OFFICIAL: The 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 Returns To The Ram 1500 For 2026

People were straight-up furious with Ram after it was announced that the 5.7-liter (345 cubic-inch) HEMI® V8 would be going off into the sunset after the 2024 model year to make way for the new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter (183 cubic-inch) HURRICANE I6 engines. While the HURRICANE engines produce more power, Ram fans love the HEMI V8, and many of those fans vowed never to buy a Ram again for abandoning the V8 in their award-winning light-duty pickups. 

A Bold Admission from Ram’s CEO – 

“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,” Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said at a press preview earlier this week. “We’re not just bringing back a legendary V8 engine, we’re igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers.”

“Ram will continue to offer the more powerful and more efficient HURRICANE [engines], but we heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic HEMI V8,” Kuniskis stated. “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!”

This is a radical departure from just a year ago. Since the departure of former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, Kuniskis is no longer constrained and is bringing back what consumers want — HEMI power. 

The HEMI® Returns with eTorque – 

For those who are wondering, the 5.7-liter HEMI returns with the eTorque mild-hybrid system. For those unfamiliar, the eTorque system replaces the traditional alternator on the engine with a belt-driven motor-generator unit that performs multiple functions. The motor-generator unit operates in conjunction with a 48-volt battery pack, enabling a quick and seamless start/stop function, short-duration torque addition to the engine crankshaft in specific driving situations, and brake energy regeneration, which enhances responsiveness and efficiency. The system enables up to 130 lb.-ft. of torque available at initial throttle tip-in.

Why eTorque? Faster to Market – 

But why the eTorque version of the HEMI? It all comes down to getting the engine to market as quickly as possible. The eTorque version of the HEMI enabled the engineering team to adapt the HEMI to the new Atlantis electrical architecture, the fastest. Kuniskis told us, “That was one of the ways to speed the development, to make it exactly the way it was. That way we don’t have to do calibration, recertification, and all that stuff.” 

The Secret “F-15” Engineering Task Force – 

Kuniskis went on to say that while many people thought it would be simple to bring the HEMI back, it wasn’t. Upon his return to Ram in December, the engineering team stated that it would take 18 months to adapt the 5.7-liter engine to the new Atlantis electrical architecture, as it wasn’t originally planned to be built with it.

“So, we put together a special team of guys codenamed F-15,” he said. “That team was led by Darryl Smith, who was the Chief Engineer of the SRT Group.”

“Darryl was able to turn 18 months into 6 months.” This means that the HEMI V8 will return to dealers this summer.

HEMI V8 Availability Across 2026 Ram 1500 Trims – 

If you’re wondering about availability, the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 will be offered on most 2026 Ram 1500 models. While the Pentastar V6 remains the standard engine on the mainstream models, the HEMI will be available on the:

• Tradesman

• Express

• Warlock

• Big Horn (Lone Star in Texas)

• Laramie

• Rebel (late availability)

• Limited

• Longhorn

Pricing Structure and Engine Options – 

For models that offer the standard-output (S/O) HURRICANE engine—namely the Tradesman, Express, Warlock, Big Horn (Lone Star), Laramie, and Rebel—the 5.7L HEMI will be a $1,200 upgrade.

Keep in mind that on Tradesman, Express, Warlock, and Big Horn (Lone Star) models, the S/O HURRICANE itself is a $1,695 option over the standard Pentastar V6.

On Laramie and Rebel trims, where the S/O HURRICANE comes standard, the HEMI remains a $1,200 option.

On the more premium Limited and Longhorn models, which come standard with the high-output (H/O) HURRICANE, the HEMI V8 will be offered as a no-cost alternative.

However, the HEMI will not be available on the ultra-premium Tungsten or the RHO performance off-roader, both of which will exclusively feature the H/O HURRICANE engine.

Performance Figures and Capabilities – 

The 5.7-liter HEMI will still be rated at 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque. The HEMI will offer a towing capacity of up to 11,470 lbs and a maximum payload capacity of 1,750 lbs.

Special Touches for 2026 HEMI Models – 

To help set the new HEMI-powered models apart, each one will wear a new “Symbol of Protest Badge” created by the Ram Product Design Studio (PDO). The badge features the iconic Ram’s head pushing forward, powered by a HEMI V8 block. 

But that’s not all. Kuniskis also knows how much people love the sound of the HEMI. For 2026, all 5.7-liter HEMI V8s will come standard with the same Mopar factory-installed cat-back exhaust as the Rebel and Laramie G/T models that were available from 2022 to 2024. This makes the HEMI sound even throatier.

Additionally, all HEMI models will feature the larger 33-gallon fuel tank as standard equipment.

Order Your 2026 HEMI Ram Now – 

The best part about this announcement is that you can visit your local Ram dealer today and place your order. That’s right—ordering is open. Tim told us that you can expect the HEMI models to arrive in dealer showrooms later this summer.

2026 Ram 1500 with 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 Image Gallery: