HEMI V8 returns to Australia in the new off-road Ram 2500 Warlock

Key takeaways

• First HEMI V8 in the Ram 2500 locally in 10 years
• Priced from $157,950 plus on-roads, deliveries start October 2026
• Bilstein shocks, 20-inch alloys and all-terrain tyres are standard

The HEMI V8 is back in Australian showrooms. Ram Trucks Australia has confirmed the Ram 2500 Warlock, an off-road flavoured version of its Heavy Duty ute, priced from $157,950 plus on-road costs with first customer deliveries due from October 2026.

It is the first time the Warlock has been sold here and the first time in a decade the HEMI V8 has been offered in the Ram 2500 locally. The last locally remanufactured HEMI was a 5.7-litre Ram 1500 Limited, built in late 2024.

Under the bonnet sits a 6.4-litre petrol V8 making 306kW at 5600rpm and 582Nm at 4000rpm, paired with an eight-speed automatic and dual-range four-wheel drive. Ram has also fitted a shorter 3.73:1 final drive, against 3.42:1 on the diesel.

Torque is where the V8 gives ground. The 6.7-litre Cummins diesel stays in the 2500 and 3500 range and remains the pick for buyers chasing maximum pulling power, so the Warlock is aimed squarely at people who want the noise, the throttle response and the off-road hardware.

Towing is rated at 3500kg on a 50mm tow ball and 4500kg on a 70mm ball, or 6700kg with the genuine goose neck accessory and air brakes. Payload is 1275kg.

Five colours are available with metallic paint adding $950.

"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," said Jeff Barber, General Manager of Ram Trucks Australia.

Positioning matters here. The Warlock undercuts nothing in the Heavy Duty class on price, but it gives the segment something the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD does not offer locally: a petrol V8 in a full-size Heavy Duty ute. Both are converted to right-hand drive in Melbourne, and both are chasing a buyer base that has steadily moved up from light-duty trucks like the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150.

What you get on the Warlock

• Bilstein off-road shock absorbers and coil-spring rear suspension
• 20-inch alloy wheels, up from 18-inch on the Laramie
• 285/60R20 all-terrain tyres in place of highway terrain rubber
• Black fascia, bumpers, fender flares, side steps and mirror scalps
• Warlock decals and LED headlights
• 12-inch infotainment screen and six seats
• Spray-in bed liner, tow bar receiver and 12-pin wiring harness
• AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, radar cruise, blind zone warning, rear cross-traffic alert
• New driver fatigue monitoring and updated lane-keeping assistance

Ram 2500 Warlock HEMI V8 specifications

View Ram 2500 driveaway pricing and specifications →

One thing to weigh up: that three-year warranty is short next to most mainstream utes, and running costs on a 6.4-litre petrol V8 towing heavy loads will not be gentle.

First Warlocks rolled off the Melbourne remanufacturing line in September, with showroom deliveries from October. The Cummins diesel continues across the 2500 and 3500 range, and Ram has not said whether the HEMI V8 will spread to other Heavy Duty variants.