What a turnaround! What was thought to be Australia’s final Hemi-powered RAM 1500 rolled off Walkinshaw’s Clayton production line in December 2024, with future RAM 1500s to be powered by the twin-tubo Hurricane six-pot.

And while the Hurricane is a hard-pulling engine, RAM 1500 sales have continued to fall from their peak of almost 6000 in 2023, recording just 2674 in ’25. Ever-growing competition in that US dual-cab sector doesn’t help, now doubt.

We learned last month that the mental Hellcat-powered TRX SRT and Rumblebee versions of the 1500 will be sold in Australia in 2027, but today it was announced that Aussies will have the opportunity to once again buy a brand new Hemi-powered vehicle even sooner.

The new kid on the Hemi block will be the 6.4-litre Hemi-powered Ram 2500 Warlock. The Warlock is all about off-road vibes, wtih Bilstein suspension, black fender flares, 20in alloys and 33in all-terrains. The first examples have already been through the Clayton remanufacturing line and deliveries will begin next month. The ask? $157,950, plus on-roads.

The 6.4-litre produces 306kW at 5600rpm and 582Nm at 4000rpm, with an eight-speed auto and selectable two-wheel-drive high, four-wheel-drive high and four-wheel-drive low modes. The 6.7-litre Cummins diesel in the RAM Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 will continue to be offered – and has the Hemi beat for torque, pumping out a massive 1152Nm.

RAM Truck Australia pegs towing capacities for the Warlock at 3500kg (50mm tow ball), 4500kg (70mm tow ball) and up to 6700kg when using a genuine RAM goose-neck and air brakes.

RAM Trucks Australia general manager Jeff Barber reckons customer demand was the driving force behind the reintroduction of the Hemi.

“Australian customers told us loud and clear they wanted the Hemi V8 to come back, and the Warlock was our first opportunity to do so,” Barber said.

“We had also been exploring the option of an off-road inspired Ram 2500 Heavy Duty model for some time, so the Warlock was the perfect opportunity to bring the HEMI V8 back and deliver customers a broader choice.

“The Cummins diesel is still very much a part of the Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty line-up, but we know there are also customers who want the Hemi V8. We have seen a market shift towards Heavy Duty in recent years, as customers get even more serious and more demanding with what they want from a truck – whether it’s for work or play.”