Ram reportedly ditching the Hemi V8 for a six-cylinder

We’re a day closer to waving goodbye to the iconic Hemi V8 as Ram Trucks is reportedly making the switch to the new Hurricane six-cylinder engine.

Mopar Insiders, a US-based Dodge and Ram publication, shared the news earlier this week that the fifth generation pickup will receive a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six as part its middle-aged refresh. While that means the 5.7-litre V8 is on its last legs, the talk of a smaller engine doesn’t necessarily correlate to a decrease in power.

The six-cylinder is already used in various Jeep models such as the Wagoneer and is offered in both ‘standard’ and ‘high-output’ trim, producing 298kW and 610Nm of torque, as well as 373kW and 644Nm respectively. Even in ‘standard’ trim, the Hurricane boasts 7kW and 54Nm more than the Hemi.

It’s worth noting the changes were spotted on the Ram 1500 so we can’t exactly say if the TRX or larger 2500/3500 will receive the six-cylinder just yet.

However, it is also reported that the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 will continue to be offered as the base engine for the 1500. That’s at least in the US anyway as we only get the V8. All powertrains will continue to be hooked up to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.

Mopar Insiders also offered a glimpse into the updated truck’s design, albeit much of it was camouflaged. Up front is a new grille as well as a redesigned front bumper, while the tailgate is said to follow the look of the fully electric REV’s. There’s also a set of newly-styled 20-inch wheels.

As for the interior, this also gets an upgrade with what looks to be the new Uconnect 5-equipped 14.5-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.25-inch display for the passenger.

It is expected that the new Ram 1500 fitted with the six-cylinder will launch in mid-2024.