2026 Ram 1500 Gets Its Hemi Back, Keeps Its Six-Cylinder Siblings

Car and Driver

2 days ago

The 2026 Ram 1500 will once again be available with a 395-hp Hemi V-8.
Ram says it resurrected the V-8 due to customer demand, and it will coexist with the base Pentastar V-6 and mightier Hurricane twin-turbo straight-six.
The Hemi is a $1200 option on most models; orders are now open, and the half-ton trucks will reach Ram dealers sometime this summer.
Ram was left with a lot of unhappy customers after it retired the popular Hemi V-8. It probably didn't help that full-size trucks from Ford and GM still offered engines with eight cylinders. However, Ram says customer demand has made it see the error of its ways, so it's bringing the Hemi out of retirement.
The 5.7-liter V-8 returns the same way it left, featuring a 48-volt "eTorque" hybrid system along with 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. The Hemi slots between the Pentastar 305-hp 3.6-liter V-6 and the Hurricane twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six, which makes 420 or 550 horses in standard- or high-output configurations, respectively.
Ram
Besides the unmistakable growl of a V-8, how will anyone know a Hemi lives under the hood? Just look for the "Symbol of Protest Badge" (pictured above) on the trucks' front fenders. The badge itself has a cool design that features a ram head on the front of an eight-cylinder engine block, but the name is strange and seems contradictory, considering Ram at some point will launch the plug-in hybrid Ramcharger and electric REV. But, hey, the "Protest" badge will certainly be a conversation starter.
Ram says the new Hemi-powered pickups are now available to order, and they'll reach dealerships sometime this summer. The V-8 will be a $1200 option on the Tradesman, Express, Warlock, Big Horn/Lone Star, and Laramie; it'll be a no-cost option on the Limited and Longhorn. The V-8 will eventually be available on the off-road-ready Rebel too, but not until later on, and we don't know pricing.
Ram
Of course, the question some of you are probably asking is whether the V-8's revival will extend to the Ram TRX. So far, nothing has been confirmed. But today's news—combined with a report from earlier this year—makes it seem like an announcement is imminent. Plus, Ram's recent teaser suggests it has more "big things" to announce on June 8. Stay tuned.
Eric Stafford
Managing Editor, News
Eric Stafford's automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si. Read full bio