Latest news with #HemiV8
The Drive
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Ram Returns to NASCAR, Dodge Might Follow With Cup Series Racer
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Ram is goin' NASCAR racin' for the first time in more than a decade. It's leaning into the Hemi V8's revival by committing to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2026, which Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis confirmed is its immediate focus. However, he says 'the company' has intentions to enter the Cup Series later on. Huh? During a Ram media event that The Drive attended virtually, Kuniskis mentioned aspirations of joining the Cup Series. He was asked to clarify later, during the Q&A session, given that Ram builds trucks. 'We have cars in our company,' Kuniskis explained. 'I don't have cars. Even though everybody calls them Dodge Rams.' Clear as mud, then. It's obviously enough to get people talking. Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis and the brand's NASCAR Concept truck. Ram Ram I've written about Dodge's potential return to NASCAR several times over the years, though for every rumor I've decided to cover, there have been 10 more that I passed on. The realest it ever felt was when NASCAR President Steve Phelps commented on Dodge's supposed return back in 2021. Even then, Phelps simply said, 'I won't confirm or deny that.' Kuniskis' cryptic statement feels about as weighty. Even if you interpret this as an indirect confirmation of Dodge's interest in rejoining the Cup Series, it's no guarantee. Manufacturers throughout history have planned to join NASCAR, Formula 1, and almost every other racing discipline without following through. There's a lot that has to go right, even beyond building a car. Finding a team, or, ideally, several teams, is crucial to fielding entries. Speaking of teams, Kuniskis and Ram don't have one locked in yet. He plans to have an arrangement in place by the Daytona season-opener in February 2026. And the truck that hits the superspeedway will look a lot like the Ram 1500 NASCAR Concept that just debuted. Ram The super-sleek race truck concept was unveiled this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. It was in a specialized 'donut' trailer with folding sides that revealed it in a cloud of tire smoke. These guys are a hoot. 'For more than a decade, customers and our dealer network asked about getting back into NASCAR. The desire was always there, but we didn't have a plan that delivered the last tenth and following just didn't fit our DNA,' said Kuniskis. 'Now we have a solid plan that will set us apart from the field and will bring fresh new interest and engagement to America's Motorsport.' You can bet NASCAR is happy about having a fourth manufacturer, too, even if it's only in one series. It sounds like talks are happening to potentially expand that to the top-level Cup circuit. Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Carlos Tavares Has One Regret During His Time as Dodge, Jeep, RAM CEO
About a week ago, the multinational automotive collective Stellantis closed a chapter in its tumultuous history as it named Antonio Filosa as its new CEO following an extensive search. The search, which considered candidates within and outside Stellantis, was initiated shortly after Carlos Tavares suddenly departed the company in December 2024, despite his promise not to renew his CEO contract after it was slated to end in early 2026. In a new interview with Bloomberg at his home near Lisbon, in his native Portugal, Tavares revealed that his departure from Stellantis was a personal choice rather than a result of conflict within the company. He said the decision stemmed from a thoughtful reflection sparked by a "very mature" conversation with chairman John Elkann, which greatly influenced his path. "I have nothing against anybody," Tavares told the financial publication. "Even those who made my life more difficult when I was the CEO of Stellantis. At one point in time, there is a crossroads, and somebody decides that it's time to part ways. That's fine." During his time as the former helm of Stellantis, Tavares oversaw some very controversial decisions that not everyone at the company was on board with, which included swapping metal parts for plastic ones on some of its more off-road-oriented vehicles. In a December 2024 CNBC report, several former and current Stellantis executives and other U.S.