Latest news with #Hemi
CNBC
5 days ago
- Automotive
- CNBC
Why Ram had to revive its legendary Hemi V-8 engine
American pickup truck buyers are having some trouble adjusting to a new age of tightening emissions requirements and electrification. Stellantis — the parent company of brands like Ram Trucks, Jeep and Dodge — has been hit especially hard. The company briefly removed its popular gas-powered Hemi V-8 engine from much of its lineup, including from the Dodge Challenger and Charger, and the Ram 1500 half-ton pickup. Ram fans revolted. In an effort to revive the brand, recently installed CEO Antonio Filosa rehired company veteran Tim Kuniskis to run Ram. Kuniskis is also overseeing all the North American brands, including the reformed in-house performance shop Street and Racing Technology, or SRT. One of Kuniskis's first moves has been bringing the V-8 back to the 1500 pickup truck. Ram Truck sales had dropped every quarter since the company switched the engine in the 1500 to an inline-six-cylinder called the Hurricane. The Jeep and Ram brands are especially important to Stellantis. RBC Capital has estimated that about 50% of the automaker's profits come from those two brands. Kuniskis said dropping the Hemi would lose Ram at least 30,000 truck sales every year. "With loyalty running in 75% to 80% in the truck segment, you don't want to lose any of those customers," he said. Ed Kim, President and chief analyst at AutoPacific, a company that surveys car owners, said he had driven a vehicle with the new Hurricane engine. "It's a very nice engine," Kim said. "It's very refined. It's very smooth. On paper it's better in every way — well, better in many ways." But the Hemi had a certain brand name and reputation among Ram owners the Hurricane could not replace, he said. "Everybody, even if you don't know what Hemi is, you know, the term," Kuniskis said. "'Oh, it's got a Hemi.'" The decision to go "greener" — or use smaller engines and invest in electric vehicles — kicked into high gear when the Euro-American Fiat-Chrysler merged with France's Groupe PSA in 2019. PSA CEO Carlos Tavares took the helm of the newly formed Stellantis. Some of those changes alienated fans. "The wrong people were trying to guide America, American enthusiasts, in a direction they did not want to go and still don't want to go," said Mike Gresham, director of recruiting for Central Texas Mopars, a car club dedicated to cars in what is commonly considered the Chrysler or Mopar family of brands — Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, and Ram, along with defunct brands like Plymouth. "Americans associate truck performance with V-8 engines and Ram in particular," Kim said. "The Ram customer in particular, really, really, really loves the idea of having that big American V-8 under the hood." Kuniskis expects about 40% of Ram buyers sooner or later to settle on the Hemi engine. That's a lot higher than the Ford-150 V-8 take rate of about 25%, but slightly lower than General Motors — which Kuniskis attributed to the fact that, apart from a diesel, GM offers a choice of two V-8s or a four-cylinder. Ford F-150 buyers can swap in a V-8 for free on most versions of the truck. Ram buyers have to pay an extra $1,200 unless they get the high-end Limited or Longhorn trims. Kuniskis said he thinks a lot of people will choose the Hemi anyway. "Hemi is not really just a V-8. It's kind of a brand in and of itself. It's become a thing," he said. Watch the video to learn more.
West Australian
10-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
X marks the spot for Pacgold's big bulls-eye gold target near Cairns
Pacgold Limited has unveiled a multi-million-ounce lookalike target at its Alice River gold project in Far North Queensland. Based on the results of high-intensity induced polarisation (IP) surveys, the company's geologists are drawing parallels between the lookalike and the nearby 5-million-ounce Mt Leyshon gold deposit. Pacgold says the latest anomaly at its White Lion prospect perfectly aligns with a previously identified 'bullseye' magnetic anomaly, with the increased target confidence inferring a potential major gold discovery. The prospect is setting pulses racing as the company gears up to drill test its target for the first time in the December quarter this year. White Lion sits just 500 metres south of the 30-kilometre-long Alice River fault zone. It has emerged as a priority target after an extended IP survey revealed a robust chargeability feature sitting atop a doughnut-shaped magnetic anomaly at 200m depth. Spanning more than 1.5km by 1km, the anomaly is further spiced up by coincident resistivity lows, hinting at sulphide-rich or clay-altered zones akin to those that made Mt Leyshon a tier-one gold-hosting system. A magnetic low southwest of the anomaly, potentially linked to magnetite-destructive phyllic alteration, only strengthens the comparison. Surface mapping has already uncovered a 250m-long outcropping quartz breccia at White Lion, with historical shallow drilling from the 1980s confirming anomalous gold along its extent. The heart of the magnetic anomaly remains untouched by the drill bit, leaving Pacgold with a tantalising untested target that's screaming for exploration. The company's IP survey has also pinpointed multiple resistivity anomalies lining the Alice River fault zone, mirroring gold-bearing structures seen at Pacgold's Central, Southern and Posie prospects to the northwest. Pacgold is wasting no time trying to capitalise on its breakthrough, with heritage clearances now underway to unlock drilling across the 1.5km by 1km target zone. To sharpen its aim, the company is running pole-dipole IP surveys over the central White Lion area, with results due by late July to further refine drill targets. Meanwhile, a broader regional IP program is mapping an 8km stretch of the fault