Reimagining Ram’s Return to the Street Truck Scene

Over the last decade, Ram has cemented itself as the go-to brand for off-road sport trucks. From the trail-proven 1500 Rebel to the legendary 2500 Power Wagon and the bonkers Ram 1500 TRX, the lineup is deep and diverse. The Warlock trims add entry-level aggression to both 1500 and 2500 models, while the 1500 and 2500 Rebels fill the space between capability and comfort. Then there’s the Ram 1500 RHO, a turbocharged off-road performance bargain, and the return of the Hellcat-powered TRX in 2026 only confirms Ram’s intent to dominate off the beaten path.

But there’s one battlefield Ram hasn’t returned to in a while, one that fans have been pretty vocal about wanting to see the brand return to.

Truck enthusiasts have been screaming for street trucks. Lowered. Louder. Factory-backed and pavement-focused. A new generation of drivers wants muscle with utility, and the street truck scene is starting to boil over again.

Ford was the first to blink.

Ford Reignites the Spark with the 2025 F-150 Lobo

Earlier this year, Ford fired the first real shot in the return of factory sport trucks with the 2025 F-150 Lobo. Based on the STX trim, the Lobo packs a 5.0L V8 pushing 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. A factory-lowered suspension with a 2-inch rear drop, 22-inch gloss black wheels, a cowl hood, and dual exhaust round out its aggressive look.

It’s simple, relatively affordable, and it’s backed by a factory warranty. In short: it’s everything the sport truck crowd has been begging for—and Ford delivered.

But if any brand has the street truck legacy and hardware to take that formula and perfect it, it’s Ram.

Ram’s Street Truck Legacy: A History Worth Reviving

Ram’s street truck roots run deep. In the late 90’s the brand debuted the Dodge Dakota 5.9 R/T. A simple formula of dropping their biggest engine at the time, a 5.9 Liter Magnum V8 into a lowered, sporty looking truck with 17 inch aluminum wheels, and a monochromatic color scheme. 

In the early 2000s, Mopar fans were blessed with one of the wildest factory builds in pickup history: the Dodge Ram SRT-10. Stuffed with a Viper-sourced 8.3-liter V10, 500 horsepower, and a Tremec 6-speed manual, it remains one of the most outrageous production trucks ever built. It still holds the title as the world’s fastest pickup from its era.

Later came the Ram 1500 R/T, a regular cab short bed with the 5.7-liter HEMI, 22-inch wheels, and monochromatic styling. It was simple, sharp, and exactly what truck fans wanted—before being quietly phased out.

And let’s not forget the Ram Express, a clean, monochromatic, value-packed V8 truck that served as a great canvas for street truck builds over the last decade.

Ram knows how to build this kind of truck. They’ve done it before, and they can do it again.

A Modern Ram Street Truck Lineup Makes Sense Now More Than Ever

With Tim Kuniskis now overseeing Stellantis’ North American brands, including Jeep, Dodge, Ram, and Chrysler, the timing couldn’t be better. Kuniskis is the man behind the muscle car renaissance, the guy who gave us Hellcats, Scat Packs, Super Stocks, and Demons. He knows how to take a niche and make it roar.

Add to that the revival of the SRT brand within Stellantis, and suddenly, a new Ram street truck strategy doesn’t just feel possible, it feels inevitable.

So what could that look like? Here’s how Ram could dominate the pavement, just like it’s owned the dirt.

Imagining a Full Street Truck Lineup for Ram

Ram 1500 Express

Ram announced the return of the Ram 1500 Express earlier this year. A budget-minded, truck with clean styling.

• 3.6 Pentastar V6 standard with the option of either the 5.7L HEMI V8, or Hurricane I6

• Body-color bumpers, black grille, blackout lighting

• Cloth interior, unique accents, standard sport exhaust with the Hemi option

This truck undercuts Ford’s F-150 Lobo on price while offering the same street truck attitude.

Ram 1500 R/T

Bring back the name and do it right. The R/T badge means something, it should live again on a bold, HEMI-powered street machine.

• Standard 6.4L HEMI V8 or optional High-Output Hurricane I6

• Lowered, Performance-tuned suspension, factory ground effects

• 22-inch staggered wheels, 4-piston Brembo brakes

• Sport hood, dual exhaust, optional stripes

• Suede/leather interior with performance touches such as the bolstered seats from the Ram 1500 RHO and G/T models, center console shifter, and unique painted interior accents. 

This becomes the spiritual successor to the R/Ts of the past, but with modern tech and refinement.

Ram 1500 SRT 

Every performance lineup needs a halo model. Enter the street-optimized version of the return of the TRX.

• 6.2 liter Supercharged HELLCAT V8 standard

• Standard AWD for maximum performance, defeatable to engage RWD mode for burnouts, wider fenders, sticky rubber

• Performance pages, launch control, all the electronic performance tech in the Stellantis arsenal, adaptive suspension

• Quad exhaust, carbon accents, 750+ hp, 6-piston Brembo brakes

This would give Ram a factory street beast to take on anything the competition dares to attempt.

Don’t Forget the Little Guys: Mid-Size and Compact Street Trucks

Ram’s future doesn’t stop at half-ton trucks. We know the brand will be debuting a midsize truck, and suspect they also have something up their sleeve to go against the Ford Maverick in the compact truck segment.

Imagine a 3.0 Hurricane I6 powered midsized truck with unique front and rear bumpers, a lowered suspension, small ground effects kit, unique interior accents, and monochromatic sporty look at an attainable price. Currently there is nothing in the midsize market that could compete and a truck like this could bring in lots of enthusiasts from other brands wanting something more practical than a sport compact car.

As for the compact segment, go right at the recently released Ford Maverick Lobo. A small compact truck, available in regular cab and 4 door configurations. Run it with a standard all-wheel drive system, powered by the upcoming 300+ horsepower GME T4 EVO engine, unique styling, and a price that competes directly with the sport compact car market. This would bring something small, sporty, and fun into the brand and could bring new customers into the brand that would have otherwise bought something like a Honda Civic Type-R, Subaru WRX, etc. 

The compact and mid-size truck segments are growing—and not everyone wants an off-road package. For some buyers, pavement performance and clean styling are far more important.

Final Thoughts: The Streets Are Waiting

Ram has spent the last decade building some of the toughest and most capable off-road trucks in the game. But now, it’s time to shift gears. The sport truck market is waking up again, and Ford just lit the fuse. Ram has the heritage, the hardware, and the leadership to dominate, just like it has in the past.

With Tim Kuniskis at the helm and SRT being revived, the road ahead feels wide open for a full-blown street truck lineup. The demand is real. The opportunity is now.

All that’s left? Drop it. Badge it. Let it rip.