Ram has yet to announce changes to its 2024 models, which makes sense given that they usually come out in August. 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.
Ram has yet to talk about this, but officials have already said the Hemi is on borrowed time. Jeep uses the 4xe system in the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler as a more powerful alternative to the Pentastar V6; and they use the Hurricane now in the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, replacing both the 5.7 and 6.4 Hemi engines (which are still available in the lowest trim levels). 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 almost certainly draw on Hurricanes as well.
The Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are built on the Ram “DT” platform, so it’s clearly possible to add it to the Ram 1500. The Hurricane 510 would be enough, with 510 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque, for “most powerful” bragging rights in the Ram 1500. The big question now is timing. The 2024 model year may be too early; 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. It’s replacing the Hemi at Saltillo, where there’s clearly enough room to make one or the other, but probably not both—and supply constraints are not desirable. That suggests the company may be assuming some volume will move over to a parallel-to-4xe setup, or that they are cleverer than we expect.
On the other hand, adding the Hurricane as an option would both gauge customer acceptance and provide some real-world feedback, to a degree easing the testing of, and switch to, the Hurricane. It’s rarely good to replace everything at once. 2024 is, then, still possible. And, of course, so is keeping the gasoline 2025 Ram 1500 on DT while making the Ram 1500 REV on DU.
As for the 6.4 truck Hemi: it 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 true trucking work. When this is phased out, it could be replaced by a specially tuned truck Hurricane which puts out less power but is coupled with electric motors for greater torque, the idea being to provide a less stressed powertrain for heavy hauling over the long term.
Even with the new information and passage of time, our conclusion remains the same as in February—Ram will almost certainly be adopting the Hurricane twin-turbo in-line six, but when this will happen remains open to debate.
