Shark attack! GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV manages feat BYD Shark 6 couldn't
GWM Australia has posted footage of its GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV climbing a muddy 'Beer O'clock Hill' – the same hardcore hillclimb on which a BYD Shark 6 was seriously damaged in a similar attempt last month.
In a thinly veiled shot at fellow Chinese automaker BYD, GWM is now spruiking the Cannon Alpha PHEV as the first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to scale the infamous, vehicle-destroying off-road ascent.
The plug-in Cannon Alpha ute not only beat the Shark 6 to the summit, but also the Ford Ranger PHEV, which is due in showrooms in within weeks and, as far as we know, is yet to tackle Beer O'clock Hill.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Located in The Springs 4×4 Adventure Park two hours southwest of Brisbane, Queensland, the cheekily named Beer O'clock Hill is a rutted 100-metre hillclimb with a gravity-defying gradient of up to 50-degrees.
It was the site of recent heartbreaking damage to a BYD Shark 6 that failed to make it to the rock-ledge summit.
Owner Chris Baker, who runs the All Terrain Action website, seriously damaged his weeks-old Shark 6 during his attempt to climb the steep and muddy hill, bending the chassis and disabling the vehicle. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
The Shark 6 could only be driven in electric mode after the mishap.
It's worth noting that the damage was not the result of a product failure on BYD's part.
Yet the result led to members of the BYD Shark 6 owners group kicking off a GoFundMe campaign to get Mr Baker's ute back in shape – or replaced. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
The GoFundMe page for Mr Baker has so far raised $1045.
Now, GWM has posted footage of its Shark 6 rival climbing the same slippery hill, complete with mud and ruts following more recent rain, with comparative ease.
The Cannon Alpha PHEV was fitted with a set of non-standard Mickey Thompson all-terrain tyres but was, according to GWM, otherwise as it rolled off the showroom floor.
'I reckon Beer O'clock Hill has caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in vehicle damage over the years,' said The Springs Park 4×4 Adventure Park owner Lucas Bree in a statement.
'[It's] Shut down some of the most heavily modified rigs I've seen, so watching showroom-spec GWM vehicles, including a plug-in hybrid, make it to the top has completely changed my view of the brand. They've earned serious respect.'
For good measure, GWM also showed a Cannon XSR and a GWM Tank 300 large SUV confidently conquering the slippery slope – also fitted with Cooper A/T tyres – again in what appears to be relative ease.
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The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Ram 1500 revives Hemi V8 as brand fixes "mistake", Australian return unconfirmed
The Ram 1500's new Hurricane twin-turbo inline six may produce more power and torque than the Hemi V8 it replaced, but it doesn't have the same sound. Fret not, though – that distinctive burble is coming back. After dropping it for model year 2025 (MY25), Ram will return the 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 to the 1500 lineup for MY26, with vehicles arriving in US dealerships in the northern summer (June to August). Brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, who returned to the top spot late last year, was candid about the Hemi's return. "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," he said. "We're not just bringing back a legendary V8 engine, we're igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But there's no guarantee it'll return to the Australian-market 1500 lineup. "The return of the Hemi V8 is a decision that has been made for the US market. As it stands today, there is no guarantee the Hemi V8 will return to Australian showrooms," said a Ram Trucks Australia spokesperson. "As with any development, we will continue to review and evaluate what options are made available to us from the vast Ram catalogue in the US. "We know there are customers who love the sound of a V8, and the Hemi V8 is still available in our Ram 1500 Big Horn model while stock lasts. "However, customers have also embraced the new Hurricane twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder engine in our latest Ram 1500 models. "The Hurricane engine remains an integral part of Ram's future. With more power and torque – and better efficiency – than the previous 5.7-litre Hemi V8, we believe the new Hurricane engine series will over time become iconic in its own right." Ram Trucks Australia has previously indicated it takes 12-18 months to complete a local engineering program for a new model variant that will be remanufactured locally in right-hand drive. That would make a Hemi V8-equipped 1500 a late 2026 or early 2027 proposition, should it be approved for our market. The 2025 facelift comprised more than just aesthetic tweaks, with other changes including upgraded infotainment, so this isn't as simple as just figuratively flicking a switch. Indeed, Mr Kuniskis had confirmed earlier this year the Hemi was never designed to be offered with the updated 1500's electrical architecture. In the US, the Hemi will be offered across every trim level bar the sporty RHO and luxurious Tungsten, which will be offered exclusively with the High Output version of the Hurricane six. For the Limited and Longhorn, which also come standard with the high-output six, the Hemi will be a no-cost option. Ram has stood behind the new Hurricane engine in the US, which is also used by Jeep and is being rolled out to the Dodge brand this year. "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 V8," said Mr Kuniskis. The return of the Hemi also sees the introduction of a new badge featuring a Ram's head pushing forward, powered by a Hemi V8 engine block. Ram is calling the badge the 'Symbol of Protest'. The Hemi V8 continues to feature cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption, as well as the eTorque 48V mild-hybrid system which includes idle stop/start and smooths transitions under acceleration and braking. It also enables up to 176Nm of torque to be available on initial throttle tip-in. In total, the Hemi V8 produces 295kW of power and 556Nm of torque. The Hurricane has hardly been downgraded to a tropical storm. Even in Standard Output tune it pumps out 313kW and 635Nm, while the High Output tune well and truly blows the Hemi over with 403kW and 707Nm. This makes all Hurricane-powered Ram 1500s much quicker than the V8 vehicles they replaced, while also consuming less petrol. Currently, all facelifted 2025 Ram 1500s in Australia use these two tunes of the Hurricane; we've never gotten the base naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 offered in low-end versions of the 1500 in North America. While the 5.7-litre has returned, there's no word yet on the return of the supercharged 6.2-litre that powered the defunct TRX. With the move to an all six-cylinder lineup here for the MY25 1500, Ram Trucks Australia ceded V8 power to rival Chevrolet. The Toyota Tundra moved to a six-cylinder lineup globally with its current generation, while Ford doesn't bring V8-powered versions of the F-150 Down Under. MORE: Everything Ram 1500 Content originally sourced from: The Ram 1500's new Hurricane twin-turbo inline six may produce more power and torque than the Hemi V8 it replaced, but it doesn't have the same sound. Fret not, though – that distinctive burble is coming back. After dropping it for model year 2025 (MY25), Ram will return the 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 to the 1500 lineup for MY26, with vehicles arriving in US dealerships in the northern summer (June to August). Brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, who returned to the top spot late last year, was candid about the Hemi's return. "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," he said. "We're not just bringing back a legendary V8 engine, we're igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But there's no guarantee it'll return to the Australian-market 1500 lineup. "The return of the Hemi V8 is a decision that has been made for the US market. As it stands today, there is no guarantee the Hemi V8 will return to Australian showrooms," said a Ram Trucks Australia spokesperson. "As with any development, we will continue to review and evaluate what options are made available to us from the vast Ram catalogue in the US. "We know there are customers who love the sound of a V8, and the Hemi V8 is still available in our Ram 1500 Big Horn model while stock lasts. "However, customers have also embraced the new Hurricane twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder engine in our latest Ram 1500 models. "The Hurricane engine remains an integral part of Ram's future. With more power and torque – and better efficiency – than the previous 5.7-litre Hemi V8, we believe the new Hurricane engine series will over time become iconic in its own right." Ram Trucks Australia has previously indicated it takes 12-18 months to complete a local engineering program for a new model variant that will be remanufactured locally in right-hand drive. That would make a Hemi V8-equipped 1500 a late 2026 or early 2027 proposition, should it be approved for our market. The 2025 facelift comprised more than just aesthetic tweaks, with other changes including upgraded infotainment, so this isn't as simple as just figuratively flicking a switch. Indeed, Mr Kuniskis had confirmed earlier this year the Hemi was never designed to be offered with the updated 1500's electrical architecture. In the US, the Hemi will be offered across every trim level bar the sporty RHO and luxurious Tungsten, which will be offered exclusively with the High Output version of the Hurricane six. For the Limited and Longhorn, which also come standard with the high-output six, the Hemi will be a no-cost option. Ram has stood behind the new Hurricane engine in the US, which is also used by Jeep and is being rolled