**Stellantis Brings Back Iconic V-8 Hemi Engine for Ram 1500 Trucks**

In a surprising turn of events, Stellantis announced the revival of its renowned V-8 Hemi engine for its Ram 1500 full-size pickup trucks starting this summer. This 5.7-liter engine, previously discontinued due to stringent fuel economy regulations and a shift towards electric vehicles, is making a comeback to address consumer demand and market dynamics.

The decision to reintroduce the Hemi engine comes after the company had initially replaced it with the more efficient twin-turbocharged, inline-six-cylinder Hurricane engine. Tim Kuniskis, Ram CEO, who returned to the automaker late last year, candidly admitted that discontinuing the Hemi was a misstep. "We screwed up when we dropped the Hemi - we own it and we fixed it," Kuniskis stated. He emphasized that bringing back the V-8 is part of a broader strategy to offer more powertrain choices to customers.

The reintroduction marks a significant reversal in the company's focus, reflecting slower-than-expected adoption rates for electric vehicles and changing regulatory landscapes. This move comes amidst delays in plans for electric trucks and signals a renewed product strategy by Kuniskis, which includes 25 new product announcements over the coming 18 months.

Ram 1500 trucks with the Hemi engine will not carry the traditional "HEMI" badge. Instead, they will feature a newly designed logo dubbed the "Symbol of Protest," showing a Ram's head emerging from a Hemi engine. This new badge aims to attract customers who were disheartened by the previous push towards more efficient engines and electric vehicles.

Despite the reintroduction of the Hemi, Ram will continue to offer the Hurricane engine, with the Hemi being available as a $1,200 option on most models. The standard engine for entry-level models remains the 3.6-liter V-6. Kuniskis mentioned that prioritizing the Hemi's return was a top goal upon his return and credited a special project team, codenamed F15, for accelerating the reintroduction timeline from 18 months to just six.

While the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 delivers 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, it stands in contrast to the more powerful Hurricane engine, which offers 420 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque, with an even higher-output version rated at 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque. Yet, the Hemi is expected to account for 25% to 40% of Ram 1500's sales.

Kuniskis remains committed to eventually introducing electric and hybrid trucks to meet future emission and fuel economy standards but did not provide an updated timeline for these plans, which have experienced several delays.