Mopar Insiders Articles

FIRST DRIVE: 2026 Ram 1500 With The 5.7-Liter HEMI® V8 How Ram Brought Back The V8 Without Compromise The HEMI® name has always carried a certain attitude, and for 2026 Ram has doubled down by bringing back one of its most beloved powerplants: the 5.7-liter (345 cubic-inch) HEMI V8 with eTorque. Discontinued after 2024, the HEMI returns as an option across multiple Ram 1500 trims, including the value-packed Warlock, where it slots in above the Pentastar V6 and the HURRICANE I6. https://moparinsiders.com/first-drive-2026-ram-1500-with-the-5-7-liter-hemi-v8/

2026 Ram Rampage R/T NFL Edition Debuts in Brazil Limited-Run Pickup Celebrates Ram’s Partnership with the NFL Ram is celebrating its role as the official pickup sponsor of the NFL in Brazil with something bold and exclusive: the 2026 Ram Rampage R/T NFL Edition. Limited to just 300 units, this special model ties together two American icons—Ram trucks and the National Football League—while also highlighting the growing popularity of football south of the equator. https://moparinsiders.com/2026-ram-rampage-r-t-nfl-edition-debuts-in-brazil/

Jeep® India Unleashes Rugged New Compass & Meridian Trail Editions Exclusive Off-Road-Inspired Trims Now Available With ‘Jeep Trust’ Ownership Perks Jeep® India just rolled out a pair of rugged new special editions: the Compass Trail Edition and Meridian Trail Edition. These new factory-fitted variants bring a bold off-road aesthetic and premium touches to the brand’s popular midsize SUVs—plus, they come with added peace of mind thanks to the all-new Jeep Trust ownership program. https://moparinsiders.com/jeep-india-unleashes-rugged-new-compass-meridian-trail-editions/

Direct Connection’s Supercharged Surprise Ram 1500 Express A Quiet Debut with Loud Potential At this year’s Roadkill Nights, the spotlight was firmly on Dodge. Crowds gathered to witness the debut of the 2026 Dodge Durango SRT HELLCAT Jailbreak and the highly anticipated Dodge Charger SIXPACK models. Those vehicles dominated the headlines—but in the background, Ram quietly introduced a truck that could prove equally significant for performance enthusiasts: a 2026 Ram 1500 Express equipped with the 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 and eTorque mild-hybrid system, enhanced with conceptual Direct Connection performance parts. https://moparinsiders.com/direct-connections-supercharged-surprise-ram-1500-express/

Detroit 4Fest Takes Over Holly Oaks ORV Park This Weekend Off-Road Fun, Live Music, and Jeep® Action in Holly, Michigan Detroit 4Fest returns this weekend, September 5–6, 2025, to Holly Oaks ORV Park in Holly, Michigan, bringing two full days of off-road adventure, live entertainment, and family fun. If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to get your Jeep®, truck, or side-by-side dirty, this is the place to be. https://moparinsiders.com/detroit-4fest-takes-over-holly-oaks-orv-park-this-weekend/

HEMI® Power Is Back Where It Belongs Ram Team Talks About the Return of the 5.7-Liter HEMI V8 in the Ram 1500 There are few names in the truck world that carry as much weight as HEMI®. For the past two decades, it’s been the badge of honor under the hood of Dodge and Ram vehicles, the soundtrack of muscle and muscle trucks alike. After being discontinued in 2024, fans weren’t sure if they’d ever hear that unmistakable rumble in a half-ton Ram again. But this week at Chelsea Proving Grounds in Michigan, I had the chance to see firsthand what it took to bring the 5.7-liter (345 cubic-inch) HEMI V8 back to the 2026 Ram 1500 lineup. https://moparinsiders.com/hemi-power-is-back-where-it-belongs/