out to the Dodge brand this year. "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 V8," said Mr Kuniskis. The return of the Hemi also sees the introduction of a new badge featuring a Ram's head pushing forward, powered by a Hemi V8 engine block. Ram is calling the badge the 'Symbol of Protest'. The Hemi V8 continues to feature cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption, as well as the eTorque 48V mild-hybrid system which includes idle stop/start and smooths transitions under acceleration and braking. It also enables up to 176Nm of torque to be available on initial throttle tip-in. In total, the Hemi V8 produces 295kW of power and 556Nm of torque. The Hurricane has hardly been downgraded to a tropical storm. Even in Standard Output tune it pumps out 313kW and 635Nm, while the High Output tune well and truly blows the Hemi over with 403kW and 707Nm. This makes all Hurricane-powered Ram 1500s much quicker than the V8 vehicles they replaced, while also consuming less petrol. Currently, all facelifted 2025 Ram 1500s in Australia use these two tunes of the Hurricane; we've never gotten the base naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 offered in low-end versions of the 1500 in North America. While the 5.7-litre has returned, there's no word yet on the return of the supercharged 6.2-litre that powered the defunct TRX. With the move to an all six-cylinder lineup here for the MY25 1500, Ram Trucks Australia ceded V8 power to rival Chevrolet. The Toyota Tundra moved to a six-cylinder lineup globally with its current generation, while Ford doesn't bring V8-powered versions of the F-150 Down Under. MORE: Everything Ram 1500 Content originally sourced from: The Ram 1500's new Hurricane twin-turbo inline six may produce more power and torque than the Hemi V8 it replaced, but it doesn't have the same sound. Fret not, though – that distinctive burble is coming back. After dropping it for model year 2025 (MY25), Ram will return the 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 to the 1500 lineup for MY26, with vehicles arriving in US dealerships in the northern summer (June to August). Brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, who returned to the top spot late last year, was candid about the Hemi's return. "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," he said. "We're not just bringing back a legendary V8 engine, we're igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But there's no guarantee it'll return to the Australian-market 1500 lineup. "The return of the Hemi V8 is a decision that has been made for the US market. As it stands today, there is no guarantee the Hemi V8 will return to Australian showrooms," said a Ram Trucks Australia spokesperson. "As with any development, we will continue to review and evaluate what options are made available to us from the vast Ram catalogue in the US. "We know there are customers who love the sound of a V8, and the Hemi V8 is still available in our Ram 1500 Big Horn model while stock lasts. "However, customers have also embraced the new Hurricane twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder engine in our latest Ram 1500 models. "The Hurricane engine remains an integral part of Ram's future. With more power and torque – and better efficiency – than the previous 5.7-litre Hemi V8, we believe the new Hurricane engine series will over time become iconic in its own right." Ram Trucks Australia has previously indicated it takes 12-18 months to complete a local engineering program for a new model variant that will be remanufactured locally in right-hand drive. That would make a Hemi V8-equipped 1500 a late 2026 or early 2027 proposition, should it be approved for our market. The 2025 facelift comprised more than just aesthetic tweaks, with other changes including upgraded infotainment, so this isn't as simple as just figuratively flicking a switch. Indeed, Mr Kuniskis had confirmed earlier this year the Hemi was never designed to be offered with the updated 1500's electrical architecture. In the US, the Hemi will be offered across every trim level bar the sporty RHO and luxurious Tungsten, which will be offered exclusively with the High Output version of the Hurricane six. For the Limited and Longhorn, which also come standard with the high-output six, the Hemi will be a no-cost option. Ram has stood behind the new Hurricane engine in the US, which is also used by Jeep and is being rolled out to the Dodge brand this year. "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 V8," said Mr Kuniskis. The return of the Hemi also sees the introduction of a new badge featuring a Ram's head pushing forward, powered by a Hemi V8 engine block. Ram is calling the badge the 'Symbol of Protest'. The Hemi V8 continues to feature cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption, as well as the eTorque 48V mild-hybrid system which includes idle stop/start and smooths transitions under acceleration and braking. It also enables up to 176Nm of torque to be available on initial throttle tip-in. In total, the