The return of the Hemi V8 to the Ram Trucks Australia lineup comes not in the brand’s best-selling Ram 1500 range – where it was previously offered until 2024 – but in the larger, heavy-duty Ram 2500 Warlock.
The 2500 Warlock measures no less than 6066mm long, 2627mm wide and 2043mm high on a 3785mm wheelbase, and rides on 20-inch alloy wheels fitted with all-terrain tyres.
By comparison, the Ram 1500 is a still-large 5916mm long, 2474mm wide and between 1971-2006mm high, depending on the model grade, and rides on a 3672mm wheelbase.
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The decision to bring the Hemi V8 back first in the heavy-duty 2500, rather than the light-duty 1500 in which the V8 is now once again also offered in the US, reflects a local shift towards larger-bodied pickups, says Ram Trucks Australia general manager Jeff Barber.
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Supplied Credit: CarExpert “The segment is growing all the time, and we’ve seen phenomenal growth in our heavy-duty sales in the last 12 months. Since we launched the new model in September last year, we’ve seen a 92.1 per cent growth in our sales, which is fantastic.
“It’s quite big… bigger caravans, bigger boats. Everyone’s toys are getting bigger, essentially, and we’re finding that a lot of people are now thinking, ‘Okay, I’ve had a 1500, this time around I’m going to get a 2500’.”
While it’s the first Hemi V8 model available in Australia in nearly two years, the Warlock is the first V8-powered Ram pickup introduced to the local lineup since the Ram 1500 Big Horn in 2015.
The Warlock’s standard braked towing rating of 3500kg can be increased to 4500kg with a larger tow ball, while an optional gooseneck fitting helps unlock a towing capacity of up to 6700kg. Standard payload is 1275kg.
Supplied Credit: CarExpert “Some customers want a more affordable or even more capable heavy-duty [pickup],” Mr Barber said. “The Warlock is designed to tick both of these boxes.”
While the Ram 1500 competes with the Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra, only the Chevrolet Silverado HD directly rivals the larger Ram 2500 and 3500 models in Australia.
The Silverado HD has outsold the Ram 2500 and 3500 by some margin so far in 2026, with Ram now adding stock as the Warlock arrives to better cater for growing demand for the larger-bodied models.
“We’ve seen the shift towards heavy-duty in the segment. People coming from 1500 vehicles and stepping up to 2500 models, or coming out of large SUVs, and we’re priming our business to meet that customer demand.”
Supplied Credit: CarExpert VFACTS figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show Ram 2500 sales are up 64.6 per cent so far in 2026, to 591 vehicles, while 3500 sales have risen from seven to 112.
Combined, the two heavy-duty Ram pickups have recorded 703 sales, up 92.1 per cent as Mr Barber mentioned, although they remain behind the Chevrolet Silverado HD on 986 deliveries.
That gives Ram and Chevrolet a key advantage over Ford and Toyota, which don’t offer larger-bodied pickups.
While the Silverado HD is offered only with a 6.6-litre turbo-diesel V8, the 2500 Warlock adds a 6.4-litre petrol V8 alongside the 6.7-litre six-cylinder Cummins turbo-diesel available in other Ram 2500 and 3500 models.
Supplied Credit: CarExpert Ford Australia has responded to the shift towards greater payload and towing capability with its V6 turbo-diesel Ranger Super Duty, which offers up to 4500kg of braked towing capacity and payloads of up to 1982kg.
The V8 will make a comeback to the Australian Ram 1500 range next year, but will initially be offered only in flagship performance models such as the TRX, which is scheduled to arrive in early 2027.
A Ram Trucks Australia spokesperson told media at the Warlock launch: “Every second call Jeff puts in to the US at the moment is about TRX. The other ‘every second call’ is ‘can we please get more heavy-duty?’. So there’s definitely a shift from the 1500 class to the heavy-duty class, and we want to answer that call.”
Supplied Credit: CarExpert Amy Augustine, head of Ram Trucks International product and sales, also noted the shift to larger utes in Australia.
“Over the last 11 years, we learned that many Australians are asking a lot out of their mid-sized pickup,” Ms Augustine said at the Warlock media launch in Melbourne.
“Some customers might say that the mid-size [Ranger, Toyota HiLux size] is enough, but today enough doesn’t always translate to confidence.
“So our Ram 2500 is built for that long-distance towing, family space, and all the gear that comes with that active lifestyle and gives a customer that capability they need without sacrificing comfort.
Supplied Credit: CarExpert “This Warlock has already proven its appeal in the United States. In fact, it has been moving off the dealer lots 60 per cent faster than the overall Ram 2500 lineup. That is a strong indication that our customers are responding to what that truck delivers. We also are seeing strong momentum for gasoline-powered models as well.
“Believe it or not, our gasoline trucks sell 35 per cent faster than our diesel models, and in some North American markets, gas outsells diesel, and in other markets, it’s a 50/50 split. So, we believe that this Ram 2500 Warlock can achieve the same success here and carve out a unique position in the Australian market.”
MORE: Explore the Ram 2500 showroom