A Supercharged Icon Returns to Challenge One of Ford’s Coolest Pickup Trucks

It looks like the street truck wars are heating back up. Now that the HEMI V8-powered Ram 1500 is back, FOX Factory Vehicles is jumping on the hype train. The iconic vehicle and bicycle outfitter just debuted its new Ram 1500 Lowered — their take on a high-performance street-biased variant of Auburn Hills’ iconic light-duty half-ton.

Yes, this is the same FOX Factory that specifically engineers performance shock absorbers and innovative damper technologies. You’ve probably heard of them in the two-wheeling and recreational world.

More specifically, FOX Factory is known for making custom suspension components for all sorts of vehicles. They’ve since expanded into building complete cars and this latest Ram 1500 is one of them.

Ford F-150 Lobo fans, you better watch out

FOX Factory Vehicles

The Ram 1500 Lowered starts life as a Crew Cab Ram 1500 Big Horn with the 5’7″ bed and the beloved 5.7-liter V8. FOX Factory then equips the Ram 1500 with a laundry list of upgrades, both inside and out.

But they’re not all show and no-go. The upgrades are meant to improve the truck’s on-road performance while adding sinister looks to complement. Such includes sport suspension, and even a whole range of under-the-hood revisions.

FOX Factory Vehicles

For instance, FOX Factory equips a road performance-tuned coilover-based lowering suspension kit. Provided by Ridetech, the system drops the original Ram 1500’s ride height by three inches at the front and 5.5 at the back.

The system’s then complemented by lightweight tubular control arms for improved steering response and better mid-corner composure. Should owners want to do some tweaking, the shocks are fully adjustable as well.

FOX Factory Vehicles

FOX Factory also added rear axle traction bars to reduce axle hop under hard acceleration and launch control from a standstill. Adding the final touches is a set of black-painted 22-inch multi-spoke wheels.

No Ram TRX? No worries

The most important business happens under the hood and not just underneath the sheetmetal.

FOX Factory Vehicles

For starters, all Ram 1500 Lowered models come with the HEMI. So, don’t worry, V8 fans, you’re well provided for.

But rather than just leaving the HEMI to do the work on its own, FOX Factory also equips a massive Whipple twin-screw supercharger. Supporting the forced induction is a custom ECU map, a heavy-duty upgraded radiator for improved cooling, and a performance dual-exhaust system for better exhaust flow and sound.

FOX Factory Vehicles

The result is a bump to 650 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque, up from the standard 5.7’s 395 hp and 410 lb-ft.

That bests the current, most powerful Ram RHO, even with its excellent twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. The RHO churns out 540 hp and 521 lb-ft, yielding a 0-60 mph sprint in just 4.5 seconds.

FOX Factory Vehicles

However, it doesn’t quite surpass the discontinued Ram TRX’s 712 hp and 650 lb-ft from its supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8. The FOX Factory’s Ram 1500 Lowered is the closest thing you can get, as long as you plan to keep it on paved surfaces.

FOX Factory also spruces up the interior and exterior with its own custom bodykit and upholstery touch-ups, all for a bespoke look that you can’t currently get from the factory.

…and it all comes backed with factory warranty

FOX Factory Vehicles

But the best part about the Ram 1500 Lowered is that it retains its factory-backed warranty and support. That means you can still get it serviced at Stellantis/Ram dealers with support from FOX Factory as well.

And this is all possible, thanks to Stellantis/Mopar’s Direct Connection aftermarket program.

FOX Factory Vehicles

But you’ll have to pay for this sort of uniqueness, or about $89,995. It is quite a bit more than a $69,995 RHO. But you are getting a RAM 1500 that’s unlike any other, at the moment.

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