Hemi V8 produces 295kW of power and 556Nm of torque. The Hurricane has hardly been downgraded to a tropical storm. Even in Standard Output tune it pumps out 313kW and 635Nm, while the High Output tune well and truly blows the Hemi over with 403kW and 707Nm. This makes all Hurricane-powered Ram 1500s much quicker than the V8 vehicles they replaced, while also consuming less petrol. Currently, all facelifted 2025 Ram 1500s in Australia use these two tunes of the Hurricane; we've never gotten the base naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 offered in low-end versions of the 1500 in North America. While the 5.7-litre has returned, there's no word yet on the return of the supercharged 6.2-litre that powered the defunct TRX. With the move to an all six-cylinder lineup here for the MY25 1500, Ram Trucks Australia ceded V8 power to rival Chevrolet. The Toyota Tundra moved to a six-cylinder lineup globally with its current generation, while Ford doesn't bring V8-powered versions of the F-150 Down Under. MORE: Everything Ram 1500 Content originally sourced from: The Ram 1500's new Hurricane twin-turbo inline six may produce more power and torque than the Hemi V8 it replaced, but it doesn't have the same sound. Fret not, though – that distinctive burble is coming back. After dropping it for model year 2025 (MY25), Ram will return the 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 to the 1500 lineup for MY26, with vehicles arriving in US dealerships in the northern summer (June to August). Brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, who returned to the top spot late last year, was candid about the Hemi's return. "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," he said. "We're not just bringing back a legendary V8 engine, we're igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But there's no guarantee it'll return to the Australian-market 1500 lineup. "The return of the Hemi V8 is a decision that has been made for the US market. As it stands today, there is no guarantee the Hemi V8 will return to Australian showrooms," said a Ram Trucks Australia spokesperson. "As with any development, we will continue to review and evaluate what options are made available to us from the vast Ram catalogue in the US. "We know there are customers who love the sound of a V8, and the Hemi V8 is still available in our Ram 1500 Big Horn model while stock lasts. "However, customers have also embraced the new Hurricane twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder engine in our latest Ram 1500 models. "The Hurricane engine remains an integral part of Ram's future. With more power and torque – and better efficiency – than the previous 5.7-litre Hemi V8, we believe the new Hurricane engine series will over time become iconic in its own right." Ram Trucks Australia has previously indicated it takes 12-18 months to complete a local engineering program for a new model variant that will be remanufactured locally in right-hand drive. That would make a Hemi V8-equipped 1500 a late 2026 or early 2027 proposition, should it be approved for our market. The 2025 facelift comprised more than just aesthetic tweaks, with other changes including upgraded infotainment, so this isn't as simple as just figuratively flicking a switch. Indeed, Mr Kuniskis had confirmed earlier this year the Hemi was never designed to be offered with the updated 1500's electrical architecture. In the US, the Hemi will be offered across every trim level bar the sporty RHO and luxurious Tungsten, which will be offered exclusively with the High Output version of the Hurricane six. For the Limited and Longhorn, which also come standard with the high-output six, the Hemi will be a no-cost option. Ram has stood behind the new Hurricane engine in the US, which is also used by Jeep and is being rolled out to the Dodge brand this year. "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 V8," said Mr Kuniskis. The return of the Hemi also sees the introduction of a new badge featuring a Ram's head pushing forward, powered by a Hemi V8 engine block. Ram is calling the badge the 'Symbol of Protest'. The Hemi V8 continues to feature cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption, as well as the eTorque 48V mild-hybrid system which includes idle stop/start and smooths transitions under acceleration and braking. It also enables up to 176Nm of torque to be available on initial throttle tip-in. In total, the Hemi V8 produces 295kW of power and 556Nm of torque. The Hurricane has hardly been downgraded to a tropical storm. Even in Standard Output tune it pumps out 313kW and 635Nm, while the High Output tune well and truly blows the Hemi over with 403kW and 707Nm. This makes all Hurricane-powered Ram 1500s much quicker than the V8 vehicles they replaced, while also consuming less petrol. Currently, all facelifted 2025 Ram 1500s in Australia use these two tunes of the Hurricane; we've never gotten the base naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 offered in low-end versions of the 1500 in North America. While the 5.7-litre has returned, there's no word yet on the return of the supercharged 6.2-litre that powered the defunct TRX. With the move to an all six-cylinder lineup here for the MY25 1500, Ram Trucks Australia ceded V8 power to rival Chevrolet. The Toyota Tundra moved to a six-cylinder lineup globally with its current generation, while Ford doesn't bring V8-powered versions of the F-150 Down Under. MORE: Everything Ram 1500 Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
