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When did the HEMI return to the Ram 1500?
Ram announced the V-8’s return on June 5, 2025, saying orders were open and that the first trucks were expected at dealers that summer. The engine was offered on select 2026 Ram 1500 trims. In the 2025 model year, Ram says the lineup had shifted to six-cylinder engines.
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The change followed the November 2023 unveiling of the 2025 Ram 1500 with the 3.0-liter Hurricane Standard Output and High Output engines alongside the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6. Stellantis framed the Hurricane launch as part of its longer-term Dare Forward 2030 strategy. That context does not establish that regulation or electrification alone caused the HEMI’s removal from the 2025 lineup.
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Why did Ram bring it back?
Ram’s stated reason was customer sentiment. Tim Kuniskis, then Ram brand CEO, said the company had heard clearly from consumers that they wanted the HEMI. He described dropping it as a mistake and said the brand was correcting that decision. Those remarks explain Ram’s public rationale; the announcement does not quantify customer demand or disclose the internal decision process.
“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,” Kuniskis said in the June 5, 2025 announcement.
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Nifeliz V8 Engine Building Set, Engines Series, NF10287
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Ram characterized the return as an expansion of choice, not a reversal of the Hurricane program. Kuniskis said the brand would continue to offer the Hurricane six, describing it as more powerful and more efficient, while also restoring the V-8 for customers who wanted it.
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How do the HEMI and Hurricane compare?
Ram’s current 2026 4×2 engine specifications show the standard-output Hurricane ahead of the HEMI in published horsepower and torque. Towing and payload figures are configuration-dependent, so the figures below should be read as Ram’s published 4×2 specifications—not as an independent, like-for-like test.
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| Engine (Ram 2026 4×2 specifications) | Horsepower | Torque | Maximum towing | Maximum payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7L HEMI V-8 with eTorque | 395 hp | 410 lb-ft | 11,320 lb | 1,650 lb |
| 3.0L Hurricane, standard output | 420 hp | 469 lb-ft | 11,610 lb | 1,930 lb |
These values come from Ram’s 2026 Ram 1500 4×2 engine page. The HEMI return announcement separately quoted up to 11,470 pounds of towing and 1,750 pounds of payload for the HEMI option. Those are separate published figures and should not be combined with the 4×2 table as though they describe the same configuration.
The full lineup also includes a high-output Hurricane. Ram’s 2026 model page lists family-wide maximums of 540 horsepower, 521 lb-ft of torque, 11,610 pounds of towing and 2,360 pounds of payload. These are lineup maxima, not HEMI-specific ratings; the exact capability of a truck depends on its configuration. See Ram’s 2026 Ram 1500 model page.
Rank #4
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What does eTorque do on the HEMI?
Ram pairs the returning HEMI with eTorque, a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. Ram says it replaces a conventional engine-mounted alternator with a belt-driven motor-generator and a 48-volt battery. The system supports stop-start operation, can provide added torque in some driving situations and recovers energy during braking. Ram also says the HEMI retains a traditional starter motor for cold-weather starts.
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Ram’s June 2025 announcement named Tradesman, Big Horn, Express, Warlock, Laramie, Rebel, Limited and Longhorn as trims planned to offer the engine. Rebel was listed for late availability. Ram described the HEMI as a no-charge upgrade for Limited and Longhorn; the announcement did not specify one universal option price across all trims. Check Ram’s configurator or a dealer for current local availability and pricing.
Quick Recap
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