It’s Back! The Ram 1500 Hemi V8 Is Shipping To Dealers Now

The V8-powered Ram 1500 is charging into showrooms. Ram has officially started shipping the 2026 Ram 1500 with the revived Hemi V8 option.

Ram discontinued the engine for 2025, but customer demand drove it to put it back on the options list and it pulled it off with an accelerated 10-month program that normally would’ve taken 18 months.

The 5.7-liter eTorque is the same one that was offered in 2024 and once again rated at 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque.

Ram had hoped customers would be happy with the new Hurricane 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six that’s offered in 420 hp and 540 hp versions, but expects the V8 to make up at least a quarter of sales and likely more. it received 10,000 orders on the first day the books opened in June.

The V8-powered trucks are also getting a new fender badge called the “Symbol of Protest” which depicts a V8 engine with a ram’s head. The engine is being offered on all Ram 1500 trims except for the top of the line Tungsten and high performance RHO at a $1,200 premium over the Hurricane.

The Ram 1500 will have another V8 option next year when the TRX model returns. It has been confirmed by the automaker, although it hasn’t yet said what to expect. The old TRX was powered by a 702 hp 6.2-liter supercharged V8. It’s likely the new one will use the same engine, but with a different tune since the Ford F-150 Raptor R is rated at 720 hp and stole the TRX’s title as most-powerful V8 pickup ever.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE AMERICAN CARS AND RACING NEWSLETTER

Ram will technically have another V8-powered 1500 in 2026, but not in showrooms. The brand is returning to the NASCAR Truck Series with Kaulig racing and will enter up to five trucks in events next year.