also watch this video to see the technical specifications of both trucks: 59sThe Fast Lane TruckYouTube · Jan 5, 2025



Which Dodge has 1000 horsepower?


The 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is a production car with over 1,000 horsepower, while other 1,000 hp Dodge options come from aftermarket upgrades like the Hennessey H1000 Hellcat or the Hellephant crate engine used in custom builds. The Demon 170 is factory-built for high performance, reaching over 1,025 hp and 945 lb-ft of torque on E85 fuel.
 
You can watch this video to learn more about the 1000hp Dodge Demon 170: 55sBen HardyYouTube · Feb 1, 2024
Production car

  • Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170: This is the highest-horsepower factory-produced Dodge, capable of 1,025 horsepower and 945 lb-ft of torque on E85 fuel. It is also the world's quickest production car from 0-60 mph, with a 1.66-second time. 

Aftermarket and custom builds
  • Hennessey H1000: A performance upgrade for existing Dodge Hellcat models (like the Charger and Challenger) that boosts output to approximately 1,000 horsepower. This requires significant modifications, including a larger supercharger, upgraded fuel injectors, and a custom engine tune. 
  • Hellephant Crate Engine: Dodge's Mopar Direct Connection offers a 1,000 hp, supercharged V8 crate engine that can be installed in various projects, such as the Hellephant-powered Cuda restomod. 
  • Custom Builds: Many other custom builds feature 1,000 hp, often using either a modified Hellcat engine or the Hellephant crate engine to achieve this power level. 


Kevin's Auto

Kevin Bennett

Company Owner

Kevin Bennet is the founder and owner of Kevin's Autos, a leading automotive service provider in Australia. With a deep commitment to customer satisfaction and years of industry expertise, Kevin uses his blog to answer the most common questions posed by his customers. From maintenance tips to troubleshooting advice, Kevin's articles are designed to empower drivers with the knowledge they need to keep their vehicles running smoothly and safely.