-based employees described Tavares as a selfish leader who would sacrifice the business to squeeze out every last cent. In his past tenure at Renault under the notorious Carlos Ghosn, he gained a reputation as a brash businessperson who was unafraid to shake up C-suites, but one Stellantis-affiliated individual characterized Tavares as jaded and said that the pressure to cut costs felt like having a pistol "to your head." In the same report, another Stellantis figurehead said that he was chiefly behind the decision to kill off the Hemi V8, noting that others in the company "wanted to keep [Hemi]," but were shot down due to Tavares' ambitious climate targets. Tavares admitted to Bloomberg he could have done "tons of things" differently. However, one regret that he brought up was failing to bring US dealers on board with his agenda, which focused heavily on cost-cutting and dropping key models. Despite calling it a regret, he still sees some silver lining in retrospect. "The dealers in the U.S. did not want to support what we were trying to do, which is my responsibility," he said. "Many things could have been done differently, but that doesn't matter. The company is profitable." In his interview with Bloomberg, Tavares called his replacement, Antonio Filosa, "a logical, credible choice," considering his experience in the Americas. However, he desperately has to repair the tattered relationship with its dealers that faltered under his tenure. In a January 2025 dealership sentiment survey from Kerrigan Advisors, 72% of dealers surveyed said that they had no trust in the Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram brands, which Stellantis owns. According to the survey, just 2% of dealers said they had high trust in Stellantis, and 26% said they had moderate trust. The level of distrust increased dramatically from the results recorded just one year prior. In 2023, just 39% of dealers said they had no trust in Stellantis, which reflects a 33% jump in distrust year over year. The survey was conducted around the same time the U.S. Stellantis National Dealer Council blamed then-CEO Carlos Tavares front and center for what it called the "rapid degradation" of brands like Dodge, Ram, and Jeep, in a letter dated September 10. "The market share of your brands has been slashed nearly in half, Stellantis' stock price is tumbling, plants are closing, layoffs are rampant, and key executives are fleeing the company," the dealers wrote. "Investor lawsuits, supplier lawsuits, strikes–the fallout is mounting. Your own distribution network, your dealer body, has been left in an anemic and diminished state." Following a prior back-and-forth between the dealer council and Stellantis, Stellantis US Dealer Council chairman Kevin Farrish noted in a December statement to AutoNews that Stellantis has been rebuilding trust. He said Stellantis Chairman John Elkann held a video call with Dealer Council leaders under Elkann's leadership the day after Tavares exited the company. This won't be the last time we hear from Carlos Tavares regarding Stellantis. To this day, Carlos Ghosn still adds his input on issues regarding Nissan. It is still difficult to tell which direction Stellantis will take regarding its products and company direction. However, we can hope that things will only improve from here. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Motor Trend
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Got Hemi? See Which 2026 Ram 1500 Pickup Trucks Get the Revived V-8
Back by popular demand, the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 is returning to the 2026-model-year Ram 1500. While the Hemi will come with Ram's eTorque mild hybrid powertrain—which it included before it left the lineup after 2025—fans of the brand surely will be paying closer attention to regaining access to that sweet, sweet V-8 power and noise. While full 2026 Ram 1500 information isn't out yet (we'll update this space when it is), we do know which '26 Ram 1500s will offer the V-8 as an option, and how much it will cost. That's right, the V-8 may be back, but it isn't standard equipment. Looking over the 2026 Ram 1500 trims, the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 will be offered as an option on everything but the desert-bombing RHO and high-zoot Tungsten. As before, the 1500 Tradesman, Express, and Big Horn/Lone Star continue to come standard with Stellantis' aging 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine. In a surprising turn, the Warlock adopts the Pentastar as standard kit, too; the 420-hp Standard Output (SO) twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six engine it previously came with is now an option, alongside the resurrected Hemi it temporarily replaced for 2025. The Rebel keeps the SO Hurricane six as standard equipment, while Limited and Longhorn will again get the burlier 540-hp 3.0-liter Hurricane I-6 High Output (HO) standard. For those models that can offer the Hemi, there will be an upcharge for it on all but the Limited and Longhorn trims, where it'll be offered as a no-cost option. Here's a look at the powertrain options on the 2026 Ram 1500 lineup: To unlock the Hemi V-8's 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque, you'll need to spend $1,200. That slots the V-8 just below the 420-hp and 469-lb-ft 3.0-liter I-6 Hurricane SO in Ram's powertrain hierarchy—the twin-turbo six is a $2,695 upgrade for the Tradesman, Express, Warlock, and Big Horn/Lone Star. The Laramie and Rebel get the Hurricane SO as standard, with the Hemi an option. While order books are open and all 2026 Ram 1500s with the Hemi (save for the Rebel that will arrive later) should arrive by this summer, pricing for the 2026 model year, along with other details such as paint colors and trim changes, have yet to be announced—but we should see that soon.
