The 6th-Gen Ram Will Be I6 Powered–But That’s Not All
- Big changes at Ram Trucks: 2025 Ram 1500 models to feature twin-turbocharged inline six with 510 horsepower.
- Hybrid power likely in the works to replace the supercharged Hellcat.
- A groundbreaking 880 horsepower EV on the horizon for Ram, possibly with independent rear suspension.
Check out the chart below to see how Ram’s V8 engines stack up against the new Hurricane I6 we’ll see in the 2025 Ram 1500. The future of Ram Trucks is uncertain – there’s still a lot we don’t know. That said, I do have a few predictions. Let’s dive into what awaits the new Ram Pickup truck.
New Ram truck 3.0-Liter Hurricane I6 engine vs. 6.4- and 5.7-Liter Hemi V8 comparison chart
| 5.7-Liter HEMI V8 (Ram 1500) | SO “Hurricane” I6 | 6.4-Liter HEMI V8 (Ram 2500) | HO “Hurricane” I6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 5.7 liters (345 cubic inches) | 3.0 liters (approx. 183 cubic inches) | 6.4 liters (392 cubic inches) | 3.0 liters (approx. 183 cubic inches) |
| Horsepower | 363-395 horsepower | 420 horsepower | 470-485 horsepower | 510 horsepower |
| Torque | 394-410 lb-ft | 468 lb-ft | 470-475 lb-ft | 500 lb-ft |
| Boost | Naturally-Aspirated | 22 psi | Naturally-Aspirated | 26 psi |
Will the Ram 1500 be redesigned in 2024?
The pattern for Ram has been a mid-generation powertrain upgrade. The announcement of a “new generation” usually comes later, with a complete visual redesign.
So when will Stellantis release its 6th-gen Ram 1500? I expect Ram to toss its V8 for a new turbocharged I6 in 2025, then roll out a “sixth-gen” Ram truck with the same engine two or even three years later.
What are the changes for the 2025 Ram 1500?
The sixth-gen Ram 1500 will be built on Stellantis’ largest shared chassis (STLA “Full”). The multinational conglomerate plans to leverage this one chassis for Ram trucks and multiple SUVs. Stellantis says this chassis will support both fully electric and gasoline hybrid powertrains.
I got my first look at the STLA Full chassis at Detroit’s auto show in fall 2023. It was underpinning the Ram 1500 “Revolution” concept EV. One feature that will shock traditionalists is its independent rear suspension. But after the new Jeep Wagoneer demonstrated independent rear suspension can reliably tow 10,000 pounds, this switch makes sense.
When Ram announces an independent rear suspension half-ton truck around 2027, it will get the industry’s attention. But it will also be in line with the reputation Ram has built for a smooth-riding pickup. How did Ram get this reputation? It introduced a new five-link suspension setup with coil springs at all four corners with its fourth-generation redesign.
The engine options in future Rams may be just as surprising, and advanced, as their cutting-edge suspension.
Will the 2024 Ram 1500 have the Hurricane engine?
Ram has announced its 2024 pickup trucks will feature the same Hemi V8s we have come to love over the last 20 years. But the automaker has also been testing some I6-powered 1500s, including what appears to be an I6-powered TRX. There are also some even more advanced concepts in the works.
Stellantis has already engineered its V8 replacement. The 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged “Hurricane” I6 will be the efficient and powerful engine under the hood of future Ram trucks. This engine already powers upper-trim Jeep Wagoneers and Grand Wagoneers. It comes in two tunes, on par with the 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter Hemi V8s.
The high-output Hurricane makes an impressive 510 horsepower. But that’s not enough for the next Ram 1500 TRX (the current TRX has the SRT Hellcat’s 700+ horsepower supercharged V8). So what is Ram to do?
A decade ago, I think Ram would have shipped an I6 off to SRT to see if they could swap in a supercharger and try to get 700 horsepower out of the already tightly wound little engine. And maybe they could have. But I think Ram–and SRT–would rather push the envelope with future-proof powertrains.
Is Ram coming out with a new truck?
Yes, Ram has announced concepts for the Ram Rampage – a new small truck – and the Ram REV electric pickup truck. In addition, new powertrains and tech will grace the lineup. In order to compete, Ram will likely move toward electrification with a Ram 1500 hybrid model.
The latest Toyota Tundra TRD Pro features a new “i-FORCE MAX” hybrid. This powertrain features a 3.4-liter turbocharged V6 and electric motor. It makes 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. I expect an SRT version, that starts with a 500 horsepower I6, could easily hit 700 horsepower.
The i-FORCE MAX’s electric motor is sandwiched between the traditional engine and automatic transmission. Therefore, it has a traditional drivetrain between its transmission and wheels. But an alternative way to get 700 hybrid horsepower to the ground might look more like the new Corvette E-Ray, with a gasoline motor turning the rear wheels and an electric motor spinning the fronts. Stellantis’ most powerful electric motor is rated for about 440 horsepower. So, an SRT “through the road” hybrid could offer 900+ total horsepower.
Either Ram hybrid setup could offer a large battery pack and a few miles of electric-only range. This would line it up with the “4xe” plugin hybrids, which are quickly becoming Jeep’s top-trim engine offering.
Finally, we have the all-electric “SRT Banshee” powertrain in the pipeline. This is the dual-motor setup underpinning the Dodge Charger Daytona EV concept car. I fully expect its output to be announced at 880 horsepower. I don’t think we’ll see an all-electric TRX, I think we’ll see a hybrid TRX and an all-new electric halo truck. This truck might look like the Ram 1500 “Revolution” EV concept. But it may also be something entirely unexpected: an all-new SRT-E street racer.
Will there be a 2025 Ram 1500 TRX?
Absolutely. There’s no way Ram cuts such a recognizable and lucrative model. The 2025 Ram 1500 TRX might have a 510 horsepower I6, or even a 700 horsepower hybrid version of that powertrain. But it probably won’t be the most powerful Ram available in the near future.
Eagle-eyed Ram fans have noticed a series of camouflaged test trucks out and about. These are all short bed/short (quad) cabs. This is a configuration you can’t currently order, but it is the lightest weight Ram 1500 the automaker could currently build. It looks lowered. It has some kind of stiffener/rollbars connecting its cab and bed. And most intriguing, its rims appear borrowed from the infamous Dodge SRT10 street racer.
The test trucks are internal combustion units. So, this new SRT street racer Ram may share a hybrid I6 powertrain with the next TRX. But Ram’s return to gnarly muscle trucks may be a preview of its future halo Ram electric truck models. Could the 800+ horsepower “Revolution” supertruck come in both off-road racer and street racer configurations? We’ll just have to wait and find out.
Next, find out why the range-extended Ram electric truck “Revolution” will be as much locomotive as truck, or see spy shots of the 2025 Ram 1500 for yourself in the video below:
