The 2025 model year will mark an important milestone in the history of the Ram 1500. The Stellantis truck brand last week trumpeted the end of the Hemi V8s under the hood of the full-size pickup, engines that have formed for 20 years the core of their identity. Its range of engines will now be entirely composed of six-cylinders to reduce their — great — thirst. The surprise, however, lies under the hood of a new plug-in hybrid version called Ramcharger which attempts to find the antidote to “range anxiety”.
These large rocker-arm V8s will soon bow out to make way for twin-turbo in-line six-cylinders from the Hurricane engine family launched by the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer to reduce the thirst of these behemoths. Two liveries will share the options sheet, one with 420 hp and 469 lb-ft and the other with 540 hp and 521 lb-ft. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 will also survive in mild-hybrid form. All engines will be backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission. Note that the towing capacity still drops by 530 kg in the transition compared to the 2024 vintage.
Otherwise, apart from a new convex grille, the offer will remain similar. A new RHO variant will attempt to fill the space left vacant by the departure of the Ram 1500 TRX with the 540-hp version of the six-cylinder Hurricane.
The announcement was also accompanied by a major surprise: the addition of a plug-in hybrid version to the van range, a first in its segment. Called the Ramcharger, it employs a 3.6L Pentastar V6 used solely as a generator. There is therefore no mechanical link between it and the wheels. When the 92 kWh battery runs out, it takes over to produce electricity.
Ram estimates the total range to be 700 miles when the fuel tank is full and the battery is fully charged. The electric range is estimated at 230 km. The 400 V electrical architecture also ensures a maximum charging power of 145 kW. It also provides bi-directional charging which can theoretically partly power a house in the event of a power outage.
The combined power of the two electric motors is 663 hp and the maximum towing capacity is 6,350 kg, more than 1,000 kg more than the Ram 1500 with combustion engines only.
The first Ram 1500s will arrive in dealerships in early 2024, while the Ramcharger version does not yet have a specific timeline. The previously announced REV electric livery will go on sale in late 2024.