The legendary Hemi V8 could return to the Ram 1500 in Australia – but it is far from a guarantee, and if the green light is given, it would be multiple years away, the US brand says.
Ram Trucks Australia will not rule out a return of the V8-powered Ram 1500 pick-up – but it is no certainty for showrooms, and if it is approved for local showrooms, it would be multiple years away.
Jeff Barber, general manager of the US pick-up brand’s operations in Australia, told local media there are “no guarantees” the V8 would return to showrooms Down Under after it was re-introduced to Ram North America price lists in recent months.
“The inline-six, or the Hurricane, is going incredibly well, and we see that as the future,” Barber told Australian media at the launch of the new Ram 1500 Rebel.
“If at some point in the future, we are offered a Hemi, and there is consumer demand for it, and there’s a business case, we’ll have a look at it.
MORE: Ram 1500 returns to V8 power in the US, but no guarantee for Australia
“There are no guarantees. But, any decision like that takes a long time to consider and bring to market, so there will be nothing in the next couple of years, that’s for sure.”
Key to the return of the engine for the Australian market will be securing the stock required to ensure the business case stacks up.
Shortly after the new six-cylinder Hurricane drivetrain was introduced in Australia earlier this year, Ram Trucks global boss, Tim Kuniskis, announced the Hemi would return as an option for Ram buyers in the US market.
MORE: Ram 1500 V8 reaches end of the line in Australia as final example built
“Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle them defines you. Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi — we own it and we fixed it,” Kuniskis said in a media statement, “… we heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic Hemi V8.”
The V8 is offered as a $US1200 ($AU1850) option on most turbo six-cylinder models in the Ram range, and produces 295kW/556Nm from its 5.7-litre capacity.
It was not a straight swap from the previous Ram 1500, however, as the latest model uses an updated electrical architecture that required the V8 to be re-engineered for the vehicle, US publication Motor1 reports.
It would typically take 18 months to complete the process, but it was accelerated to six months.
Ram Trucks Australia has just ticked past 34,000 new pick-up sales since it launched its extensive import, re-manufacturing and right-hand-drive conversion production line for the Australian new car market.
Sales are down 15.5 per cent so far this year, though it was skewed by the later arrival of the updated Ram 1500 range, its top seller.
The Ram 1500 Rebel has now joined Laramie Sport and Limited variants in the 1500 range, while buyers looking for an even bigger vehicle can opt for the 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty workhorse models.
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