Ram's V8 mistake fixed: New CEO confirms V8 power to return with 2026 Ram 1500 update - but will the Hemi engine get an Australian release date?

Corporate mea culpas are an exceptionally rare phenomenon, but recently installed RAM CEO Tim Kuniskis has come up with one for the ages.

In announcing the return of the 5.7-litre ‘Hemi’ V8 to the 2026 Ram 1500 line-up he said: “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.

“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.”

Kuniskis confirmed the move is a direct result of customer input and that the 295kW/556Nm 1500 V8 is scheduled to join existing ‘Hurricane’ twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder models in US dealerships within the next few months.

“Ram will continue to offer the more powerful and more efficient Hurricane straight-six turbo, but we heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic Hemi V8," he said.

“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!”

To that end, each 2026 Ram 1500 Hemi will feature a “Symbol of Protest Badge” created by the Ram design team, with the brand’s horned mascot bursting through a V8 engine block.

The 2026 Rami 1500 Hemi also features ‘eTorque’ mild-hybrid tech with a belt-driven motor generator replacing the alternator, working with a 48-volt battery powering the standard stop/start system and providing additional torque on demand, direct to the crankshaft.

But the big question for Aussie Ram devotees is whether the reloaded V8 is a candidate for local ‘remanufacturing’ necessary for the change from left- to right-hand drive configuration.

A Ram Trucks Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide: “The return of the Hemi V8 is a decision that has been made for the US market. As it stands today, there is no guarantee the Hemi V8 will return to Australian showrooms.

“As with any development, we will continue to review and evaluate what options are made available to us from the vast Ram catalogue in the US.

“We know there are customers who love the sound of a V8, and the Hemi V8 is still available in our Ram 1500 Big Horn model while stock lasts.

“However, customers have also embraced the new Hurricane twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine in our latest Ram 1500 models. The Hurricane engine remains an integral part of Ram’s future.

“With more power and torque – and better efficiency – than the previous 5.7-litre Hemi V8, we believe the new Hurricane engine series will over time become iconic in its own right.”

Watch this space.