10 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Ram 1500 revives Hemi V8 as brand fixes "mistake", Australian return unconfirmed
The Ram 1500's new Hurricane twin-turbo inline six may produce more power and torque than the Hemi V8 it replaced, but it doesn't have the same sound. Fret not, though – that distinctive burble is coming back. After dropping it for model year 2025 (MY25), Ram will return the 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 to the 1500 lineup for MY26, with vehicles arriving in US dealerships in the northern summer (June to August). Brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, who returned to the top spot late last year, was candid about the Hemi's return. '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,' he said. 'We're not just bringing back a legendary V8 engine, we're igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers.' Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But there's no guarantee it'll return to the Australian-market 1500 lineup. 'The return of the Hemi V8 is a decision that has been made for the US market. As it stands today, there is no guarantee the Hemi V8 will return to Australian showrooms,' said a Ram Trucks Australia spokesperson. 'As with any development, we will continue to review and evaluate what options are made available to us from the vast Ram catalogue in the US. 'We know there are customers who love the sound of a V8, and the Hemi V8 is still available in our Ram 1500 Big Horn model while stock lasts. 'However, customers have also embraced the new Hurricane twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder engine in our latest Ram 1500 models. 'The Hurricane engine remains an integral part of Ram's future. With more power and torque – and better efficiency – than the previous 5.7-litre Hemi V8, we believe the new Hurricane engine series will over time become iconic in its own right.' Ram Trucks Australia has previously indicated it takes 12-18 months to complete a local engineering program for a new model variant that will be remanufactured locally in right-hand drive. That would make a Hemi V8-equipped 1500 a late 2026 or early 2027 proposition, should it be approved for our market. The 2025 facelift comprised more than just aesthetic tweaks, with other changes including upgraded infotainment, so this isn't as simple as just figuratively flicking a switch. Indeed, Mr Kuniskis had confirmed earlier this year the Hemi was never designed to be offered with the updated 1500's electrical architecture. In the US, the Hemi will be offered across every trim level bar the sporty RHO and luxurious Tungsten, which will be offered exclusively with the High Output version of the Hurricane six. For the Limited and Longhorn, which also come standard with the high-output six, the Hemi will be a no-cost option. Ram has stood behind the new Hurricane engine in the US, which is also used by Jeep and is being rolled out to the Dodge brand this year. '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 V8,' said Mr Kuniskis. The return of the Hemi also sees the introduction of a new badge featuring a Ram's head pushing forward, powered by a Hemi V8 engine block. Ram is calling the badge the 'Symbol of Protest'. The Hemi V8 continues to feature cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption, as well as the eTorque 48V mild-hybrid system which includes idle stop/start and smooths transitions under acceleration and braking. It also enables up to 176Nm of torque to be available on initial throttle tip-in. In total, the Hemi V8 produces 295kW of power and 556Nm of torque. The Hurricane has hardly been downgraded to a tropical storm. Even in Standard Output tune it pumps out 313kW and 635Nm, while the High Output tune well and truly blows the Hemi over with 403kW and 707Nm. This makes all Hurricane-powered Ram 1500s much quicker than the V8 vehicles they replaced, while also consuming less petrol. Currently, all facelifted 2025 Ram 1500s in Australia use these two tunes of the Hurricane; we've never gotten the base naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 offered in low-end versions of the 1500 in North America. While the 5.7-litre has returned, there's no word yet on the return of the supercharged 6.2-litre that powered the defunct TRX. With the move to an all six-cylinder lineup here for the MY25 1500, Ram Trucks Australia ceded V8 power to rival Chevrolet. The Toyota Tundra moved to a six-cylinder lineup globally with its current generation, while Ford doesn't bring V8-powered versions of the F-150 Down Under.
