The Ram 1500 Hemi is back. Just one model year after Ram announced that it was trading its iconic V8 for a pair of turbocharged inline sixes, it is doing an about-face — a very aggressive about-face that will also come with a special new badge.
Ram Boss Says Company Was Listening
“We heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic Hemi V8,” said Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis. Kuniskis retired in early 2024, not long after the six-cylinder announcement. But he came back just a few months later, and now the Hemi is back as well.
“Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle them defines you,” he said. “Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi — we own it and we fixed it.”
Ram will offer the 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque 5.7L Hemi V8 in most trims of the 2026 Ram 1500. It will be an option in Tradesman, Express, Warlock, Big Horn, Laramie, Limited, and Longhorn grades. The V8 will show up in the Rebel later, and it won’t be offered in the RHO or Tungsten models — yet.
New Badge to Make Sure Everyone Knows You’ve Got a V8
The reborn Hemi V8 will come with an eTorque mild hybrid system. It uses a 48V belt-driven starter-generator that lets the truck spend more time in stop-start mode with the engine off. Ram says it also makes shifts smoother, allows for more cylinder deactivation, and reduced noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH).
The 2026 Hemi Ram 1500s will come with a performance exhaust. The trucks will also get a new “Symbol of Protest” badge that puts the Ram head on a Hemi block and a tagline of “Nothing Stops Ram.”
A 3.6L V6 will still be the base engine. The 305-horsepower and 271-pound-feet of torque engine will be standard on Tradesman, Express, Warlock, and Big Horn.
The 3.0L Standard Output Hurricane I6 (420 horsepower, 469 pound-feet) will be optional on those and standard on Laramie and Rebel. The High Output 3.0 is standard on Limited, the TRX-replacing RHO, and Tungsten, delivering 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque. Yes, both straight-six engines deliver better power and torque than the Hemi.
Hurricane I6 Can Out-Tow, Out-Haul the Hemi
With the V8, the Ram 1500 can tow up to 11,470 pounds and has a peak payload of 1,750 pounds. That’s better than the 3.6L V6 for towing (8,110) but not payload (2,370). It’s less of both than the standard 3.0 I6 (11,550/1,980) and better than the 3.0 HO (9,920/1,520).
Ram hasn’t revealed fuel economy figures for the Hemi’s return yet, but it’s not likely to be better than the 19 mpg combined of a 2024 5.7 4×4. The SO 3.0 for 2025 gets 19 mpg combined, the 3.0 HO 17.
Picking the Hemi will add $1,200 versus the 3.0 Standard Output. So it has less power, torque, and capability for more cash. But Ram still expects buyers to jump all over it. Ram expects a take rate of over 25% and as high as 40%. For reference, Ford’s 5.0 V8 offering accounts for about 25% of F-150 sales.
If you want a light-duty Ram with a Hemi V8 under the hood, order books are open now. The Hemi-powered Ram 1500 will arrive at dealers later this summer.
Read the full article here