The report comes from g80.bimmerpost. A user on the forum stated that a “very special limited edition M4 will be produced for just a few months. starting November 2022.”
The report comes from BMW Blog and g80.bimmerpost. The former caught a post on the forum wherein the user stated that a “very special limited edition M4 will be produced for just a few months. starting November 2022.”BMW Blog noted that this user has a good track record with such things, so it can’t be passed off as a baseless rumor. However, there is still no confirmation surrounding it, so we suggest you take it with a pinch of salt.
The post also mentioned that the car “mostly configured like the CSL but with manual transmission, several options (comfort access, parking sensors, electric seats) deleted, and the forged wheels off G81.”
It’s A Big Milestone And An M4 Special Edition Won’t Do It
All said and done, it may not be just an M4 edition. There are posts on the forum that talk about 50 Jahre models, but again, that’s something we might see during the year and it won’t be the special model. Motor1 has speculated that an 8 Series coupe that was spotted this year at the Nürburgring could be the one. But, you never know. If you were to ask us, we would speculate it to be an electric successor to the M1. However, take this with a pinch of salt, too. We would’ve guessed the M8 CSL to be the one, but this is already ruled out by BMW.
There’s One Thing That We’re Sure Of
BMW recently revealed that every M high-performance car that will be produced from March 2022 will feature a special logo that’s inspired by the classic ‘BMW Motorsport Logo’. The classic logo is a series of semicircles in blue, red, and violet shades. Each color has a meaning. Blue stands for BMW, red for motorsport, and violet is the unique combination of the two. The logo will be slapped on the front, rear, and wheel hubs. The classic logo has a rich history. It was first used in 1973. What we also know is that the company will come up with historically accurate M paint finishes, like the Dakar Yellow, Fire Orange, Daytona Violet, Macao Blue, Imola Red, or the Frozen Marina Bay Blue.
Final Thoughts
Now, all we can do is be on the lookout for the slightest of hints and try to connect the dots. At the moment all we know is that a special model is being planned, but have close to no idea what it could be. It will be quite a bummer if it turns out to be a special edition based on the M4. What we can vouch for is that it will be a limited-production model with an exorbitant price tag.
What do you think this could be? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.
The Yamaha OX99-11 may have been conceived in 1992, but it all started in 1989 when Yamaha started competing in Formula One as an engine supplier. It’s then that the idea of a money-no-object Yamaha supercar came to be. Moreover, the car needed to be based on actual F1 technology, even though Yamaha was doing poorly in motorsports.
Named after its engine
In 1991, Yamaha developed a Formula One engine called the OX99. It was a 3.5-liter, 72-degree, 60-valve, V-12 unit capable of around 560 horsepower and well over 10,000 RPM in race trim.
For the road-going Yamaha OX99, the engine developed 400 horsepower (298 kilowatts) at 10,000 RPM and 210 pound-feet (285 Nm). This allowed the 2,535-pound (1,150 kg) V-12 Yamaha to sprint from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in just 3.2 seconds and get up to 217 mph (350 km/h). The V-12 engine was paired with a six-speed manual transmission.
Fun fact: some people believed that the V-12 had something in common with the one used in the Bugatti EB110, as it had similar displacement and the same V-12 layout. The difference of course was that while the Yamaha unit was normally aspirated, the one used by Bugatti had a quad-turbo setup. Of course, the two engines didn’t share a single component. Essentially, it was a road car, powered by a Formula One-derived engine, similar to what they did with the Ferrari F50 and, more recently, the Mercedes AMG One. The difference is that Yamaha’s V-12 was much more restricted in its road-going form.
Yamaha wasn’t pleased with the initial design
Yamaha first approached a German company to design the body. However, the end result was deemed to be too mainstream, as it looked like most other supercars of that era. Yamaha’s subsidiary – Ypsilon Technology – then contracted IAD (International Automotive Design) for the task. The car ended up with an aluminum body, designed by Takuya Yura. The whole car was underpinned by a carbon-fiber chassis. The suspension was double-wishbone all around. The Yamaha OX99-11 featured a staggered set of tires, which were 245/40R17 front and 315/35R17 rear.
