2026 Ram HD: The long-contested heavy-duty truck war continues to heat up following the all-new 2023 Ford Super Duty launch. Stellantis has unveiled the updated 2025 Ram 1500 in several variants over the past few weeks, including the Rebel, Warrior, and RHO, suggesting that upgraded heavy-duty components will soon be coming.
Ford Authority has also spotted the 2026 Ram HD testing in two different forms before the model’s official launch.
Wearing camouflage covering the front and rear of each truck, the two prototypes consist of a 2026 Ram HD 350 Dally and a Ram HD 2500 Rebel. The Dally is more of a street-legal vehicle; the Rebel puts a sportier spin on the Ram series’ workhorse.
Despite the camouflage, it’s clear that the 2026 Ram HD is slated to get new headlight designs, a minimally redesigned front grille, and some changes to the rear.
The Rebel prototype also features a set of Goodyear Wrangler Duratec tires and a new radar panel below the front grille. The interiors of both models are extensively covered, suggesting that certain cabin upgrades are also in the pipeline.
What kind of powertrain changes might be made to the 2026 Ram HD lineup is unclear.
While the Ram 1500 made waves with its switch from a V8 to a new twin-turbocharged Hurricane I-6, previous reports have suggested Stellantis may be looking at a hydrogen alternative for the HD model that could arrive as early as late 2025. For now, it remains to be seen if that will happen.
Redesign: Big Changes and Update
So far, we know that the 2026 Ram HD has been spotted experimenting with a new prototype of the revised 2500 HD model. While this prototype is intended for the Rebel class, most cosmetic changes should be seen on other courses of heavy-duty pickups.
For the revised 2500 HD lineup, a launch for the 2026 model year makes the most sense. It would be the most significant modification to the current pickup truck that arrived in 2019.
The camouflage kit shows lighting changes at both ends and a new front fascia design. Specifically for the Rebel, a new grille also appears to be scheduled.
The new grille appears to have a more streamlined look than the existing one (pictured below), following in the footsteps of the smaller Rebel 1500, which also saw its grille cleaned up with its 2025 model year update. It also features reasonably large sensors.
The prototype rides on Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac All-Terrain tires, the same type used on the modern Rebel.
Our photographer claims the prototype’s interior also features camouflage gear, suggesting an upgrade to the cabin.
V-8 engines are being phased out under the Stellantis brand, including Ram’s revised 1500 series, which will be gone by 2025. Even the 1500 TRX, with its Hellcat, has been replaced by the new 1500 RHO, which has a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-6.
However, the revised 2500 HD should retain its V-8 for now. Its 410-horsepower 6.4-liter V-8 is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The other is a 6.7-liter turbodiesel inline-6 from Cummins, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
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2026 Ram HD 7.2L ZF Trucks
During the first half of this year, the Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, and Ram brands all saw their sales plummet; the auto industry went wild trying to figure out why. Claiming that underperforming brands could be sold or merged with other groups, Stellantis executives dismissed rumors that they might sell Maserati and Chrysler or blamed the regional headquarters executives for the recent disappointing performance.
Their high standards for what’s currently on offer are to blame.
Furthermore, do they believe Dodge will achieve milestone sales with the Charger, which doesn’t have the venerable Hemi V8 under its hood, or with the Hornet, an unstable Alfa Romeo in disguise?
Fortunately, rumors suggest the company is hard at work on the other end of the spectrum; a heavy-duty version is expected to arrive later this year or early 2025 for the 2026 model year, either as a new generation or through a complete refresh.
Reports suggest the big Ram HD could even double its diesel output with a new 7.2-liter Cummins inline-six alongside the current 370-hp and 420-hp 6.7L options and will retain the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 a bit longer.
In terms of power (around 500 horsepower) and especially in terms of 1,200 lb-ft of torque, the latter could finally match the Ford Super Duty. Of course, take all this with a grain of salt, including installing ZF’s famous eight-speed automatic transmission that should deliver 10% fuel economy and better throttle response.
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The parallel world of automotive CGI is already challenging at work in the imagination of digital car content creators. Based on this new assumption, the good folks at YouTube’s AutoYa info channel have unofficially imagined a CGI rendering of the upcoming 2026 Ram 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty models and included these interesting technical details.
The channel’s resident pixel master has chosen to highlight the Ram 2500 and 3500 HD from several angles, including a conventional color roll and a glimpse at possible interior upgrades. So, what do you think?
Verdict
The most recent 2026 Ram HD models are predicted to vary significantly in the following years. Both prototypes, which feature the 2026 Ram HD 350 dually and the Ram HD 2500 Rebel hidden by camouflage covering the front and back of every pickup, should show changes. The Dally is more of a regular vehicle; the Rebel gives the formidable Ram lineup some sportiness, and the 2026 Ram HD will have a new headlight design, redesigned front grille, and some rear changes.
We’ll keep you updated with more developments regarding the 2026 Jeep Cherokee, so be sure to bookmark our website for more Cherokee Jeep news and coverage of exciting Jeep information.
