Key highlights:
- Hemi V8 power won’t return across Ram’s entire 1500 range
- The 1500 TRX SRT arrives with a 6.2L petrol V8 in Australia in early 2027
- Hurricane six-cylinder power remains central to Ram’s strategy
The Hemi V8 is back in the Ram Trucks Australia range, but don’t expect it to spread across the lineup, as Ram Australia’s General Manager says the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged Hurricane inline-six will remain the core engine for the 1500, while Hemi V8 power returns in selected performance models.
The first sign of that strategy is the new Ram 2500 Warlock, which brings a 6.4-litre petrol V8 back to the larger 2500 body for the first time in a decade.
The Hemi won’t replace the Hurricane
The 2500 Warlock marks the first local Hemi V8 offering in almost two years, but its arrival won’t change the engine strategy for the core 1500 range. Ram sold the 1500 exclusively with Hemi V8 engines until its 2025 facelift introduced the new Hurricane six-cylinder.
The 3.0-litre twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six now powers the core 1500 range in Australia and overseas.
Ram Trucks Australia general manager Jeff Barber said engineering costs prevent the company from offering every possible combination at the 2500 Warlock’s launch.
“Ram has a huge range of products in its portfolio and, unfortunately, the engineering cost is such that we can’t have them all.”
He added, “Some customers want the Hemi, some customers want a more affordable or even more capable heavy-duty. The Warlock is designed to tick both of these boxes.”
Ram wants choice, not a full Hemi rollout
Ram will instead concentrate Hemi power on performance-focused models. The brand has confirmed the Ram 1500 TRX SRT for Australia and is working to secure the V8-powered Rumble Bee SRT, which remains unconfirmed locally.
Together with the 2500 Warlock, those models would give Australian buyers three Hemi-powered options.
Mr Barber added, “So, at this stage, we don’t see the need to add the Hemi to any other models.”
Also read: Ram 2500 Warlock priced, brings back the V8 for $157,950
The 5.7-litre Hemi’s brief absence
The last Hemi V8 sold in Australia was the 5.7-litre engine fitted to Ram 1500s remanufactured in right-hand drive, before the 2500 Warlock arrived here. Those trucks continued until December 2024.
The 1500 remains Ram’s local sales leader, competing against the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra. Ram replaced its V8 with the Hurricane inline-six across the core range in Australia and overseas.
TRX brings the Hemi back for performance buyers
The Ram 1500 TRX SRT is scheduled to arrive in Australian showrooms in early 2027 and uses a supercharged 6.2-litre petrol V8. Ram claims the TRX is the world’s fastest petrol-powered production off-road pickup truck.
The Rumble Bee SRT goes even quicker, reaching 60mph in 3.4 seconds, just 0.1 seconds faster than the TRX, and that allows Ram to claim the Rumble Bee as the world’s fastest petrol-powered production pickup.
The TRX also adds equipment beyond its high-performance powertrain, such as leather upholstery, a 14.5-inch central touchscreen, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
Ram still backs the Hurricane
Ram’s local boss, Jeff Barber, said, “We believe the demand for the Hemi mostly comes from performance enthusiasts.”
“They want not just the Hemi, but the rest of the package that goes with it.”
Ram’s US sales mix also shows that the Hurricane has strong demand when buyers can choose between the two engines, and according to Mr Barber, 60% of US customers choose the Hurricane when given the choice of Hurricane or Hemi.
He added, “The mistake was that it should have been a choice for consumers, to give people the choice of either that heritage and the sound of the Hemi V8 or the new technology that’s in the Hurricane, so it’s important to have it back in our range and to have both of those engines.”
“That’s why, while we’re super excited about the return of the Hemi V8, we’re still very proud of the performance of the Hurricane twin-turbo six-cylinder. The Hurricane absolutely remains part of our future.”
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