Another automaker revisits V8 power

Ram discontinued its absolutely bonkers range-topping Ram 1500 model, the TRX, by sending it off with a “Final Edition” model, as done with almost all Hellcat-powered Stellantis products. Like with many other “last Hemi-powered” Stellantis products, it turns out there might be a few more in the pipeline.

Ram 1500 dropped the V8, but maybe not forever

The Ram 1500 entered a new generation in 2025 but did so without including any option for a V8 engine. Previously, a duo of V8s could power the truck; a 5.7-liter at the entry level or a supercharged 6.2-liter unit plucked from the Hellcat in the top trim TRX. Shoppers were instead stuck with a choice of turbocharged inline-sixes. Dubbed the Hurricane engine, the twin-turbo 3.0-liter makes either 420 or 540 horsepower, depending on trim. That’s nice, but it isn’t the 702 horsepower TRX buyers enjoy in the top dog, currently defunct truck. The soundtrack isn’t quite the same, either. But there’s good news on the horizon.

New leaks suggest that the V8 is coming back to the market. An alleged email released on Sportsnaut suggests that not only is the TRX coming back, but it’s getting more power, too. Over at Mopar Insiders, their “reliable sources” have confirmed that the Ram TRX “will indeed make a comeback in 2026…it will have HEMI V8 power under the hood.” Mopar Insiders has a few takes on why the next Ram 1500 TRX will make more power. The first—and most optimistic—take is that Ram will rely on the remaining stock of Redeye engines. Those 797-horsepower units have already made their way under the hood of the Durango and its numerous special editions. Alternatively, it could be a retuned Hellcat engine that pushes power up to 717 horsepower. That would still be 15 over the outgoing model. Either works for us.

A CEO change could mean all the difference for the Hemi V8

“Everybody wanted to keep [the Hemi V8],” said a source in a CNBC interview back in December. In the interview, ousted CEO Carlos Tavares is blamed for nearly every wrong turn Stellantis took in the last 12 months. Including, of course, the decision to pursue greener pastures instead of leaning into the Ram bread and butter—V8-powered trucks. With Tavares out of the picture, Stellantis is apparently free to bring back the V8. The company will look good doing it, too, as they can blame everything on the wayward CEO. The counterpoint is that a new CEO hasn’t yet been appointed; in the interim, a committee led by Chairman John Elkann is at the helm. So all of this could change quickly as the organization names a new CEO, which should happen in the next three months.

Final thoughts

Stellantis will likely not make the same mistake twice. A new CEO that’s V8-friendly might be just what the brand needs to get some traction. More importantly, a V8 supertruck could be the first brick towards building a lineup of Stellantis vehicles that anyone actually cares about.