It had two tandem seats
Yes, the Yamaha 0X99-11 was a two-seater, but not in the traditional sense.
Yamaha wanted a two-seater but also wanted something closer to home (they normally make motorcycles), so a second seat was added just behind the driver.
The tandem arrangement was one of the reasons why the Yamaha OX99-11 looked like a hybrid between a Formula One car and a Group C racer. This also allowed the mid-engine Yamaha to retain a central driving position, just like the McLaren F1.
The OX99-11 did not have doors
At least not in the traditional sense. Because of the tandem seating arrangement, the car featured a canopy. The whole thing was glass, just like in a jet-fighter. To gain access to the interior, you have to open it from the left side.
The final product was rushed
This was mostly due to disagreements between IAD and Yamaha in regard to the development budget, which happened sometime in late 1991. This resulted in Yamaha transferring the entire project to its subsidiary, Ypsilon Technologies. Yamaha gave them six months to sort things out with the project, otherwise, it would be terminated.
Very few ended up being made
The Yamaha OX99-11 eventually took final form, in 1992. However, only three units were produced.
In terms of specifications, the cars were completely identical, only differing in the exterior finish. One was bright red, another was black, and the third was dark green. That said, because the project was rushed, even those three were technically functional prototype vehicles. At least two of the three cars are believed to have been bought by collectors and have exchanged hands a couple of times, while one of them could still be in Yamaha’s possession.
Yamaha wanted to put a steep price tag on it
The Yamaha OX99-11 reportedly had an expected price of around $800,000, which in 2021 equates to over $1.53 million – an enormous amount of money, considering the manufacturer lacks a previous history of making supercars. To put things in perspective, back in those days, the McLaren F1 cost $815,000. Not to mention the much more affordable (in comparison) $350,000 Bugatti EB110 or the $239,000 Lamborghini Diablo – all of which great supercars with heritage.
Moreover, a mid-engine V-12 Yamaha supercar would never have had the same recognition as, let’s say Lamborghini, Bugatti, or McLaren. Strangely enough, it would probably make it today, as many startup manufacturers are giving established ones a run for their money.
In the end, the Yamaha OX99-11 had a bad timing
The Yamaha OX99-11 was a product of the early 1990s. At that time, Japan’s economy was in a deep recession. Corporate investments dropped by a whopping 22 percent, so people weren’t exactly in a rush to get their hands on an exclusive, six-figure, V-12 supercar, especially from a manufacturer that doesn’t have much experience in making such. The project was delayed until 1994 before Yamaha pulled the plug on it.
That said, the Yamaha OX99-11 would have succeeded in our time, as nowadays, it is much more acceptable for companies to branch out into making exclusive vehicles. Moreover, Yamaha has proven itself by designing capable and great-sounding performance engines for various carmakers. In addition, the OX99-11’s minimalistic, yet uncompromising approach to performance could have spelled big trouble for modern-day supercars. With that being said, the OX99-11 would make much more sense now than it did back then. Sadly, we may never know.
Up front, it features skid plates, steel bumpers, two tow hooks, a massive hood scoop, and a grille unique only to the TRX in Ram’s lineup. The hood scoop and the grille play a major role in the air intake. Ram noted that 50-percent of air intake to the engine will be through the massive hood scoop, and the rest through the grille. The truck also comes with adaptive LEDs.
The truck rides on 18-inch beadlock wheels wrapped in 35-inch, 325/65 section Goodyear Wrangler Territory All-Terrain Tires developed specifically for this beast.
It also features 15-inch brakes at the front. It comes with dual five-inch exhaust outlets and two tow hooks on its derriere. Ram offers the 1500 TRX in just one body style – Crew cab with a 5.7-foot cargo bed. Surprisingly, Ram has ditched its MultiFunction Tailgate in favor of a simple power tailgate.
