Ram resurrects Hemi engine for popular pickup trucks in ‘Symbol of Protest’

[Sherminator98]

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/05/ram-hemi-engine-pickup-trucks.html

[twintornados]

Quote

“Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle them defines you. Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi — we own it and we fixed it,” Kuniskis said in a press release. “We’re not just bringing back a legendary V-8 engine, we’re igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers.”

 

So, are you gonna give those that bought the truck with the I-6 turbo a discount to get a hemi?

[rmc523]

Aka our sales suck because we cancelled the only thing people wanted in our product, so we're going to reverse course lol.

 

*cues Hemi Charger in 3.....2.....1......

[twintornados]

I am left thinking, can an inline six cylinder head be built with a "hemispherical" combustion chamber design??

Edited June 6 by twintornados

[rmc523]

29 minutes ago, twintornados said:

I am left thinking, can an inline six cylinder head be built with a "hemispherical" combustion chamber design??

 

But it's not a v8!

[twintornados]

48 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

 

But it's not a v8!

 

But, would it be called a HEMI? I mean, that is the description of the word....right? When Ford introduced the Escort to US markets in 1981, it came with a "compound valve hemispherical" head design....but, nooooooo...we got stuck with a CVH designation....

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_CVH_engine

Quote

The Ford CVH engine is a straight-four automobile engine produced by the Ford Motor Company. The engine's name is an acronym for either Compound Valve-angle Hemispherical or Canted Valve Hemispherical, where "Hemispherical" describes the shape of the combustion chamber.

 

[mackinaw]

2 hours ago, twintornados said:

..But, would it be called a HEMI? I mean, that is the description of the word....right? When Ford introduced the Escort to US markets in 1981, it came with a "compound valve hemispherical" head design....but, nooooooo...we got stuck with a CVH designation....

 

Give Chrysler all the credit in the world in making the hemi monicker theirs.  Pure marketing genius.

 

But, the hemi-head design dates back to 1905.  A Belgium automaker called Pipe was the first to use a hemispherical combustion chamber on a four cylinder, Fiat followed suit in 1907.  Chrysler brought out theirs in 1951.

 

[Rick73]

3 hours ago, twintornados said:

I am left thinking, can an inline six cylinder head be built with a "hemispherical" combustion chamber design??

I believe the “Hemi” name has value to their customers, but also think it goes well beyond that.  As discussed in other threads, there are still a lot of truck buyers which prefer a naturally-aspirated large-displacement pushrod engine.  Chevy doesn’t have a “Hemi” per se but sells a ton of pushrod V8s even though they may use a bit more gas.  And Ford with Godzilla brought back high-displacement NA pushrod to Super Duty.  And to be clear, I’m not arguing whether it should be this way or not, just that RAM is not alone in having to deal with demand for these “old school” engines.

 

FYI: Chrysler apparently had a Hemi-6 inline engine in Australia a long time ago.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Hemi-6_Engine

 

Truck buyers want so much power today that it may be hard to get from a naturally aspirated I-6 Hemi, especially if limited to around 3-liter Hurricane architecture.

[Rick73]

Interesting estimate from RAM that they expect higher take rate on Hemi than Ford gets from V8 in F-150.

 

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2026-ram-1500-hemi-v-8-engine-option-returns-first-look

 

Quote

Kuniskis thinks the take rate for the Hemi will be in the 25 to 40 percent range with dealers ordering probably too many initially. Demand will then level off but stay higher than at Ford, for example, where 25 percent opt for a V-8 in their F-150s. Ram should have a higher take rate because the Hemi is a well-known name and because there are many loyalists who will buy it for the sound alone, he says.

 

[akirby]

In my experience Ram buyers are very different than Ford buyers.  No surprise they want v8s.

[Rick73]

In fairness we can say the same about Chevy/GM buyers wanting V8s too.

[akirby]

6 hours ago, Rick73 said:

In fairness we can say the same about Chevy/GM buyers wanting V8s too.

They’re not even close to the same, at least in the South.  

[Rick73]

Don’t forget Ford Super Duty buyers want V8s too.

[akirby]

Just now, Rick73 said:

Don’t forget Ford Super Duty buyers want V8s too.

If you see a v8 diesel truck with 5” exhausts “rolling coal” on other cars and pedestrians there is an 80% chance it’s a Ram and only 10% ford or Chevy.

[2005Explorer]

23 hours ago, Rick73 said:

In fairness we can say the same about Chevy/GM buyers wanting V8s too.

