End of an era for V8 icon

Aussie petrolheads with a thirst for V8 power have fewer and fewer options each year.

The clock is ticking for V8 engines.

RAM has remanufactured its last V8-powered ute in Australia, retiring the iconic Hemi engine for good.

The powerful motor with a carefully shaped hemispherical chamber above its pistons – hence the ‘Hemi’ name – has powered a broad range of models including the Chrysler 300 SRT muscle car, Jeep’s Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and the RAM TRX super ute.

RAM has finished production of Hemi-powered V8 utes. Picture: Supplied

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Overseas, the engine featured in Ford Mustang rivals such as the Dodge Charger and Challenger.

RAM is part of the Stellantis group, which has shifted away from V8s across brands such as Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Maserati.

Modern V8 icons such as the Mercedes-AMG C63 have also switched to fewer cylinders, giving petrolheads fewer options each year.

Folks who want V8 grunt without buying a luxury car can snap up a Ford Mustang GT or Nissan Patrol.

Jeep’s affordable V8 wagons are sorely missed.

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More expensive alternatives include the Lexus LC500 sports car, or the BMW M5 and its SUV cousins such as the X5M and XM.

Though Mercedes-AMG no longer offers V8 power in sub-$200,000 machines such as the C63 and GLC 63, you can still have it in big boppers such as the Mercedes-AMG GT and G-Wagen.

Wealthy enthusiasts have plenty of options to choose from at the top end of town, including the Lamborghini Urus, Audi RS6, Aston Martin Vantage and Ferrari Roma.

Back on planet earth, RAM has converted almost 28,500 machines from left-hand-drive to right-hand-drive at its facility in Victoria.

Supercharged versions of the Hemi make outrageous power.

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RAM Trucks Australia general manager Jeff Barber said there are a handful of V8 models left in stock.

“All good things must come to an end and it’s time for us to farewell the iconic HEMI V8,” he said.

“Australians love their utes and they love their V8s and the RAM 1500 delivered the best of both worlds.

“Our customers – many of whom have come from traditional utes and four-wheel-drives – tell us they appreciate the extra space, the extra comfort, and the stronger towing performance, and clearly that’s why these vehicles are so popular.

“We will have a very worthy successor next year powered by a new-generation turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine, but we will have more to say about that closer to local showroom arrivals.”

RAM models will see the outgoing 291kW V8 replaced by turbocharged six-cylinder engines with a choice of 313kW or 403kW outputs.

It’s unlikely to match the enormous 523kW and 882Nm of supercharged RAM TRX models.

Originally published as End of an era for V8 icon