Ram Isn’t Saying NO To A 5.7-liter HEMI® RHO

Could a V8-powered Ram 1500 RHO still happen? Maybe.

Even though the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter HURRICANE I6 High-Output (H/O) makes way more power and torque, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis recently admitted that the idea of a 5.7-liter HEMI®-powered RHO isn’t totally off the table.

“I don’t know,” Kuniskis said to the media at a recent press event for the Ram brand at the company’s Auburn Hills, Michigan headquarters. “We’ve debated that a lot internally.”

And it makes sense why. Right now, the RHO uses a H/O version of the HURRICANE that pumps out 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. It’s a serious engine with forged internals and 26 pounds of boost. It’s no slouch, but let’s be real—some buyers just want that V8 rumble.

“I drive an RHO now, and it is a fantastic package,” Kuniskis continued. “If you put a 5.7-liter in it, compared to what it is today, is that going to meet customer expectations? That’s what we’re thinking about right now.”

It’s a fair question. The aging 5.7-liter (345 cubic-inch) Gen3 HEMI® V8 makes 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. That’s solid, but not earth-shattering in today’s high-horsepower truck world. Still, not every off-road enthusiast wants forced induction. Some just want the sound, the simplicity, and the familiarity of a good ol’ American V8.

If Ram decides to build it, a 5.7 HEMI-powered RHO wouldn’t try to be the next TRX. Instead, it would be more of a budget-friendly alternative that could still be fun.

And that might be just what some truck fans are looking for. A more affordable, less complex dune-runner with a throaty V8 bark and proven hardware like the Bilstein™ suspension and 35-inch tires already on the RHO.

“Not saying we won’t do it,” Kuniskis said. “But that’s what we’re thinking about right now.”

So for now, Ram isn’t saying yes—but they’re definitely not saying no.