![]() ![]() The lack of a 6×6 style wheel arraignment is no surprise, considering that it would have created a massive expense for FCA not only in regards to extra plant tooling, but also the extra training needed for workers to build it. However, it appears that perhaps FCA engineers used the core idea of the original to go in a unique direction for the TRX. Mechanically, the two are the polar opposites of each other, with the 1990s era T-Rex preferring to use its novel rear axle layout and V10 engine to get the job done, versus the current TRX which uses a state of the art four wheel drive system and a supercharged V8 to thrash its way through the trails. So can select elements of the T-Rex be perhaps seen in the current TRX? The answer is a mixed bag depending on who you ask. This dinosaur inspired beast certainly had the capability and equipment to back up its claims, but execs at the time never gave it the green light for production, and it was quietly swept under the rug after its SEMA appearance. Those rear axles were permanently locked into four wheel drive, with full 6×6 capability being achieved when the driver activated the front axle. To help modulate the power, engineers equipped the T-Rex with two transfer cases, one that was mounted conventionally by the transmission housing, and the second being nestled in between the rear axles. The real stars of the show though were the rear wheels themselves, with Dodge engineers opting for a novel 6×6 arraignment that would not only improve traction, but also maneuverability by reducing the truck’s width. But don’t mistake it for being a paper tiger, because Dodge reps claimed the T-Rex made 497 horsepower and 593 lb-ft of torque, with the engine being paired to a four speed automatic (remember when those were state of the art?) The concept was powered by an 8.0 liter V10 engine that also shared some of its family heritage with the Dodge Viper, but here in the Ram, it was designed for work, and as a result, it lacked some of the more performance focused upgrades seen in the two door sports car. Dodge engineers used a stock Ram 3500 one ton model for the conversion, but things go in some very wild directions once you look past the core DNA. In an age where the 6×6 craze was a mere figment of the imagination, the T-Rex might have seemed like quite the shock to showgoers when it thundered into that year’s SEMA event. The T-Rex made its debut at the 1997 SEMA show in Las Vegas, and in a way, it was already ahead of its time due to its layout. There’s no mistaking the imagery showing a T-rex chomping onto a raptor.In this installment, we peel back the layers, and take a look at what happened to the Dodge T-Rex concept, which offered buyers in the 1990s a glimpse at what an all out off-road offering of the period could look like. And is it just me or is that T-rex cracking a bit of grin? It could be the lightning but that’s what it looks like to me. Having a hard time making it out? Here’s a hint: it’s hanging limp from the T-rex’s jaws. Pop it off and front and center, you’ll find a Tyrannosaurus rex chomping on a raptor that has clearly seen better days. ![]() The first easter egg is located under the engine’s massive airbox lid. ![]() And in case the world forgets it, they’ve cleverly placed two massive easter eggs to remind all who is the four-wheeled king of the present truck market jungle. That’s why Ram hasn’t shied away from proudly declaring their creation as the quickest, fastest, and most powerful mass-produced truck available on the market. Its top speed is 107 mph and zero to sixty miles per hour arrives in a tick over 5 seconds. The blue oval beast is equipped with a twin-turbocharged, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that delivers 450 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. Stacking it up against the 2020 Raptor, the discrepancies readily become apparent. ![]()
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