The HEMI V8 Is Back: 2026 Ram 1500 Brings Power and Choice

[Phoon]

No. What's crazy is Ram having the 392 on the shelf and sticking it literally anything with wheels, EXCEPT for the ram 1500.



Yeah, no.

It's literally a thing...I have been looking for a durango 392 and many of them have rebuilt motors already. Hardly ever hear of a ram with a rebuilt 5.7.

 

[silver billet]

It's literally a thing...I have been looking for a durango 392 and many of them have rebuilt motors already. Hardly ever hear of a ram with a rebuilt 5.7.

It's not a thing, sorry.

 

[Phoon]

It's not a thing, sorry.

It's a cool motor but MDS is junk, it ruins gm v8s as well. You denying it doesn't change anything. You can go on pretending it doesn't exist if that helps you feel better. The issue can be mitigated by using a tune to disable the mds or swapping the cam and lifters. The hurricane will probably have issues down the road as well and will likely have a delusional fan base that won't listen to reason as well. Lol.

 

[silver billet]

It's a cool motor but MDS is junk,

I'm not a fan of it, I disabled mine.

it ruins gm v8s as well.

Completely different issues. They both have displacement on demand systems, but you may as well claim that the reason they're failing is because they're both v8's. Correlation != causation.

You denying it doesn't change anything. You can go on pretending it doesn't exist if that helps you feel better. The issue can be mitigated by using a tune to disable the mds or swapping the cam and lifters.

Disabling MDS does nothing to mitigate this. Engines that come without MDS from the factory (like the 6.4 stick shift challenger) also experience the same kind of cam/lifter failures.

The hurricane will probably have issues down the road as well

Quite likely.

 

[Phoon]

I'm not a fan of it, I disabled mine.


Completely different issues. They both have displacement on demand systems, but you may as well claim that the reason they're failing is because they're both v8's. Correlation != causation.


Disabling MDS does nothing to mitigate this. Engines that come without MDS from the factory (like the 6.4 stick shift challenger) also experience the same kind of cam/lifter failures.


Quite likely.

Bro always wants to get the last word. Cylinder deactivation is the worst thing to happen to V8s regardless of brand. Pretty annoying to drive around as well.

 

[LOWRMPG]

My favorite part:

“Ram will continue to offer the more powerful and more efficient Hurricane Straight Six Turbo, but we heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic HEMI V8,” said Kuniskis. “At the end of each month, we count sales to customers—not statisticians or ideologues. Data be damned—we raise our flag and let the HEMI ring free again!”

Openly admitting you're offering a weaker powertrain. That is really interesting. Putting an old design together with an old eTorque system. Why not actually invest in a better V8? Ford has to be laughing at this. Bringing back a motor, adding cost to the overall platform, which isn't being put in the performance truck (RHO) because it is less powerful than the I6.

 

[silver billet]

Bro always wants to get the last word. Cylinder deactivation is the worst thing to happen to V8s regardless of brand. Pretty annoying to drive around as well.

Agreed. As I said I disabled mine, but it has nothing to do with cam failures.

 

[silver billet]

My favorite part:

“Ram will continue to offer the more powerful and more efficient Hurricane Straight Six Turbo, but we heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic HEMI V8,” said Kuniskis. “At the end of each month, we count sales to customers—not statisticians or ideologues. Data be damned—we raise our flag and let the HEMI ring free again!”

Openly admitting you're offering a weaker powertrain. That is really interesting. Putting an old design together with an old eTorque system. Why not actually invest in a better V8? Ford has to be laughing at this. Bringing back a motor, adding cost to the overall platform, which isn't being put in the performance truck (RHO) because it is less powerful than the I6.

The mob has spoken, and we want v8s.

It's quite likely that they already have a next gen v8 in the pipeline, this was already the case before they killed the hemi. But they have to do something to prop up sales, the hemi is there, on the shelf, and still competitive 20 years after it was introduced. It beats GM's 2.7 turbo, 5.3 v8, and hangs with the Fords 2.7, 5.0 and Tundra's basic offering.

The 5.7 doesn't have to be the most powerful to be a great choice.

Why would Ford be laughing? Ram just came to their senses and will begin to see increased sales. Ram now has higher power turbo offerings than Ford, and a solid v8 back in the lineup to compete with the 5.0. We all know a TRX is coming back, it doesn't have to be "today", and yes it will be a v8 of some sort.

