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The All-Electric Ram 1500 Is Dead Before It Even Lived

By
Zach Butler
-
(Images: Stellantis | Ram)

Odds are, not too many folks were holding out for the electric Ram at this point.

As it “reassesses” its product strategy (reads the room, in other words), Ram announced Friday it would not continue with what was formerly the Ram 1500 REV electric truck after all. On top of discontinuing development for that truck — yet another twist in the road after Stellantis delayed its arrival twice — it has a new plan for the plug-in hybrid. That truck is still coming, but it will not be called “Ramcharger”.

Instead, the range-extended Ram will become the Ram 1500 REV, dropping the name Ramcharger altogether. As ever, the brand is throwing its confidence behind that truck, backed by a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. “This vehicle will set a new benchmark in the half-ton segment, offering exceptional range, towing capbility and payload performance.”

So, Ram pulled the plug, pun intended. This comes four years after the automaker first teased its electric offering (called the “Revolution” concept), with big promises of a truck to take on and beat the Ford F-150 Lightning as well as the Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, among others. Obviously, that never came to be, particularly as the production electric Ram 1500 dialed back the concept’s futuristic look and features for something more down-to-earth…that was scheduled to arrive years behind the competition.

A couple interesting elements open up as a result of Stellantis’ recent shuffling. First off, hopefully the new (plug-in hybrid) Ram 1500 REV will arrive on time, now that Ram isn’t having to split its focus. The truck is currently due out next year, after that too was delayed from rolling out right about now.

Second, freeing up the “Ramcharger” name could — and I want to emphasize could, as this is pure speculation at the moment — result in a more true-to-form successor to the original. That is, could we see a midsize body-on-frame SUV under the Ram banner aimed at taking on the Ford Bronco? Hmm? HMM!? I wonder…though we obviously haven’t heard a peep officially on such a thing, and Ram naturally won’t comment on something like that anytime soon, if it’s happening at all.

V8 Off-Road Fight: Does The New Ram 1500 Warlock CRUSH the Ford F-150 Tremor?

By
Zach Butler
-

It’s a battle of the V8 off-road trucks: Which of these two is best in the mountains?

Over the past week or so, we’ve had the Hemi-powered Ram 1500 back at the TFL base. It’s a momentous occasion since you can now order a V8 Ram half-ton pickup once again, so Andre and the team has been putting this Warlock through its paces on the road, on the drag strip, and now, off the pavement. In this video, Roman and Andre check out whether the 2026 Ram 1500 Warlock offers up a better off-road package (including on the subject of value) against our 2025 Ford F-150 Tremor.

Let’s look at things by the numbers, as we so often do. The Ford F-150 Tremor, for its part, carries on relatively unchanged from its 2024 refresh. And even before that, it still packed the same eight-cylinder powertrain: a 5.0-liter Coyote putting out 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. The Ram, for its part, started off with the downsized 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged Hurricane inline-six. That unit is still available, of course, including in the top-spec RHO. However, we’re specifically looking at the revived 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with eTorque, which manages 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. That maintains the same power output as the previous 2024 model, when Ram initially decided to scrap the Hemi engine from its half-ton lineup — a decision which it’s obviously reversed since.

Granted, in this comparison, we’re looking at the Tradesman-based Ram 1500 Warlock, and not the Rebel, which is more closely equipped and priced to the F-150 Tremor. However, the Warlock is a compelling option to look at because it does get notable off-road-worthy upgrades over the base trims. Specifically, this truck gets a one-inch suspension lift with Bilstein shocks, it still gets all-terrain tires and it gets a blacked-out grille and surround with the Warlock decal on the back. If you do spec it with the 5.7-liter Hemi (a $2,895 upgrade over the base V6 and $1,200 over the Hurricane), Ram also fits the G/T exhaust as standard equipment, as it does with all Hemi-equipped Ram 1500s from 2026 onward.

