New RAM Boss Calls Ditching V8 Hemi ‘Un-American’

Reappointed CEO Tim Kuniskis spoke candidly with Road & Track about the challenges of heavy-duty pickup trucks. The head of RAM does not believe that the rejection of the V8 Hemi engine is to blame for the 19% drop in sales: it is simply too early to draw such a conclusion. However, Tim Kuniskis is not happy that buyers were deprived of choice: there is no alternative to the Hurricane biturbo six from 2024.

“The main problem is that we have taken away a fundamental thing from the Americans. When you take away [у американцев] freedom of choice, they rebel. Whether it makes sense or not is irrelevant. This is un-American,” Tim Kuniskis commented on the retirement of the V8 Hemi. However, the top manager is not inclined to consider the transition to a turbo engine the only mistake: there are simply no trucks on the market in the configurations that should be available.

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For the first time in a decade, the RAM 1500 lost third place in the ranking of the best-selling cars in the United States. Based on the results of 2024, Toyota RAV4 took bronze. Tim Kuniskis returned to the post of CEO of RAM only recently, so the leader did not promise to return the Hemi V8. In an interview with Motor1.com, the specialist made it clear that right now it is impossible to supplement the line with an eight-cylinder engine for a number of reasons – it requires adaptation of the electrical architecture and building work with suppliers.

However, it looks like the return of V8s to heavy-duty pickups is being worked out: Tim Kuniskis has made it clear that a comeback is not impossible. In addition, the top manager admitted his love for multi-cylinder units. If President-elect Donald Trump keeps his promise and refuses to tighten environmental regulations, then a V8 renaissance is quite possible.

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