Motor 1
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Ram Just Proved America Can't Quit the V-8
Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said the brand "screwed up" by dropping the Hemi V-8 for the 1500 pickup, so now it's making a much-heralded return . It turns out that even as we head towards an electric—or at least an electrified future—eight cylinders, grouped in fours, and spaced 90 degrees apart, aren't going anywhere. It's not just Ram. Last week, General Motors announced an $888 million investment in its Tonawanda, New York, plant to prep for an upcoming sixth-generation small-block V-8. Mercedes is developing a new V-8 , too, which it plans to offer across its entire lineup. BMW's R&D boss recently said it's keeping V-8s for the foreseeable future , specifically because of the American and Middle East markets. Porsche has also committed to building V-8s into the 2030s. Especially here in America, we can't quit the V-8. Photo by: Ram Kuniskis's statements are illuminating. "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 statisticians or ideologues. Data be damned—we raise our flag and let the Hemi ring free again." It tracks with the image that marketers inside Ram and its cousin Dodge have meticulously crafted over the past few years: draped in the flag, and representing everything that is good and right about America, from apple pie to burnouts. In reality, this decision was made for the most American of reasons, the bottom line, at a time when Ram's sales have been tanking for a while now. 'We heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic Hemi V-8.' That, however, may have had less to do with the demise of the 5.7-liter Hemi for one model year and more to do with Ram prices skyrocketing for years . It is highly unclear whether the revival of the Hemi will drive prices down or boost sales even if prices stay high, but at least the narrative has shifted: the V-8 is back, as is America. The V-8 is not an exclusively American invention, but there is no engine configuration more closely linked to our car industry. Ford's flathead V-8 arrived in 1932, and after getting through some early teething troubles, it started the eight-cylinder revolution here in America . Eight-cylinder engines were once the exclusive domain of luxury and performance cars; the flathead made the V-8 almost a default engine layout here. A Ford flathead V-8 Photo by: Wikimedia Commons / Michael Barera There's a fundamental rightness that applies to the flathead, and all V-8s that followed to this day. A V-8 is no bigger in length than an inline-four, and shorter than an inline-six. With a 90-degree bank angle, a V-8 is not too much wider than most inline engines, either. But despite its compact dimensions, the V-8 is powerful, owing to its large cylinder count. And thanks to Cadillac's invention of the 180-degree, "cross-plane" crankshaft in the 1920s, the V-8 has perfectly balanced primary and secondary forces. So, compact, power dense, smooth running, and thanks to Ford's manufacturing dominance, cheap and plentiful. In America, where fuel economy and emissions only became heavily regulated and of bigger importance to consumers in the 1970s, it's no wonder that the V-8 was popular. Especially earlier, in the post-war boom time, when people had money, gas was cheap, and that brown haze hanging low over LA? Don't worry about it. The Clean Air Act and the 1973 fuel crisis definitely diminished the V-8's popularity, but it still had its place in large cars and trucks. Europe jumped on the bandwagon, too, with notable V-8s from Rover, Mercedes-Benz, and others for luxury cars, especially since the US was typically the largest export market for these cars. Japan only started making V-8s in big numbers in the 1980s and 1990s for luxury cars and trucks, though it is now retreating from this engine type; meanwhile, Korea has never been a big V-8 producer. (China skipped over this entirely to focus on groundbreaking electric power and fast-charging performance, but presumably, the minds at Stellantis have a plan to deal with this as well—we just have not seen it yet.) In the era of downsizing and electrification, a lot of automakers have tried to move away from V-8s to varying degrees, and to varying degrees of success. Ford was the first to make a big push with its EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6s, and while they've proven popular in the F-150, Ford has continued to offer a V-8 in the truck. GM brought out a 2.7-liter turbo-four as a base engine in the Silverado 1500, though its model mix leans heavily on V-8s and a diesel straight-six. Ram probably took the biggest step of all. For the 2025 1500 , it dropped the V-8 entirely in favor of a newly developed 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six. The "Hurricane" was (and is) offered in two power outputs as an upgrade to the base Pentastar V-6. If Kuniskis' statements are anything to go by, the I-6 didn't get the reception Ram was hoping for. Otherwise, it wouldn't have gone through the trouble of upping 5.7 V-8 production and adapting this old engine to work with the truck's new electronic architecture, which wasn't exactly the work of a moment. While the turbo inline-six is, as Ram points out, more powerful and more efficient, it's not necessarily the better truck engine. We haven't heard any horror stories about the Hurricane, but in a truck, where customers often put strain on the engine with towing and payload, they don't with regular cars, simplicity is a virtue. A turbo 'six might hit the numbers—and inherently, a turbo straight-six is a great thing, as BMW proves—but here with two turbochargers, the associated plumbing, and intercoolers, it is a more complex thing. Hell, compared to the Hemi V-8, the Hurricane I-6 has space-age complexities as multiple overhead camshafts. And while the standard-output Hurricane inline-six offers a 15-horsepower and 49-pound-feet bump over the Hemi V-8, the customer gets no great benefit in fuel economy for having two fewer cylinders. You get 21 MPG combined in the I-6 vs 20 MPG for the V-8. And somehow, their tailpipe emissions are almost identical, with 433 vs 443 grams of CO2 per mile, respectively. Photo by: Ram However, there is something very culture-war about all this. The 1500 Hemi gets a new badge with a Ram's head on the front of a V-8, which