Ram’s Hemi Pickup Truck Reversal Echoes an Industry-Wide About-Face

The brand dropped the 5.7-liter V8 from the 1500 series, only to bring it back as part of a renewed commitment to internal combustion.

Black RAM pickup truck performing a burnout with smoke surrounding the rear wheels on a racetrack.

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By Gray Van Dyke

Published December 30, 2025

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The Ram 1500 secured a spot on this year’s roundup not because of anything new that it brought to the table. Rather, we felt it worthy of inclusion due to the fact that the truck made a return to Hemi V8 power, as it’s a change that speaks to the state of the automotive world at large.

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Last year, Ram discontinued the 5.7-liter option in favor of its more powerful and more efficient Hurricane Straight Six Turbo as part of a larger Stellantis mixed-energy strategy.

Black RAM pickup truck parked on a racetrack under a partly cloudy sky. — The Hemi returns to the Ram 1500 after a short absence, but it’s nevertheless an impactful statement.

However, following continued consumer outcry and a significant change in leadership personnel, the brand reversed its decision and reintroduced the engine to the 1500 series for 2026.

As if that wasn’t enough, Ram has since reframed the whole ordeal as a marketing opportunity, announcing its commitment to internal combustion through a new “Symbol of Protest” badge and cancelling the development of its all-electric Ramcharger pickup.

Chrome and black engine emblem on the side of a black vehicle near the wheel arch. — The “Symbol of Protest” badge speaks to Ram’s continued commitment to internal combustion.

In any case, the initial discontinuation and subsequent reintroduction of a V8 as iconic as the 5.7-liter Hemi (and from a truck like the Ram 1500 no less) is much more than a mere administrative error. It’s a moment that epitomizes an ongoing and industry-wide about-face regarding automotive electrification.

Black RAM pickup truck performing a burnout on a racetrack with smoke around the rear tires. — Ram’s cancellation of the Ramcharger EV echoes the rest of the industry’s response to the changing political climate in the United States.

After all, on a federal level, the United States’s hesitancy to embrace EVs has resulted in not only the discontinuation of tax credits but also the nullification of emissions standards.