Ram doesn’t do SUVs. It makes trucks. Maybe the odd van. Until now, SUVs have stayed out of the automaker’s wheelhouse. That’s largely because its parent company, Stellantis, has other brands that do SUVs, like Jeep. Until now. Wall Street analysts have received word from Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa that Ram will also make its own SUV, and one with a novel new powertrain, to boot.
Ram’s New SUV Will Be A New Kind Of Hybrid
Ram
Ram will reportedly offer two powertrains for this SUV, per Automotive News. One will be a regular ol’ gasoline engine. The other, however, will be much like the Ram 1500 REV’s powertrain. That truck is powered by a new range-extended electric vehicle (REV) powertrain. These have become new alternatives to fully electric cars that use a traditional gasoline engine to power an electric battery and a set of electric motors. They differ from traditional hybrids in that REVs use the electric motors exclusively to drive the vehicle’s wheels, not a gasoline drivetrain.
Ram already has one en route, with the truck-based 1500 REV, and it’s likely the upcoming SUV, set for release in 2028, will use a similar powertrain to the REV. That offers some serious power – 647 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque. A gas-powered V6 under the hood acts as a generator, and as the battery drains, the engine will help recharge it. You can also plug it in and charge it like a traditional EV, too. Effectively, it gives you the best of both worlds, with all-electric driving, plenty of range (a claimed 145 miles before the engine kicks in), and plenty of options for fueling or charging.
Do Ram Buyers Want An SUV?
Ram
There are lots of places to get a big SUV these days. Stellantis sells plenty through brands like Dodge, Jeep, and Alfa Romeo. Ram does trucks, and it does them well. Nailing an SUV requires filling a different role, with more emphasis on comfort and the hauling of smaller items than you’d want out of a truck.
However, few automakers sell an SUV with such a unique powertrain. Jeep will also offer a REV at some point, and so will Scout, VW’s retro truck and SUV revival. That’s it, for the moment. With alternatives to EVs showing strong interest from consumers, REVs could just catch on. A relatively quick 2028 launch would put Ram and Stellantis ahead of the curve – provided they deliver.