Our Ram 1500 TRX test truck was finished in Bright White and Diamond Black Crystal dual-tone exterior shade. The other colors on offer are:
Flame Red with Diamond Black Crystal
Hydro Blue with Diamond Black Crystal
Granite Crystal Metallic with Diamond Black Crystal
Billet Silver with Diamond Black Crystal
Single-tone Diamond Black Crystal
An Ignition Orange shade was announced at the truck’s launch as a late availability, whereas an Anvil Grey shade was offered exclusively on the TRX Launch Edition.
How Big Is The Ram 1500 TRX?
The Ram 1500 TRX is 232.9 inches long, 88 inches wide, and 80.9 inches tall. The wheelbase measures 145.1 inches. The ground clearance, with the skid plate, is rated at 11.8 inches. As for the tracks, the front track is 74.5 inches wide whereas the rear track is 74.1 inches wide. To put things into perspective, this is roughly six inches wider than the standard Ram 1500.
2021 Ram 1500 TRX exterior dimensions
Length
232.9
Width
88
Height
80.9
Wheelbase
145.1
Front Track
74.5
Rear Track
74.1
Bed Length
67
Ground Clearance
11.8
When compared to the F-150 Raptor, the TRX is almost the same size. The Raptor measures 232.6 inches in length, 96 inches in width with the wing mirrors unfolded, and 80.7 inches tall. Although the TRX is 0.3 inches longer, the Raptor has a longer wheelbase by the same length. It measures 145.4 inches. The tracks are 0.2 inches narrower at the front as well as back, measuring 74.3 inches and 73.9 inches, respectively.
The F-150 Raptor takes the cake when it comes to the angles. The TRX’s approach angle is rated at 30.2 degrees, breakover angle at 21.9 degrees, and departure angle at 23.5 degrees. The Raptor’s approach angle is rated at 33.1 degrees, departure angle at 24.9 degrees, and breakover angle at 24.4 degrees. Despite having a slightly longer wheelbase, the Raptor boasts of a better breakover angle because it sits 1.3 inches higher off the ground when compared to its rival. The TRX comes with a 5.7-foot cargo bed, whereas the Raptor features a 5.5-foot bed.
How Much Does The Ram 1500 TRX Weigh?
The TRX is pretty heavy, weighing in at 6,350 pounds. This makes it 610 pounds heavier than the Raptor which stands at 5,740 pounds.
How Much Can The Ram 1500 TRX Tow and Haul?
The towing capacity on the Ram 1500 TRX is rated at 8,100 pounds, whereas the payload capacity is rated at 1,310 pounds.
The 2021 F-150 Raptor beats the TRX on both counts. The towing and payload capacities are rated at 8,200- and 1,400- pounds respectively. This is an increase of 200 pounds in both capacities over the 2020 F-150 Raptor, which means the TRX had better ratings when it was launched. That doesn’t really matter now, though; does it?
Ram 1500 TRX Interior
It wouldn’t be wrong to say Ram revolutionized the truck segment when we speak of the interior. Ram started offering luxurious interior on trucks that can even put sedans to shame. In fact, the company recently launched a 10th Anniversary Edition of the Ram 1500 Limited, a model known for its plushness.
Step inside and you’ll be welcomed to a cockpit with a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters. You can spend extra money and get this finished in suede and carbon-fiber accents. Behind the steering wheels is an instrument cluster with a multi-information display. The seven-inch screen throws up more data than you would need most of the time. It comes with performance pages, too, to record your off-road and on-road performances. It shows stuff like:
Reaction time
0-60 and 0-62 mph acceleration times
Quarter-mile time
Dyno page
G-Force meter
Going against the trend of offering slim bucket seats, Ram has offered heavily bolstered cushies for your tushies. They are designed well to keep you in place when you take this beast hard around the corners or during severe off-roading.
You can have them in cloth and vinyl, or leather and suede, or leather and suede with red and carbon fiber accents.