The $595 Towing Technology Group, $945 Bed Utility Group and $1,345 Trailer Tow Group, among a couple other standalone options like the bedliner, put this Warlock pretty close to our Tremor on price ($60,830 versus $67,510 MSRP for the F-150 Tremor — we paid about $62,000 for ours).

As for the Ford F-150 Tremor, you again get off-road tuned suspension with an inch lift, 33-inch all-terrain tires, and off-road tech including Trail Control, Trail Turn Assist and different selectable drive modes to suit the terrain.

In the video below, the guys take both trucks up to 12,000 feet on Deer Creek Trail , and you can check out their determination on which truck is best:

The 2026 Honda Ridgeline Marks 20 Years With New Exterior Color Option (And a Base Price Hike)

By
Zach Butler
-

In line with Honda’s other recent launches, the 2026 Ridgeline TrailSport gets a new exclusive color.

We have another case of “time flies” on our hands when you realize it’s been 20 years since Honda first launched its Tacoma fighter, the Ridgeline. That entire time, the automaker’s taken an unconventional approach to a midsize truck, but it’s a formula that’s worked well for the brand that, apart from a one-year hiatus, the Ridgeline remains in production to this day. That includes the 2026 model, of course, which rolls into the new year with a couple new cosmetic options.

The first change concerns the TrailSport trim, which gets the Ash Green Metallic paint first used on the new Passport, then the CR-V TrailSport. If the slightly more rugged version isn’t your jam, the top-end 2026 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition also gets a new option: a two-tone contrasting black roof available with either the Sonic Gray Pearl or Platinum White Pearl exterior colors. The only other paint option for the Black Edition, as you’d expect, is Crystal Black Pearl.

As ever, the 2026 Honda Ridgeline keeps its sole powertrain, with the good-old 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 putting out 282 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque through a 9-speed automatic transmission. Since we’re talking about the same truck in the same configuration with the same trims as before, the EPA figures haven’t changed, ranging from 18 mpg in the city to 24 on the highway, for a combined figure of 21 mpg (or 20 mpg, if you get the TrailSport).

Familiar packages like 18-inch black HPD wheels with all-terrain tires, the Function Package and the Utility+ package are still there, should you want to kit out your Ridgeline with things like utility hooks, all-weather floor mats, roof rails and running boards.

How much does the 2026 Honda Ridgeline cost?

Even though there aren’t any huge changes to speak of, there is still a little bit of price creep for the 2026 Ridgeline models. The base Sport now starts out at $42,090 including Honda’s $1,495 destination fee ($445 more than before).

The mid-range RTL comes in at $44,890 ($415 higher), while the 2026 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport rings in at $47,290 (also $415 higher). If you’d like to get into a Black Edition, prepare to spend at least $48,690 — $445 more than last year.

Honda says the 2026 Ridgelines are hitting dealers now, and you can configure your own today through the company’s online configurator tool.

Ford Jazzes Up Its F-150 Lightning XLT with the More Rugged Entry-Level STX

By
Zach Butler
-

The Ford F-150’s sporty STX trim makes its way to the all-electric Lightning.

Right now, Ford is in a bit of a pickle. Year-to-date sales of the electric F-150 Lightning pickup have dropped by about 10%, and while the looming end of the $7,500 federal tax credit will boost volumes in the short-term, it needs something fresh to keep potential buyers interested. Enter the 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX: a more outdoorsy and rugged take on the base XLT that brings in-demand features while keeping the bottom-line MSRP on the more affordable side of the buying equation.

And when I say “take” on the base XLT, this new-to-Lightning STX trim is actually replacing that model in the stack. This setup gives folks a more Tremor-like experience without having to go aftermarket, while still offering up dual motors and an extended-range battery.

