19 hours ago
7
A report out of the United States is adamant the V8 Hemi is making a comeback to Ram pick-ups after it was dropped in 2024.
The Ram 1500 TRX is due to return with V8 power as soon as next year, according to an enthusiast site based in North America.
Ahead of its replacement by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder – due in Australia by the middle of 2025 – the Ram 1500 range dropped naturally-aspirated and supercharged V8 power in 2024, with only a few remaining Stellantis vehicles still fitted with V8s.
The Ram 1500 TRX was introduced here in 2021 with a 523kW 6.2-litre supercharged V8 – since usurped by the 537kW Ford F-150 Ranger Raptor R as the world’s most powerful production ute.
It was also Australia’s most expensive ute sold in factory showrooms, with its 2024 price of $249,950 before on-road costs.
Now, enthusiast site Mopar Insiders insists the V8 engine is making a comeback as soon as 2026, and could be manufactured in the United States (US) instead of Mexico.
Ram Trucks Australia has been contacted for comment.
The news follows significant change at Stellantis, with a sales slump seeing former Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis pulled out of retirement to lead Ram Trucks from December 2024.
Mopar Insiders suggests the departure of Mr Tavares – and arrival of Kuniskis – has breathed new life within Ram for V8s, whether tapping into a supposed stockpile of left-over Mexican-made engines or with new production in the US.
Ram Trucks is among a number of brands globally to drop V8 engines in place of smaller six-cylinder powertrains, including the Toyota Tundra, Toyota LandCruiser and the Nissan Patrol – the latter posting record V8 sales in Australia during 2024 as the current model winds down ahead of the new V6 version.
For Stellantis, V8s also powered muscle cars including the Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger as well as high-performance versions of the Jeep Grand Cherokee – all slated to use smaller and/or and electrified powertrains instead.
Yet further speculation was fuelled after US President Donald Trump’s removal of previous federal electric vehicle targets – not mandated by law – on his first day in office after being inaugurated on 20 January 2025.
It is not yet clear whether the tariffs will be introduced on 2 April 2025 as currently planned or if car makers will be given more time to reorganise supply lines – something Stellantis has stated publicly it needs in order to move more production to the US.
Even if a V8-powered Ram TRX is introduced to US showrooms in 2026, it wouldn’t necessarily be a shoo-in for Australia.
Of the full-size pick-ups competing with Ram in Australia, only the Chevrolet Silverado offers V8 power, with the Toyota Tundra launched locally as a hybrid V6 and the Ford F-150 skipping its US-market V8s to be sold here with six-cylinder engines only.
Ford and Isuzu will be the first car brands to drop vehicles from their line-ups as a result of the new emissions laws, with sales of vehicles in breach of the limits to be counted from July 1, 2025, before fines are handed out in the coming years.
