Ram has announced the changes to its 2024 models. Back in May, Stellpower wrote that “Either the 2024s or 2025s are likely to jettison the Hemi V8s in favor of Hurricane Sixes, with the possible exception of the 6.4 liter truck engines in the Heavy Duty lineup.”
All that has changed now is the dates: the 2025 Ram 1500 will be a hefty update to the current models, and quite likely will come without a Classic model on the old DS platforms. The Durango, in contrast, will have Hurricane engines but otherwise will carry over from 2024. The Durango has been selling reasonably well, and Dodge leaders, having enough to do with new cars, may well ask, why change what doesn’t need to be changed?
Ram has yet to talk about this, but officials have already said the Hemi itself is on borrowed time. Jeep’s 4xe in the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler is a more powerful alternative to the Pentastar V6, producing near-6.4-Hemi acceleration.
Before the Hurricane can more forward, though, Stellantis will have to figure out how to make enough of them. This may give the Hemi a bit more life, especially since the next-generation Charger and Challenger will draw on Hurricanes as well.
The Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are built on the Ram “DT” platform, so some of the work of adding it to the Ram 1500 is already done. The Hurricane 510 has 510 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque, edging out the 6.4.
STLA Frame’s first vehicle, the Ram 1500 REV, is set to be a 2025. That suggests that the Ram 1500 “DU” series may arrive for the 2025 model year, and that’s when we’d expect the Hurricane; it would give the company enough time to add enough six-cylinder production. The straight six is only made in Saltillo, Mexico. Supply constraints may result in V6 engines staying on for base models, with Ram-rebranded 4xe a premium option.
This all concerns the Ram 1500. The 6.4 truck Hemi may continue on, since “heavy duty” pickups such as the Ram 2500 and 3500 don’t have quite the same fuel-economy pressure, and many would prefer a solid, overbuilt V8 engine for heavy towing and such. When this is phased out, it could be replaced by a specially tuned truck Hurricane which has less power but is coupled with electric motors for greater torque, to have a less-stressed powertrain for durable heavy hauling.
Even now, our conclusion remains the same as in February—Ram will almost certainly be adopting the Hurricane twin-turbo in-line six. The company already told buyers to expect the 2025 Durango to be a repeat of the 2024 but with new straight-six engines. And of course the Dodge Challenger will continue with a hot six instead of its hot Hemi—and other than Hellcats, it should be faster than the current models, while having better economy. It looks like the Mopar people are going to do more-for-less in 2025.