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Perth Now
Ram 1500 revives Hemi V8 as brand fixes "mistake", Australian return unconfirmed
The Ram 1500's new Hurricane twin-turbo inline six may produce more power and torque than the Hemi V8 it replaced, but it doesn't have the same sound. Fret not, though – that distinctive burble is coming back. After dropping it for model year 2025 (MY25), Ram will return the 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 to the 1500 lineup for MY26, with vehicles arriving in US dealerships in the northern summer (June to August). Brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, who returned to the top spot late last year, was candid about the Hemi's return. '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,' he said. 'We're not just bringing back a legendary V8 engine, we're igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers.' Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert But there's no guarantee it'll return to the Australian-market 1500 lineup. 'The return of the Hemi V8 is a decision that has been made for the US market. As it stands today, there is no guarantee the Hemi V8 will return to Australian showrooms,' said a Ram Trucks Australia spokesperson. 'As with any development, we will continue to review and evaluate what options are made available to us from the vast Ram catalogue in the US. 'We know there are customers who love the sound of a V8, and the Hemi V8 is still available in our Ram 1500 Big Horn model while stock lasts. 'However, customers have also embraced the new Hurricane twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder engine in our latest Ram 1500 models. 'The Hurricane engine remains an integral part of Ram's future. With more power and torque – and better efficiency – than the previous 5.7-litre Hemi V8, we believe the new Hurricane engine series will over time become iconic in its own right.' Ram Trucks Australia has previously indicated it takes 12-18 months to complete a local engineering program for a new model variant that will be remanufactured locally in right-hand drive. Supplied Credit: CarExpert That would make a Hemi V8-equipped 1500 a late 2026 or early 2027 proposition, should it be approved for our market. The 2025 facelift comprised more than just aesthetic tweaks, with other changes including upgraded infotainment, so this isn't as simple as just figuratively flicking a switch. Indeed, Mr Kuniskis had confirmed earlier this year the Hemi was never designed to be offered with the updated 1500's electrical architecture. In the US, the Hemi will be offered across every trim level bar the sporty RHO and luxurious Tungsten, which will be offered exclusively with the High Output version of the Hurricane six. For the Limited and Longhorn, which also come standard with the high-output six, the Hemi will be a no-cost option. Ram has stood behind the new Hurricane engine in the US, which is also used by Jeep and is being rolled out to the Dodge brand this year. '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 V8,' said Mr Kuniskis. The return of the Hemi also sees the introduction of a new badge featuring a Ram's head pushing forward, powered by a Hemi V8 engine block. Ram is calling the badge the 'Symbol of Protest'. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Hemi V8 continues to feature cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption, as well as the eTorque 48V mild-hybrid system which includes idle stop/start and smooths transitions under acceleration and braking. It also enables up to 176Nm of torque to be available on initial throttle tip-in. In total, the Hemi V8 produces 295kW of power and 556Nm of torque. The Hurricane has hardly been downgraded to a tropical storm. Even in Standard Output tune it pumps out 313kW and 635Nm, while the High Output tune well and truly blows the Hemi over with 403kW and 707Nm. This makes all Hurricane-powered Ram 1500s much quicker than the V8 vehicles they replaced, while also consuming less petrol. Currently, all facelifted 2025 Ram 1500s in Australia use these two tunes of the Hurricane; we've never gotten the base naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 offered in low-end versions of the 1500 in North America. While the 5.7-litre has returned, there's no word yet on the return of the supercharged 6.2-litre that powered the defunct TRX. With the move to an all six-cylinder lineup here for the MY25 1500, Ram Trucks Australia ceded V8 power to rival Chevrolet. The Toyota Tundra moved to a six-cylinder lineup globally with its current generation, while Ford doesn't bring V8-powered versions of the F-150 Down Under. MORE: Everything Ram 1500
