It is official – the 5.7-liter Hemi is returning to the 2026 Ram 1500 lineup and the company expects to have new Hemi-powered pickups on dealership lots this summer. To be more specific, the 5.7-liter Hemi eTorque engine will return as an option in the Tradesman, Big Horn, Express, Warlock, Laramie, Rebel, Limited and Longhorn models, with the same 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque which was available when the engine was removed from the lineup.
While the 5.7-liter Hemi engine itself isn’t changing, there are a few unique attributes of those 2026 Ram 1500 models packing V8 power. Most notably, the loud-and-throaty GT Sport exhaust system will be standard on all Hemi-powered models, as will the new “Symbol of Protest Badge”, shown below. As you can see, this badge has a stylized Ram’s head logo with the body of a Hemi engine block with headers. The previous Hemi font badges will not be used for these 2026 Hemi trucks.
“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 V-8 engine, we’re igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers,” said Tim Kuniskis, CEO, Ram brand. “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 V-8. 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!”
The 5.7-liter Hemi will come standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission and the buyer’s choice of rear- or four-wheel-drive. When properly configured, the 2026 Ram 1500 with the Hemi can tow up to 11,470 pounds and haul up to 1,750 pounds. As mentioned above, the Hemi delivers 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, well below that output of the 3.0-liter Hurricane SO at 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque, along with offering higher towing and hauling ratings. Those folks who pick the Hemi will be “cylinder counters” who care more about the sound than the output, but that sound comes with a fee.
In 2026 Ram 1500 pickups with the standard output Hurricane engine (Tradesman, Big Horn, Express, Warlock, Laramie, Rebel), the Hemi costs $1,200 extra over the Hurricane, but in the Tradesman, Express, Warlock and Big Horn, the standard engine is the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Getting up to the Hurricane SO in those trucks costs $1,695 and the Hemi is $1,200 on top of that.
In the Laramie, the Hurricane is standard, so adding the Hemi only costs $1,200. In Limited and Longhorn models with the high output Hurricane, the Hemi comes with no extra cost, but those trucks have a higher price point due to the HO engine with 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque, so those buyers will be paying high output prices for Hemi specifications.
Again, Tim Kuniskis expects to see 2026 Ram 1500 pickups with the 5.7-liter Hemi in dealerships this summer, with some ramp-up time needed to get them to dealers across the country.
Patrick Rall is a professional writer and photographer with a passion for all things automotive. Having grown up in his father’s performance shop, he spent extensive time at the oval track and drag strip – both driving and wrenching on various types of vehicles. In addition to working as a writer, Patrick previously worked as an automotive technician before moving on to a business office position with a chain of dealerships, and this broad spectrum of experience in the industry allows him to offer a unique look on the automotive world. Follow Patrick on Twitter, Facebook and on Youtube.
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