It's news that certainly has Car Pro Show host Jerry Reynolds excited - and we're excited right along with him! Thanks to customer demand, Ram is bringing back the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, beginning with the 2026 Ram 1500. Order books are already open and the first trucks with the V-8 powertrain arrive at dealerships this summer.
"Some car companies listen to the customers, and they listen to their retailers. This action is a result of both, and I am proud of Stellantis for bringing back the popular Hemi in the Ram trucks. You could see the handwriting on the wall when Tim Kuniskis came back to the company. Tim has been a guest on the Car Pro Show and he’s a really good guy and smart car executive," said Car Pro Show host jerry Reynolds.
The Hemi's return comes five months after Kuniskis' return to the Ram brand last December.
"Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle them defines you. Ram screwed up when we dropped the HEMI — we own it and we fixed it,” said Tim Kuniskis, CEO, Ram brand. “We’re not just bringing back a legendary V-8 engine, we’re igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers.”
Photo: Stellantis.
The move to bring back the HEMI comes after the lineup shifted to six-cylinder engines for the 2025 model year. Kuniskis says Ram will also continue to offer its Hurricane Straight Six Turbo engine.
“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 V-8. At the end of each month, we count sales to customers, not to statisticians or ideologues. Data be damned — we raise our flag and let the HEMI ring free again!” added Kuniskis.
Photo: Stellantis.
Each HEMI-powered 2026 Ram 1500 includes a new fender-mounted Symbol of Protest badge created by the Ram design team. The badge outlines the Ram’s head pushing forward, powered by a HEMI V-8 block.
5.7-Liter Hemi V8 eTorque Engine
The 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, rated at 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, features exclusive eTorque hybrid technology. The system replaces the traditional engine-mounted alternator with a belt-driven motor generator unit. The motor generator unit works with a 48-volt battery pack to provide quick and seamless engine start/stop, torque addition to the engine crankshaft in certain driving situations and brake energy regeneration, which improves responsiveness and efficiency. The system enables up to 130 lb.-ft. of torque to be available on initial throttle tip-in.
Photo: Stellantis.
The eTorque engine's performance-enhancing features include variable-valve timing, Fuel Saver Technology (cylinder deactivation) and an 850-watt electric cooling fan using Pulse Width Modulation to tailor the fan’s energy draw to the cooling demand.
Its 430-watt-hour lithium-ion battery is housed in a noise-insulated enclosure behind the rear seat. Air-cooled and internally vented, Ram says the system uses dual cooling fans to maintain optimal battery temperatures while remaining acoustically transparent to passengers.
A 3-kilowatt DC-to-DC converter steps down the 48 volts to charge the truck’s conventional 12-volt battery and power accessories. The 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 retains a traditional starter motor for cold-weather starts.
Ram says the eTorque’s benefits extend beyond start/stop. The automaker says it enhances shifts, improves fuel-saving cylinder deactivation and smooths transitions under acceleration and braking, helping reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).
The system offers a towing capacity of up to 11,470 pounds and maximum payload capacity of 1,750 pounds.
Trims and Availability
Ram says the HEMI V-8 is value-packaged with a performance-tuned exhaust system and 33-gallon fuel tank. It's available in 2026 model-year Ram 1500 Tradesman, Big Horn, Express, Warlock, Laramie, Rebel (late availability), Limited and Longhorn. The HEMI is a no-charge upgrade for Limited and Longhorn models.
Photo: Stellantis