zone, hunting for structural jogs and dilation zones that could host more gold systems like the company's 470,000 ounces of gold grading 1.0 grams per tonne (g/t) at Central. The Alice River project sprawls across 377 square kilometres in the gold-rich North East Queensland province, which sits alongside multi-million-ounce monsters such as the Pajingo, Kidston and Ravenswood gold systems. Management is eager to draw parallels between the project's 854,000-ounce intrusion related gold system and its potential to rival global heavyweights, such as Fort Knox in the United States and DeGrey Mining's 9.5-million-ounce Hemi discovery in Western Australia. With only 5 per cent of the Alice River fault zone's mineralised strike tested to date, Pacgold is chasing a district-scale prize that could redefine its place - and share price - in the gold exploration game. The company was recently backed by a chunky $5.6 million capital raise that included the likes of resources heavyweights such as Acorn Capital, Resource Capital Funds and resources broker Argonaut. The raise will power a 10,000m reverse circulation drilling program across Central, Posie, Southern and other regional targets, such as Victoria and Jerry Dodds. The White Lion will have to wait for now, but if the Mt Leyshon analogy holds, Pacgold could be on the cusp of uncovering a multi-million-ounce system that lights up the ASX and Queensland gold exploration to rival the insatiable WA market. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
The Drive
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
I Want To Believe in the New SRT, but I Just Can't Get There Yet
The latest car news, reviews, and features. From the very core of my being, I want SRT to thrive. I grew up with Viper posters on my walls, a Viper wallpaper on my PC, Viper die-cast models on my dresser, and Viper-inclusive racing games on whatever platform I could scrape money together for. I even watched the awful Viper TV show. Of course it was bad. It debuted when I was ten, and even I figured that out pretty quick. Suffice it to say, the trickle-down marketing worked wonders on my impressionable young mind. I automatically liked anything R/T. Neons? Durangos? Not for me, maybe, but still neat. And when R/T became SRT and rumors began swirling of a revived Hemi V8, I was all ears. Dodge showed the new Charger in New York that year. I still have magazines with the coverage in a bin someplace in the basement. On its face, it was proof that Dodge had a future selling something other than Chrysler re-badges with bright red paint. But it was more than that. It was big. It was bad. It was different . In a showroom full of four-door soap bars and bulbous pickup trucks, the 6.1-liter Charger's big nostrils made it look every bit as sinister as the Viper. I should be hyped beyond belief by this week's announcement that Stellantis is reviving SRT. But I'm not; in fact, I'm struggling to feel anything at all. Don't get me wrong, I see the parallels with the early 2000s. Much like today, Chrysler (at the time, half of DaimlerChrysler) was in a weird place. The 'Merger of Equals' with Daimler was already starting to fray, but the two companies had already crossed streams with quite a bit of their development. The Dodge/Chrysler LX platform was a product of that intermingling—a Chrysler-derived chassis altered to fit several key Mercedes-Benz components, including front and rear suspension elements along with its five-speed automatic transmission. But despite its new European backers, Chrysler was somehow broke. The Charger, 300, and Magnum looked great on the road, but their interiors were low-rent even by the standards of cars costing a third less. That cost savings extended to other key components, too. Not a single one of the company's first-generation SRT-8 models shipped with a mechanical limited-slip differential. It wasn't until the second year of Dodge Challenger SRT-8 production (2009, for the record) that one finally showed up. The Charger had to wait for its 2011 redesign. The 300's performance variant was simply killed off instead, and the Magnum was gone entirely by the time things started to get interesting. But what the big Mopars lacked in capability, they made up for in pure vintage charisma. And the timing couldn't have been better. Everywhere you looked, baby boomer nostalgia was at its peak. Every old fart with a rusting '60s muscle car seemingly expected to cash it in for a down payment on a retirement home. It didn't hurt that gas was still relatively cheap, and the truck boom had American engineers all fizzed up over what else they could put big engines into. What's the saying? History may not repeat itself, but it often rhymes? But despite those harmonizing threads, that sense of excitement is missing. And maybe that's because what Dodge is proposing this time around isn't new or different. In fact, if anything, it's the literal opposite. The 2006 Dodge Charger was a melding of a new chassis with old components to create something that stood out in the showroom. This time around, it's plainly obvious that they're desperate to have anything in a showroom at all. To be fair, if I'd struck gold with the Hemi the way Mopar did with the last generation of SRTs, I'd want to tap that vein again, too. But I'm concerned there's not nearly as much left there to mine as SRT hopes. A brand-new V8 Charger was far too rich for my blood back in 2006; I had to wait 10 years for my turn at Hemi ownership. My Plum Crazy 392 was a gently-used 2013 SRT8 with the pistol-grip six-speed. It was everything I wanted it to be—big, dumb, loud, and yet somehow completely invisible to law enforcement. It was a great car, all things considered, but once the novelty wore off, my interest faded quickly. I ended up selling it to Carvana in what was effectively a break-even deal during the height of Covid. Less maintenance and insurance—money I would have spent no matter what—I only paid about $1,500 out of pocket for four-and-a-half years of ownership. But despite my fondness for it, I have no desire to repeat the experience. I get why this strategy is appealing to Stellantis; simply put, it was the last thing that worked, and there are still some within the company who remember how. And there are many out there like me who would love to see it succeed. So why not? The ramp-up of the old SRT line was so accidentally perfect that I don't think they'll be able to replicate that success. It was the right idea for the moment, and a strong enough one that it managed to survive the relentless succession of not-so-ideal moments that followed it. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the appetite is still there. As for me? Wake me up when there's a new Viper. Do you also like two-door sports coupes with big, dumb engines? Share your feelings with the author at byron@
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Georgia Trooper Smacks Down A Street Takeover Lexus
Read the full story on The Auto Wire Watching cops chase down street takeover suspects is always so satisfying, like this Georgia trooper taking down a fleeing Lexus IS 300. After all, these guys shut down busy intersections like they own the city, snarl up traffic while doing all kinds of damage, all so their buddies can record videos for TikTok and Instagram. Read our guide to the best automotive photography accessories you can you get on Amazon here. When the trooper first happens upon the takeover in Atlanta, he encounters pedestrians standing in the intersection, as well as the Lexus ripping a smokey donut. Those people on foot smartly jump out of the way. But as the trooper starts chasing the fleeing IS 300, one pedestrian makes like he's going to jump in front of the patrol car. We can imagine he was trying to help out his buddy, but the guy apparently doesn't know that could come with serious criminal charges, not to mention he might get run over. Needless to say, even as far as takeover crowds come, these kids aren't the brightest crayons in the box. That's evident as the driver thinks his little Lexus can outrun a Dodge Charger with a Hemi. Then again, the street takeover crowd tries to act like car enthusiasts, but we've found they know little about cars. If they did and valued them, they wouldn't be trashing their rides for cheap thrills. Maybe this guy thought his experience doing tricks in intersections would make him a better driver than a member of Georgia State Patrol. But the trooper keeps up no problem. In fact, we're pretty sure he doesn't have to push his cruiser all that hard. But it's apparent the suspect is planting his foot down in the little Lexus while his hazard lights are flashing. Finally, after trying to use the might of all six cylinders of his car, he finally realizes that's not going to cut the mustard. That's when the guy starts making quick turns, but he still can't outhandle the trooper who PITs the IS out. As the suspect drives out of that, another trooper comes along and PITs the Lexus again. Surrounded by at least three troopers, the kid and his passenger give up. Hopefully they both realized street takeovers are a dumb idea. Image via State Boyzzz/YouTube Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Motor 1
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
2026 Ram 2500 Warlock: An Even Tougher Off-Road Truck
Ram is keeping itself busy right now. The V-8 Hemi is back in the 1500 , the brand is returning to NASCAR , and it just introduced a decade-long warranty for most of its models. Now, it's launching two new entry-level heavy-duty sport truck options—the 2026 Ram 2500 Black Express and 2500 Warlock. This is the first time Ram has offered a heavy-duty Warlock. It's only available in the Crew Cab 4x4 with the short bed, designed for off-road-oriented buyers. It rides on 20-inch diamond-cut wheels wrapped in 34-inch Goodyear Duratec A/T tires. It also has a black grille surround, black bumpers, and black fender flares. Other goodies include Bilstein shocks, an "anti-spin" rear differential, and a skid plate for the transfer case. Inside, there's a cloth bench seat and all-weather floor mats. The Black Express (pictured below) offers buyers a few more customization options. It's only available in the Crew Cab layout but with either the short or long bed in 4x2 or 4x4 configurations. It has a sport performance hood, body-color bumpers and grille surround, and 20-inch black wheels. Photo by: Ram The Express also features a cloth bench seat, carpeted floor mats, and black side steps. Both trucks are available in eight exterior colors: Diamond Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal, Silver Zynith, Forged Blue, Flame Red, Ceramic Grey, and Molten Red. 2026 Ram 2500 Power and Price Buyers can pick between the 6.2-liter V-8 Hemi or the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel for their truck. The Hemi makes 405 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque, while the Cummins produces 420 hp and 1,075 lb-ft of torque. Both engines pair with the brand's Torqueflite eight-speed automatic transmission. The 2026 Ram 2500 Warlock package costs $57,165 to start, $2,995 on top of the Tradesman trim. The Black Express is $2,495 more expensive than the Tradesman and carries a starting price of $53,735. Prices include the destination charge. Order books are open now for both, and 'in limited volume.' It'll arrive in the third quarter of this year. So call your dealership soon if you want one. Here's More Ram News: Ram Could Start Making Passenger Vans Ram: We've Thought About a Cheap Truck Like The Slate 'A Million Times' Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Ram Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