Sam Posey’s Mother’s 1970 Plymouth Superbird Heads To Auction Legendary Aero Car With Family Racing History When it comes to Mopar muscle, few cars carry as much mystique as the 1970 Plymouth Superbird. Built for NASCAR glory and offered only for one model year, the winged warrior quickly became a legend on both the track and the street. Now, one very special example—originally purchased in June 1971 by Mary J.P. Moore, the mother of racing driver and broadcast journalist Sam Posey—is crossing the block on BringATrailer.com. Bidding wraps up Thursday, September 4, at 1:05 p.m. EDT. https://moparinsiders.com/sam-poseys-mothers-1970-plymouth-superbird-heads-to-auction/

Stellantis Recalls Ram ProMaster And Dodge Journey For Rearview Camera Defect Over 219,000 Vehicles Affected By Rear Visibility Noncompliance Stellantis (FCA US, LLC) has announced a safety recall affecting approximately 219,577 vehicles in the United States. The recall involves certain 2019–2021 Ram ProMaster (VF) and 2019–2020 Dodge Journey (JC) vehicles. https://moparinsiders.com/stellantis-recalls-ram-promaster-and-dodge-journey-for-rearview-camera-defect/

Jeep® Brings “Joose Edition” Wrangler & Gladiator To South Korea Ultra-Limited Orange Special Turns Up The Heat Jeep® has once again taken a page from its playbook in Mexico, launching another special, color-driven limited edition—this time in South Korea. Called the “Joose Edition,” this ultra-limited release is part of the brand’s “Color My Freedom” campaign, which highlights individuality and self-expression through bold paint finishes. https://moparinsiders.com/jeep-brings-joose-edition-wrangler-gladiator-to-south-korea/

Ram Ups the Ante with 10-Year, 100K-Mile Powertrain Warranty Covers 2026 Ram Trucks and Vans, Including Power Wagon and RHO Ram is raising the bar on what truck owners can expect when it comes to peace of mind. For the 2026 model year, the brand has introduced "America’s Best Full-Size Truck Limited Powertrain Warranty"—a 10-year, 100,000-mile promise that covers nearly every full-size Ram truck and van sold in the U.S. https://moparinsiders.com/ram-ups-the-ante-with-10-year-100k-mile-powertrain-warranty/

26k-Mile 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10 Hits BaT Flame Red, Regular Cab, Looks For A New Home If you grew up in the early 2000s, you probably remember when Dodge shocked the truck world with the Ram SRT-10. It wasn’t just another performance pickup—it was a full-size truck stuffed with the same 8.3-liter V10 that powered the Dodge Viper. This 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10 Regular Cab, now live on BringATrailer, brings that outrageous formula back into the spotlight with just 26,000 miles on the odometer. https://moparinsiders.com/26k-mile-2004-dodge-ram-srt-10-hits-bat/

Mopar Adds Over 40 New Accessories to the 2026 Jeep® Commander Customization Meets Capability with Mopar’s Expanded Accessory Lineup The 2026 Jeep® Commander has just received a significant boost in personalization thanks to Mopar. Stellantis’ in-house parts and service arm has introduced more than 40 new Jeep® Authentic Accessories, specifically designed for the updated Commander, providing buyers in South America with additional options to tailor their seven-seat SUV to their lifestyle. https://moparinsiders.com/mopar-adds-over-40-new-accessories-to-the-2026-jeep-commander/

Stellantis Struggles To Connect With Customers Falling Scores Show A Big Disconnect For years, Stellantis has been trying to balance tradition with the future. But according to the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey, the company’s North American brands are falling flat with its customers. https://moparinsiders.com/stellantis-struggles-to-connect-with-customers/

2026 Ram 2500 Warlock: Back-to-Basics Heavy Duty Off-Roader Rugged Capability at a Budget-Friendly Price Earlier this week, I had the chance to get behind the wheel of the all-new 2026 Ram 2500 Warlock at the Stellantis Chelsea Proving Grounds in Michigan. While the Ram Heavy Duty lineup has always offered something for everyone—whether it’s the upscale Limited or the trail-conquering Power Wagon—the Warlock finds its niche as a no-nonsense, budget-friendly off-road truck. Think of it as a Rebel wrapped in Tradesman clothing, but without losing the off-road grit that makes Ram stand out in the heavy-duty segment. https://moparinsiders.com/2026-ram-2500-warlock-back-to-basics-heavy-duty-off-roader/

