Ram sells out first batch of 5.7-litre V8 Rumble Bee in 90 minutes
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The first 2026 production allocation for the Ram 1500 Rumble Bee 5.7 was filled just 90 minutes after orders opened. Within 24 hours, all production capacity through the end of March 2027 had also been booked. One important detail is that Ram has not even disclosed the number of vehicles involved, so the 90-minute figure primarily reflects how quickly demand arrived, rather than sales volume.
The 5.7-litre HEMI proved a favourite with buyers
The entry-level Rumble Bee uses a naturally aspirated 5.7-litre HEMI V8 producing 291 kW and 556 Nm. The engine is paired with an eight-speed TorqueFlite 8HP75 automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive is standard, but the driver can disconnect the front axle at the push of a button and use rear-wheel drive alone.
The US starting price is $59,995 excluding the destination charge, equivalent to approximately €53,500.
This version is the cheapest model in the Rumble Bee family. Next year, it will be joined by the Rumble Bee 392 and 392 Track Pack with a 6.4-litre V8, and the SRT with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8.
The Rumble Bee is more than a decal package
Ram built the model around the shorter Quad Cab body. Its wheelbase is around 330 mm shorter than that of the regular Ram 1500, improving its proportions and making it more agile. All versions have a wide body, sportier suspension tuning, paddle shifters and a gear lever relocated to the centre console.
The entry-level 5.7-litre model has a 3.92 rear axle ratio, and Ram offers an optional limited-slip differential. It is therefore more than just a Ram 1500 with yellow bees and a different bumper.
The most powerful version will arrive later
The Rumble Bee 392 will get a 6.4-litre V8 producing 346 kW and 617 Nm. The range-topping SRT uses a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 with 572 kW and 922 Nm of torque. Ram is targeting a 0–97 km/h time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 274 km/h.
The SRT uses 410 mm front brake discs and six-piston Brembo calipers. Ram calls it the most powerful V8-powered production pickup.
Those figures are impressive, but the first round of orders suggests customers were quickest to opt for the simplest 5.7-litre version instead.
The V8 comeback is working
The Rumble Bee's success fits well with Ram's strategy over the past year. The manufacturer brought the 5.7-litre HEMI back to the Ram 1500 range and received more than 10,000 orders in the first 24 hours. The Rumble Bee's rapid sell-out shows that, at least in the US market, there is still demand for the combination of a relatively simple, large naturally aspirated V8 and a sporty pickup.
In Europe, the Rumble Bee will inevitably remain a niche product. A 5.7-litre V8, a body more than two metres wide, high fuel consumption and emissions-based taxes make it expensive to run in Europe. At the same time, it has no direct factory-built rival there. The Ford Ranger Raptor focuses on off-road driving, while the Rumble Bee is geared towards driving on tarmac.
