A development team from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles was recently spotted at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Michigan and people have reason to believe that they are testing Jeep Wranglers, a Gladiator, and a Ford Raptor.
The action was apparently caught by a YouTuber on video while the vehicles are running on a long dune with a steep peak out, all covered in black and the Ramtrucks fitted with half cages in the back of their crew cabs.
Among the trucks undergoing testing, one is believed to be the Rebel TRX development model, which runs on a 575-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 HEMI engine.
However, the YouTuber claims that, “At least one of the Rams had serious supercharger whine which, of course, made me think ‘Hellcat engine.'”
Upon closer look, it does seem that a 707-horsepower Hellcat could be in place instead of the previously announced 526-horsepower engine on the Rebel TRX concept. The production version of the truck, however, is expected to shift through a 10-speed automatic.
A blacked-out Laramie badging seen by the YouTuber also leads to speculations that Ram could be experimenting with different trim and power levels for its Rebel TRX, while the presence of a Ford F-150 Raptor in the area could also mean that the brand is working on a model that could compete with the Raptor.
With what has been released so far, it’s no surprise if Ram does release an off-roader that could rival the Ford Raptor in the segment. However, it’s not likely to be released earlier than the initial promise of 2022.
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