I know people that have recently bought F150s that wanted the V8 as well so it's not just GM or Ram thing. Although Ford sells more V6 Ecoboosts it is smart to offer a V8 option. From everything I've read the 5.0 V8 accounts for about 20-25% of F-150 sales. That's a plenty large enough share to continue to offer it and give buyers a choice. The fact that the F150 uses the same block and many components of the 5.0 in the Mustang likely helps keep costs lower with the increase in production volume.

 

Ford has been smart to continue the 5.0 V8 in the F-150 and I'd argue it's the best V8 in a 1/2 ton truck offered right now by any manufacturer. The GM V8s (especially the 6.2) is plagued with problems. The HEMI is very inefficient for it's size and has had a host of it's own issues.

[Rick73]

44 minutes ago, 2005Explorer said:

I know people that have recently bought F150s that wanted the V8 as well so it's not just GM or Ram thing. Although Ford sells more V6 Ecoboosts it is smart to offer a V8 option. From everything I've read the 5.0 V8 accounts for about 20-25% of F-150 sales. That's a plenty large enough share to continue to offer it and give buyers a choice. The fact that the F150 uses the same block and many components of the 5.0 in the Mustang likely helps keep costs lower with the increase in production volume.

 

Ford has been smart to continue the 5.0 V8 in the F-150 and I'd argue it's the best V8 in a 1/2 ton truck offered right now by any manufacturer. The GM V8s (especially the 6.2) is plagued with problems. The HEMI is very inefficient for it's size and has had a host of it's own issues.

Some guys just prefer naturally-aspirated larger-displacement engine options even if it costs them a bit more on gas compared to turbo sixes, or turbo four in Chevy’s case.  Can’t really blame them because other than higher emissions, a larger engine may end up costing less to own overall.  Coyote V8 with its DOHC design is undoubtedly more advanced than RAM and Chevy pushrod V8s, but likely costs more to manufacture, and IMO repair if kept long term.  Other than higher cost, Coyote is also a little larger than Hemi or Chevy V8 AFAIK; though ease of packaging in full-size pickup shouldn’t matter given available space under hood.  Anyway, a simple low-cost  V8 has some advantages, and disadvantages too; which is why I agree buyers should be given a choice.

[ANTAUS]

And sadly, they introduce the same engine without any upgrade in power.  But you gotta please the "there's no replacement for displacement" crowd, so have at it... And yes, from my experience, the RAM buyer is very different from the Ford buyer.  From fellow friends, it's the ones with bad credit who were denied by Ford and GM, and ended up with a RAM.

 

[Sherminator98]

16 hours ago, Rick73 said:

Some guys just prefer naturally-aspirated larger-displacement engine options even if it costs them a bit more on gas compared to turbo sixes, or turbo four in Chevy’s case.  Can’t really blame them because other than higher emissions, a larger engine may end up costing less to own overall.  Coyote V8 with its DOHC design is undoubtedly more advanced than RAM and Chevy pushrod V8s, but likely costs more to manufacture, and IMO repair if kept long term.  Other than higher cost, Coyote is also a little larger than Hemi or Chevy V8 AFAIK; though ease of packaging in full-size pickup shouldn’t matter given available space under hood.  Anyway, a simple low-cost  V8 has some advantages, and disadvantages too; which is why I agree buyers should be given a choice.

 

But yet the only way to get the Hemi is with a mild hybrid setup

 

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2025/06/20250606-hemi.html

 

[Rick73]

1 hour ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

But yet the only way to get the Hemi is with a mild hybrid setup

 

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2025/06/20250606-hemi.html

 

Motor Trend made it sound like 48V mild hybrid was part of required fix for 2025 RAM 1500 having a different electrical system, where RAM borrowed from Jeep to make bringing Hemi back possible in 6 months instead of 18 months.  Mild hybrid should improve MPG some, and may have been required for certification.  Who knows what’s true behind the scenes.

 

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2026-ram-1500-hemi-v-8-engine-option-returns-first-look

 

 

The bottom line is that some buyers want what they want, and manufacturers do not have the right to tell them they are wrong and must want something else; within reason of course.  Much of the underlying problem centers around questionable regulations (from buyers’ perspective at least) which are not consistent with results they are meant to achieve.  Somehow it’s wrong to install a 7.3 Godzilla in an F-150 but it’s OK to circumvent the green movement by buying an F-250 instead, and drive it exactly the same while wasting even more gas due to added truck weight.  Some people don’t care and understand the government’s logic, and others find it infuriating.

