In a surprise confirmation, Dodge publicly stated when it will end the V-8 production of the Charger and Challenger. This is further proof the death of the Ram 1500 5.7-liter V-8 Hemi is coming soon.
According to MotorAuthority.com, spokesperson Dave Elshoff said “… the Charger/Challenger platform and its Hemi (V-8) power go away after 2023. The unnamed replacement will be BEV.”
With this news on top of the announcement of a new Hurricane inline 6-cylinder turbocharged engine, the Ram 1500 5.7-liter V-8 Hemi days are officially numbered.
Why end the Ram 1500 Hemi production?
The reasons on why they would end the Ram 1500 Hemi production are varied, yet the top ones include: improving engine tech, tightening of emissions controls and changing customer mindset.
Basically, thanks to the Ford EcoBoost V-6 turbocharged engines’ success in recent years, many a truck customer who thought a truck isn’t a truck without a V-8 have changed their minds.
These small displacement engines produce more power and torque, are more fun to drive and have more fuel efficiencies than a V-8 engine in most conditions.
Plus, future emissions regulations are calling for cleaner-burning engines leading to the smaller V-6. For example, when the Toyota Tundra dropped the 5.7-liter V-8 for the 3.5-liter turbocharged V-6, it reduced emissions per mile by 40%. That’s a massive improvement just changing the engine.
Granted, small displacement V-6 engines will never sound as a good as a V-8, but the new approach of piping artificial engine noise into the cabin seems to have helped with those concerns.
The bottom line
While the Ram 1500 might still offer the 5.7-liter V-8 for another few years, we suspect it will be increasingly offered as an option and deleted from certain trim levels until it disappears from the half-ton truck completely. I’d suspect it will live on in the heavy-duty Ram truck lineup.
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4 comments
Jason
The Ram is at the end of the line getting rid of the HEMI, I have owned 2 Rams w HEMI and currently have a 2022 Bighorn. Never will I spend $70,000 on anything but a V-8.
With Chevy and Ford producing V-8’s people will jump ship and I’m talking big #’s. The only thing that may bring back or keep the HEMI is when Ford/Chevy take that V-8 business.
Anonymous
I have bought top of the line dodge trucks for a lot of years including the limited I always buy a truck with all options and if they think I’ll buy a full size pick with a 6 or 4 they are wrong and so will about I think about 80 percent of other buyers
Jason
I’m in exact same ship as you… Hell no!!!!
Very disappointed a thought w Dodge/Ram I found my “new” Pontiac that good thing is ending .
Jose Vega
Well all car manufacturers are moving away from v8 ,It sucks but is the reality,Just buy you a brand V8 truck now before they stop making v8.Biden ruined it for us V8 lovers.