Ram calls the "Symbol of Protest Badge." A protest against… what exactly? Ram's press release leaves this to your imagination. But it's not like the current presidential administration is pushing for more fuel-efficient, lower-emission vehicles right now. In fact, it's doing very much the opposite. The Hemi may have its virtues, but its return is colored with corporate pandering to the aggrieved, which is as savvy as it is cringeworthy. Stellantis is hurting big time, and this is a very easy win for them, and a good hedge against electric pickups—which even ardent EV defenders will admit aren't fully up to the task yet . Ram has an electric pickup in the pipeline, but EV trucks from Ford and GM haven't exactly caught on. Maybe Ram's upcoming range-extender EV pickup, the Ramcharger, will do well; it seems like it could be a good mix of electrification and capability, but it's early, and the company keeps delaying the truck anyhow. Still, it's embarrassing to see a large, multinational corporation make it seem like buying an expensive V-8 pickup is an act of rebellion, of sticking it to the man. But who's the man right now? Near-powerless Democrats? California? EVs, like the ones Stellantis also makes? Joe Biden? It's a strange message from the company that also makes America's best-selling plug-in hybrid . Photo by: Ram Ram is more explicit in how it's targeting customers who respond to that message. But everyone else refocusing on V-8s knows they're appealing to those who resist change, or at least aren't so open to it. And hell, those people aren't wrong to love the V-8. It is a fundamentally excellent thing. Perhaps Ram's biggest issue is that the V-8 being revived dates back to 2003 and is not something new or innovative or groundbreaking in some way, as we'll see from those other companies. Stellantis can only fall back on its old standbys for so long. The company seems to understand this—it's why it developed the new inline-six, why it's developing electrified Ram 1500s, and why the Dodge Charger went electric. But it missed the mark. So far, these haven't been game-changing, do-everything vehicles, especially not at the high prices Stellantis charges. There's a happy middle ground. Other automakers continuing V-8 development are also heavily pushing hybrids and EVs, and BMW and GM especially are seeing big success as a result. Automakers need to walk and chew gum at the same time. If the last few years have proven anything, it's that emissions and fuel economy rules won't stay lenient forever. When that changes again, and it will, Stellantis had better get ready for what's next. More on the Hemi's Comeback The Hemi V-8 Is Back: 'We Screwed Up,' Says Ram CEO Ram's 'Symbol of Protest' Badge for Hemi V-8s Is Ridiculous and Genius Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Hemi V8 Returns To 2026 Ram 1500 Lineup Following Consumer Demand
Stellantis brands Dodge and Ram are closely associated with the Hemi V8 engine, but this legendary mill has gradually been phased out in favor of the newer Hurricane twin-turbocharged six-cylinder. Now, not long after we heard that the V8-powered Dodge Charger could return, Ram has confirmed that it's brought back the Hemi V8 for the 2026 Ram 1500 pickup. This news is music to the ears of Dodge truck fans (quite literally), as many are prepared to live with the Hemi's inferior consumption to enjoy its effortless power, unmistakable soundtrack, and the promise of long-term durability. A few of these fans may be disappointed to hear that not every derivative of the 1500 has access to the V8, though, including the two best 1500s you can buy. This backtracking move by Ram is refreshing; we're so used to automakers ignoring the pleas of consumers. Thankfully, just as Volkswagen eliminated its hateful touch-based steering controls and brought back buttons, Ram has done the same with its beloved Hemi. "Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle them defines you," said Tim Kuniskis, CEO, Ram brand. "Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi - we own it and we fixed it. We're not just bringing back a legendary V8, engine, we're igniting an assertive product plan and expanding freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers." Although the Hurricane six-cylinder engine isn't going anywhere, Kuniskis further went on to say: "We heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic Hemi V8. At the end of each month, we count sales to customers, not to statisticians or ideologies." Instead of a conventional engine-mounted alternator, the eTorque system features a belt-driven motor generator unit that operates with a 48-volt battery. This system enables a smoother start/stop system and adds torque to the engine under certain conditions - up to 130 lb-ft on initial throttle tip-in. The Hemi V8 produces 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, and features cylinder deactivation capability to improve gas mileage. Ram promises a towing capacity of up to 11,470 pounds and a payload of up to 1,750 lbs. The following 2026 Ram 1500 trims can all be optionally equipped with the Hemi V8: Tradesman, Express, Warlock, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, and Rebel. It's a no-cost option on the Limited and Longhorn models, both of which get the 3.0-liter Hurricane high-output engine as standard. The Ram 1500 RHO, the closest thing to a TRX with its numerous off-road modifications, will not be available with the Hemi V8. A V8-powered RHO would have been fantastic, but Ram obviously believes that the 540-hp Hurricane engine is a better choice for this extreme pickup, which excels at high-speed off-roading. The high-end Tungsten, the most luxurious of all 1500s with features like massaging seats, also sticks with the 540-hp I6 and can't be specified with the Hemi. Orders for the V8-powered Ram 1500 are open now, and these models will start arriving at dealerships this summer. Ram's decision to give buyers the choice between a trusted V8 and a more economical six-cylinder turbo is a smart one. This change should further boost the appeal of what is already one of the most comfortable and capable pickups in the full-size segment. It'll also prevent V8 fans from rushing to Ford, as the Blue Oval still offers its best-selling truck with an old-school V8 lump. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
