When Ram announced the Hemi V8 would be axed from its pickup lineup shockwaves were sent throughout its customer base. The Hemi might have been an aging powerplant based on DaimlerChrysler era underpinnings, but it was very popular with buyers. Ram hoped that customers would gravitate towards the new 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six and respond positively to the new engine.
Instead, buyers had a simple response to Ram’s efforts, they left, with the ensuing exodus in sales causing Ram’s profits to crater last year. With the brand now reeling and trying to chart a new course, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis confirmed the Hemi V8 is coming back to the Ram 1500 in an attempt to bring customers back into the brand.
Ram admits axing Hemi V8 was a mistake
“Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle it defines you,” said Kuniskis. “Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi—we own it and we fixed it.” They certainly put plenty of effort into fixing it with the Hemi returning largely unchanged from the time that it was axed a few years ago. It’s still a 5.7-liter engine and due to the Hemi’s older hardware it makes less power than the Hurricane with Ram saying it produces 345 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. It also comes with the same eTorque mild-hybrid system which was actually done on purpose to speed development “Make it exactly the way it was. That way, we don’t have to do recalibrations, recertifications, and all these other things.”
This newfound speed cut the development time from over 18 months to less than six months with the former SRT team lending their experience to the project. The Hemi will be available on the Tradesman, Big Horn, Express, Warlock, Laramie, Limited, and Longhorn trims with the range-topping Tungsten being the lone holdout. The price to add it will depend on trim level with the cost going up to $1,200 in some cases.
What’s next?
Order books for the Ram 1500 Hemi are now open with equipped pickups expected to begin making their way to showrooms in the middle part of the year. These trucks will also be easy to spot with Ram debuting a new fender-mounted badge called “The Symbol of Protest.” In addition to the return of the Hemi, the brand is also promising 25 other product announcements including a new mid-size pickup though the brand stopped short of offering information on the REV 1500 which was recently delayed again by the brand.
Rumors also point to the potential return of the TRX with the inline-powered RHO proving to be an equally slow-seller for the brand. The V8 was a prominent part of the model’s identity and it’s possible that Ram would want to bring that bold spirit back under the hood though potential buyers will have to wait until Ram officially confirms it to make their move.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.