After retiring the Hemi V8 and facing declining sales, Ram brings back both the legendary engine and the iconic Rumble Bee nameplate for 2027. The result is a trio of track-focused muscle trucks led by a supercharged 777-horsepower Ram 1500 Rumble Bee SRT variant gunning for the production truck speed record at 170 mph.
Could the 2027 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee SRT be the fastest production truck ever made?
Two years ago we reported that Ram retired the Hemi V8 from its 1500 lineup in lieu of the Hurricane inline six. There is nothing sub-standard about this powerplant, as its performance is admirable, the base version cranking out 420 horsepower.
However, while we thought we’d witnessed the death of an era, we were wrong. The truck-buying public responded with a wallet revolt, and their disapproval conveyed to plummeting sales numbers.
In a Hail Mary moment, the brand talked hard-driving horsepower-loving Tim Kuniskis into ditching retirement to pick up the pickup brand. At the time Kuniskis said, “We’re getting the team back together” and announced the return of the 1500 Hemi. “SRT is another box we need to check,” he continued, and this week Ram dropped a lineup of adrenaline-infused muscle trucks on our laps.
Enter the 2027 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee.
Rumble Bee History: From 1968 Super Bee to 154 MPH SRT-10
For those who love old iron, you’ll recall the 1968 Dodge Coronet Super Bee and Skat Pack lineup. The “Bee” designation found its wings with the Charger in 1971 and buzzed around several models before being retired in 1980.
It was resurrected briefly in 2004 with the Viper V-10 powered Rumble Bee SRT-10, which set a Guinness production truck speed record of 154.6 mph.
The SRT-10 retired in 2006 and Ram teased us with a Bee-ish concept in 2013, but after two decades on the bench the Bee is back in the hive.
Rather than simply slapping on new graphics and fancy stitching, Kuniskis and his team pulled off the gloves and took on the challenge of producing the fastest production truck ever made…and make them four-wheel drive.
On the block are three models; the 5.7-liter Rumble Bee; 6.4-liter Rumble Bee Apache/Track Pack; and supercharged 6.2-liter Rumble Bee SRT.
Do they have a low-range transfer case? Nope. Do they hug the tarmac like a hovercraft? Yep. And do they have 22-inch wheels, low-profile tires, front air dams and anemic breakover angles. That’s affirmative.
So, you might ask what they have to do with vehicle-based adventure travel? Well, nothing. But for gearheads like us, any production truck that can break the 150 mph threshold is worth taking a look.
Ram 1500 Rumble Bee Platform and Specifications
The platform is a new configuration, Ram’s Quad-cab but with a short box (5’ 7”). To accommodate the new wheelbase the high-strength steel frame was shorted 13 inches.
Wheel track is 6.8” wider than the standard 1500, and to accommodate the 10- and 12-inch-wide wheels and Goodyear 325/40R22 rubber, the fender packages is borrowed from TRX and RHO.
Sitting at 88 inches overall width, she’s a stocky girl. An electronically controlled TorqueFlite 8HP75 8-speed automatic is standard across all models, as is the Borg-warner 48-11 torque-splitting transfer case and 250-mm rear differential (ratios of 3.55:1 and 3.92:1).
All are full-time four-wheel drive, but Track Pack and TRX have the option of disconnecting the front axle for when we need to release our inner 16-year-old and smoke the tires.
Interior Features and Technology
Ram says the interiors are minimalist, but I disagree. Base units have standard cloth seats, but move up to the 6.4 or SRT and more pronounced bolsters keep your rear where it should be, the center LCD gets bigger (up to 14.5 inches), and leather and carbon fiber abound.
Same with the stereo upgrades, and your otolaryngologist would certainly not approve of pushing the 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system into the red zone.
Rumble Bee curb weights are up to 300 pounds lighter than the base 1500, yet tow up to up to 8,890 pounds and carry a payload of 1,160 pounds.
