Ram has released all the information on its new 2025 Ram 1500. The truck sees a wide range of updates, from a new premium Tungsten trim to far more advanced driver assistance technology. But the biggest news comes in the form of drivetrain changes, with Ram’s venerable V8 Hemi engine line being replaced by a 3.0-lier, twin-turbocharged “Hurricane” inline six.
For traditionalists who love the power — and exhaust note — of a V8 engine, it’s not easy saying goodbye to the Hemi. The new six-cylinder Hurricane engine is offered in two forms, with both providing more horsepower and torque than the standard Hemi V8 they replace. With two small turbos feeding three cylinders each, throttle response from the Hurricane should match or beat the naturally-aspirated V8, with turbo lag a non-issue.
But ask those same traditionalists why they love the Hemi V8 and they’ll confirm it goes beyond power ratings and power delivery. The V8 is an American tradition going back over 100 years to Cadillac’s “L-Head” engine. It was truly popularized by the 1955 Chevy V8 that started out with 265 cubic inches and eventually became the ubiquitous small block 350. Over the next 70 years the V8 engine would power luxury cars, muscle cars, sports cars, and the majority of America’s pickup trucks.
But while the V8 engine has evolved to create ever more power, and even relatively clean exhaust emissions, it can’t keep pace with the aggressive fuel efficiency and CO2 regulations staring down the auto industry. The result is a slow-but-steady death knell, with everything from V8 Chevrolet Camaros and Dodge Challengers to advanced supercars from McLaren turning to turbochargers and fewer cylinders.
The two vehicles featured in these photos, a 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and Ram 1500 TRX, arguably represent the peak of V8 evolution. Both are powered by the same supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 engine that has motivated thousands of Dodge Challengers, Chargers, and Durango Hellcats, along with Jeep Grand Cherokee Track Hawks and Ram 1500 TRXs. Most of those V8s made between 700 and 800 horsepower, but in the original 2018 Demon the power was upped to 840 hp, and in this “Final Call” 2023 Demon 170 the magic number is 1025 hp.
Having owned both a 2018 Demon and this 2023 Demon 170, I can reaffirm why the majority of automotive enthusiasts love the V8 engine. The depth and breadth of torque, accompanied by supercharger whine up front and burbling exhaust in back, is something no other engine offers. And while I only spent about a week with the TRX seen in these photos, I was similarly smitten with the truck’s trifecta of comfort, capability, and unmitigated pull streaming from its 702 horsepower Hemi V8.
The future of vehicle performance will undoubtedly be built on smaller engines with fewer cylinders and cleaner emissions. And with modern technology you can be confident these engines will offer plenty of power. But regardless of the numbers in the spec box are, they won’t be V8s. And as they say — IYKYK.