The moment the Ram TRX was revealed last year, everyone – including Ram – was comparing it to the Ford F-150 Raptor. This was completely appropriate as those two trucks are natural competitors, and it was clear from the start that Ram was targeting the Raptor while developing its high-performance off-roader. But as it turns out, we don’t need to wait for the 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor R to take down the TRX at the drag strip, because a modified Ford Flex can get the job done.
Yes, the Flex – Ford’s discontinued retro-styled crossover that was quite popular with some folks over the course of its 11-year run as the automaker sold nearly 300,000 of them during that time frame. Aside from its looks, the Flex was popular for offering a car-like driving experience with copious amounts of passenger and cargo space, but as it turns out, it can be quite the drag strip terror as well.
Some may forget, but the Flex could be had with Ford’s twin-turbo 3.5L EcoBoost V6 that produces 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, as well as all-wheel-drive. That made it quite quick in stock form, with a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds. This modified Ford Flex, owned by David Dekard, is an older model that produced a slightly-less 355 horsepower from the factory, however.
Dekard fitted his Flex with bigger turbos, an aftermarket intake, freer-flowing catalytic convertors, methanol injection, and a 93-octane tune, which helped it lay down 397 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque at the wheels. That still pales in comparison to the TRX’s supercharged 6.2L Hemi V8, which makes 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, but the massive truck also weighs a lot more.
Ultimately, that makes the difference, as the Flex “flexes” on the muscle truck and sents it back to the pits following a rather embarrassing loss. Unfortunately for the TRX owner, the whole thing has now been immortalized on the internet, too.
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Comments
LOL.. The guy in the Dodge got taken twice. 1) The Flex guy tree’d him pretty badly. 2) The Flex actually had the juice to keep the lead he got off the tree. Well done. LOL
That’s quite a grocery getter! Pretty serious giddy up. Guess the TRX shoulda stayed in the sand box.
I wish they would make the Flex and MKT on the Explorer platform now in hybrid and ev form, makes sense to me.
He started with 355hp, then did the following, “”””Dekard fitted his Flex with bigger turbos, an aftermarket intake, freer-flowing catalytic convertors, methanol injection, and a 93-octane tune, which helped it lay down 397 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque at the wheels.””””
That is a lot of time and money for 42 extra HP! All that for just over a 10% increase?? This is NOT the engine you want to spend money on, if this is the result.