Ram Rumble Bee Performance Specs: 5.7, 6.4, and 6.2 SRT Compared
Rumble Bee 5.7: 395-Horsepower Base Model
We’ll start with the base model, the Rumble Bee 5.7. Kuniskis said enthusiastically, “… and there’s only ONE battery.” That’s right, no hybrid malarky here and the annoying start-stop feature has been nixed.
Just a 395 horsepower Hemi with push rods, variable valve timing, and aluminum heads, two plugs per cylinder, and 9.5:1 compression ratio. It generates 410 lb.-ft. of torque it pulls zero-to-60 in 6.1 seconds and quarter mile in 14.6 (@ 93mph).
Rumble Bee 6.4 Track Pack: First 392 Hemi in Ram 1500
We are witnessing the first time the 392 Hemi has been fitted to the 1500 chassis. The 6.4 is based on the 5.7 block, but with a forged steel crank, larger valves, and 10.1:1 hypereutectic cast pistons (a high-performance aluminum-silicon alloy).
It has the same 250-mm rear differential, but with a lower 3.92:1 gear ratio. The Track Pack package brings enhanced cooling, and the rear electronic limited slip is upgraded to an eSpool (electronic locking rear diff). Add this up and it equates to 470 ponies, 455 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 13.2 second quarter mile (@101 mph).
Rumble Bee 6.2 SRT: 777-HP Hellcat Engine Targets 170 MPH Record
If you’ve dream of watching telephone poles fly by like a picket fence, the Rumble Bee SRT is your huckleberry.
When was the last time we saw a 200-mph speedo on a truck? Its fire-breathing supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat mill is borrowed from its brethren outlaw TRX. Churning out 777 horsepower and 680 lb.-ft. of torque it will push through 60 mph in a neck-snaping 3.4 seconds.
If you keep the skinny pedal pinned it will clear 1,320 feet in an eye-watering 11.6 seconds (@116 mph). With due respect to the SRT-10’s Guinness record, Ram intends to knock it off the podium with a targeted top speed of 170 mph. To put this in perspective, a Boeing 737 can stay airborne at less.
If Ram achieves its targeted 170 mph top speed, the Rumble Bee SRT will claim the production truck speed record, surpassing the previous 154.6 mph mark set by the 2004 Viper-powered SRT-10.
Speeds like this require precision control and sublime aerodynamics. SRT and Track Pack feature an air suspension along with Bilstein’s electronic adaptive damping system.
Massive 16-inch Brembo vented brake rotors and six-piston calipers, which are cooled by redirected air from the front facia, will expeditiously shut it down when you need to dive into a corner.
Speaking of cornering, Ram claims the SRT and Track Pack will turn like a cheetah on the hunt with an expected .89 g on the skid pad. There are six performance settings, including Track Mode.
In addition to tweaking shift and throttle algorithms, Track Mode lowers the air suspension an additional 1.5 inches. Front A-arms are engineered to set the front end lower to the ground.
The front facia hugs the tarmac, and the rear spoiler is said to create more than 400 pounds of downforce. We are guessing this is at top speed, as becoming airborne sans wings is no bueno.
Ram Rumble Bee Release Date and Final Thoughts
The three Ram 1500 Rumble Bee variants represent a literal trifecta of adrenaline-charged performance trucks. Think of a TRX but redesigned with track performance as the end goal—accelerate quicker, reach higher top speeds, squat lower, corner better, and stop shorter.
Would I grab a Rumble Bee for a trek across the Mojave Trail? Heck no, but that’s not their purpose. These are purpose-built performance machines designed to dominate the track and potentially claim the production truck speed record.
The 5.7 will be available later this year, with the 6.4 Track Pack and 777-horsepower SRT making their debut in 2027. Ram has not yet announced pricing for the 2027 Rumble Bee lineup, though the SRT variant is expected to command a significant premium over the standard Ram 1500.
We’re hoping Ram invites us back so we can actually test whether this supercharged beast can hit that 170 mph target.
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