RAM 2500 Warlock brings back Hemi V8

RAM Trucks Australia has officially revived Hemi V8 power, confirming the new MY26 RAM 2500 Warlock will arrive in local showrooms from next month with a naturally aspirated 6.4-litre petrol V8. The off-road themed Warlock becomes the first Hemi-powered RAM sold locally in almost two years and marks the first time in a decade that a petrol V8 has been offered in the Australian 2500 Heavy Duty range. Pricing starts from $157,950 plus on-road costs.

The arrival of the RAM 2500 Warlock confirms suspicions from earlier this year, with the local distributor bringing back the Hemi badge Australians have been asking for since the final 5.7-litre-powered RAM 1500 rolled off Melbourne's remanufacturing line in late 2024.

Unlike the Cummins-powered 2500 Laramie, the Warlock is designed as a more adventurous alternative. It receives Bilstein off-road shock absorbers, coil-spring rear suspension, 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 285/60 all-terrain tyres, black fender flares, black side steps, black bumpers and a blacked-out front fascia.

Power comes from a naturally aspirated 6.4-litre Hemi V8 producing 306kW at 5600rpm and 582Nm at 4000rpm, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and selectable 2WD and 4WD modes.

While well down on the 1152Nm generated by the 6.7-litre Cummins turbo-diesel, the petrol-powered Warlock remains a serious tow vehicle. RAM quotes towing capacities of 3500kg using a 50mm ball, 4500kg with a 70mm tow ball and up to 6700kg when fitted with a genuine goose-neck hitch and air brakes.

RAM Trucks Australia general manager Jeff Barber said customer demand was the driving force behind the V8's return.

“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.

The Warlock also reflects growing local demand for Heavy Duty pick-ups, with RAM noting more buyers are stepping up from conventional utes into larger trucks for towing, touring and work duties.

Inside, the six-seat cabin features a 12-inch infotainment display, LED headlights, spray-in bed liner, radar cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assistance and a new driver fatigue monitoring system.

The MY26 RAM 2500 Warlock broadens the Heavy Duty range and gives buyers a genuine alternative to the diesel-only formula that has dominated the segment in recent years.

Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin from October 2026, with the first right-hand-drive examples already rolling off RAM Trucks Australia's Melbourne remanufacturing line.

The new model also establishes a beachhead for the Hemi nameplate's return and is likely to reignite speculation about whether V8 power could eventually make a comeback elsewhere in the RAM line-up.

How much does the RAM 2500 Warlock cost?
RAM 2500 Warlock Hemi V8 – $157,950
*Prices are plus on-road costs

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au