Fortunately, Ram has ditched the rotary knob gear shifter on this truck. Instead, you get the conventional floor-mounted gear shifter. You get a control panel in place of the knob and it features TRX-specific transfer case switches, like 4WD High/Low, Axle Lock, etc. Even the Drive Mode selector and Launch Control button are here.
Ram offers a dual-pane panoramic sunroof on the TRX. There are some other pretty sweet things, like ventilated seats, power-adjustable seats, etc. that you can opt for.
On the center console sits a 12-inch UConnect 4C touchscreen system that supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Sirius XM. It can be upgraded to UConnect 5 software in the future. For now, it is slated to come in 2022. The upgrade would support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Apart from this, the truck also comes with a wireless charger, five USB ports, including Type A and C ports, and a 10-speaker sound. For audiophiles, Ram offers a 19-speaker, 900-Watt Harman-Kardon audio system as an option.
Apart from this, the other tech stuff that can be had includes:
A new color Head-Up Display
9.2-inch wide Digital Rearview Mirror
Trailer Reverse Steer Control, similar to Ford’s Pro-Trailer Backup Assist
How Spacious Is The Ram 1500 TRX?
On the inside, the Ram TRX is mighty spacious; just like any other pickup truck. In the first row, it offers 40.9 of headroom, 40.9 inches of legroom, 66 inches of shoulder room, and 63.4 inches of hip room. The Raptor is almost just as spacious. It comes with better legroom up front, thanks to the longer wheelbase. It offers 40.8 inches of headroom, 43.9 inches of legroom, 66.7 inches of headroom, and 62.5 inches of hip room.
In the second row, the Ram TRX offers headroom of 39.8 inches, legroom of 45.2 inches, shoulder room of 65.7 inches, and hip room of 63.4 inches. The Raptor offers 40.4 inches of headroom, 43.6 inches of legroom, 66 inches of shoulder room, and 62.6 inches of hip room.
Ram TRX vs Ford F-150 Raptor interior dimensions
Ram TRX
Ford F-150 Raptor
1st Row Headroom
40.9
40.8
1st Row Leg Room
40.9
43.9
1st Row Shoulder Room
66
66.7
1st Row Hip Room
63.4
62.5
2nd Row Headroom
39.8
40.4
2nd Row Leg Room
45.2
43.6
2nd Row Shoulder Room
65.7
66
2nd Row Hip Room
63.4
62.6
Ram 1500 TRX Drivetrain
The 2012 Ram 1500 TRX is powered by a 6.2-liter, supercharged V-8 HEMI Hellcat engine that churns out 702 ponies and 650 pound-feet of twist.
Power is routed to the wheels via an eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic gearbox. The truck comes with a heavy-duty advanced four-wheel-drive system as well.
2021 Ram 1500 TRX specifications
Ram TRX
Engine
6.2-Liter V-8
Fuel
Premium
Horsepower
702 HP
Torque
650 LB-FT
Transmission
8AT
Drive
4WD
Towing Capacity
8,100 LBS
Fuel Economy
10/14/12
Curb Weight
6,350
Fuel Capacity
33 Gal
There are multiple pre-set drive modes on offer that control the throttle response, four-wheel-drive system, transmission, suspension, and electric power steering. The modes include – Sport, Snow, Auto, Tow, Custom, Mud/Sand, Rock, Baja. With all the power it makes, the truck can also fly, and Ram knows there will be times you’ll keep it off the ground for a few seconds. To make sure this doesn’t cause any adverse effects, the company has introduced something known as ‘Jump Detection’. Jump Detection derives wheel-speed and ride-height data from the sensors and accelerometers at each corner to identify when the vehicle is airborne and acts to prevent driveline-damaging power spikes.
As for the performance specs, it can sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 118 mph, which is why the 1500 TRX is officially the “Quickest, Fastest and Most Powerful Mass-produced Truck in the World” for now. It comes with a Launch Control, too, in case you plan to take it to the drag strip. Ram says the truck can do a quarter-mile run in 12.9 seconds at 108 mph. We have seen it in action in the past.
