(WWJ) Ram has decided to bring back the popular V-8 Hemi engine as an option for its 2026 Ram 1500 pickups.
"Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle it 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.”
When Ram updated its trucks last year, it eliminated the Hemi in favor of a turbocharged six cylinder engine. That engine actually has better fuel economy, and more horsepower, up to 540 horsepower in its high output variant. The V8 Hemi puts out 395 horsepower.
But Ram has put a lot of money into promoting the Hemi engine over the years, with famous commercials a decade ago asking, "That thing got a hemi?"
"Customers told us, 'You took away my choice," says Kuniskis. "Three point six million people are driving a Hemi, and they wanted another Hemi. They made it very clear, 'I'll come back when you bring my Hemi back."
The Hemi will return this summer as a $1200 option. Kuniskis figures about a quarter of buyers will chose the Hemi going forward, with the rest purchasing the more powerful V6 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 statisticians or ideologues. Data be damned — we raise our flag and let the HEMI ring free again!”
Each HEMI-powered 2026 Ram 1500 includes a new fender-mounted “Symbol of Protest Badge” created by the Ram design team.