Within the battle between custom and expertise, custom scores a win.
Within the battle between custom and expertise, custom simply scored a significant victory—at the very least conventional Ram 1500 patrons did. Right here’s the deal…
Ram up to date its common, and very-well regarded, 1500 pickup truck for the 2025 mannequin yr. Adjustments included freshened styling, up to date security tech, a brand new Tungsten prime trim degree, and, and that is massive, substitute of the long-serving Hemi-brand V8 with the brand new Stellantis Hurricane turbocharged six.
Hemi is Again!
The Hurricane engine needs to be a slam dunk “what’s to not love?” addition to the Ram 1500 powertrain portfolio, given its higher energy and improved gasoline financial system. However that, sadly, hasn’t confirmed to be the case.
Ram 1500 Gross sales
Ram 1500 gross sales have been down considerably within the first quarter of 2025 (about 79,000 gross sales versus 89,000 in Q1 in 2024) regardless of the freshening. Per social-media grumbling, and apparently Ram’s personal analysis, Ram buyers would like an old-school V8 to a direct-injection, turbocharged six, even when the six serves up superior efficiency. These buyers made their choice clear by not shopping for Rams, so it appears.
Although the long-term planning of us at Ram would possible favor to depart the Hemi V8 prior to now, Stellantis has a fiduciary obligation to shareholders to return a revenue—and it seems the important thing to earning money on the Ram pickup is to equip it—once more—with a Hemi engine. So, that’s what Ram has achieved.
For 2026 the Ram 1500 will once more be out there with the favored 5.7-liter V8, although availability is considerably restricted. And, for people on group tech, the Hurricane engines aren’t going anyplace.
Availability
Right here’s the deal:
On lower-level trim ranges (Tradesman, Specific, Warlock, Large Horn, and Lone Star) on which the three.6-liter Pentastar V6 with “eTorque” mild-hybrid help is normal, the Hemi V8 shall be a $2695 possibility. This is identical worth because the standard-output (420-horsepower) Hurricane engine possibility for 2025. Additionally, the price of the Hemi engine for the Specific, which is new for 2026, could also be decrease.
On common trim ranges (Laramie, Restricted, Insurgent, and Longhorn) on which the standard-output Hurricane engine is normal, the Hemi V8 shall be a $1200 possibility. Lastly, on fashions that come normal with the high-output Hurricane engine (540 horsepower) (Restricted and Longhorn), the Hemi shall be a no-cost possibility.
Additionally geared up with the high-output Hurricane motor, the off-road-ready RHO, and ultra-luxury Tungsten fashions is not going to be out there with the Hemi.
The 2026 Hemi V8 is rated at 395 horsepower and is provided with the model’s eTorque system. That’s down 25 horsepower from the usual Hurricane engine, and down a full 145 horsepower from the high-output model.
The Hemi engine arrives for the 2026 mannequin yr, which begins quickly for Ram. Manufacturing of the ’26 Rams, no matter engine, begins later this month.
Ram Traditional
Whereas we’re as regards to Ram 1500 gross sales, it needs to be famous that availability of the Ram Traditional, a reduced various to the usual Ram primarily based on the 2009-2018 era of the truck, was discontinued after 2024.
Because of plant allocation logistics, Ram isn’t any lengthy capable of construct each variations of the pickup. The Traditional, an important various for buyers with restricted budgets, usually ran $2000-3000 beneath the traditional truck, however was solely supplied in a restricted variety of configurations. It’s understood that the price of updating the Traditional to the brand new Hurricane drivetrain would have been prohibitive.
Ram has not shared gross sales numbers for the Traditional variants particularly, nonetheless some estimates put that determine as excessive as 35 % of whole Ram 1500 gross sales, relying on mannequin yr.
In contrast to the Hemi engine, the Traditional is not going to be returning to the 1500 lineup. Ram is rolling out the 1500 Specific for 2026, a brand new trim degree that options distinctive sporty trim, and worth pricing. You may learn extra in regards to the 2026 Ram 1500 Specific right here.
Take heed to the Automobile Stuff Podcast
Hemi Photos
Click on beneath for enlarged pictures