A truck that’s capable of doing all these things needs to have a strong suspension setup. The 1500 TRX comes with a front independent suspension system with active damping. It also features a Dana 60 solid rear axle. The TRX has a front-wheel travel range of 13 inches and a rear-wheel travel range of 14 inches.
A BorgWarner transfer case and an electronic locking rear differential are also in place.
It also comes with 2.5-inch Bilstein Performance Black Hawk e2 adaptive shocks at the front and rear. According to the automaker, this will help traverse over harsh terrains even with speeds greater than 100 mph, thus making it a competent desert runner.
The Ram’s final drive ratio is 3.55:1 whereas the low-range four-wheel-drive ratio is rated at 2.64:1. Back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest the truck has a crawl ratio of 44:1.
How Fuel-Efficient Is The Ram TRX?
Asking how much a 6,000+ pound truck that features a 702-horsepower supercharged V-8 returns per gallon is a cardinal sin. But, if you really want to know, then the truck delivers 10 miles in the city, 14 miles on the highway, and 12 miles combined for every gallon of fuel consumed. Expect this to dip into single digits when going off-roading or driving with a heavy foot and expect it to burn a hole in your pocket.
If you want something more efficient, the Raptor V-6 will serve you better. It delivers 15 mpg in the city, 18 mpg on the highway, and 16 mpg combined.
How Much Does The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Cost?
The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX comes with a base price of $70,325 plus $1,695 destination. The cheapest exterior shade you can get is Diamond Black Crystal that’s priced at 100 bucks. So, the starting price of the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is essentially $72,120.
Our test model came finished in dual-tone Bright White and Diamond Black Crystal shade, which is a $250 option.
Ford introduced the third-gen F-150 Raptor around the same time it launched the fourteenth-gen F-150. While it comes with a lot of new, impressive stuff, like the suspension setup, bigger tires from the factory, and exhaust system, Ford didn’t make any changes to the powertrain. It continues to be powered by the same 3.5-liter, twin-turbo, V-6 EcoBoost mill that puts out 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to all wheels via the same 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. It comes with a whole lot of other stuff, like:
Electronic locking rear differential
Two-speed transfer case
Independent front suspension system
New five-link rear suspension setup
Panhard rod and 24-inch coil springs
3.1-inch Fox Live Valve dampers
Front suspension travel range of 14 inches
Rear suspension travel range of 15 inches
Available Torsen front limited-slip differential with 4:10 final drive ratio
It is based on the 2021 F-150 and is available only in the SuperCrew body style now. The Raptor rides on 17-inch wheels shod in 35-inch tires standard. You can also have 37-inch tires as an option from the factory itself. On the inside, you get stuff like a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12-inch touchscreen SYNC4 infotainment system that supports wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, and 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, to name a few. You can even opt for Recaro bucket seats for extra moolah.
When the TRX was launched, Ford had the second-gen F-150 Raptor on sale. It started at $53,455 for the Regular Cab and $56,440 for the SuperCrew. This made it significantly cheaper than the Ram truck.
The 2021 F-150 Raptor, however, saw a big price jump. It now starts at $65,840 including destination, which closes the price gap between the two to barely a little over $6,000. Ford is also working on a V-8 rendition of the truck called the Raptor R. It will most-likely be priced well over the starting price of Ram 1500 TRX. This way, the Raptor R won’t cannibalize into the standard Raptor’s sales, and Ford will sandwich the TRX between both these models. This way you’ll have not one, but two alternatives for the TRX – one cheaper, and the other even more expensive.
