2026 Ram 1500 V8 Is Back! Why Ram Changed Their Mind

The V8 is making a comeback. Ram is officially bringing the HEMI-powered 1500 pickup back for the 2026 model year, and it is arriving sooner than many expected. Although it will not be the standard engine, for those who still want that eight-cylinder rumble under the hood, the option will be available for up to $1,200 depending on the trim level. Ram’s order books are open now, and the trucks will hit the streets this summer.

Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis did not shy away from admitting that removing the V8 from the lineup in 2025 was a mistake. “Ram screwed up when we dropped the HEMI—we own it and we fixed it,” he said. After the switch to an all six-cylinder engine lineup disappointed loyal buyers, Ram reversed course fast.

Under the hood, the 5.7-liter V8 returns with the same 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque as before. It still includes the eTorque mild hybrid system, allowing Ram to bring the engine back without needing new certifications or recalibrations. “Make it exactly the way it was,” said Kuniskis. That decision helped Ram bring the V8 back in just six months instead of the originally estimated 18 months.

The V8 will be available on several trims including Tradesman, Big Horn, Express, Warlock, Laramie, Rebel, Limited, and Longhorn. Pricing will vary, but the upgrade is free on Limited and Longhorn models that come standard with the 3.0-liter high-output inline-six engine. For trims with the standard-output six-cylinder, the V8 costs $1,200.

Ram is also adding a new touch to trucks equipped with the HEMI—a new “Symbol of Protest Badge” featuring a ram’s head over a HEMI block. It will be placed on the front fenders to make sure everyone knows your truck means business.

The revived V8 brings strong capability numbers. Payload capacity reaches up to 1,750 pounds, and the maximum towing capacity is 11,470 pounds, which is right in line with what many Ram fans expect from their trucks.

The decision to bring back the V8 came immediately after Kuniskis returned to the brand in December. Ram quickly formed a special internal team, codenamed F15, to figure out how to make the V8 work with the 2025 model’s new electrical architecture. That platform had been designed for the Rev and Ramcharger electric variants, not for a traditional V8. Daryl Smith, the former SRT chief engineer, was chosen to lead the F15 project and made the turnaround in just six months.

Ram has promised 25 product updates in the next 18 months, and the return of the HEMI is just the beginning. While a mid-size truck is in development, fans hoping for the return of the TRX should stay tuned. The brand has stated that any future announcement involving “those three letters” will come with proper positioning. Until then, the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 will remain alive in the 2026 Dodge Durango Hellcat.