Ram CEO Claims That 1500 Customers Prefer the HEMI V8 Over the Hurricane I6

[RedDevil00]

This really says it all right here "While not as capable as the 3.0-liter Hurricane I6, the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 is a commercial hit for the half-ton Ram truck." Your buyers are dumb - if they are buying a 'lesser' product intentionally. What does that say about RAM buyers? Coming from F series all my life, if I were still in a Ford and heard this, I'd say RAM buyers sound pretty silly. Given the economic state of Stellantis, I'm not sure creating inferior products, or increasing engine options which increases cost, is a smart move.

Well, the reliability of the Ford & GM trucks speak for themselves. Valvetrain issues, cam phaser failures & 10 speed transmissions that slip & slide like the Powerglide transmissions of yesteryear. All they make is junk and refuse to stand behind their vehicle, so if you have one of those issues it better be the warranty period. If not, I can tell you that the Ford 5.0 cam phaser issue is about $4,000 to repair if not covered by warranty. I was fortunate that mine was repaired at 32k. Oh, they have to lift the body off the frame to get to the front of the engine to open that case. I dumped the Ford, because the same clunking noise started at cold start up (cam phasers) so it's now a problem for someone else. I've had numerous pickup trucks and everyone had a V8. I can tell you that the eco-boost of Ford is another bunch of problems. I can't speak to the smaller Ram engines, but my new 5.7 hemi is a runner. Is it fast as the Hurricane...I don't really care because it's a pickup truck. If I need speed I roll the Corvette out of the garage. Oh, and Kuniskis dropped a 10yr/100K warranty on the 2026's. You don't get that from Ford or GM -- and you never will because they know they are selling you junk.

 

[RedDevil00]

I’m curious to know where you’re hearing this information?

the only thing it says is that some people want a V8 in their truck & those engines are tried and true. A V6 or 4cyl truck engine with turbos don't appeal to some truck owners - and it's a truck.

 

[HSKR R/T]

the only thing it says is that some people want a V8 in their truck & those engines are tried and true. A V6 or 4cyl truck engine with turbos don't appeal to some truck owners - and it's a truck.

Good thing the hurricane is an I-6, which is a tried and true designs. They used inline 6 cylinders for decades in trucks that hauled heavy loads. Torque and gearing get you moving, not HP. And the I6 does better at that than a V8 when looking at torque per cubic inch.

 

[BowDown]

Tim Kuniskis ruled out the 6.4 in a 1500 in January, where are some of you getting your info?

Ram CEO Rules Out 392 V8 Single-Cab Sport Truck: Exclusive​

"Do you know what the market is for a regular-cab sport truck," Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said.
Joel Feder
Published Jan 8, 2026 2:06 PM EST

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Whispers of a single-cab sport truck from Ram have been running rampant since the father of the Hellcats, Tim Kuniskis, came out of retirement and returned to the truck brand’s CEO seat. Cries for the truck maker to shove the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 into the 1500 light-duty truck are even louder. The Drive can now exclusively report neither of these things are going to happen.

During a one-on-one interview with The Drive Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said, “you’re not getting a single-cab sport truck 6.4.”

“I don’t know where that’s coming from,” Kuniskis said when asked if the automaker will put the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 into the 1500 or a regular cab sport truck is in the works.

“That’s like a YouTube thing. Everybody, give me the 6.4. By the way, I love this,” Kuniskis said.

The executive who grew up on the streets of Detroit watching his dad drag race equated the current situation to that of a station wagon and enthusiasts. “Used to be back in the day, all the journalists would say, you should build a station wagon with a manual transmission, and I’d be like, come on, man. For you. Yeah, for you and the six other friends of yours that want to buy it,” Kuniskis said.

Kuniskis continued, “The new thing now is, everybody, everywhere I go, when are you going to do a regular cab sport truck? Do you know what the market is for a regular cab sport truck? It’s just tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, little sliver. It’s like the wagon with the manual that everybody used to ask for. Now they’re asking for the manual single-cab truck. And, of course, they want it with a manual transmission. They want it with a 6.4.”

When asked if the 6.4-liter V8 will fit in the 1500 Kuniskis said, “Of course it fits in the truck. 5.7, fits in truck. So of course the 6.4 fits in the truck.”

The issue? According to Kuniskis, “where do you put it?” It’s a positioning issue, according to the CEO.

Kuniskis equated the choice between the standard-output turbo-six in the 1500 with 440 horsepower and the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 395 hp to the Pepsi Challenge. “Do you want old school technology? 
You want the instantaneous torque, no turbo lag, and the great sound? Or do you want the high-tech fuel economy efficiency? Amazing torque,” Kuniskis quipped.