[Biker16]

1 hour ago, Rick73 said:

Motor Trend made it sound like 48V mild hybrid was part of required fix for 2025 RAM 1500 having a different electrical system, where RAM borrowed from Jeep to make bringing Hemi back possible in 6 months instead of 18 months.  Mild hybrid should improve MPG some, and may have been required for certification.  Who knows what’s true behind the scenes.

 

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2026-ram-1500-hemi-v-8-engine-option-returns-first-look

 

 

The bottom line is that some buyers want what they want, and manufacturers do not have the right to tell them they are wrong and must want something else; within reason of course.  Much of the underlying problem centers around questionable regulations (from buyers’ perspective at least) which are not consistent with results they are meant to achieve.  Somehow it’s wrong to install a 7.3 Godzilla in an F-150 but it’s OK to circumvent the green movement by buying an F-250 instead, and drive it exactly the same while wasting even more gas due to added truck weight.  Some people don’t care and understand the government’s logic, and others find it infuriating.

Small Car buyers scream into the Void. 

Ford’s Hot Hatch Is Now Officially History

[Sherminator98]

1 hour ago, Rick73 said:

Somehow it’s wrong to install a 7.3 Godzilla in an F-150 but it’s OK to circumvent the green movement by buying an F-250 instead, and drive it exactly the same while wasting even more gas due to added truck weight.  Some people don’t care and understand the government’s logic, and others find it infuriating.

 

The government sets the rules as to how this is all supposed to work-and the F-250 is a significantly bigger/heavier vehicle and costs more then the F-150 

[GearheadGrrrl]

This is a "protest" I'll happily skip- $50+K for a pickup that will bankrupt me at the pump?

[2005Explorer]

2 hours ago, Rick73 said:

Motor Trend made it sound like 48V mild hybrid was part of required fix for 2025 RAM 1500 having a different electrical system, where RAM borrowed from Jeep to make bringing Hemi back possible in 6 months instead of 18 months.  Mild hybrid should improve MPG some, and may have been required for certification.  Who knows what’s true behind the scenes.

 

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2026-ram-1500-hemi-v-8-engine-option-returns-first-look

 

 

The bottom line is that some buyers want what they want, and manufacturers do not have the right to tell them they are wrong and must want something else; within reason of course.  Much of the underlying problem centers around questionable regulations (from buyers’ perspective at least) which are not consistent with results they are meant to achieve.  Somehow it’s wrong to install a 7.3 Godzilla in an F-150 but it’s OK to circumvent the green movement by buying an F-250 instead, and drive it exactly the same while wasting even more gas due to added truck weight.  Some people don’t care and understand the government’s logic, and others find it infuriating.

I think the 5.0 V8 is a better V8 offering in a light duty versus the 7.3 which seems much more focused to heavy duty work versus day to day performance. Ford offers the Powerboost if you really need the ultimate in towing capacity. Basically if the 5.0 isn't V8 enough you're likely overworking an F-150 anyhow.

[twintornados]

16 hours ago, 2005Explorer said:

I think the 5.0 V8 is a better V8 offering in a light duty versus the 7.3 6.8 which seems much more focused to heavy duty work versus day to day performance. Ford offers the Powerboost if you really need the ultimate in towing capacity. Basically if the 5.0 isn't V8 enough you're likely overworking an F-150 anyhow.

 

There ya go....

 

[Rick73]

19 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

The government sets the rules as to how this is all supposed to work-and the F-250 is a significantly bigger/heavier vehicle and costs more then the F-150 

That doesn’t answer why the government should have a say on how any of us choose to “waste” gas which is the fundamental issue I’m questioning.  I know how regulations work, but why are they so blatantly stupid?  They limit an F-150 from realistically getting a 7.3 Godzilla because it would be a “bad thing”, but then any of us can just waste even more gas by buying an F-250 that’s an even greater gas guzzler, right?  And even worse, regulations allow any of us to buy a 20,000-pound motorhome with a Godzilla 7.3 V8 that gets 8 MPG.  How in the hell did regulators determine that was right, fair, just, or whatever we want to call it.

 

I love camping and motorhomes so not picking on them.  The same can be said about boating being a waste of gas, or private airplanes to essentially take joy rides.  I know regulators went after transportation because they think affecting the masses is most effective in reducing GHGs, but how they approached the problem is wrong in my opinion.  Nobody likes to be told they can’t do something while your neighbors are told it’s OK if they do (I’m referring to being energy wasteful).

 

To be clear, I don’t support wasting gasoline or energy in general, love efficiency and 100 MPG cars.  The only thing I’m pushing back on is how regulations are structured.  In many cases they are counterproductive and push buyers to make worse choices.