Ram had rolled out the TRX Limited Edition when the truck was launched. It came with numerous stuff that set it apart from the standard TRX. Priced at over $90,000, it didn’t seem worth the extra $20,000 at the onset, but it came with a whole lot of stuff. Not to mention, you would be the owner of an exclusive edition that’s limited to just 702 examples. It was sold out within three hours after the bookings opened. In case you’re curious what made it special, here’s the additional stuff it came with:
Exclusive Anvil Grey Exterior Shade
TRX Exterior Graphics
TRX Hood Graphics
18- x 9.0-inch Beadlock-Capable Alum Wheels by Mopar
19 Speaker Harman Kardon Premium Sound System
Four-Adjustable Cargo Tie-Down Hooks
Adaptive Cruise Control
Deployable Bed-Step
Dual-Pane Panoramic Sunroof
Head-Up Display
Lane Keep Assist
Leather and Carbon Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel
LED CHMS Lamp
Pedestrian Emergency Braking
Pick-Up Box Lighting
Real Carbon Fiber Interior Accents
Rear- View Auto-Dimming Digital Display Mirror
Spray-In Bedliner
“TRX Launch Edition” Console Badge
“TRX” Red Interior Accents
TRX Level 2 Equipment Group (more on it below)
Priced at $90,315 plus destination
Ram 1500 TRX Packages
The 1500 TRX is offered with many optional packages, something that’s not uncommon with the Stellantis products. Some of those include:
TRX Level 2 Equipment Group – $7,920
Body-Color Door Handles
Wrapped Driver and Passenger Assist Handles
Front Door Accent Lighting
Full-Length Premium Upgraded Floor-Console
Heated Front Seats
Heated Steering Wheel
Instrument-Panel LED Ambient-Light Piping
Leather and Suede Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel
Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats
Luxury Front Door-Trim Panel
Pick-Up Box Lighting
Eight-Way Power Driver and Passenger Seats
Four-way Power Lumbar Adjustable Driver Seat
Four-way Power Lumbar Adjustable Passenger Seat
Four-way Front Headrests
Power Adjustable Pedals with Memory Function
Premium Wrapped Instrument- Panel Bezel
Rain-Sensitive Windshield Wipers
Rear-Door Accent-Lighting
Rear Under-Seat Storage Compartment
Rear Window Defroster
Sun-Visors with Illuminated Vanity-Mirrors
Universal Garage-Door Opener
Blind-Spot and Cross-Path Detection
Driver-Seat Memory
Exterior Mirrors with Memory
Heated Second-Row Seats
ParkSense Front and Rear Park-Assist with Stop
Driver-Seat/Radio/Mirrors/Pedals Memory Pre-Sets
Remote-Proximity Keyless –Entry
Remote-Start System
Remote Tailgate-Release
Rear 60 / 40 Folding Split Recline Seat
Surround-View Camera
Trailer Brake-Control
Ventilated Front Seats
Ventilated Rear Seats
Wireless Charging-Pad
TRX Carbon Fiber Package – $1,295
Leather and Carbon Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel
Real Carbon Fiber Interior Accents
Technology Group – $1,095
Head-up Display
Rear-view Auto-Dimming Digital Mirror
LED Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp
Advanced Safety Group – $995
Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go
Lane Keep Assist
Pedestrian Emergency Braking
Bed Utility Group – $845
Four Adjustable Cargo Tie-Down Hooks
Deployable Bed-Step
Spray-in Bedliner
Trailer-Tow Group – $395
Trailer Brake Controller
Trailer Light Check
Trailer TPMS
Ram 1500 TRX Warranty
Ram is offering a three-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty on the TRX, and a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty on the powertrain.
Final Thoughts
So, to answer the question we posed at the beginning of this article – the Ram 1500 TRX is a fantastic buy if money is no object. It doesn’t necessarily perform as well as a conventional pickup truck or a conventional sports car. However, it infuses the characteristics of both the stark-different vehicles very well. It can tow and haul on a workday, and can be unleashed for quick sprints or desert runs over the weekend.
The 1500 TRX is well-loaded in the base form, but you can pamper yourself even more with the numerous accessories and packages that are available as optional. People looking for a frugal option will find the F-150 Raptor’s comparatively fuel-efficient engine better. The 2021 Raptor even comes with an improved suspension setup, a loud exhaust system, and massive tires from the factory. The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is manufactured at the company’s Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Michigan.
Love it
6.2-liter, supercharged V-8 that makes 700+ horses