Ram has always sold pickups and work vans. That’s about to change. The brand is bringing back the Ramcharger name for a full-size SUV, and the headline detail is already locked in. It’ll lean on V-8 engines. Plenty of other details, from exact horsepower to pricing, still sit in the estimate column.
- Stellantis has confirmed a V-8 focus for the Ramcharger, plus a future SRT performance version.
- The SUV shares its body-on-frame bones with the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Ram 1500, and it’s planned for production in Michigan.
- Engine outputs, a 2028 on-sale date, a starting price in the $60,000 range, and a possible plug-in hybrid are all still estimates.
What Ram Has Actually Confirmed
The Ramcharger will be Ram’s first move beyond trucks and commercial vans. The name isn’t new. It previously appeared on a truck-based SUV in the 1970s and 1980s. This time, the SUV will be related to the full-size Jeep Grand Wagoneer. It will ride on the same body-on-frame platform that sits under that Jeep and the Ram 1500 pickup.
The biggest confirmed detail came from Tim Kuniskis, who runs Stellantis’ American brands. In an interview with The Drive, he confirmed that the Ramcharger lineup will center on V-8 engines. That sets it apart from its Jeep cousin. The Grand Wagoneer currently uses the Hurricane twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, which makes 420 horsepower. Stellantis also said at its Investor Day that the Ramcharger will eventually get an SRT-badged performance version. The plan calls for building it alongside the Grand Wagoneer at Warren Truck Assembly in Michigan.
The Best Guesses About Engines and Hardware
Past the V-8 promise, the specifics are forecasts. Early estimates put the 395-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 in the base slot, with the 470-hp 6.4-liter Hemi as a possible upgrade. The SRT is expected to mirror the wild Ram 1500 SRT TRX and could borrow its supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, rated at 777 horsepower. None of those pairings is official yet.
Suspension is also guesswork. The Ram truck uses a solid rear axle, but the Grand Wagoneer has an independent rear setup, and the Ramcharger is expected to follow the Jeep. Projections call for coil springs at all four corners on entry trims, with air suspension available and then standard on higher trims. An off-road variant, possibly wearing the Rebel badge, could add tougher styling, more capable suspension and maybe a low-range transfer case. That would line it up against the Chevy Tahoe Z71 and Ford Expedition Tremor.
The Plug-In Hybrid Question
When the Ramcharger was first announced in late 2025, the plan included both gas engines and a range-extender setup. It’s possible Ram’s focus has narrowed to V-8s, but there’s been no word that the range-extender idea is dead. It’s simply unresolved.
Jeep is supposed to launch a long-delayed range-extended Grand Wagoneer soon. That system uses a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 as a generator to charge a 92-kWh battery feeding dual electric motors that make 647 horsepower. If Stellantis finally gets it running in the Grand Wagoneer and the Ram 1500 REV, it could show up in the Ramcharger down the road. For now, treat it as a maybe.
Rivals, Timing and the Risks Ahead
The Ramcharger will take on the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban and the Ford Expedition, with pricier trims facing the GMC Yukon. The Nissan Armada and Toyota Sequoia are in the mix too.
Timing and price remain estimates. Current expectations point to a 2028 on-sale date and a starting price somewhere in the $60,000 range. That would slot it below the Grand Wagoneer, which starts at almost $68,000.
There are real risks. If Ram doesn’t set the Ramcharger apart through price, style and engines, it could step on the Jeep’s toes. Ram also has to convince shoppers who see it as a truck brand to consider a family hauler, and that’s a tough sell against well-established SUVs from GM and Ford. Rising gas prices could also cool demand for a big V-8 SUV if they keep climbing.
Keeping Tabs on the Ramcharger Before It Lands
Right now, a few things are solid. The Ramcharger is a Ram SUV built on the Grand Wagoneer’s platform, it’ll center on V-8 power, and an SRT version is on the way. Treat everything else as a placeholder, including horsepower figures, the 2028 date, the price estimate and any hybrid. If you drive a Ram truck and have wanted a family SUV that can still pull a trailer, watch for official Ram announcements before counting on early projections.