 

[wegasque]

But one from the factory installed would be SOOOO much easier.

I think the biggest complaint is most are disappointed that the 5.7 still has wTorque. We were hoping this time around it was eliminated. My biggest regret is not ordering a non-eTorque in 2022. Not sure I want another one so may order a 2500 next time with a 6.4 if not available in a 1500.

eTorque is nothing but a gimmick. My last two 4th Gens with same gearing and no eTorque got much better overall gas mileage even before I put larger tires on my current truck. It’s only going to result in huge repair bills out of warranty down the road when components fail and be sure they will. An alternator sure would be a way cheaper alternative.

I'm with you Dewey. If they offered it without Etorque, I'd think about trading in my 2022. No need to since it;s what I already have. I did tell my wife, that if they offered a non-ET V8, I'd think about trading, but if they offered the 6.4, it would be hard not to trade in for it. I just prefer a standard NA engine with no hybrid system.

 

[jimothy]

Now that Ram has officially announced the return of the 5.7L Hemi, what is left to announce tomorrow, June 8? Or was the Hemi the news, and they announced it earlier because it had already leaked?

Here’s my wild a** speculation, almost certainly wrong: a 6.8L Hemi, to replace the 6.4L BGE, but only for the heavy duties.

Here’s my prediction, 100% guaranteed to be true: whatever Ram announces tomorrow, even if nothing at all, we’ll read the complaints right here less than a minute after the announcement.

 

[Dewey]

Here’s my prediction, 100% guaranteed to be true: whatever Ram announces tomorrow, even if nothing at all, we’ll read the complaints right here less than a minute after the announcement.

Then right after that you’ll make another post complaining about people complaining.

 

[azzx]

I am just curious about the "protest" badging for the return of Hemi. Whom are they protesting against? It was the previous "idiot" Stellantis management who decided to kill the 5.7!!!
I did love my 5.7 for the 5 years I owned my 2019. alot of nostalgia on my part.
My next RAM would the Ramcharger -- when ever they release it.
I am happy with the 3 SO -- would I ever buy a Hemi version? probably

 

[jimothy]

Then right after that you’ll make another post complaining about people complaining.

I won’t complain, but I might say “I told ya so!”

 

[SD Rebel]

I think I'll either be the 6.4L availability in the regular 1500s or the return of the HC TRX.

 

[HSKR R/T]

I am just curious about the "protest" badging for the return of Hemi. Whom are they protesting against? It was the previous "idiot" Stellantis management who decided to kill the 5.7!!!
I did love my 5.7 for the 5 years I owned my 2019. alot of nostalgia on my part.
My next RAM would the Ramcharger -- when ever they release it.
I am happy with the 3 SO -- would I ever buy a Hemi version? probably

I doubt RAM is actually calling it the protest badge. Only those who hate the Hurricane for no good reason.

 

[silver billet]

I think I'll either be the 6.4L availability in the regular 1500s or the return of the HC TRX.

Your prediction is more reasonable, but why not shoot for something great.... like a completely new higher power v8 for 2026? One can dream.

 

[SD Rebel]

Your prediction is more reasonable, but why not shoot for something great.... like a completely new higher power v8 for 2026? One can dream.

I would love that, but I think they weren't originally planning on continuing a V8 in a light duty platform, so it's going to take some time until we get something better.

I hope they're doing what GM is doing and creating a new V8 for the next gen, but in the meantime they could at least get the old Hemi to finish off the DT generation. I'm hoping whatever the 6th gen Ram will have a modern V8.

 

[HSKR R/T]

I would love that, but I think they weren't originally planning on continuing a V8 in a light duty platform, so it's going to take some time until we get something better.

I hope they're doing what GM is doing and creating a new V8 for the next gen, but in the meantime they could at least get the old Hemi to finish off the DT generation. I'm hoping whatever the 6th gen Ram will have a modern V8.

They have had a "new" Hemi in works for several years. There was even leakedni info about a 1000+ HP hydrogen fuel cell in works for the SRT Charger/Challenger.

 

[SD Rebel]

They have had a "new" Hemi in works for several years. There was even leakedni info about a 1000+ HP hydrogen fuel cell in works for the SRT Charger/Challenger.

I've heard about that, but not much detail, we can only hope.