Ram is bringing the HEMI V8 back to its 1500 pickup lineup, just a year after dropping it in favor of a more efficient inline-six. The decision comes straight from customer demand—truck buyers made it clear they missed the 5.7-liter V8 and weren’t shy about saying so. Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis admitted the company “screwed up” by removing the HEMI and said the move away from V8s sent loyal customers looking at Ford and GM instead.
The returning 5.7-liter HEMI V8 makes 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, now paired with Ram’s eTorque mild hybrid system for a little extra efficiency. It’ll be available as a $1,200 option on most Ram 1500 models, including Big Horn, Laramie, Limited, Longhorn, Rebel, and more. Orders are open now, and the trucks will start showing up at dealers this summer.
Ram isn’t ditching the new inline-six “Hurricane” engine—it’ll still be offered, alongside the base V6. But the HEMI’s comeback is a clear sign that, for a big slice of truck buyers, nothing beats the sound and feel of a V8. Ram even designed a new badge for HEMI-equipped trucks: a ram’s head bursting out of a V8 block, a not-so-subtle nod to the brand’s muscle truck roots.
After a year of hearing from unhappy owners and seeing rivals keep their V8s, Ram decided it was time to listen. The HEMI’s return isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about giving customers what they actually want, and making sure the Ram 1500 stays right in the thick of the full-size truck wars. For a lot of people, that familiar V8 rumble is just part of the deal.