1988 Dodge Shelby CSX-T Heads To Auction With No Reserve Rare Rent-A-Racer Survivor Offered On Hagerty The Dodge Shelby CSX-T may not carry the same fame as Shelby’s Mustangs, but it holds a special place in Mopar history. Built in 1988 as a collaboration between Carroll Shelby and Thrifty Car Rental, just 1,000 of these front-wheel-drive (FWD) turbo compacts were produced. All were finished in white with gray lower cladding and blue Shelby graphics, making them instantly recognizable to those who know their Mopar history. https://moparinsiders.com/1988-dodge-shelby-csx-t-heads-to-auction-with-no-reserve/

Stellantis Starts Exporting Jeep® Commander To The Middle East Stellantis Expands Exports with Brazilian-Built D-SUV... Stellantis is stepping up its global game with the announcement that the Jeep® Commander, the three-row SUV designed and built in Brazil, will begin shipping to the Middle East by the end of 2025. The move marks another milestone in the Commander’s international journey, opening doors in some of the most competitive automotive markets in the world. https://moparinsiders.com/stellantis-starts-exporting-jeep-commander-to-the-middle-east/

Jeep® Compass 4xe (J4U): Built for the Trails, Ready for Real Life Rugged, Refined, and Ready for Adventure The all-new Jeep® Compass 4xe (J4U) isn’t just a facelift—it’s a purpose-built evolution of the compact SUV that blends trail-capable engineering with smart interior upgrades for real-life adventures. Jeep took the already-popular Compass and gave it a serious off-road attitude, all while making it more practical and comfortable for families, pet owners, and weekend warriors. https://moparinsiders.com/jeep-compass-4xe-j4u-built-for-the-trails-ready-for-real-life/

Could This Camouflaged Van Be the Next Ram ProMaster City? Prototype Appears to Match Fiat E-Scudo, Hints at Ram’s Return to the Small Van Segment A newly spotted camouflaged van riding on Stellantis’ “K0” midsize platform might be our first look at a future North American commercial vehicle. Captured by sharp-eyed photographer Walter Vayr (@GabetzSPYUnit), the prototype appears similar to existing Fiat vans sold in Europe, but some unique details have led to speculation that this could be a future Ram ProMaster City, slated for a possible 2026 launch. https://moparinsiders.com/could-this-camouflaged-van-be-the-next-ram-promaster-city/

The Brute Squad Take on the Rebelle Rally with Ram 1500 RHO Ram Brings Its Latest Off-Roader To The Desert... Ram is once again making its mark in the off-road world by partnering with “The Brute Squad” – a duo of experienced automotive journalists Jill Ciminillo and Kristin Shaw – to compete in the ninth annual Rebelle Rally. Set to take place from October 10-19, 2024, the Rebelle Rally is an all-women, off-road competition that covers more than 1,500 miles through unforgiving desert terrain. This year, Ciminillo and Shaw will be driving a 2025 Ram 1500 RHO, with Shaw at the wheel and Ciminillo handling navigation duties. https://moparinsiders.com/the-brute-squad-take-on-the-rebelle-rally-with-ram-1500-rho/

A Waterlogged Monster: 2017 Viper ACR Heading to Auction Vehicle restoration gurus, check your calendars! A flood-damaged 2017 Dodge Viper ACR is scheduled to go up for auction via IAA Dream Rides on Tuesday, September 2, at 12 p.m. CDT. This isn’t just any Viper. It’s an ACR-Extreme (American Club Racer), the most hardcore track-focused variant of Dodge’s final-gen snake, built to dominate laps with adjustable aero and premium components. According to the IAA listing, the car is listed with a North Carolina Salvage title, having suffered flood-induced damage, and is labeled as “won’t start.” It’s located in Greensboro, North … (read full article...)