Posted on 06/05/2025 12:22:22 PM PDT by Red Badger
Order books are now open for the 2026 Ram 1500 with the 5.7-liter engine.
The Hemi-powered Ram 1500 is back, and it goes on sale this summer for the 2026 model year. It won't be the standard engine in the pickup, but if you're a cylinder counter and can't live without eight of them, it'll cost up to $1,200 to upgrade. Order books are open now.
“Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle it defines you,” said Kuniskis. "Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi—we own it and we fixed it.” The brand shifted to a six-cylinder engine lineup for 2025, which buyers didn't like.
The engine makes the same 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque as before. It also features the same eTorque hybrid system, which was "one of the ways to speed the development," according to Ram brand CEO Tim Kuniskis. "Make it exactly the way it was. That way, we don't have to do recalibrations, recertifications, and all these other things."
The 5.7-liter V-8 will be available on the Tradesman, Big Horn, Express, Warlock, Laramie, Rebel (late availability), Limited, and Longhorn trims. However, how much you pay for the V-8 depends on the trim you pick. A new badge—a ram's head at the front of a Hemi block—will identify pickups with this engine. It's called the “Symbol of Protest Badge," and Ram puts it on the front fenders.
The Limited and Longhorn come standard with Ram's 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six high-output engine, so the V-8 upgrade is free. It's a $1,200 option on the other trims when they're equipped with the standard-output engine. The Hemi offers 1,750 pounds of payload capacity and an 11,470-lb maximum tow rating.
2026 Ram 1500 5.7-Liter V-8 Hemi Development Ram began working to figure out how to put a V-8 into the new truck the day Tim Kuniskis returned to the brand in December. However, the initial timeline suggested it would take Ram 18 months to get a Hemi back into the truck.
One hurdle was the new electrical architecture Ram introduced in the 2025 1500 for the Rev and Ramcharger. The Hemi was not designed for that platform, so Kuniskis created a special team, codenamed F15, that cut that down to just six months.
Leading the group was former SRT chief engineer Daryl Smith.
"That means nothing, or that means everything," Kuniskis said. "You guys look into that however you want. But Daryl was able to turn that 18 months into six months, and, again, the fact that he was the lead guy on SRT maybe means something, I don't know."
Ram 1500's Future Back in April, Kuniskis announced that Ram was planning 25 product announcements in the next 18 months, and the return of the Hemi is just the start. A mid-size truck is on the way, but those hoping for the TRX's return will have to wait for official confirmation from the brand.
When Ram launched the 2025 1500 RHO last year, it was adamant that truck wasn't a replacement for the TRX. The company said that "when and if" it talks about "those three letters," it would "have a proper positioning" for them.
While the TRX name is sitting on a shelf for now, the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 will continue to live in the 2026 Durango Hellcat. We hope Smith and the team can work their magic to get the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 Hellcat engine back into the 1500. Hopefully, that's what they're working on right now.
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Toyota needs to get a clue. Make Tundra Great Again.
A Maserati would be cheaper.
Hope more auto companies do this. Dropping two cylinders and replacing with a turbo is not as durable.
5.7 Liters is 348 ci..............
6-cyl Hemi was their New Coke
Oh, he’s right, but nobody buys a Ram for a friggin’ V8.
It’s the Cummins they all want. A baby Kenworth. Only missin’ a Spicer Air 4x4.
You bet you screwed up. The Hemi 5.7 is arguably the worst engine ever built.
There are many many reasons for the tick in the 5 tick 7 V8.
Hey, What’s another $1200 when your already financing $75k+? 🤷
Dittoes. Toyota had to recall and replace 100,000 Tundra V8 engines.
Even the Hemi 5.7 wasn’t that bad.
smart move, The V-8 is a good engine
Quick, what’s a 3.0 liter math out to? 108?
180
True and a .38 special is still .357.
AND Tacoma.....the reputation that truck once had for quality and dependability was second to none.
Only reason I sold my 2009 is I wanted a 4x4.
You couldn’t give me one if those turbo charged 4 bangers.
I love my Hemi Ram... Mines a 2009 though.
I wouldn’t mind that RamCharger I saw them working on. Not sure about the battery... but a V6 running a 130kW genset with 647 HP and a 690 mile range?
Not real keen on the battery... but everything else is kinda neat.
I wonder if this V8 is rebuildable down the line?
You mean the Assembly Line?...............😆
The Euroweenie Carlos Tavares almost succeeded in the destruction of an iconic American brand. Globalists are saddened.
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