The high-output turbo-six with 550 hp simply out guns the 6.4-liter Hemi and “you don’t have a Pepsi challenge,” Kuniskis said. “Now you got this kind of weird …. Did I just do it because I could? Or was there really a market for it, or was I reading comments on YouTube?” he continued.

“That’s a much tougher equation than the 5.7,” Kuniskis said.

“Tell me where you put the 6.4 that makes sense. And I don’t mean ego. 
I mean, just business sense. Tell me where to put the 6.4 in the current light duty lineup,” Kuniskis asked as if in front of a business class.

“Can you do it? Sure. 
But just ’cause you can, should you?” Kuniskis ended.

Ram CEO Rules Out 392 V8 Single-Cab Sport Truck: Exclusive

"Do you know what the market is for a regular-cab sport truck," Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said.

www.thedrive.com

In this video they say the Hurricane is outselling the HEMI

 

[grimreefer]

In this video they say the Hurricane is outselling the HEMI

A Mark Dodge employee interview video from last September vs. Tim Kuniski stating that "V8 sales are turning around two and a half times what the I6s are turning in the United States market" later in the year. Maybe just more Hurricane demand at MD, or globally?

If Ram plods along with an unimproved Hemi and no option to ditch e-torque, I think the I6 will be a better seller eventually (if not already).

 

[milqster]

A Mark Dodge employee interview video from last September vs. Tim Kuniski stating that "V8 sales are turning around two and a half times what the I6s are turning in the United States market" later in the year. Maybe just more Hurricane demand at MD, or globally?

If Ram plods along with an unimproved Hemi and no option to ditch e-torque, I think the I6 will be a better seller eventually (if not already).

My sales guy at Mark told me on Friday that they don't plan to bring in any more 3.0L any time soon as people are wanting the Hemi. He could just be trying to make any sale, but I don't get that vibe at all as he sought out dealer trades for me to find what I wanted (losing the best deal with a dealer trade of course).

 

[mikeru82]

Did you talk to them about ordering the truck you want with the Hurricane engine?

 

[milqster]

Did you talk to them about ordering the truck you want with the Hurricane engine?

No, he did a quick search for dealer trade, and the price was quite a bit higher, so I balked at that point.

 

[mikeru82]

No, he did a quick search for dealer trade, and the price was quite a bit higher, so I balked at that point.

I've done a few dealership trades over the years and received the same incentives as I would have if I'd bought one off my local dealership's lot. Why would the price be "quite a bit higher"?

The way my local dealership explained it to me when I asked about ordering, I would get the same manufacturer incentives if I ordered as I would get buying off the lot unless the dealership is offering incentives of their own on their current stock, above what Ram is offering. It costs you nothing to at least talk to them about placing an order for the truck you want.

 

[milqster]

I've done a few dealership trades over the years and received the same incentives as I would have if I'd bought one off my local dealership's lot. Why would the price be "quite a bit higher"?

The way my local dealership explained it to me when I asked about ordering, I would get the same manufacturer incentives if I ordered as I would get buying off the lot unless the dealership is offering incentives of their own on their current stock, above what Ram is offering. It costs you nothing to at least talk to them about placing an order for the truck you want.

Yes, rebates/factory incentives still exist but would lose the dealership discounts (on a dealer trade) was my understanding. I'm chatting with Anthony about ordering now.

 

[HSKR R/T]

My sales guy at Mark told me on Friday that they don't plan to bring in any more 3.0L any time soon as people are wanting the Hemi. He could just be trying to make any sale, but I don't get that vibe at all as he sought out dealer trades for me to find what I wanted (losing the best deal with a dealer trade of course).

Is it because people are wanting the Hemi, or they are trying to clear Hemi inventory?

 

[mikeru82]

Yes, rebates/factory incentives still exist but would lose the dealership discounts (on a dealer trade) was my understanding. I'm chatting with Anthony about ordering now.

How much of a dealership discount were they offering? That’s usually reserved for specific trucks they have on the lot, usually that they haven’t been able to sell quickly. So you would only get that discount on those specific trucks. If they offer a blanket discount on all Ram 1500’s I don’t see why they wouldn’t honor it on a dealer trade. In essence they are selling a truck from their lot in a dealership trade transaction.

 

[milqster]

How much of a dealership discount were they offering? That’s usually reserved for specific trucks they have on the lot, usually that they haven’t been able to sell quickly. So you would only get that discount on those specific trucks. If they offer a blanket discount on all Ram 1500’s I don’t see why they wouldn’t honor it on a dealer trade. In essence they are selling a truck from their lot in a dealership trade transaction.

The truck I missed was $15k off msrp.