If it feels like somebody just plugged the speakers back in at the party, that’s because Ram just announced the return of the Hemi V-8 to its half-ton pickup lineup. “Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle it defines you,” said Tim Kuniskis, Ram’s CEO. “Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi—we own it, and we fixed it.”
Previously, Ram had phased out the Hemi V-8 in favor of the two forms of the Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six. Beginning with the 2025 model year, those were your main engines of choice, though you could also still get the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 in certain models as well.
The returning V-8 doesn’t increase output figures over where it sat before it left the lineup; you’ll still get 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. All Hemis will feature Ram’s eTorque hybrid system as well, which replaces a normal alternator with a belt-driven motor-generator unit that works with a 48-volt battery pack to handle start/stop duties and torque-fill in certain scenarios. The eTorque unit offers up to 130 lb-ft of torque right from throttle tip in. Though it’s essentially the same motor as before, the new Hemi will get one nice upgrade: All Hemi-equipped Rams will be fitted with the GT sport exhaust to let those eight cylinders sing.
Notably, the Hemi won’t be the star of the stat sheet. It lags behind the standard-output (SO) Hurricane straight six, which is good for 420 hp and 469 lb-ft of torque. The high-output (HO) version trounces it further, producing 540 hp and 521 lb-ft of torque. Hemi-equipped Rams can tow up to 11,470 lbs, while payload ratings stretch as high as 1750 lbs. (Hurricane-equipped Rams best these figures—towing tops out at 11,600 lbs and payload gets as high as 2360 lbs.)
However, this move is about choice—namely, adding more of it for customers. “We’re not just bringing back a legendary V-8 engine, we’re igniting an assertive product plan and expanding freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers,” said Kuniskis.
Though the Hemi will return to this lineup, it will not reassume its spot as the standard engine. The Hemi will be available as an upgrade for 2026-model-year Ram 1500 Tradesman, Big Horn, Express, Warlock, Laramie, Rebel, Limited, and Longhorn trim levels. For the lower few trims—Tradesman, Express, Warlock, and Big Horn—that offer the Pentastar as the standard engine, the Hemi is a $1200 upgrade, while the SO Hurricane sits as a $1695 upgrade. On the Laramie and Rebel, which use the SO Hurricane as the standard engine, the Hemi is also a $1200 upgrade. If you splash for the Limited/Longhorn trims, which use the high-output version of the Hurricane, the Hemi is a no-charge upgrade. As of now, the two range-topping trims, the rowdy RHO and the ultra-luxe Tungsten, will not offer the Hemi.
Each new Hemi-powered Ram 1500 will get a fender-mounted “Symbol of Protest Badge” on it, depicting the Ram head logo attached to the meaty block of a Hemi V-8. From one perspective, it almost seems like a backhanded shot at former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, who, according to reports that surfaced after he was asked to step down, fundamentally didn’t understand the U.S. market and killed the Hemi along the way.
At the announcement event, Kuniskis explained to members of the media some of the background context for this decision. When customers found out that Ram was axing the Hemi for the 2025 Ram 1500, Kuniskis said that a not-insignificant portion of customers told the company that they would be taking their business elsewhere because of the lack of V-8. In America, truck buyers are hands-down the most brand-loyal demographic anywhere, and, as Kuniskis so eloquently put it, “once you lose these people, good luck getting them back.”
The return of the Hemi is both a request that those disgruntled buyers reconsider Ram, but also a move to avoid hemorrhaging future customers who feel the same way. Kuniskis said that Ram expects the take rate on the Hemi (read: percentage of new sales where customers pay extra for that engine) to settle in somewhere north of 25 percent, possibly climbing as high as 40 percent. Even if the number falls on the low end, that’s a sizable win for Ram and proof-positive that reviving a familiar and widely-loved V-8 was the right call.
Stay tuned to Hagerty for more upcoming Ram news—the event featured a lot more that we can’t speak to yet, but feel free to take your guesses to the comments section.
They just need a good basic V8 with no Hybrid system that is affordable. We don’t need all the other trappings.
Keep it simple and affordable,
Agreed. I do like the Ram Hemi logo. Should we call it a RAHEMI™
I have a 2015 Ram 1500 Laramie 4×4 with 175000+ miles and – of course – the Hemi. I was in the market for a new truck (due to mileage of existing) but I refused to buy the eTorque Hemi version as I do not believe it will be reliable long term. Ram lost a customer and I bought a super low mileage used 2019 GMC Sierra AT4 with 6.2. The GMC died and left me stranded with a fuel pump control module failure. Sat on dealer lot 30+ days waiting on a part. Then I watched the GMC transmission and 6.2 drama. Sold the GMC. Pox on all the half ton truck manufacturers!
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Much noise was made about the loss of the Hemi, will the return translate into sales?
Also, I agree w/writer above, start with a simple truck, if folks want more, add options.
Great move! I have the Hurricane 6 engine in my new Ram and it tows and does everything great, but it doesn’t match the Hemi V8 sound effects!
It’s not a real hemi, in name only.
I just bought a low mileage ‘23. I’d like to get that Ram/Hemi emblem for it.
Next announcement will be the return of the Ram to the Nascar Truck Series.
too damned complicated to own once the warranty is over
The motor or the eTorque?
A step in the right direction, now how about a hemi in the Flopped Charger Daytona !!
This customer has spoken
The hurricane six is a poorly designed, disposable engine. No one wants it. Those that say they do are just trying to convince themselves that they haven’t make a big mistake.
Since you are bringing back the hemi bring back the Challenger with the hemi. Why they discontinued the Challenger and kept the butt ugly Charger is beyond me. Probably the four doors. I can’t see any other reason.
John
I won’t own another Pentastar six vehicle. Just have issues that make them expensive after 90k miles and also have a weaker transmission than the one you get with the hemi.
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