Ram is bringing back the V-8 Hemi

Get ready for another slate of commercials telling you “it's got a Hemi.” Stellantis is bringing back the engine design banned by Nascar for being too dominating.

2026 Ram 1500 pickup trucks will once again have a 5.7 liter Hemi V-8 engine option, the company announced yesterday, saying its resurrection was due to customer demand. The engine was discontinued last year amid tightening fuel economy regulations and a companywide push toward EVs.

• Hemi engines have been a company staple since the 1950s. Moving forward, Ram expects the Hemi engine option to represent 25%-40% of its 1500 pickup trucks’ sales.
• These new vehicles won’t feature the word “HEMI” on the side, as in years past. Instead, the company has created a new badge that features a ram’s head coming out of a Hemi engine that it’s calling its “Symbol of Protest.”

What is a Hemi? An engine design characterized by a hemispherical combustion chamber. This shape, where the cylinder head looks like a dome, allows for better airflow and combustion efficiency, leading to increased power and torque compared to traditional engines.

Zoom out: Ram’s Hemi resurrection comes as automakers are increasingly walking back EV plans. 71 new electric vehicle models are expected to be offered over the next four years, about half of what was forecast two years ago, according to Bank of America projections.