Longer wait for the Hemi, according to analyst

AutoForecast Solutions’ weekly bulletin reported that at least one version of the Hemi V8 other than the current 6.4 truck engine will return to production, as Mopar Insiders reported in March.

However, rather than appearing in August, as Insiders wrote, new copies of the old V8s will show up in early 2026, based on requests for quotes sent  to suppliers. This matches other insiders’ reports that items needed for the Hemi are not close to production.

Mopar Insiders reported that all three missing V8s, the 5.7, 6.4 SRT, and 6.2 Hellcat, would return to production starting in August. Stellpower has been unable to confirm or deny these plans, and AutoForecast Solutions was not specific on which versions might be returned; but they implied the 5.7 may be most likely, for the Ram 1500. While Insiders was certain they would be made in Dundee, Michigan, the main likelihood is that they will be made somewhere in the United States to avoid tariff threats. The most recent Hemi series was made in Mexico.

The 5.7 and 6.4 are less powerful and less fuel efficient than the Hurricane straight-six engines which replaced them. The 6.2 “Hellcat,” ranging in its later years from 717 to 1,025 horsepower, has no gasoline-fed equivalent at Stellantis, but a later version of the electric Dodge Charger, dubbed Banshee, was expected to beat its acceleration.

While demand for the refreshed Ram 1500 has fallen with the lack of a V8, demand for the Ram 2500 and 3500 have fallen as much, and their V8 remains in place.

Source: AutoForecast Solutions

David Zatz

David Zatz started what was to become the world’s biggest, most comprehensive Mopar site in 1994 as he pursued a career in organizational research and change. After a chemo-induced break, during which he wrote car books covering Vipers, minivans, and Jeeps, he returned with Patrick Rall to create StellPower.com for daily news, and to set up MoTales for mo’ tales.

David Zatz has around 30 years of experience in covering Chrysler/Mopar news and history, and most recently wrote Century of Chrysler, a 100-year retrospective on the Chrysler marque.