• The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 returns in the 2026 Ram 1500.
  • This was 18 months in the making, but a worthwhile move.
  • Ram was concerned about losing V8 fans to Ford and GM.

When Ram introduced the facelifted 1500 in the fall of 2023, the reaction was swift. While many praised the updated truck, fans were upset to see that the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 was no longer an option.

As Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis explained at a media briefing earlier this week, people hated that the brand took away their power of choice. While the twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six offers better performance, people don’t like being told no and forced into getting something they may not particularly want.

More: Ram Screwed Up Dropping The V8 So Now It Brought It Back

This brings us to the reason why Ram is bringing the Hemi engine back. Full-size truck owners are intensely loyal to their brand, and once you lose them, “good luck getting them back.”

In effect, Ram realized they were sending a certain subset of their customers into the open arms of Ford and General Motors. These “cylinder counters” love V8s and feel Ram abandoned something important.

You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return

This pushed the company to bring the Hemi back as fast as possible. As part of this effort, Ram launched a program called F15 to get the V8 back in its rightful place. The name was given a nod in a recent teaser video, which showed an F-15 fighter pilot grabbing some cookies from a table with Kuniskis standing nearby.

While the 2024 Ram 1500 offered a Hemi V8, putting it in the 2026 model wasn’t as straightforward as you’d think. Instead, it required 18 months of hard work as there were a lot of things happening behind the scenes.

The end result is a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that produces 395 hp (295 kW / 400 PS) and 410 lb-ft (555 Nm) of torque. It’s a $1,200 option and comes standard with a performance-tuned exhaust.

Ram is expecting the V8’s return to generate a lot of excitement, and this will likely result in a rough couple of months initially. However, once things settle down, there should be plenty of Hemis to satisfy customers.

You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return
You Can Thank Ford And GM For Hemi’s Return

Michael Gauthier / Carscoops