On the subject of off-road kit, the 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX borrows the Tremor’s running boards, as well as a fresh set of matte black wheels and Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT tires. The most complete version of the package also brings in the new Grabber Blue grille, as well as STX-specific badging, hood graphics and bedside decals. Inside, you still get cloth seats, but they come with the same blue stitching and “Lightning STX” embroidered on the front seats. The STX also gets a standard heated steering wheel and vinyl floor covering.

2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX

As for performance, the F-150 Lightning STX manages 536 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque from its dual-motor setup. You also get a standard electronic locking rear differential. While the old XLT could manage up to 320 miles on a charge with the 131-kWh extended-range battery, the STX’s loadout brings that figure down to around 290 miles.

Several colors are available for the new F-150 Lightning STX, including Argon Blue shown here (which looks pretty similar to the Atlas Blue Ford launched the F-150 Lightning with a few years back). Marsh Gray is a newly available hue as is Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat and Star White Metallic Tri-Coat, while Agate Black Metallic, Antimatter Blue Metallic, Carbonized Gray Metallic and Oxford White all carry forward.

Pricing for the 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX starts at $63,345, and should arrive at dealers early next year.

The Ram HEMI V8 RETURNS to the Drag Strip: But Is It FASTER Than Ford’s Coyote V8 F-150?

By
Zach Butler
-

Now that the Ram 1500 Hemi V8 is back, we’re pitching it against the popular Ford F-150!

While automakers have eagerly downsized their car engines over the past several years (though we’re seeing a reversal there, too), the phenomenon only really came to a head in truck world when Stellantis decided to completely drop Hemi V8 options from its Ram 1500 lineup. No more TRX, and not even a standard 5.7-liter Hemi for folks who just flat-out don’t want the 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six. Well, fast-forward a year or so, and we have a markedly different picture today. The Hemi V8 is back, and we’re testing it out as part of the revamped Ram 1500 lineup in this Warlock over the next couple weeks. Of course, that includes a drag race — because that’s how we roll around here!

In the video below, Andre and Kase go head-to-head in the 2026 Ram 1500 Warlock as well as a V8 equivalent you know all too well. Our Ford F-150 Tremor, being part of the best-selling half-ton truck lineup in America, made an obvious sparring partner for this drag strip duel.

Fundamentally, neither powertrain has changed from previous iterations. Ford’s 5.0-liter Coyote V8, for its part, continues to put out 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. And while Ram did have to make some updates to the 5.7-liter, eTorque-equipped Hemi V8 to adapt it to the updated truck’s architecture, it does still put out the 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque through an 8-speed automatic.

What are the results, then? Actually, they’re closer than you might think, at least off the line (watch below to see the whole test):

Drag race and MPG results

With Kase driving the Ram 1500 Warlock and Andre driving the Ford F-150 Tremor, here are the results from our drag races at a mile above sea level. In the first race (from a standing start), the Ram 1500 clocked a 16.72-second quarter-mile at a speed of 86.6 mph.

Unfortunately for the Warlock, Andre managed a quarter-mile time in the Ford F-150 of 16.38 seconds at 89.3 mph. Even in the second rolling race, the Ford still managed to just beat out the Hemi-powered Ram. That said, it’s still within a truck length and while the results may be disappointing for the few who plan to drag race their truck, most folks will be elated there’s a Ram 1500 Hemi option against Ford’s Coyote V8 and GM’s 6.2-liter L84 5.3-liter and L87 6.2-liter V8s at all.

The guys also ran an MPG loop on both trucks, with some surprising results. The Hemi eTorque-equipped Ram, being a mild hybrid, did manage to pull out a result of 21.4 mpg in a short 41.5-mile loop. The Ford, on the other hand, managed a less impressive (but not terribly surprising) result of 18.3 mpg* (*Andre uses ‘41.7’ in the calculation in the video; correcting for that figure against the 41.5-mile figure Kase used yields a result of 18.3 rather than 18.4, though either figure would be within margin-of-error).

Let us know what you think about the revived Ram 1500 Hemi and this race with the F-150 Tremor below.

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