Ram's new boss leaves door open for Hemi V8's return

The Ram 1500 just received an update in the US that saw it trade its Hemi V8 for a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine with more power and torque, but some pickup truck fans still want the rumble of a bent eight.

Ram’s newly appointed CEO, Tim Kuniskis – who previously served as the brand’s CEO from 2023, before retiring in May – told Motor1 he’s “not ruling it out” when asked whether the 1500 could once again pack the Hemi V8.

The updated DT-series 2025 Ram 1500 hasn’t changed dimensionally, so the Hemi V8 can still fit under the bonnet. However, it has adopted new electrical systems that make this a much harder task.

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“Number one, the Hemi was never designed to run in that truck on that electrical architecture, so that’s a huge challenge,” Mr Kuniskis told Motor1.

“They shut down production on that particular Hemi, the eTorque. There’s supplier work because when you shut something down, suppliers shut down their assembly lines, and they switch to something else.”

“Even if you said let’s do it, we can’t do it right away.”

But while refitting the Hemi could be a tall order, Mr Kuniskis provided a glimmer of hope to V8 fans.

“I didn’t say you can’t do it… you can’t do it right away,” he told Motor1.

Per the Ram boss, the Hemi powered 85 per cent of 1500s. As with the updated model, the pre-update 1500 range opens in the US with the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6.

Almost all 1500s imported here by Ram Trucks Australia and remanufactured in right-hand drive were powered by the 5.7-litre Hemi V8, though the company also briefly offered it with a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and, more recently, a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 in the hot TRX.

Ram Trucks Australia confirmed in December it had remanufactured its last V8-powered 1500 ahead of the launch of the updated model by mid-2025.

While the 1500 is no longer built with a Hemi V8 – though there remains stock at Australian dealers – the company continues to offer a 6.4-litre V8 in its heavy-duty 2500 and 3500.

However, these vehicles are sold only with a turbo-diesel six-cylinder engine in Australia.

The standard-output version of the updated 1500’s new Hurricane 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine, referred to as the SST SO, produces 313kW and 636Nm.

The high-output (SST HO) version develops 403kW and 706Nm.

For context, the Hemi V8 produces 291kW and 556Nm, while the defunct TRX’s blown V8 pumped out 523kW and 882Nm.

The American pickup truck segment has been evolving, with a raft of new electric models including the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV, as well as hybrid versions of the Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra.

Ram is also introducing a range-extender version of its 1500 called the Ramcharger, plus an electric version called the REV.

Ford still offers a 5.0-litre V8 in the F-150 in North America, but opted to only bring one of its EcoBoost twin-turbo V6s – a 3.5-litre – here. It has previously said the majority of F-150s it sells in the US feature an EcoBoost engine.

Toyota dropped its 5.7-litre V8 when it launched the latest Tundra in 2021, replacing it with a pair of twin-turbo V6s, one with a hybrid system. Only the hybrid is offered in Australia.

In contrast, while GM offers its Chevrolet Silverado with a 2.7-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder in North America, here it’s offered exclusively with a 6.2-litre V8. GM has also committed to continuing to offer a V8.

Ram’s parent company Stellantis, in contrast, has been busily progressively phasing out V8 engines across its lineup.

Production of the last V8-powered Maseratis ended in 2024, for example, while the latest Dodge Charger is offered only with electric or Hurricane six power. Jeep models such as the Grand Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer have also recently lost the option of the Hemi V8.

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