This is a good time to be a Ram truck enthusiast. A few months ago, Ram promised the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 would be returning to the 1500 lineup for the 2026 model year. More recently, Ram announced its Hemi-powered half-tons are now on their ways to dealerships. And those who want more sound of the high-performance Ram 1500 RHO now have two new MagnaFlow exhaust options, thanks to the Direct Connection Affiliated Accessories program.
When the Ram 1500 TRX went extinct, the Hurricane twin-turbo straight-six-powered RHO took its place as Ram’s apex predator. Although the RHO produces 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque, it’s much less potent than its 702-horsepower predecessor, plus it can’t match the sound of a big V8 (a lesson second-generation Ford F-150 Raptor fans learned). To help fill in some of that sonic gap, Ram is offering two MagnaFlow cat-back exhaust systems through the Mopar eStore or your local dealership.
The $2,089 SPEQ Series and $3,099 xMOD Series setups have the same basic hardware. Both feature full stainless steel construction, three-inch mandrel-bent tubing, MagnaFlow mid-pipe chamber with the company’s No Drone Technology (aka passive noise cancellation), Tru-X X-pipe, pair of five-inch black chrome tips, and two years of warranty coverage.
What separates the xMOD system from the SPEQ package is the level of customization and the sound it produces. The xMOD allows buyers to mix and match different components. There are three different exhaust valve modules: Street, Speq, and Comp, in order of increasing loudness. The standard mid-pipe module is integrated with the exhaust valves, but the next level up has a valve-delete design that keeps them open for more sound. Whereas the SPEQ system sounds balanced during normal driving and more vocal under acceleration, the xMOD has “six unique exhaust sound combinations, ranging from sporty to pissed off,” according to Stellantis.
There may be no replacement for displacement but, as the third-generation Ford F-150 Raptor showed me, an exhaust can make a difference. The 2017 Raptor I tested had power but no vocal presence; the 2021 model I reviewed for The ClassicCars.com Journal (equipped with an X-pipe and a “trombone loop”) made a much more satisfying sound. To hear the Ram 1500 RHO’s Hurricane blowing through one of the new MagnaFlow systems, turn up your speakers while you watch the video below.
